Okay, I agree that in “Formula 1 ″ not squishy act, but also with iron testicles. But where is Formula and where are we?
In general, to our deepest regret and for reasons beyond our control, to please all readers with reports from the tank biathlon and Aviadarts, as well as from other competitions, this year did not work. Alas. But we would never allow ourselves to miss the ABT Masters competition, which were held nearby, so we arrived in Ostrogozhsk on Sunday, August 7 for the most spectacular and exciting part: the final team race.
It was all the more interesting, since this race was deciding who would become the winner of the competition, Russia or China. The teams came to the final, as they say, bumper to bumper.
A little about the organization. I cannot but say, because I had something to compare with (with last year), I was impressed.
Ostrogozhsk is an old town with a very long history. But small. And events of this kind do not occur more often than once in … I don’t know how many years. Rarely, shorter. And the public turned the competition into a celebration for everyone, but in a very original way. Each settlement of the district (whoever wanted to and could) arranged something like a stand for their place.
Basically it looked like this. Like a small courtyard, the appearance is ostentatious, and the filling is quite real.
Somewhere under the accordion they sang ditties to raise the spirit. Sometimes even too much …
These lovely grannies sang Russian folk songs unaccompanied so that only an absolutely deaf person could pass by.
And in each courtyard everyone was treated to traditional recipes. Since we arrived very early, I allowed myself to be distracted from my immediate duties and taste something. Uryvsky dumplings, coupled with something from pumpkin (I forgot the name what I ate - I didn't understand, like a soup, but yummy) and mead … In short, I went in for a reason.
There were many spectators. We filled all the stands, despite the +37 in the shade. They didn’t drive around the test site, like last year; a huge screen was mounted on which everything was broadcast. With comments. Not worse than biathlon.
Participants. Russia, Venezuela, Kazakhstan, China. The Belarusians did not come this time. Instead of them, another Russian team, from DOSAAF, played outside of the standings.
The parade was commanded by the Deputy Minister of Defense, Major General Bulgakov.
The race format is a relay race. Jeep and two trucks.
The track was at first a concrete road, on which there were a "snake", "eight", an overpass, ascents, high-speed sections. Then a mud section and a special section with obstacles. The firing line where the drivers fired from a machine gun.
Judges at the start-finish.
Kazakhstan started first, then Venezuela, then Russia, China, the DOSAAF team closed the table.
Chinese team.
Venezuelans greet the first finisher.
Then the whole team went to congratulate the representative of Kazakhstan. Generally, nice guys.
China moved further.
A participant from the Kazakhstan team shares his impressions.
KamAZ looks: "At last we are behind."
Representative of the panel of judges from Kazakhstan. At each stage there were judges from three countries, Russia, Kazakhstan, China.
This is how the main special stage with obstacles looked. On the left is for off-road vehicles, on the right is for trucks.
Gravel, then concrete logs, then tires imitating arable land, concrete hemispheres for trucks and another mud bath. Another was on the route. And further ford.
The most unpleasant obstacle: concrete koloboks.
Mud bath. True, after it there is a ford, where the dirt can be slightly washed off.
Nobody went better than our driver "koloboks". This, according to reviews, was the most difficult obstacle.
Shot - and forward to the finish line. Only a pillar of dust.
The teams from Kazakhstan and Venezuela were out of luck. We drowned our UAZs in the ford. Affected, apparently, nervous tension, in training took place more than once.
With the Chinese jeep, it turned out that it got stuck in the upper mud bath, which deprived the team of victory. The car is faster than the Patriot, but that's how it turned out.
The Chinese, who played after ours, did everything they could to still snatch victory. The truck driver generally danced something out of the ordinary on koloboks.
And the medals were already waiting for their owners. The judges counted for a long time, there were two couples, Russia - China and Kazakhstan - Venezuela, who fought among themselves.
Building teams for rewarding.
The chief judge, Major Chuzhikov, reports on readiness.
The Deputy Minister of Defense personally awarded all the winners.
In the off-road competition, our driver became the second. The first is China, the third is Kazakhstan.
Russia is the first in truck competition! The second and third places were taken by the Chinese team.
A surprise for everyone: the Venezuelan team won third place in the truck tractor competition.
Who became the first is clear. The second are the Chinese.
And here is the quintessence of it all: the overall standings.
Third place: the team of Kazakhstan.
Second place: Team China.
Cup of winners of the competition "Masters of armored vehicles" held by the Russian team.
Bulgakov then talked with the Venezuelans, mutual exchange of courtesies.
And it was the representatives of the Iranian army that caught my eye. We watched …
This is how this rather adrenaline-pumping race ended. Ours deservedly won. The Russians turned out to have stronger nerves, hands and everything else.
It is a pity that there were no Belarusians. Although last year MAZs were outperformed by KamAZ in speed, their neighbors were quite competitive. Very sorry.
This is where the "Army Games" began and ended for us, the only thing I would allow myself to add is one more material that concerns the participants in the competition. My observations and notes, which I began to make last year at the "ABT Masters", and in this I have added. I think it will be interesting.
