Charlie Boorman

[iand]

What do you think of him?

He may get a lot of stick from ‘bikers’ but he has successfully organized and completed The Long Way Round, had a good effort at the Dakar (successfully managing to get one of the 3 riders to Dakar and organizing the whole thing in the first place, not to mention getting the support truck and X5 home)

I have just watched the DVD and read the book for Race to Dakar and he said that a lot of people think he is just a rich boy playing at being a biker. I diasagree, yes I think he has the means/backing enabling him to do the trips I wish I could afford to do, on the bikes I wish I could afford to do it on, but I don’t see this as a reason to mock him/suggest he isn’t a ‘proper biker’.

I believe many ‘bikers’ are jealous of him, because they too would like to have the means to follow their biking dreams, but unfortunately this jealousy leads to hate or ridicule?

I will admit I am jealous, but I do believe he is a great ambassador for motorcycling.

[feef]

He's a genuinley nice guy from what I've seen....

was quite happy to take time at the Stonleigh dirt-bike show to chat to people and sign DVDs and books..

I doubt he has the means to do these trips himself, but has the contacts and the knowhow to get people interested and involved with a view to making the films... he's found a great way of allowing him to pursue a passion..

That being said, there must be a lot of intrusion from the filming that goes on, that must detract from the enjoyment of the actual rides..

jealous?

Yeah!

a
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[Misc]

Who is this person anyway, what's he famous for?
I'm currently watching race to Dakar which is great, would also love to do it.

[Barker-CBR 600]

An actor who never really made it big time, does films and things but isnt really a superstar. Worked with Ewan McGregor on a film and became best mates with him, hence why they both took part.

I am pretty sure either the DVD or the book talks about how when Long Way Round started up he was actually working in a decorating business as he wasnt making enough money through acting.

I'd say he's not peticularly 'famous' for anything before he did all this, and alot of people might look down on him for 'milking' the fact he went with Ewan on Long Way Round and has been living off the back of it ever since. But in my opinion fair enough to the guy he's obviously really into bikes and is serious bout it as a sport not just publicity, and is doing what he can to make his way!

So yeah, thumbs up
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[Skudd]

yeah, I think he is an ok guy. Took time out to have photos done with my 12 year old son, always smiling and a good embassador for bikes and bikers. He is useing what talent he has to the best he can, Lets face it he did 5 days on the Dakar and rode 300km with broken hands. He may not be everyones cup of tea but I would change places with him. There is no scandal about him, he just seems a genuine family guy who likes bikes and doing the best he can for his family, lets face it he probably knows it wont last for ever so why not. And as for the acting, he has made a few films and the like but it is a business that is all too fickle anyway.
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[pa_broon74]

He's been in quite alot of things but only really got walk on roles...

He was in Deliverance How about that?

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0095564/bio

(I'm at work so therefore bored, with plenty spare time to be a saddo looking up rubbish like this. I would never do it at home...)

[Keen]

[wilbur]

More info here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charley_Boorman

[G]

[beatnck]

never met him, but from what ive seen and heard it seems he's a good bloke. If i was in his position then i'd definatley be doing the things he's doing - im very jealous, but fair play to him
ive also got to add that i think ewan came accross as a very nice bloke in the lwr dvd too

[Method]

Well i met the guy at the BMF last year, got a signature from him and had a bit of a natter about rubbish

The problem was with me rather than him, the thing was i couldnt look at him without pictures in my head of him sitting by his bike on the other side of the globe, i just couldnt get my head around the fact that he had done so much on a bike compared to me.

Hes done something immense that i have always dreamed of. Whether i will ever be able to do it or not i dont know, i certainly hope i do but not for a long time yet.

Some people bash him and say that he is a low end actor with small roles, and that he moans a lot in the long way round and the dakar rally, and that he didnt understand how hard the trips would be etc... What crap. Who here can honestly say they have the slightest idea of what a dakar rally or what a trip around the world would involve? And what kind of pressures you would go through etc.

As far as im concerned i am glad that there are videos of him showing his emotion etc. The way i see it, there is only a very select few that have the ability both mentall and physically to do anywhere near the amount that he has acheived, so what if he had backing from film companies and that, who cares? If i payed for a brand new BMW for one of you guys, and told you to get around the world on it, i doubt there would be more than a small handfull that would even seriously take up the challenge, and even less of you that would be able to complete it, backing team or not.

At the end of the day he has completed something seriously immense, and i have the greatest respect for him!

Personally he seemed extremely down to earth when i met him, and i think that is what threw me so much, the fact that he has been all these places, and seen all these things - and yet he still has time to wander around the stalls at a BMF show with all the other kids looking for cheap bargains
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[Finglonga]

[Keir]

met him at brands on a track day, nice bloke. Riding wasnt bad either.
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[G]

[akaDAVE]

[Villers]

Im going to try and not get carried away with this because Ive been known to rant a fair bit.

Im with G on a lot of his points but...

[chris___]

Watched and loved both Long Way Round and Race To Dakar and think Charley seems like a top bloke.

If you read the LWR book it has abit about his and Ewans introductions to bikes and you can tell he just loves bikes and got into them the same way most of us did, ie cheap deathtraps and just having a bloody good laugh!
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[Project9928]

[MarJay]

[Silver]

The two of them have announced the "Long Way Down" now, from John O'Groats down to South Africa. Instead of people knocking them for having support (like you'd turn it down if you had the option... ) maybe they should look into how much money they raised for charity

[G]

[Kaben]

I don't really like Boorman as a personality, but i do think allot of the stick he gets is unfounded.
Whilst it is true that he milked "The Long Way Round" and his association with Ewan McGregor allot, his Dakar effort was pretty good.

I agree he did moan allot G, but the guy did break a collar bone about 8 weeks before the race started and therefore had absolutely no dunes experience behind him. And riding for 180 odd kilometres with a broken knuckle on one hand and a dislocated thumb on the other is shows allot of grit and determination.

I think what he did is impressive, showing you don't have to be an amazing rider to have fun and do outlandish things etc, but i still find him a complete bore, excuse the pun.

Kaben
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[Mark312]

.............just in the final few chapters of Race to Dakar at the moment. Shouldn't have read this thread as I now know how the book ends..

Oh well, for what it's worth, the constant whingeing, whining and general "woe is me" comments got on my nerves at first, but i realised that he wants you to think he was a whinger, because that will make his eventual success seem all the more heroic. Especially when he rides the best part of 450 kilometers with broken hands, and this makes you think - "What the hell was he whining about before, if he can put up with that!"

Never met him, and I'm always careful not to judge anyone until I've met them. Just his achievements on record leave me impressed with what must be a lot of determination, and ability to organise, influence and win people over to make them give him loads of cash and gear. Maybe we've all got it in us, to a greater or lesser extent?
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[Silver]

[MarJay]