To Dakar and Back

21 Days Across North Africa by Motorcycle

By: Lawrence Hacking, Wil De Clercq

Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain

Recounting the three weeks of blood, sweat, and tearsthat make up a 7,000 mile journey from the glitzy streets of Paris to the hinterland of northwestern Africa, this incredible tale highlights the most arduous and notorious off-road motorsports event on the planet, the Paris-Dakar Rally. Since its inception in 1979, the rally has attracted more than 3,000 participants from all walks of life. Fully detailing what is considered by many to be one of the world's top five adventures, this book reveals amazing true tales of danger, from blinding sandstorms to endless vistas of towering dunes. Enduring these incredible hardships with perseverance, tenacity, ingenuity, and sometimes tragedy, the adventurers profiled here truly embody the triumphs of the human spirit.

©2008 Lawrence Hacking and Wil De Clercq (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Great tale, not great narration

I really enjoyed the story but was drawn out several times when the narrator mispronounced motorcycle specific words. Otherwise it was a fine performance.

Now this is a race you secretly want to do

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I already have.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The author

What does Mike Chamberlain bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

English guy reading a book by an English ride. It works.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Not really

Any additional comments?

Exciting book to listen to. Mostly about the riding and the race. This is what I listen for and that is what I got. A fantastic depiction of what goes on in this race and what it's all about. Leave it to the brainless terrorists of the middle east to ruin it for everyone and force the Dakar to go somewhere else. They have to ruin everything.

Fantastic story about an amazing race!

The Dakar is an incredible adventure that anyone interested in travel, excitement and adventure can enjoy. The author's tale of hardship, anxiety, perseverance and success is captivating and well worth the read.

Enjoyed

There was a good balance of technical details and the Dakar journey. Enjoyed so much listened to twice within 1 year.

what an adventure....

I met Lawrence Hacking in 2016 at the Baja rally. Lawrence is a super approachable person and very humble. This book is a wonderful description of an adventure most can't even imagine taking on. This was an excellent book to listen to and I highly recommend it.

interesting story, bland narration

if you are a fan of the new car rally as I am or even just a Motorsports fan you'll really appreciate this book it's a fascinating tale and I followed the 2001 rally on speed vision so a lot of the things that Lawrence talks about were things I remember

the only downside is the narration was sort of bland, I don't know if it was the author or someone else who actually did the narration but they sounded as boring as Canadian syrup

Lawrence of Africa

A wonderful story of an epic African adventure that will whisk you far and away from your much too civilized world.

Great story

This is a great story about man, machine, Mother Nature and the world. I love the Dakar and this book is for anyone else who does

a well written gripping story. I wish it was

only complaint is that it wasn't. narrated. by Hacking himself. otherwise one of the best stories I've listened to lately

Decent account made better by the reader

Well documented journey. Probably only of interest to motorcyclists, but worth a listen.