Day 1: Huatulco - Oaxaca

Day 1: Check! It was a LONG and grueling day to bring us to Oaxaca. It was hot leaving sea level and especially hot when we were in the hills and canyons with no breeze but we made it to higher elevation, about 6,000 ft.

Speaking of hot - What is it like to be sitting in a race car, strapped in & ready for take off, seat belts tight, race suit up to your chin, helmet tight feeling like your head is swelling and is going to explode at the slightest movement, it's 90 degrees with 90% humidity and sweat is slowly rolling down your nose? Imagine getting inside your sleeping bag, in a sauna, in a straight jacket. There ya have it. Oh - and then when the speed section is over you can grab your water bottle from behind the seat and quench your thirst with near-boiling water. Are we having fun yet?!?

{all kidding aside, even though it can be hotter than a two dollar pistol, it doesn't trump the exhilaration of La Carrera}

We left Huatulco on a beautiful, sunny morning. It was really fun to all of the cars and drivers getting ready before the starting arch.

One shot before taking off

The faster cars going through the starting arch

Doug Mockett and Angelica Fuentes in the uber fast Olds

This was the driver's meeting the night before the start. They did a wonderful job and threw a great party!

The country that we raced through sure was beautiful! There were 12 speed sections ranging from 7 kms to 21 kms. In the second speed stage of the morning, dad felt something change in the power steering and it wasn't the same the rest of the day. The car also ran hot all day and we refilled water twice. AND - the roads after servicio were horrible; one of the speed sections was cancelled because of bad pot holes and rough road. What else can I complain about, oh - 20 cars crashed out today. Other than that, the day was ok.

Dad and me with Rocio Berriochoa. She was our fabulous hostess in Huatulco.

My view from the inside of the Tequila Fortaleza Ford, lined up at the speed section after servicio. We should have kept some of the tequila in the car. I could have used it.

I will do a diagram of what all those things are later, but this is my command center.

We made it into the city of Oaxaca!

They sure give us an enthusiastic welcome!

What we usually do when we get into a town is park the car in the square where the officials tell us, get out of the car while being accosted by the locals, sign a few "hero" cards, take pictures with people, kiss babies and then escape the crowd and head to an outdoor cafe on the square for some food and alcohol {Dad doesn't drink so he has coffee but I try to make up for his abstinence}.

Chapulines! {crickets} These are a delicacy in southern Mexico. They go great on tacos and tostadas.

That is our dear Canadian friend, Linda Robertson. She and her husband, Stewart, drive a really cool Studebaker and finished in the top 10 this year.

The Vicky parked in front of the cathedral.

If you do have a chance to try some Tequila Fortaleza, take the opportunity. It is delicious!

After all the dust settled for the day, we were second in Original Pan Am to our friend John Gregory. Great to be on the podium with friends! Any day finishing is a good day.

On to new day! To Puebla. Hopefully Tom was able to get the issues straightened out and we can rum more smoothly today (they think power steering pump is the culprit for power steering issues).

Onward!