Lawrence Hacking

 

Lawrence Hacking has been a motorcycle racer since 1971, he has raced the 21-day long 2001 Paris Dakar Rally and was the first ever Canadian to complete the toughest off-road race on earth and what would be the last rally on the iconic route from Paris to Dakar. Since then, Lawrence has written a book “To Dakar and Back” and manages Overland Adventure Rally held each year in Ontario, Canada.
The bike is a heavily modified 2001 Honda XR650R. In order to make it through the race Lawrence upgraded the tank to a 40 litre aluminum unit with a separate 15 gallon reserve tank. Swapped the stock suspension out for Ohlins units with heavier springs. He replaced the rear subframe with a chrome-moly which is stronger than the original aluminum one and added a huge skid plate and necessary navigation mounts to hold his gps and roadbook. Another noticeable upgrade is the HID headlight from Baja Designs for better lighting when racing through the desert in the dark. If you're interested in learning more about Lawrence's bike check out his book "To Dakar and Back" where he covers all his preparation and thought in putting this bike together as well as of course his amazing adventure.

Racing Experience/Career Highlights:

1971 -Started racing motocross, scrambles on Hodaka Super Rat 100cc. Raced at least once every season since

1980-81 Raced 2 seasons international motocross in Europe

1983 Started Enduro competition

1986-87 Raced 2 seasons regional road racing Ontario

1989 Gotland Grand National Sweden enduro

1985-86, 1990-91-92, 2002 International Six Days Enduro- 6 times (finished all with either silver or bronze medals) 2 times Canadian Trophy team, rode in Spain, Italy, Sweden, Australia, Czechoslovakia, Czech Republic.

1991-92 Competed in Enduro Championship of Lorraine, France Honda XR 250 and CR250

2001 Paris to Dakar Rally completed (first Canadian) on XR650R as privateer

2005-2007-2014 Rally Mongolia won 250 class Honda CRF 250X

2004-05-06 Targa Newfoundland Rally 3 times in Mitsubishi and Subaru won Grand Touring division once as co-driver

2008 Baja 1000, Honda CRF 450 – team placed 7th in plus 40 class

2008 Tour de Blue Island Shikoku Japan, BMW HP 2

2007-2008 Baja 1000, Baja 500, Vegas to Reno, Parker 425 desert in Pro Truck as co-driver

2010 Black Bear Rally Performance won overall as co-driver, Ford Cosworth

2010 Buenos Ares Argentina, Dakar Rally entered own race truck DNF

2012-2013 Mexican 1000 – co-driver Chevy Blazer & Ford Pre-Runner

2015 Baja Rally 2015 Honda CRF 450X 21st place