Great presentation, Luc!
I didn't get an accurate head-count, but there were 14 or more people in the audience. Good turnout! Big thanks to Cycle Zone for staying open late to host the event. Thanks also for offering attendees 15% off clothing & accessories during the event. Lots of folks picked up a t-shirt, gloves, luggage, etc.
Luc did a great job of sharing the rally experience with stories, photos, and videos. Scott, mechanic on Freedom's Rally Racing Support team, also attended and provided more color on the rally, Dakar, and Cortez experience. Luc's passion was contagious as he shared his experience racing rally for the first time through the dunes.
...and now the embarrassing part of the evening...I so graciously offered to carpool for folks wanting to share the 2 hour round-trip from the KC metro, and 3 guys took me up on that offer. I knew my BRAND NEW Honda Odyssey had plenty of gas to get to Topeka, but I also knew I would need to get gas to make it home.
I blame Luc for getting me all excited about riding and rally, but I COMPLETELY FORGOT to get gas before hitting I-70 home. Doh!
The Honda sucked the last drop out of the tank on East bound I-70 just before I-435 (at the Speedway). We were literally within a good walking distance to James & Scott's cars parked at Legends...except you don't dare walk across both directions of I-70 traffic in relatively heavy traffic...in the dark...climbing over the concrete barrier...yikes.
Robert came to the quick rescue--he had an Uber driver there in minutes to take James & Scott to their vehicles at Legends.
Meanwhile, I called my Honda Roadside Assistance to get some gas, and the fiasco ensued. First time I got through took quite some time. I had to answer lots of questions before finally being told it would take about 50 minutes for 2 gallons of gas to arrive. So Robert & I wait.
After about 10 minutes, a State Trooper pulled up and explained that he had a fellow officer that could be there in less than 15 minutes with some gas. Cool! I stupidly (AND AGAINST ROBERT'S STRONG ADVICE NOT TO) cancelled the Honda Roadside Assistance call. I felt it was the right thing--the courteous thing--to do.
We probably waited about 20 minutes for the officer to arrive, and when he did, he apologized that another driver had taken his gas can, so he not only did not have gas, he did not have a gas container. WHICH WOULD HAVE NOT BIG A BIG DEAL IF I HAD NOT CANCELLED THE OTHER GUY! (Kudos to Robert--again--at this point because I did not hear even one "I told you so".)
The officer, after checking my license, calling me in, and reporting his location and where we were going, took me to a gas station where I purchased the $10 1-gallon gas can and the fuel.
I poured the 1 gallon into my minivan and attempted to start it. Turning over just fine but the engine does not fire at all. I'm not completely ignorant about internal engines, EFI, basic physics and mechanics, so I try to pressurize the fuel line by turning the ignition on, waiting a few seconds, then back off to allow the fuel pump to run several cycles. Nothing.
Understand that I'm pulled off on the right-side of the highway so the vehicle is tilted quite a bit. The 3 of us assume the 1 gallon of gas just isn't enough to reach the pump's pick-up. I put the van in neutral and we roll it further off the road to get it slightly more level. This does not help. The trooper has the idea for us to rock the van back and forth in an attempt to slosh the fuel. This does not help--the engine never sparks once.
The officer leaves but promises to come back to check on us. Robert and I start Googling "Odyssey ran out of gas and will not start" and related searches. At this point I suspect there may be some kind of "reset" process or something you have to do after running out of gas. We find a few hits, but nothing relative.
At this point I'm back to the assumption that I just need more gas. So I call Honda Roadside Assistance again. The automated system has me waiting for an operator to come on the line for a few minutes and then I get a busy signal. Perfect.
I call again. This time I get an operator who is COMPLETELY UNABLE to understand my location. I explain, "I am on the side of the highway on East-bound I-70 between mile markers 410 & 411 just West of I-435. I am very near the Kansas Speedway." I add that last bit in an effort to prevent a tow-truck from heading to the other side of the metro where there is also an "East-bound I-70 just West of I-435".
Honda Roadside Assistance: "I'm not finding an I-70."
Me: "It's one of the primary Interstates in the entire United States. It runs East to West through the middle of the country."
HRA: "I don't see an I-70 in Kansas".
Me: "Can you open Google Maps?"
HRA: "Yes"
Me: "Find the Kansas Speedway in Google Maps"
HRA: "I did"
Me: "See that major interstate that runs East to West along the South side of the Speedway?"
HRA: "Yes"
(I can be a patient guy, and more importantly, I like to be courteous. I also understand you attract more flies with honey, but between my embarrassment, frustration, guilt, and desire to be home sleeping, I'm getting ticked, and my tone is not hiding it at this point!)
Me: "See how it says 70 in the Interstate icon?"
HRA: "Yes"
Me: "That's just about exactly where I'm sitting."
At this point, she thinks I'm actually at the Kansas Speedway! She keeps trying to ask me if I'm at some address (which I assume is the Kansas Speedway).
Me: "I'm not actually AT THE SPEEDWAY! I only mentioned the Speedway to help a local understand the vicinity I am in. my actual location is"...and I repeat my I-70 bit.
MEANWHILE, Robert has another Uber driver coming to take him home where he'll get his truck, fuel, and come rescue me. Of course Robert has NO PROBLEM getting Uber drivers to our location because Uber uses your mobile phone's GPS to direct the driver right to you. Genius.
So now we've had 2 Uber drivers find us and I'm still trying to get freaking Honda Roadside Assistance to understand where I'm at. She finally claims to understand my location and puts me on hold while she finds a tow-truck. I sit there on hold for what seems like 10 minutes. After a while, it goes completely silent but still connected on the other end. Finally I hang up.
I pull out my American Express card which also comes with limited Roadside Assistance. I call the number and within probably 10 minutes have a tow-truck with gas coming...for a small fee.
The tow-truck driver calls me to confirm. I explain my situation and say, "I probably just need more gas, but might need a tow. If you can bring more than the allotted 2 gallons, I'll make it worth your time." He replies, "I only have a 1g gas can". ARGH!
He shows up about 15 minutes later with 2 1 gallon gas cans full of fuel. The very nice driver pours both gallons in my minivan, and....it fires up!
Meanwhile, Robert had made it home via the Uber driver, got in his truck, got fuel and headed my way. I called him off, but he waited for me until I actually got to a gas station.
THANKS, ROBERT!
I got home about 2 am!
Now here's the strange part to me, and the other guys can vouch. I've never driven any vehicle (4 or 2 wheels) that ran out of gas like this minivan did. It did not stutter or sputter one time. It went from running perfect at 70 MPH to dead. It felt to everyone in the vehicle like an electrical failure where the engine just stopped.
Honestly, I've not run out of gas very many times in my life, but in the past, even after the vehicle stutters and sputters and comes to a stop, if you try to start it, it will pop & fire--maybe even start up for a few seconds. Not this minivan! NOTHING. Because of this, while I was pretty sure a lack of fuel was the only issue, the way it acted made me suspect some larger issue.
My other complaint is that with all the electronics, video screens, electronic dash, touch-screen information panel, etc, this minivan's ONLY alert that you are low on fuel is a tiny yellow dot next to the "E" in the fuel gauge. Don't get me wrong--running out of fuel was my fault. My F-150, on the other hand, is impossible to not know when you are running low on fuel. It has a large low-fuel indicator and even beeps and takes over the info display in the dash "forcing" you to acknowledge the condition.
Sorry, guys!
More seriously sorry to hear about all your adventures! 
Nice work Luc!
