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On the track of ancient caravans

Stage 5. Zhanaozen - Turkmenbashi. Difficult transition

Before the rally-raid start «the Silk Road-2009» - a series "Dakar" remains hardly more than a month. The best specialized editions of tens countries of Europe and Asia watch over the course of preparation for the international competition. Such interest to the project, which is initiated by the President of Turkmenistan, signifies that it has got really big scales, and the autumn rally will stand on one level with the largest and representative world races along the off road.



Today we begin the publication of the second part of a cycle «on the track of ancient caravans», telling about the route and the features of rally-raid «the Silk Road-2009». Earlier we have considered in detail first four stages of an auto marathon, thereby having reached equator of the future race. Now we should continue our virtual travel and investigate the remained half of the way. There are the most difficult areas ahead, as approaching to the finish, its complexity will only increase.

It is necessary for organizers to consider a set of various factors, so the off road rally would pass successfully and one of the basic earnest of success is the race route. On a good and qualitative laying it should combine not only spectacular and beautiful sites, but, first of all, every possible type of sport complexities. For example, unpredictable relief of the route considers being the big advantage, especially if it varies within one lap. The main complexity for racers is a choice of correct type of tires; after all on the distance they can face a soil, stony or sandy track. The real challenge can become also a constantly changing factor of coupling of wheels with the covering of roadway when slippery areas interchange with the sections of high abrasiveness. In such cases it is extremely difficult to find optimum points to start braking and to get into the next abrupt turn. Here, in the foreground it considers not the capabilities of the car, but the skill and experience of pilots.



A long fifth stage rally-raid «Silk Road-2009» (according to preliminary data, the length of the area will make about 550 km) can be considered as the typical representative of such sector of the track: difficult in technique and at the same time incredible beautiful and spectacular. On a way the participants will meet a rare variety of relieves: race will pass as through slow and difficult dune massifs, and as through fast brackish sites. And all these are against the background of fantastic natural "scenery" and fairy-like "heavenly" landscapes. The fifth stage starts on September the 10th from the city Zhanaozen in Kazakhstan, where from the racing crews have to continue the travel on a unique place of the planet - the plateau Ustyurt. As well as at the previous stage, participants will be surrounded here by absolutely deserted district, only wild herds of saigas and roes and birds of prey of high soaring in the sky will accompany them on travel along the lost world.

Judging by the description that is given by organizers, the card of the fifth stage will become fascinating 15-kilometre journey along the crest of a high ridge after which a stunning descent will follow. Mountain sites occur which sportsmen had to overcome during "Dakar-2009". Cars then got on the tops of mountains along the narrow path, and then went downwards along the lacet. And though descent was not completely high-speed, frightening slopes stretched out along the road. Not so steep to be smashed, but quite sufficient to make effective turnovers or as racers say, to make "ears". Then the French crew on a prototype of "Bouler", having flown from the track, managed to turn over eight times.

Cruise over the plateau Ustyurt will proceed throughout 300 kilometers then the route will enter into a zone of northern Karakum where the first acquaintance of participants with severe character of the well-known desert will take place. Almost a third of stage crews will have to make way under the scorching sun along soft sands through insidious dunes. Then the type of covering of the roadway will sharply change again: the route crosses the area of huge saline soils which will bring additional complexities in passage. Throughout almost 50 km cars will move along the bottom of the shoaled part of salty lake - a bay of Karabogazgol. On these high-speed saline sites even trucks can speed up to 150-180 km/h. But on the other hand, if one makes the slightest mistake in navigation, if deviates from the route and the car can sink or stick in a flash almost completely in the covering from which it is not easy to pull it out. The magnificent gulf consisting of bewitching chalky canyons of surprising colours and forms will become the “scenery” for this part of the route.



By the way, to watch all the beauty of the fifth route leg, as well as the whole way of rally-raid «the Silk Road - 2009» will be possible not only on the TV. Within the autumn auto competition besides the sports set - off where for the victory in corresponding categories professional racers and amateurs will fight, a new category - "raid" or "adventure" has opened. Having filed an application on participation in "raid" each motorist and an admirer of this kind of sport can receive unique possibility to feel the spirit of off-road race, following rally on a specially developed route. Unlike sport set - off, the selection of participants of "adventure" provides not a strict, without a contest, and there are no special requirements for the cars of racers. Only crews that are not ready to travel will be refused. Considering that in the participation in "raid" can take part not only "off-road vehicles", but also usual cars, off road track "adventure" naturally won’t be so heavy, as on the main route. However nobody promises an easy life: there will be the real difficulties, every possible burden, hardships and the deprivations accompanying off-road races, they should struggle for own life and the life of the car, and also help other participants requiring the help. And after each stage amateurs of adventures will live in bivouacs together with their idols, world stars of motor racing. In a word, the category "raid" is a simplified, but has not lost the charm and romanticism yet, the version of «dakar» races which will give the chance to any person that is "ill" with motor racing to feel himself as the participant of legendary competitions, the pioneer and the subjugator of deserts.

In the evening, on September the 10th, participants of rally-raid «the Silk Road», having left more than five hundreds kilometers of a way behind, will arrive on a bivouac in Turkmenbashi. They will have a short respite before the most difficult part of the way - conquest of the Karakum Sand. After burning heat of the Caspian-Aral desert on the coast of Hazar, the participants will feel as if in paradise: damp and cooler air, fine sandy beaches, and warm purest water. The resort “Avaza” is erected here. It just has come up, considering that in Turkmenbashi not only hundreds professional race drivers, but also representatives of leading mass-media of ten countries of the world will gather, the presentation of the National tourist zone of "Avaza" could have quite good marketing effect on foreign guests. It can not only interest new potential investors from the various countries, but also draw attention to Turkmenistan not only as the exporter of natural gas, but also as the edge rather interesting and attractive for tourists.

source - http://www.turkmenistan.gov.tm