Dreams can come true!

It’s said that dreams are the driving force of human’s life. That’s true. But dreams are not only for dreaming. They’re for making them come true. Sometimes it takes a little effort, sometimes a bit of luck to fulfill them. I know what I’m talking about – one of my greatest dreams has just come true.

I had wanted to go to Baja Poland for a few times, but always something got in my way. This year it was exactly the same. At the same time as Baja Poland we had “our” Kormoran Rally, and I should be there. But wait… Baja starts on Friday, and Kormoran on Saturday. And if… I quickly check connections Olsztyn – Szczecin – Mikołajki. Hah! I can make it!

‘Cause I couldn’t miss a chance to see Nasser Al-Attiyah! For me he’s the best of the best, for me he’s a legend of world offroad. Never in my life I have wanted to meet somebody as much as I’ve wanted to meet him. But also I’ve never thought I’d have a chance to see him for myself. Since I got interested in offroad I have dreamt of shaking his hand. And here it is – Nasser is coming to Poland!
My friends said I wasn’t mentally stable to want to go across the whole Poland just to spend only a day at Baja Poland. Additionally, my return trip would take 15 hours. Ugh! A low price for a real chance to make my dreams come true! I just need to get my press accreditation and find some cheap hostel. I write for www.rajy4x4.pl, so there shouldn’t be any problems to get the accreditation. Yeah, right… Two weeks of stress. Just before Baja Poland I’m receiving an e-mail – “accreditation granted’. Great! I’m going!

I’m getting there on Thursday. I’m strolling through the service park and looking at few cars that are already there. Some are at scutineering, other haven’t come here yet. No Overdrive Toyotas. No Overdrive here at all. X-raid’s here, but no Minis. Oh, it’s coming! It’s Kaczmarski’s Mini. I must admit that it’s talking nicely. And it’s nice to see it live. Kuba Przygoński is looking at the Mini too. Shall I take his photo? Ah, no, seems stupid. I’d better take Mini’s photo. And go to see if any new cars have come. Once more I’m stopping by Ardavicius’s Tatra. How the hell such a huge thing can fly??? And it flies, I saw on photos from Dakar. Now this Dakar has come to us, to Poland. Weird feeling. I’m going to search for “my” guys, I have to make sure that I’m not dreaming. They’re here. So everything’s really happening. I’ll stay here for a while and have a chat, maybe something more will happen. It is happening – when it’s completely dark and completely late, next cars are coming. Among them a whole fleet of Minis. I’m going to take a closer look at them. This one of Kaczmarski I’ve already seen. I perfectly know the rest of them too – this red one is Schott’s, this one with a Monster sticker is Hołowczyc’s, this black and nicely painted is Vasiliev’s. This Vasiliev’s one is the prettiest. After all the current Vice-leader of World Cup drives it. But there’s still no sign of Toyota. It’s late, time to go to the hostel. I’ll come back tomorrow.

I’m back. There’s a lot more cars. So I’m doing my next round through the service park. I’m coming across some friends – it’s nice to see faces that I haven’t seen for months or even years. Feels like home. Toyotas are coming. Oh, Xavier Panseri! He’s smiling to me, so he must remember me from Rally Poland. As usual he greets me in Polish: “Dzień dobry, jak się masz?” We’re chatting for a while, in English now. I get to know that it’s already his third time in a cross country rally. But first in Baja Poland. Mine too. But his as Hołowczyc’s co-driver, and mine as a journalist. Ah, right! I have to receive my accreditation! I’m running to the press office, and on my way back I’m dropping in Overdrive zone at the service park. Dąbrowski is talking to some fan. Małysz is trying to eat in peace. The poor guy has to hide himself beneath sunglasses and a cap, otherwise he would be eaten himself. Smiling Taddy Błażusiak is talking to mechanics. Hołowczyc, as usual, gives his autographs. Ok, but where’s Nasser??? Ah, here he is! He’s strolling through the service, as he was nobody important here. In sweatpants and t-shirt, completely not like a star. And yet he is a star, the brightest one. And he’s just walking, peeking here and there, chatting here and there, smiling to people. Ah, maybe he’ll smile to me too? No, it’s not my time. Yet. I’ll wait. And now it’s time to go to the press conference. “Hi!” – at the elevator door Rafał Marton greets me. He might be going to the conference too. And there’s hardly anyone there. So I’m taking my place in the first row, I’ll have a great view. And here they are - Tadek Błażusiak, Krzysiek Hołowczyc, Vladimir Vasiliev together with his co-driver and translator Konstantin Zhiltsov, Klaudia Podkalicka, Kuba Przygoński and Robin Szustkowski. And of course Nasser Al-Attiyah, he couldn’t miss it. Conference is conference-like, typical journalist blah-blah-blah. What’s nice is being so close to such stars. Especially to Nasser. But every journalist knows that the most interesting things happen unofficially. I have to wait for this “unofficially”, and for now I’m going to a very official start ceremony. It’s beautiful here! Shiny cars, flowers and Mr. Rysiu Wolan in white gloves starting the competitors. I have a great observation point, next to the starting podium. Again I’m just a few meters from those “all the greatest”. Błażusiak, Łukaszewski, Stańco, Molgo, Komornicki, Novikov in his weird G-Frorce, Beaupre – they’re all driving right beside me. It’s getting louder among the fans – there goes Hołowczyc. Kaczmarski right after him. The spectators are getting crazy – Małysz! He finally had to show up to people. Then “Polish Czech” Zapletal. Next, there are our Dakar ex-motorcyclists, Dąbrowski and Czachor. Finally! A crimson-gold Toyota no. 102 is getting on the podium. Among those flowers it looks like in bloom. Nasser is almost within the reach of my hand, I could touch him. My hands are shaking a bit when I’m taking his photo. I’m not used to being so close to somebody who is a legend to me. Awesome feeling! My dream is coming true! Hey, Anna, wake up! Mr. Rysiu Wolan is raising the flag, giving Nasser signal to start. I could go away now. But I’m staying to take some photos. And to talk with Mr. Rysiu. He may already put me on the list of marshals for next year Baja Poland. He will. Great! Again I’m going to the service park. The more you got, the more you want. Maybe I could chat with Nasser for a while? It’s raining, and I don’t have a raincoat or an umbrella. So what? This is offroad, and offroaders aren’t scared of rain. Fans may be scared a bit, because there’s not many of them here. A small group is standing around Hołowczyc and waiting for autographs. The same is with Kaczmarski. Only women and kids. Błażusiak is interviewed by some journalist. And Nasser? Nasser again is strolling, talking, smiling. He’s approaching fans, giving autographs, posing for photos. Maybe… Maybe I could have a photo to? Ah, no, I’m not so lucky. I’ve always thought I’m not shy. I talked to well-known people many times. But when it comes to my greatest idol, I seem completely speechless. So I’m standing in the rain, totally soaked, just staring. Then behind my back I hear a voice talking to me in English: “You want a photo?” Whaaaaat??? Of course I want!!! Nasser’s assistant says to prepare my camera and that he’ll call the Champ. I can’t believe it! Nasser is talking, so we’re talking too. I’m admitting to being a journalist. “Will your photo with Nasser be on the Internet too?” Without thinking I say it will. “If my boss agrees...” – I add in my thoughts. And then Nasser is coming. He hugs me and smiles. I think I’m gonna faint… No, I can’t faint, it would look stupid at the photo. And we’re still posing for this photo and chatting. I’m telling him how happy I am to meet him, that I’m his great fan. And he thanks me for my support. He thanks me??? Yet he’s the one who’s making my dreams come true right now! Photo’s taken. Once more we thank each other. Reflexively I’m giving my hand. He’s giving his. Believe me, this handshake changes life! How? I won’t tell you, it’s a secret. Anyway, a lot of good things have been happening in my life since then.

And that’s jus the beginning. I already know that even though it was my first meeting with Nasser, it won’t be the last. At the press conference at Baja Poland Nasser said that next year he would take part in Baja Poland again, and Rally Poland as well. I hope he’ll keep his word. Two meetings with the shiniest star on my rally sky in one year are the top of luck! It can’t be better!
It can. I could go to the Dakar Rally and meet Nasser there. You’ll see, one day I’ll go there! After all, dreams can come true!


AM