Author Topic: Dakar Classic 2024 Puch W460 (Mercedec GE280) (Read 4252 times)

fumopuc · « **on:** December 03, 2023, 03:32:46 PM »

Hi everybody,
I am still alive, but I have been distracted for the last 10 month by a totally other, but very interesting project.
In my after retirement self employment, I have got an order I could not resist.
And old friend of mine has asked If I would like it to rebuild and prepare an 1981 Puch for the Dakar Classic Rally 2024.
The pattern/master is a car, he has driven 1985 in the BMW motorcycle Dakar Team.
Now his two sons will have the pleasurer to attend the Dakar Classic with this fresh made replica.
If somebody will be interested, here are some videos, which do a kind of documentation of the entire restoration and preparation for this Raid Rally Car.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcGr-VWIqZM" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcGr-VWIqZM</a>

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqHrPPZuZQY" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqHrPPZuZQY</a>

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcnTLsdaz6c" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcnTLsdaz6c</a>

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_wvTCg8Plw" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_wvTCg8Plw</a>

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJAGX_TtfBA" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJAGX_TtfBA</a>

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2QOsbDqX-I" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2QOsbDqX-I</a>
Last Thursday, the car has been passed the scrutineering successfully in Barcelona Spain and is now on the ship to Saudi Arabia.
Kind Regards
Achim

RReid · « **Reply #1 on:** December 03, 2023, 03:38:22 PM »

Hello Achim!

I've often wondered where you'd got off too. Glad to hear that you are well and working on such an interesting and unusual (and BIG) project. Will you be attending the rally also?

fumopuc · « **Reply #2 on:** December 03, 2023, 03:50:50 PM »

Hi Ron,
unfortunately on compassionate grounds I am not able to follow the invitation to be a member of this Dakar Team.
I have spend more than 30.000 km in the desert so far and would like to do more, but currently not possible.

Jasonb · « **Reply #3 on:** December 03, 2023, 03:51:43 PM »

Yes it is getting to that time of year again when I'll be watching the Dakar, remember rushing home from College many years ago when Eurosport first stated to cover it, must have been around 82 or 83 and I've followed it since. Though never quite the same after it left Africa.

It is good to see the classics and the lesser modified classes as the top runners are now so far removed from production cars, will keep a look out for your Friend's one.

fumopuc · « **Reply #4 on:** December 03, 2023, 04:01:20 PM »

Quote from: Jasonb on December 03, 2023, 03:51:43 PM

Yes it is getting to that time of year again when I'll be watching the Dakar, remember rushing home from College many years ago when Eurosport first stated to cover it, must have been around 82 or 83 and I've followed it since. Though never quite the same after it left Africa.

It is good to see the classics and the lesser modified classes as the top runners are now so far removed from production cars, will keep a look out for your Friend's one.

Hi Jason,
this Classic concept was a very clever idea of the Dakar organizer.
I will give "normal" people with the spirit for it a new chance to have some fun again in the desert.
The task here in the Classic event is not to be fast, but reliable.
If you will be to fast at a check point, you will get points.
If you miss a complete stage, because you can´t drive by any reason, you will get points.
At the end, the winner will be the one with fewest points in each class.

crueby · « **Reply #5 on:** December 03, 2023, 04:37:22 PM »

Fascinating project!

Roger B · « **Reply #6 on:** December 03, 2023, 05:14:44 PM »

Splendid

Admiral_dk · « **Reply #7 on:** December 03, 2023, 08:03:35 PM »

Very interesting project - did you do it all or 'just part of the Team who did it' ....

I hadn't a clue that Puch made anything with more that two wheels

.... Live and Learn

Great to see you back here

Per

Kim · « **Reply #8 on:** December 03, 2023, 10:09:07 PM »

Wow, Achim! That does look like a very exciting project! I can see how that has kept you busy

Kim

fumopuc · « **Reply #9 on:** December 04, 2023, 08:08:18 AM »

Quote from: Admiral_dk on December 03, 2023, 08:03:35 PM

Very interesting project - did you do it all or 'just part of the Team who did it' ....

Hi Per, there is no real team.
Basically there was only me.
The disassembly of the car was done first.
The bodyshell only has started a journey alone.
First to the north of Germany to a company which is certified to make a FIA conform roll cage.
Later back to a local shop which has got the order to modify it from a 5 door version to a 3 door version, to be closer to the car from 1985.
The engine was sent to a long term friend of mine, still with own shop and dyno, but retired also.
Front and rear axel went to another retired person with the passion to rebuild oldtimer bulldogs.
And me, I have been the daily 12h purchase office to keep them all busy.
I have learned very quick, that is not so easy to get good quality parts for an over 40 year old car.
Also the guys at Mercedes Benz direct could not help very often, even with their possibility to be connected to all ware houses world wide.
Parallel to all this purchase and logistic jobs, the frame was prepared for the step by step reassembly.
Some design was made for the internal components like 100 liter extra fuel cell and the possibility to fix two spare wheels, shovels, sand ladders...
And again a lot of procurement necessary.
At the 07th of October was the new "wedding" of frame and bodyshell and I have spent nearly all day in the shop until beginning of last week.
At the very end, the last six weeks I have got some extra man power to support, one have time mechanic.

Admiral_dk · « **Reply #10 on:** December 04, 2023, 08:42:01 PM »

Well - that certainly explains very vividly why you didn't hav time for us here

That sounds like more than a full time job - and you call this retirement

Per

Jasonb · « **Reply #11 on:** January 06, 2024, 10:09:01 AM »

Time to keep an eye out for this one on the daily "Classic" highlights. Quite good how they have blended the old film with the new for several cars that originally took part many years ago.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WG2rTxli2vg" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WG2rTxli2vg</a>

Also on at the same time is the Africa Eco Race which is in someways more of a true Dakar as that is where it finishes after 6000k down the west cost of Africa

https://www.youtube.com/@africarace

fumopuc · « **Reply #12 on:** February 03, 2024, 09:23:38 AM »

Now it is already over.
14 days with nearly 7.500 km done.
The cars will be back in Barcelona next week Friday for pick up.
We have had really fun.
The main issues, a brocken outside mirror left hand side and a fuel pipe leakage due to rubbing, an old steel pipe.

Our special part is here at 01:54

https://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/x8rm1ab?autoplay=1
or

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59nMA-Lzn5c" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59nMA-Lzn5c</a>

gerritv · « **Reply #13 on:** February 12, 2024, 01:19:05 AM »

What an incredible experience that must be. Congratulations on the finish and reliving the spirit of past event.

gerrit

Admiral_dk · « **Reply #14 on:** February 12, 2024, 06:39:16 AM »

Congratulations Achim - finisheng is always an achivement in such big events

Per

fumopuc · « **Reply #15 on:** February 12, 2024, 11:57:28 AM »

Gerrit, Per thank you very much.
The car is back since Friday evening and yesterday evening we have had dinner with the drivers and mechanics.
All of them confirmed, that it has been an exciting and absolutely extraordinary experience.
It is really hard, but worth to do it.
There is a plan to repeat it in 2026 and nobody has declined.
End of May is an Off Road exhibition in Germany, where the car will be on display.
https://www.abenteuer-allrad.de
We try to keep it warm and dry at the moment, so it should stay in the condition with all damage and dust as it is now.
We have got it managed to transport the car on an open trailer from Barcelona to Munich without any wet during the journey and now is in a local show room.

Vixen · « **Reply #16 on:** February 12, 2024, 12:10:30 PM »

Quote from: fumopuc on February 12, 2024, 11:57:28 AM

.......snip...
We try to keep it warm and dry at the moment, so it should stay in the condition with all damage and dust as it is now.
We have got it managed to transport the car on an open trailer from Barcelona to Munich without any wet during the journey and now is in a local show room.

Sounds like an unmissable experience. Well done to everybody involved for getting to the end.

I love the idea of showing the car with all the damage and dust. It has become a sort of tradition to bring the Le Mans winning cars to the Festival of Speed at Goodwood still bearing the dirt, grime and rubber dust from the 24 hour race.

Well done.

Mike

fumopuc · « **Reply #17 on:** February 12, 2024, 12:39:12 PM »

Thanks Mike.

I can remember very well in 1999, I have been employed at Toyota in Cologne and we have finished Le Mans in second place.
After the parce fermé has been finished and we wanted to get the cars out there, some never before seen Japanese people appeared and stopped us.
The have had a so far hidden and prepared container and loaded the car over there.
The car was sent to Japan and it toke me about several mails and discussions to get minimum the ECU back, because we have had 6 pieces only in rotation for the operation of 3 plus 1 cars.
Later I have seen a picture of the car in a show room in Japan, it was painted with a kind of varnish over the carbon and other dust, also some rubber pieces from the tires has been covered and sealed there.

RReid · « **Reply #18 on:** February 12, 2024, 04:53:03 PM »

That's a very funny story! Must have been a bit of a panic at the time though.

Many years ago at the Harrah's Auto Museum in Reno, NV, I saw the 1907 Thomas Flyer that won the 1908 New York-Paris race (they went the long way around). It was un-restored, and still carried all the mud and such from that event ~70 years prior. That way it's history, cleaned-up it's just an object.

fumopuc · « **Reply #19 on:** February 15, 2024, 12:32:42 PM »

How it looks like after the party....

Vixen · « **Reply #20 on:** February 15, 2024, 01:01:50 PM »

Hello Achim

That's a very "Muckey Merc". I doubt you will ever get all the sand out.

Not too many battle scars to show for 7,500 Km in the desert. Well done and well driven.

Cheers

Mike

gerritv · « **Reply #21 on:** February 15, 2024, 01:29:50 PM »

Well used, not abused. It's amazing how that dust gets literally everywhere.

gerrit

fumopuc · « **Reply #22 on:** February 15, 2024, 01:41:33 PM »

Hi Mike,
thanks for watching.

In the family museum we have a Suzuki LJ80 still.
This car attends the Dakar 1982, driven by the Senior at this time.
Two years ago, it was reanimated to go for a local Oldtimer Rally.
During the preparation we have found a lot of sand still and after the event much more.
Special attention to the driver suites at this time, please.

fumopuc · « **Reply #23 on:** February 15, 2024, 01:51:22 PM »

Quote from: gerritv on February 15, 2024, 01:29:50 PM

Well used, not abused. It's amazing how that dust gets literally everywhere.

gerrit

Hi Gerrit, thanks.
The car has no AC, so the only way to cool it down a bit is to drive with open windows.
So you are catching the dust all time.

Roger B · « **Reply #24 on:** February 27, 2024, 11:11:50 AM »

When I think back to my single day rallying that looks remarkably clean and straight after such an adventure

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Author Topic: Dakar Classic 2024 Puch W460 (Mercedec GE280) (Read 4252 times)