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Will Willem reach Dakar?

Decoding Dakar

For as long as I can remember, I have dreamt of being one of those “phantoms of the desert.” Picture the hot Sahara Desert, a mirage in the distance, and the sound of a big-bore rally bike going flat out, piercing the quiet desert, a trail of dust rising up in the distance.

Have you ever thought about diving headfirst into an adventure where all you have is a paper scroll (roadbook), guiding you through thousands of kilometers over several days? The mix of thrill, terror, adrenaline, adventure, the uncertainty of arriving intact (or not), and the ultimate sense of accomplishment—it's a unique experience that few other adventures offer in our world. Join me in this extraordinary journey, and let me guide you on how to embark on it yourself.

I have decided to finally act on my lifelong dream. Many of you who have known me for a long time will breathe a sigh of relief, as I have spoken of doing the Dakar for as long as I can remember.

The Dakar of old is a distant memory from an era of adventure long past. Gone are the days when you set off into the unknown with no support and armed with nothing but your confidence, your will to succeed, and your drive for adventure.

While still being the longest, toughest, and most grueling motorsport race on the planet, the challenge now encompasses finding funds, gaining relevant experience, balancing work and family life, and a host of other challenges. As many Dakar competitors will attest, “doing the Dakar is the easiest part of the journey; simply getting to the start line is the true challenge.” As a lifelong Dakar hopeful, I can attest to that fact.

While at the time of this writing, Dakar 2025 is a mere year away, my planning and preparation had already started in March of 2023.

What I will do for you:

While researching the Dakar, I came across many people who started the journey but never finished, and in many cases, never even stood on the start podium. This was because they did not realize or necessarily understand what it would take to actually get there. I was also not able to find a clear, concise, or relatable account of how to actually get to Dakar.

So my goal for 2024 is to document my entire journey to the Dakar Rally 2025. This process will include podcasts, videos, blog posts, social media posts, radio, etc., across a variety of platforms. Showing the ins and outs of “how to get to Dakar” will not just focus on the two weeks of the race but the entire year before. When I am done, there will be a realistic and accessible road map to Dakar that anybody who is interested in ever doing the race (something that does not currently exist) can access.

Now this is the part where you would normally be asked to help me fulfill my dream and to please support me in getting to Dakar (don’t worry, it's coming). But first, if you will allow me…

How did I get here?:

As a child, growing up in South Africa, surrounded by legends of the sport, giants among men, I fondly recall watching the Dakar Rally coverage on television with my dad every night (I was allowed to stay up late during Dakar), dreaming together with my father, of one day when I will be riding my bike through the desert like that.

I had nurtured and held on tight to that dream, drawing upon it when life became hard and difficult, helping me to find the resolve to get through whatever I was facing.

When I graduated high school, my high school leaving shirt (similar to a yearbook in the US) had a picture of Dakar legend Alfie Cox on the back and a motorbike in the desert on the front. At my matric farewell (similar to prom) I rode into the dance hall once everybody was seated for full shock and awe effect.

I met my wife in Alaska as I was planning to traverse Africa on my Africa Twin 750 (An old Dakar favorite). She was regaled by stories of Dakar and how I am going to one day do it on only our second date (I am still not sure why she thought it was a good idea to marry me when I was leading with that).

When our daughter was born, she would not stop crying for 6 months straight. I used to calm her down and put her to bed by telling her stories about the Dakars of old and how one day I was going to do it.

At that point, I realized that my dream would never become a reality unless I took steps to actually make it happen. I saved and bought a built-up rally bike and entered my first rally. I made my race number my daughter’s birthday.

Days before the start of my first rally my grandmother died. Going to the rally meant missing her funeral. I believe she would have wanted me to go, and I carried her in my heart over the finish line. My first rally was everything I dreamt of and more. Pain, suffering, adventure, perseverance, community, etc.

For the next 6 years, I threw myself wholeheartedly into the rally world. I realized that information was hard to come by in this very niche, fringe sport of hardcore adventurists and sportsmen. I also realized that once you become a rally rider, you become part of a clan, a family, a brotherhood with an unbreakable bond.

While competing, I also made it my mission to expose as many people as I could to the sport. I wanted to share my love and passion with them so that the rally flame could be lit within them.

In 2020, I flew into Mexico as the COVID pandemic hit, driving into Mexico as everyone else was leaving, in order to help and learn about Rally Comp during the Sonora Rally. After the race, I almost got stuck in Mexico, hopped the border in the back of a van, thanks to some cool rally dudes, and managed to get the last plane out of the US before New York airspace closed. I landed in South Africa as one of the harshest lockdowns in the world came into effect (we were not allowed to leave our houses, buy alcohol, or even walk outside).

During lockdown, I started building roadbooks (the scroll we use in rally to navigate) and devised a training camp for my friends in preparation for our next rally. That developed into me becoming a facilitator of roadbook camps and schools, teaching new rally riders the basic fundamentals of roadbook navigation.

From there I went on to compete and finish (in all but one case) in cross-country rallies in semi-decent positions, to the point where I now feel comfortable calling myself a semi-professional amateur rally racer. I also build roadbooks for rally events, consult on rallies, act as a race director for several rallies, and develop digital roadbooks.

Now that you have a timeline and understanding, you might better understand how I have built my entire life around my dream, nay, my obsession.

Now, comes the part where I ask for your help…...

The Dakar Rally is the most expensive race in the world. If you count up all the very real expenses, just the entry is $18,000, team support and bike rental is $65,000, airfare, protective gear, accommodation, FIM License are another $10,000. You stop counting after you reach $100,000, and you start asking yourself why you would spend so much money on a race. Surely there are better, more sane, more responsible, and more rational things to do with your money.

Here is the thing, dreams are not rational, and achieving them is never easy. Asking for help is always hard, much more so for the type of person who always wants to do everything himself and to prove that he does not need help.

Well, I need help, and I need support, and I am man enough to admit it.

What I will do for that help and support is the following:

I vow that I will focus every ounce of my being and ability on making this dream a reality. I want to bring you with me on my journey, not just as I surf the dunes of Saudi during the first two weeks of 2025, as you eagerly await any news from Dakar and hopefully share the special time with your kids, but I want to bring you along for the entire journey.

I want to show that achieving dreams is possible, but that it takes real hard work, effort, and A LOT of sacrifice.

I undertake to document my journey, the good, the bad, and the ugly, and to share it with you in as raw and honest way as possible. With those of you who dream of going to Dakar one day, with those of you who just like a challenge, and with those of you who still believe that passion and grit can get the job done.

How can you support me?

I can write many nice stories, but the fact of the matter, the cold hard truth right now, is that you can support me financially. ANY AMOUNT makes a difference, no matter how big or how small. I am not independently wealthy, I have worked hard and saved over the last 15 years towards my dream, but life happens, and bills need to be paid. I am not a famous personality or an influencer. I am not a racer with above-average skills. I am just someone with a lifelong dream, and I want to prove that in a world so devoid of hope, dreams can still be made a reality.

So if you can contribute in any way I would truly appreciate it.

GoFundMe link - https://gofund.me/1277939a

If you prefer to make a more personal, direct donation, please contact me, and I can send you the relevant details.

I fully understand that many of you are not in a position to financially contribute but that you are invested in my cause and want to be part of it.

Other ways you can contribute are:

I am in need of a training motorcycle. I will be renting a specialized rally motorcycle for Dakar, but I still need a motorcycle to train on.

If you know someone or if you have skills that could benefit me and help me in my journey, such as marketing, videography, photography, social media skills, riding coach, website design, graphic design, fundraising expert, etc., and you are willing to help me by contributing your skills, time, and expertise, that would be amazing and a great help.

If you know someone who can relate to my story or is in a position to help me, please reach out to them and put them in touch with me.

You can purchase a Rally Tab. I have built and developed the Rally Tab for the advancement of the rally community and to get more people to take part in the sport. Rally Tab - https://therallytab.com/

You can join me in Namibia for the Namibia Roadbook Camp where we will focus on dune riding and navigation training. Namibia Roadbook Camp - Click here.

You can join me on one of my Adventure Tours. Adventure Tours - Click here.

You can purchase a Countershox. Countershox will make a $50 donation to my effort for each unit sold with the code “dakar”. Make sure to select COUPON CODE on top of the page, and enter code “dakar”. Click here to buy a Countershox

Please share my story with as many friends and family as possible.

What do you get in return:

Giving back:

As I mentioned, I have been involved in the rally world for many years now; my passion is teaching and introducing newcomers to the sport about roadbook navigation, and opening up their eyes to the wonders of rally, as well as helping with and organizing events. This is something I continue doing, and that I am passionate about. I give back by growing the sport in the best way I know how, acts of service.

Exposure:

If you come on board as a brand sponsor, your brand will directly be associated with me and will enjoy the significant coverage and reach that I have secured for the entire year leading up to and during the Dakar Rally 2025. Please reach out and I will send you all the relevant information. I will have a global reach.

Involvement and acknowledgment:

While I will share my story and make the roadmap of getting to Dakar public, I will also have an exclusive “inside Dakar” WhatsApp group during the race. I will use this group to share all the cool and behind-the-scenes stuff with anybody who makes a financial contribution to my effort, no matter how big or small.

For contributions over $500, over and above access to the WhatsApp group, your name will go on my bike, and I will carry you with me throughout the entire race.

For contributions over $1000, you will receive a piece of “post-Dakar memorabilia,” have your name on my bike, and have access to the WhatsApp group.

Appreciation:

Many of you reading this, as I have done myself, have contributed to and helped riders get to the Dakar Rally. It is the Everest of our sport; it is the only rally that really matters. I want you to know that your contribution makes a real difference, that it actively not just helps me share my dream with the world but inspires others to chase their dreams. So, no matter the contribution, know that I truly, profoundly, and deeply appreciate your contribution and that I carry your support with me through my entire journey and beyond.

I also want to take a moment to thank every single person and company that up to now has made a real difference in my journey up to this point and helped me to get to the launchpad for Dakar. If it was not for them, I would not be embarking on this journey in the first place. I really hope we can grow this list together. But for now, thank you, and please support those who support not just our industry but our dreams.

My Family - The realization of a dream like this exacts a significant toll on family life, and without the unwavering understanding and support of my wife and daughter, I wouldn't be setting out on this journey. My parents, who instilled in me the significance of dreaming, perseverance, and hard work, deserve immense credit. Additionally, my brothers have been steadfast in their belief in me, further contributing to the foundation of this pursuit.

Ashley Baud - for being crazy enough to share in my dream and support me in the early days of my rally career.

Clinton Pienaar - for continued support after Ashley left.

Mike Johnson and Rally Comp - for being my mentor and for showing me the wonders of Rally Comp.

Robert Mann and Freedom Rally Racing - for supporting and helping me with all the North American rallies in 2022.

Victor Orellana and Chasing Waypoints - for exposure, promotion, and constant words of wisdom as well as everything you do for the rally world.

Justin and Kyra from West X 1000- for awesome pictures, and for constant guidance on how to navigate the world of motorsport journalism.

Gerrit du Toit and MIRA - for the constant support throughout the years, for your awesome gear, and for everything you do for rally.

Carl & Christian at ADVMoto - for sharing my vision of growing rally, by publishing my stories.

Nathan Looney at Counter Shox - for jumping in headfirst and offering donations on Countershox sold.

Donni Reddington and Skool of Moto - for coming on board with the Rally Skool.

Baja Rally team - for providing me with an opportunity to give back to the community, and also for making me part of the family.

Sonora Rally team - for sharing valuable experience with me over the last 3 years.

SADG (Southern Africa Dakar Group) - for everything you do to support the sport, and for all of your support of Dakar hopefuls, you guys make a real difference.

Matthew Glade and Rally Moto Shop - for gear support and donating Sonora built out tower for a raffle.

Elizabeth Saarela - for helping with finding sponsors and sponsorship management.

Christian Lowe and C3E STRATEGIES - for providing digital strategy and content marketing.