I thought I had retired from rally driving at the end of 1998, as I
was preparing for the 1999 EU-elections. It turned out otherwise; I
participated in the Dakar with Nissan in 2003, 2004 and 2005 and with
VW in 2007. The career in politics brought e-mail to my life - I'm
certainly no nerd - and much to my surprise I started receiving rally
related messages from all over the world. They hadn't forgotten me!
These messages often had a personal link with me; "I've pushed your
car back on the road from a ditch in Portugal" (plenty of memories like
this), "I sat next to you on the plane back from Dakar" etc. Our paths
in life have joined for a passing moment. The messages are often
evocative and warm. I was surprised how a fleeting moment can have so
inspired people that they take me back to it decades later. Those that
I've mistreated probably remember me just as well, only they don't
write to me!
These messages have strengthened my belief in the importance of
human encounters - we should focus on the things that bring us
together. We may differ in colour, background, wealth and religion, but
it does not matter. As a human being nobody is more worthy than the
next man. The rally family is huge and rich in colour. From the King of
Jordan to the shoeless boy in Timbuktu, who follows the passing Dakar
caravan with gleaming eyes. Dreams give us strength and make anything
possible. This unique rally of human life is not meant to be tackled
freewheeling, but in full opposite-lock slide! I hope this website
could help lift us from the ordinary, for a few moments at least.
