Not all competitors got the opportunity to compete on the first day due to the weather. They were able to fully show their mettle on the second racing day. It’s six o’clock in the morning and we are starting together with the crews near Kyiv at a base where the racers are stationed. We are heading for Shatsk – a final point of our five-day trip. Ovruch town was an intermittent point on Sunday where the citizens have awaited the arrival of the racers since the last 2009 trophy raid.
There are four of us: a driver, writer, cameraman and Volkswagen Amarok, i.e. our faithful companion for all the time of the competition. We are charging the equipment that we are carrying with us (i.e. a few cellular phones, notebooks. cameras and GPS navigator) on the go. Three 12 V sockets are quite enough.
The crews we
re presented with track lists specifying coordinates of check points. We are hitting the road. The competitors are required to pass all fifteen points for not to get penalized with extra minutes added to the total race time. A snapshot made using a digital camera and portraying a mark number made on a tree or stone and a competing vehicle gives the evidence. An important thing is that a crew member must touch the vehicle and the check mark on the photo. The crew number must be eligible.
Location of the check marks depends on the route complexity and competitor class. The routes run across villages and small towns with their citizens expressing a great interest and applauding the race even. For the audience appeal, the racers often picked the biggest puddle on their road and flew by leaving big splashes.
Havin
g collected all fifteen snapshots the competitors arrived at a camp laid out on a large field near Ovruch far away from preserved and protected areas. By the way, the camp is another reality. Things are humming there all the time.
There are all supplies here that the sportsmen need: a shower, toilet, sink and kitchen. The same goes with vehicle maintenance: a car wash, tire shop and power generator. Fire wood was given for free to those who carried outdoor grills.
Such pompous and notorious event could not go past motor sport fans as well as absolute sceptics. In particular, Femen members visited the camp and tried to stop the off-roaders from going across the preserved land. They tried to use a Don’t tread on the Mother Nature billboard to disturb the competition. Instead, they added a zest to the trophy raid. The thing is that the Ukraine Trophy does not overpass any preserved areas.So far, there is no need to protect an open field within the town boundaries.
The hosting party took account of any errors of the previous race and nailed it this time. First of all, metal and plastic was used to build toilet and shower rooms instead of plywood. They are more durable and do not swell under the rain or humidity. Second of all, Gazel cars are used this time to carry the camp from one place to another instead of large pull tractors. The Gazel cars get stuck on a dirty road and fields less.
In general, almost all crews have got a maintenance team coming directly to a camp location from the start and laying down a camp for the crew.
The camp moves from place to place while the competitors pass the route from one check point to another and it creates maximum comfortable environment for the competitors.
One could book some hotel rooms. However, it won’t be easy to get up at five in the morning from a cozy bed and drive your off-road car across fields and meadows to prove its hardiness and your stamina.
