One day, waking up on a Sunny morning, françoise (Francoise Morcrette), professional cosmetologist, decided to do something completely unlike her regular life and work in the beauty parlor. She decided to fulfill his dream of participation in the legendary rally-RAID Paris-the Dakar. And not just dreaming about participating in the role of a pilot or Navigator, namely ideas of becoming the first woman participant of the rally-RAID that will get to the gorgeous beaches of Dakar, after finishing the difficult race on the road and the sand on the truck pulling a full trailer.
Said – made. françoise sells his small business and used the money to buy military who have previously participated in these races, devotional truck Mercedes-Benz NG 1932 AK. With friends in the Studio with machine and remove the awning and side body. On the frame put the fifth wheel. Otherwise leave the car as it is and the result is a tractor with a long wheelbase. the Motor vehicle left as he was released from the factory. But, as expected a serious load on the roads and on the sand dunes was an interesting engineering solution in the form of installation on the semitrailer hydraulic drive. the Hydraulic system was designed and installed on the semitrailer by the French company POCLAIN. The system receives energy from the diesel engine that drives a hydraulic pump which, in turn, actuates the two hydraulic engine built in the axis of the semitrailer. Under typical loads, the axle rotates freely, allowing the train to move with no additional resistance and power loss. If you encounter a situation when more traction is needed, you can include a hydraulic system and road train turned into a four-wheel drive machine. semi-Trailer was as easy as possible. Of the cargo there was only personal belongings of the crew, a few spare tires, a tank of supply fluid for the hydraulic system and cooling system that helps to maintain the entire system in working condition, because in the desert it is very hot.
Francoise Morcrette and its second driver Alain Guilmeau was new to such adventures, but they were joined by Flavien mechanic Malguy, two-time veteran of the race. In 1980, Flavien Malguy raced on a rally RAID motorbike Yamaha XT500. In 1984, he was aboard the Mercedes-Benz 280 GE. Participation in rally-RAID in 1985 made him one of the few participants that started in all three classes. Trailer Francoise was confusing to everyone as it was very similar to the truck support one of the teams. But it wasn't. It was a real race truck, which turned out to be not so helpless, as seen.
Unfortunately, on the rocky road train could not move with maximum speed, as there was a high risk of structural damage. And the team dropped out of the qualifying rounds, as it could not compete in speed with other trucks in the classic configuration. But the team did not give up. Morcrette Francoise, Alain Guilmeau and Flavien Malguy decided to fulfill his dream, don't give up and reach the finish point. And they succeeded. They survived, they finished their arduous journey to the African continent and forever entered the history of the rally-RAID Paris-Dakar.
Then françoise will no longer participate in rally-RAID Paris-Dakar. She fulfilled his dream. She fulfilled all that was planned and she got it. And the truck she sold. He once again participated in the race, and then used as the Technicals, but that's another story.
