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Team Saluki

Based in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, the Castrol EDGE supported Team Saluki is named after the legendary Arabian hunting dog which is bred for speed and endurance in the desert - very apt considering that the Team competes in desert racing events in the Middle East. www.teamsaluki.com

Group » Team Saluki : Blogposts

Team Saluki Team Saluki : 4th November - Round up.
posted by Team Saluki, 05-Nov-08
UAE Desert Challenge Round Up Sitting down for lunch on the Saturday after the final day with a very subdued Bowler team, Drew Bowler asked if it was always like this – the feeling of ‘flatness’. We had all just spent a hectic 5 days in the desert (not to mention the weeks of build up) and we were all left with what felt like a gaping chasm in our lives. The fact that the buggy was out in the first day compounded the feeling for Team Saluki and all the members were...


Team Saluki October 31st - Back to civilisation.
posted by Team Saluki, 01-Nov-08
Update on the truck / car recovery that the Team Saluki guys have been assisting on.   Both vehicles are now out of the desert successfully - it seems that having the correct jack that's required to change the wheel on your truck helps a lot when you're stuck.     We've seen the truck on the road near the bivouac so we know the guys are not telling fibs. The camera crews that have been following Team Saluki have been completing some in-desert editing of the...


Team Saluki Team Saluki : October 30th - If at first you don't succeed.
posted by Team Saluki, 30-Oct-08
Following on from yesterdays communication it seems that Paul doesn't have a jinx after all.  There were no blown engines when the Saluki guys returned to camp in the dark last night.     There was at least progress on the recovery, however not all news is good news.   They found the truck easy enough and with the use of sand ladders, had the truck out and moving in 10 minutes.     Going cross country to locate the stuck car (remember -...


Team Saluki October 27th - It's Deja Vu all over again.
posted by Team Saluki, 27-Oct-08
Well the "Oh my god" early morning was not as bad as expected with everyone up and about by 5am and on the road by 5:15.   Last minute additions as always made it into the cars - some reheated coffee and a pile of scooby-snacks were considered essential to the upkeep of the teams enthusiasm. A shortish drive to Abu Dhabi to the Emirates Palace Hotel where the ceremonial start was to take place.   Leaving the start line almost last meant that the guys had...


Team Saluki October 26th - Back in Black
posted by Team Saluki, 26-Oct-08
It's the day of the prologue which this year instead of some scrub land is taking place on the Jebel Ali Moto-Cross track. Tight twisty turns and lots of bumps meant an interesting course - especially for something like the Saluki and it's slightly wider wheel base.   Lots of people were having problems with a particular corner in-between a couple of the jumps and the Saluki was no exception.  Finding themselves running wide, the guys opted to run over the mound that was...


Team Saluki D-Day -1 : Look out, Look out there's a Saluki about.
posted by Team Saluki, 25-Oct-08
Yes folks,  It's been a year since you last heard about the ups, downs and roll-overs of Team Saluki in last years Desert Challenge.  Well the time has come again to keep you informed on how the team performs in this years, our eleventh UAE Desert Challenge which is the final round of the FIA World Cup for cross country rallies. For those that don't know;  We're competing in a two wheel drive, 3.5 Litre V6 VTEC Honda powered buggy built by Fast & Speed based in...


Team Saluki 18th October
posted by JamesThomas, 20-Oct-08
This morning started by going to Satwa to get a tow hook for my car. Having visited 6 or so shops to be told 'no problem sir, 1 7/8" or 2" will be fine', I left and went another shop that actually stocked the 50mm ball that I needed. Then over to Marks to make the duellie look pretty, pictures attached. We also sorted out the spares in the back, organised the trailer and fitted the tow hook to my car. All is looking good for next week, the support and service are the best...


Team Saluki 17th October
posted by JamesThomas, 20-Oct-08
Today was spent in the kennel working on the Saluki. Nothing major, just lots of small things like cleaning off the old stickers and putting stickers on, fixing the new oil lines and adding a couple of vents, fitting the new fire extinguisher system, and tidying up the chase cam. We had some visiters, Streaky and Malcolm popped in to check where to best to mount the irritrack and cabling for Malcolm's race car. We also had some Russian visitors, who want to feature the car in Russian...


Team Saluki 14th October
posted by JamesThomas, 20-Oct-08
If you would like to see some more in-car footage, Mark had the chase cam set up on Friday, and he has now posted the vidoes on youtube, which can be found here -http://www.youtube.com/user/TeamSaluki  


Team Saluki 10th October
posted by JamesThomas, 20-Oct-08
Another Friday, another test. Having met at Mark's we headed out to the usual test route. We thought it was about time Paul, the navigator, got to ride in the car, so I followed in my car to act as support. We were also joined by Richard who wanted to see the car in action. The Saluki was fresh out of another week of fettling by Rick and Leno, with the oil cooler being moved into the nose with extra vents cut into the bodywork. This proved to work really well, with the oil keeping well...