After crossing Russia, Kazakhstan and China during 10.000 long kms, the Loctite Charlies with their Ford Ranger and the Loctite Truck, finally arrived at the Big Chinese Wall.

Like the Charlies also the "Loctite Ranger" deserved after 9200 km a bath. Cleaned at the hippodrome of Hoyot (11 million inhabitants - 800 km from Beijing) the ranger is ready for his last stage to the Big Wall.

To cool down temperature in the cockpit of Dessoudes Chinese cars Zhengzhou Oting (Nissan), extra air intake parts were bonded on the sidescreens. All parts were made of PVC and bonded with Loctite Hysol 3000. Another "Desert Proven" product.

Since the bivouacs in Kazakhstan, the Loctite bike is tremendously popular ! Yesterday in Alxa Youqi (a city in the middle of Mongolia) hundreds of people took place on it and made pictures.

The Desert Warrior nr 243 made 3 turnovers and broke his windscreen. An excellent opportunity to apply Terostat 8517H out of the new packages. The glue was Terostat 8599, so the car was ready in time to go for the very difficult special stage in the dunes on Thursday.

Mechanics of Toyota France Car nr 207 are replacing a waterpump. Sealing the pump with the new Loctite Ultra Grey Silicone. In this kind of circomstances you better have no leackages...

Loctite sponsored biker Norman Kronseder, at the arrival of the special stage of today in Hami. He said:"It was really hot, but good". And we can confirm it,  because it's 45°C in the bivouac... in the shade of course.

Norman was yesterday in Turfan 18th overall.

A DAF mecanic used successfully the new Loctite 5910 silicone package in the Chinese desert to seal the valve time cover of his engine. The truck is ready again for the next special stage.

The Dakarsportteam from the Netherlands with driver Hans Becks is actually 3rd overall.

Terostat 9000 PL in combination with the sliding nozzle was used in the Chinese desert to bond a windscreen of one of the Dessoudes race cars during the rest day.

Again, the motor bikers are Loctite’s best customers. Here, Jean Gaborit is realizing a successful fuel tank reparation with Loctite 3430.

This is how the bikers are looking, arriving at the end of the special stage.

A quick drink and another 250 km of liaison, the bikers are really though guys…

Kamaz Master Team manager announced, after the official briefing that all Kamaz trucks will be out the race, after the deadly accident with French motor biker Philippe Tonin.

Charlies are driving from one bivouac to another, 10.000 km in total. Not always easy, especially on the Kazakhs gravel ways with a lot of trucks and dust…

The Charlies made this 660 km trip in 11 hrs.

Tranorientale 08_0142 2, originally uploaded by dunerider80.

The Loctite Charlies car passed succesfully the Russian - Kazakh border after 1 hour of paperwork and checks.

Together with Dakar 2007 winner, Hans Stacey, Loctite was present at the Kamaz Master press conference in St Petersburg before the start of the Transorientale Rally, highlighting both aspects, partnerships with car or truck manufacturers and technical support to all competitors of the Rally.

"May the best win", said Loctite Charly Dirk Van den Heuvel.

French Loctite biker Michel Delaye is ready for the start for the rally in St Petersburg after receiving the emergency Loctite products, Loctite 3463 and Fix & Repair Tape.

Stage #1 - Saint-Petersburg - Rogatchevo (834 km, Special: 71km). The fastest part of the race starts from St. Petersburg to the Russian forest. This phase has sandy tracks and includes more challenging, high speed areas.

Stage #2 - Rogatchevo - Petrovsky (736 km, Special: 92 km). Takes drivers deep into Russia where pine trees and silver birches line the roads. More then 75% of this stage is sand tracks surrounded by forests and glades.

Stage #3 - Petrovsky - Yelabouga (574 km, Special: 152 km). The checkpoint takes place on the verge of the Volga River where drivers will enter Tatar country. Drivers have to be wary of ruts in the winding then long, final stretch of road.

Stage #4 - Yelabouga - Mrakovo (693km, Special: 123 km). In Stage 4, drivers need to concentrate intensely on navigation control as the track winds through fields and disappears sometimes. This segment includes both dirt and sandy roads.

KAZAKHSTAN

Stage #5 - Mrakovo - Bogotse (630km, Special: 294 km). Stage 5 brings the drivers through the mounts of Ural, the gateway between Europe and Asia. Competitors will discover a mid-range stage cut by valleys and fords in the highest part of the Ural’s. The trail borders an oil pipeline with changing landscapes and gravel bed track.

Stage #6 - Bogotse - Arkalik (705km, Special: 327 km). This part marks the beginning of the marathon stage, which is fast paced and difficult to navigate since it takes place on a gravel track with lots of bushes in the way. Incredibly long straightaways seem endless.

Stage #7- Arkalik - Botakara (692km, Special: 322km). Competitors will reach their highest average speed in this stage that crosses many fields on a gravel track. Drivers need caution at fords where the water level changes, which can slow their average speed.

Stage #8 - Botakara - Ayaguz (729km, Special: 446km). The Transorientale’s longest phase, with dirt and gravel tracks. Drivers must beware of stone-lined tracks that run between huge prairies.

Stage #9 - Ayaguz - Karamay (528km, Special: 82km). This is the last stage in Kazakhstan, a short phase beginning in the prairie gravel and sand. Steep and slippery fords are available but difficult to traverse as are the winding paths through mountains that drivers must navigate.

CHINA

Stage #10- Karamay - Turfan (782km, Special: 341km). In this stage, drivers enter the first Chinese special which starts with 20 km of rough trails where the convoy first crosses. All vehicles must cross the border at the same time. The trails are made of grass and dirt and get quicker until the checkpoint, which is in mid-stage. Next, a swift toboggan run that opens up into Chinese sandy dunes.

Stage #12 - Turfan - Hami (513km, Special: 413km). Throughout gravel tracks, competitors will be driving below sea level in Turfan. The trail then switches to dunes until the checkered flag. This stage features 25 km of difficult sandy dunes. The trail borders treacherous, gigantic cliffs towards the end.

Stage #13 - Hami - Quinguan (727km, Special: 436km). An extremely long stage and hard to navigate with a rocky start. Competitors will race for 80 km among sandy and difficult dunes to find their way out of the rocks. However, navigation will be easy.

Stage #14 - Quinguan - Alxa Youqi (636km, Special: 286km). This stage starts with a tiny trail of dirt and gravel and goes into a deep valley. Drivers face deep gorges before hitting numerous sandy dunes which make navigation difficult. The final part of the stage makes it easier due to the presence gravel and grass.

Stage #15 - Alxa Youqi - Bayan Hot (589km, Special: 202km). In the heart of the Badain Jaran' desert (South Mongolia), which includes the highest sandy dunes (up to 500 meters high), before competitors begin a rough race downhill. Lots of zig-zagging through lakes and dunes.

Stage #16 - Bayan Hot - Hohhot (740km, Special: 121km). Last stage of 2008 Transorientale. Very fast. A total of 121 km of dunes make again navigation difficult.

Stage #17 - Hohhot - Beijing (616km) Arrival- Beijing- Great Wall of China. Participants meet at the Great Wall of China, 80 km from Beijing.

Loctite Charlies Dirk van den Heuvel and Jean Gaborit will be departing from St. Petersburg with a Ford Ranger and our Loctite Service Truck to support competitors on the first edition of the Transorientale Rally from St. Petersburg to Beijin for 10000Km in 17 days. Follow this blog for more news and stories directly from the race! (SL)