Willem Avenant Racing

From legacy to launch.

At the NORRA’S BAJA, Darren Skilton returns to Baja not just as a competitor, but as a builder, innovator, and visionary.

After decades at the top of the sport, Baja wins, Dakar stages, and building rally-raid in North America, he’s bringing something entirely new to the desert: the Glickenhaus 008.

Alongside him is Willem Avenant, Dakar finisher, navigation coach, coming off a T4 championship win in the Middle East with Big Red Racing. A relationship that started years ago at Sonora Rally has evolved into a collaboration built on shared experience across racing, coaching, and development.

This driver and navigator pairing is unique because it’s two perspectives of the sport coming together to test something new.

The mission → Get to Cabo. Learn everything. Push the limits. Take 008 to the W2RC, Dakar and beyond!

Read full story - https://www.decodingdakar.com/blogs/news/from-legacy-to-launch-darren-skilton-the-glickenhaus-008-and-a-new-chapter-at-norra



Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus NORRA Racing Southern Africa Dakar Group

Once the adrenaline fades, the fire burns down, and the fatigue finally washes out under a long hot shower… the rally blues set in. That’s when I start to reflect.

Every race, every rally, every event has its own character. And SoCal Rally, “Fight Club” to those who know, has always had something special about it.

It’s been called the Burning Man of rally in the U.S. It’s raw and creative, every stage designed and written by a different author, every roadbook with its own personality. It keeps you honest and keeps you thinking, forcing you to adapt all the time.

We always talk about the machines, the navigation, the riding… but what actually stays with you are the people. The conversations. The shared moments. The stories that somehow get better every time they’re told.

With the constant pressure of land closures and access getting tighter, there’s been talk that this might have been the last SoCal in its current form. It was important for me to be there, to close the loop.

What stood out most, though, was the number of new faces. New energy coming into the sport.
I don’t know what the future version of SoCal looks like, but I really hope this isn’t the end. Even if it evolves into something different, the spirit of it deserves to carry on.

Huge respect and thanks to everyone behind it. So many North American rally riders, and Dakar riders, have come through this event. It’s left a lasting legacy.

And it’s definitely left its mark on me.

Thanks Dan, Taylor, Andrew and everybody else who helped over the years.

Decoding Dakar is heading to Hog Rock 🤘🌍

I’m excited to announce that I’ll be joining the Hog Rock Adventure Rally from 25–28 June 2026.

For the first time, I’ll be bringing Decoding Dakar to southern Illinois, right on the Ohio River, where Illinois, Kentucky, and Indiana all come together. A completely new area for me, and from what I’ve heard, it is an incredible place to ride and explore.

Over the weekend we’ll be doing a few things:
• A basic Introduction to Rally Navigation course for anyone curious about getting started
• Riding and exploring the area on motorcycles (which I’m very excited about 👀)
• And on Saturday night – a full Decoding Dakar presentation with stories, insights, and a deep dive into the world of rally.

What excites me most is meeting riders in a new part of the world and sharing what rally navigation is all about, how accessible it’s become, and how anyone can start their journey.
If you’ve ever been curious about rally… this is a perfect place to start.

New terrain. New riders. New stories.
Hope to see you there.

What I do isn’t just sending you a course or a few tips and hoping it sticks.
I work with you, one-on-one, based on where you are right in your journey.

Complete beginner who’s never seen a roadbook? Experienced rider trying to stop mistakes and get faster?
Same process, but adapted and personalised to your needs.

On-the-ground training will always be the gold standard. Nothing replaces it.
But the reality is… time is tight, travel is expensive, and not everyone can just jump on a plane to train.
That’s where this comes in.

Online, one-on-one, personalised coaching is more effective than ever.
It fills a crucial gap for riders and navigators who want to improve, but can’t always access international training.
This isn’t just theory, it is built on 10+ years in the sport. From my own racing experience , and my experience with systems, timing, tracking, race directing, and event organisation.

I’ve made the mistakes. I’ve seen others make them too.
This is about skipping that part.

For beginners, it’s a shortcut, condensing years of experience into clear, practical guidance that saves you from costly mistakes.
For experienced riders, it’s about refining skills, creating better understanding, and finding seconds.

We build it together, step by step:
Understanding → Training → Confidence → Ex*****on

I’m invested in your journey. To walk a road with you, to make memories, and see you improve in a real way.
The long-term progression. The small wins that turn into big breakthroughs.That moment where it clicks. Where you stop wondering… and start knowing. The lasting results, the satisfaction of turning dreams and goals into a reality, despite the challenges and set backs. The brings me joy!

I work with both ends of the spectrum. Accomplished riders achieving real results at a high level seeking a competive edge,
and people who followed the Dakar their entire lives and decided to finally start their rally journey by entering their first rally raid.

Lets talk!

Improvement in riding isn’t just physical, it’s also psychological.
Confidence, fear, repetition, identity…
these are the real drivers behind performance on the bike.

Many riders never train this side of it.

⏪ Swipe through to understand why it matters.

This mental framework is a key part Decoding Dakar, and of how I structure my training programs, so that you have the mental tools to get you over the finish line, as well as the navigation and riding skills.

Sometimes I step back and realize how special and beautiful our sport really is.

In the desert you’ll find people from completely different walks of life. Different countries, different cultures, different beliefs… many of us would probably never have crossed paths in normal life.

Yet somehow motorcycles, a sense of adventure, and the need to push the limits, bring us to the same place!!!

When we put on our helmets, propelled by the force of the engine, feeling the acceleration, and taking the risks, we are chasing freedom. None of the other stuff matters anymore, not where you’re from, what you do back home, or what language you speak.

In a time where the world feels uncertain and divided, I’m always reminded that sports and motorcycles still has this simple ability to bring people together.

And somewhere between the navigation notes and the long days in the desert, friendships get forged that last far beyond the politics and uncertainties of our time.

Infographic explaining Start / Finish Time Controls.

Full video on YT.

Dakar Car Categories Explained 🚗🏁
(Swipe left ⬅️——