Mile By Mile: First Canadian To Finish The Paris-Dakar Rally

[advrider]

The Dakar Rally is the pinnacle of off-road motorcycle racing. Many dream of competing, but few get the opportunity to do it. Lawrence Hacking was not only one of those fortunate few, but also became the first Canadian to complete the race. Filmmaker Mark Bone tells Hacking’s story in the short documentary Mile by Mile.

Hacking started motorcycle racing in 1971, but didn’t race Paris-Dakar until 2001 at age 46. (This gives middle-aged adventure riders like me some hope.) While the modern Dakar Rally runs across Saudi Arabia for 14 days, Hacking raced continuously for 21 days. He also rode the original 10,000 kilometer (about 6,200 mile) route from Paris, France to Dakar, Senegal. There was no GPS back then. Hacking shows off his primitive (by modern standards) rally computer, featuring a digital odometer and a paper roll with directions on it. If he ran into trouble, there was no “SOS” button to call for help.

And ran into trouble he did. On day 17, Hacking’s stator gave out. He was stranded in the desert, so close to achieving his goal. Fortunately, an African rider who knew the area came along. He continued on, but sent a truck back to pick up Hacking and his bike. He repaired the bike and finished the race, becoming the first Canadian to ever do so.

Reflecting on his experience, Hacking makes an observation that we can all take to heart. “Remember, when you’re lying in bed thinking about what you did in life, those things that you got to do even if they were tough and hard, and you were suffering and crying, and you risked life and limb… Still, you have some fantastic memories that other people don’t have. Those memories are going to be with you forever.” Few of us have the chance to race Dakar, but all of us can have our own adventures, as wild or tame as we want them to be. What Hacking says is true for all of us, whether we race Dakar or take the dirt roads to Dunkin.

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