Day 0: Prequalification

Today was the day all cars (ok, most cars, some still have mechanical problems or hasn't yet passed tech) run a specified speed stage for a time. The time which we receive is to order is for tomorrow - fastest first. Now this is tricky. You don't want to run real race speed because you don't want to risk error or crash, but you don't want to loligag because you want a good starting order. After pre-running yesterday, we felt confident in our notes and the short, fast stage. We don't see the results immediately, only know what your own time is and can visit with your friends to compare times. Turns out we qualified the fastest in our class (Original Pan Am). Now, this does not mean anything other than we are very happy with our starting place overall for the morning - 37th out of 111. It is better to run on the front of the pack rather than the back because usually the faster cars know and follow the rules. The back of the pack tends to be a logistical, chaotic nightmare. So we are happy.

Dad got the carburetor re-jetted and we are ready to leave sea level in the morning ad head to Oaxaca which I think I remember being 5000-6000 feet.

Here are some shots from today:

You know what I just realized, it looks like all we are doing is partying. Well, work hard play hard and tomorrow gets extra serious (as serious as we can be in an old Ford with a rooster horn).