A Different Perspective

We're always showing photos of the outside of the car but what is it like to look out the windshield? We took a few in-car videos this year with a GoPro camera. Here are two previews:


Day 3: Mexico City to Queretaro. This was the first speed section of the day after a long morning transit. We used the wired mic for this day of racing. Unfortunately, I am technologically challenged and thought it wasn't working so we didn't use it again (sound in next video is not as clear). It was wild to start the morning on the widest boulevard in one of the largest cities in the world and then to later be racing across the countryside's two lane roads and through dusty villages. Mexico is a land of contrasts but I love the beauty that is to be found.


Day 4 of La Carrera took us from Queretaro to the mountains surrounding Morelia. This leg of the race is famous, for it includes Mil Cumbres (one thousand summits/turns). No joke - I don't know the navigators in the faster cars can keep up with calling the turns. I can barely stay on top of them! Plus, this was the first time we has raced in the rain. Fortunately the rain stopped for us on Mil Cumbres but started shortly after and the next and last section of the day was canceled. Dad drove great, even in the wet  parts of the road.

More videos to come. Giddy up!

Zacatecas and the finish!

We made it and we won our class! 7 days of racing, 8 different cities, too many topes (Mexico's speedbumps and we're taking an over and under on how many we drove over during the week and I will count when I get my route book back), some trying times and a million memories along the way.

We're currently going on 7 hours of sitting in the Zacatecas airport waiting for our plane to take us home to the states. The unfortunate shooting at LAX has delayed our trip home but we've been having a lovely time visiting with fellow racers father and son Doug and John Hampson and El Chinito Kaming Ko. 

Here's a look back at the blur that was yesterday:

We started the morning at the Marriott in Aguascalientes. One last pre-race breakfast. When racing I have never been able to eat much (very different from real life) so breakfasts while racing consist of coffee, yogurt and green juice. Green juice seems to be a Mexican specialty - apple, pineapple and nopal (cactus) juice. 

For us Day 7 is a "take is easy" day, playing it safe. We do our best to make it to the finish in Zacatecas. There were some great speed sections including the famous La Bufa in Zacatecas. Scattered showers again rained on us so the second time back over La Bufa (we race once each direction) was slippery and most all took it easy. Though there were several crashes on La Bufa including a Mustang, a Porsche and Doug Mockett and Angelica cut a tire then drove over the finish on the rim. And then we were finished!!!

Here we are at the finish arch! This is the Buick from Turisimo Production class. It is a replica of a Buick prototype that ran in Turismo Production. The Mexican team did have some mechanical problems but was very fast. They started one car behind us in the morning but quickly caught up to us in the first speed section and wanted to eat us. Dad pointed him on and we gladly let him pass between the next CH (control) and A (green flag) that is how one must allow cars to pass in order outside a speed section to avoid penalties. 

The rest of the day was fantastic despite on and off rain. The last two stages were the famous La Bufa. We run La Bufa once in each direction. It is famous for being very fast with some tight dangerous turns. We ran great the first direction but then the rain came and we slowed way down for the second time. No reason to chance some thing stupid on the last section of the whole race. Then on to the finish line and arch!!

7 cities, 7 medals. One can not ask for much more. To do so is to conquer The Panamericanana. 

A look of great relief and success! It was a very big party in the street in the rain. Tequila was flowing and beers were spraying. We poured the last two bottles of Tequila Fortaleza to fellow racers and crew. 

View from our room's balcony over looking the finish line and cars. The top three cars of each class had to be taken to an additional technical inspection and because we were first in Original PanAm, the Ford was included. Tom took the car to inspection while we got changed out of our wet driving suits and got a bite if dinner before the famous Donkey Walk to the bull ring for awards. Photos to come of that fantastic experience of dancing up the streets, following the donkey with the jugs of mescal. As Gael, head of navigation, said, "The Donkey Walk is the best stage of he whole race!"

One last visit with some of our favorite fellow racers: Rick Shaw (Ricky), El Fer Fernando (Zorro), Big Bobby (Bobby's Dad), Robert Curry (Bobby), Dad and me. Always lots of laughs to be had!

After all was said and done, we won Day 7 of Original PanAm as well as the overall class prize and then we were surprised at a presentation from a Mexican car fraternity of Most Beautiful Car in Class, voted on by members of the association. A very nice compliment! What is most exciting to us is our overall finish - 25th! 88 cars started the race; 62 finished. We were very competitive overall and represented Original PanAn well which is a testament to team work - great car, great driver, great crew. 

View from our room the morning after awards night. A solid night's sleep and reflecting on all that happened over the last 10 days. It is bittersweet to leave our Carrera family but we will cherish the memories made. We also remember those who were not racing with us this year including Jo Ramirez and the memory of his daughter, Ana Vanessa. La Carrera Panamericana builds a brotherhood that connects us all through this unique experience. 

I still have many posts to share including in-car footage. We got into LAZ last night at 3 and we're back this morning to catch our respective flights. Now the onset of post-tramatic-Carrera-syndrome. It is a combo of depression from coming down from the fast pace, hangover and going back to a reality where no one waves back at us, no one asks for our autograph, and no more police escorts. 

I feel blessed to have shared this experience with my dad. He is a great man, a fantastic father and one hell of a driver. Giddy up!

Day 6: Guanajuato - Aguascalientes

Woohoo! Another day in the books. We've arrived safely in Aguascalientes and had a great day on the road. We are very fortunate to have our Finnish friend Heikki Malinen, who is now living win Morelia, joining and shooting fantastic images of the race and I want to share some. 

Racing Mil Cumbres yesterday

Dad at the arrival arch in Guanajuato yesterday. Why am I not in the car? I was so focused on navigating us through the tunnels that I had not taken the time to calculate our combined times for the day. This must be done before the car is allowed to cross the finish line. If the calculations are not done, the navigator must get out of the car and stand or sit on the sidewalk with the officials and do the addition before getting the car's time chip read. So - I got out of the car and dad drove further to park in the zocalo. I had to jog to catch up with dad but when I got to the finish line (in a jog) dad had already pulled through. With no cars in the finish line, I jogged through and got a big applause from the large crowd! Heineken got this shot of me:

We ran the speed sections very well today and were again first in class. We are also holding our own in the overall standings, remaining at 32nd out of all the classes which is very respectible for an Original PanAm car. 

This afternoon got exciting. We had a long (166 km) transit after servicio to the next speed section. I am ashamed to admit that I made my first navigational mistake of the week. I missed an important turn in transit but soon after realized my mistake and got us turned around and back on track. The road which we had to travel next was one of the shitiest we had yet been on and was a narrow two-lane country road. We new time was tight to get to the next control so we were doing our best to play catch up. Then we came upon a large truck that was carrying freshly cut and chopped corn silage...and the juicy pieces were flying all over the place! We were being pelted on the front of the car on all over the windshield. Once we were finally able to pass, the windshield was so clouded that dad could barely see so we had to quickly swing into the next Pemex and clean it and then take off again to the next section. We also ran into road construction, more bad road and traffic blocking us so we were late to control. Incidently, the area had just received a rain storm and the roads were wet. In addition, a porsche had allegedly had a mechanical failure and leaked oil on the road. Whether it was because of the oil on the road mixed with the rain or also driver error, 5 cars went off the road in that section. No one was hurt. We came across 3 of them. 

We arrived safely into Aguascaliente and just returned from a lovely driver/navigator meeting and awards dinner and we're ready to tackle tomrrow! Just a few speed sections and transits between us and the finish line in Zacatecas. Hasta manana!

Day 5: Morelia - Guanajuato

Day 5 Started from in front of Morelia's cathedral. At the drivers meeting the night before it was unsure if we would race this morning because of the heavy rains the area was receiving but thankfully the roads were in good enough condition to run. 

The morning speed sections were the mountains of Mil Cumbres the opposite direction of what we ran the previous day. The roads were indeed still fairly wet so we took it easy. Slid around a few turns. 

Long transit to servicio past large wetlands. There were even cattle grazing in the water up top tier bellies in plants. 

We made it through the dreaded tunnels! I navigated carefully with my flashlight and we slowly made it through without a misstep. Parking in front of the church was very pretty. We celebrated with a little Tequila Fortaleza. 

At this point everyone is exhausted. Early mornings, grueling days in the cars, late dinners/meetings and I have a cold setting in. Must not give in- marching on two more days to Zacatecas!

Queretaro - Morelia

I had trouble connecting in Morelia to update but here is Day 4 a little late. We had stormy weather threaten most of the day and the skies did finally open right when we were about to start one of the most challenging speed sections of the whole race: Mil Cumbres. Despite the wet roads, Dad drover excellently. The final section of the day was cancelled and for good safety reasons. 

The end of the last speed section brought us to this turnout to de-helmet and to this beautiful waterfall. Team Beef representing! 

Morelia is my favorite city to enter. After going through the arch we got primo parking in front of the cathedral. 

The night's driver meeting was at the historic Governor's Palace. 

Morelia's cathedral lit up at night. 

Another day at the top of the podium for Original PanAm. Dad is driving great. Sitting 32 overall out of 88 cars. Great showing for our class. 

Mexico City - Queretaro

Starting the day in one of the largest cities in the world was incredible! We had to be in the car at 6 to be ready for a police escort to the starting arch at 6:15. The whole stretch of Paseo de la Reforma was closed just for us! It was wild! The starting arch was by the Fountain of Diana the Huntress. Behind us was the golden statue of the Angel of Independence.  

Tequila Fortaleza and the Angel of Independence.

We were lined up in a "Le Mans start" - at diagonals.

From Mexico City we left to the mountains around Jalpan. Some times there are notes in the route book that say watch out for livestock but this was the first time I've seen a picture of a donkey withan exclamation   point in its own reference in a speed section. We didn't see any donkeys in the speed section but did see a herd on the side in transit.

From wide boulevards to dusty mountain roads in the same day! This is where we were staging before control before a speed section.

And another good day on the top of the podium! The other two cars in our class had some troubles but will be back on the road today.

On to Morelia!

Day 2: Oaxaca - Mexico City

First of all, I really have blogged every night. The posts dropped down in order so just look over on the right and prequal and Day 1 are listed.

Today was another early (7am) start. That may not sound early but what that entails is a 5:15 wake up alarm, pack up, get to car that is parked on 45 degree hill parking lot, have some tense moments when the car won't start, realize fuel is leaking from where we opened up the carburetor to re-jet the night before, fix problem, car starts, get lost on way to starting arch, flag taxi to follow to zocalo (square), and pick up your time card by 6:30.

The first section out of Oaxaca holds some sour memories. In 2009 we bent a push rod half way through the section which put us out of the race for two days. Last year Hayden and Charlie crashed the 476 Caddie at the end of the section. However, this year went smoothly. It was foggy and rainy all morning so we didn't push too hard. This is the first time I've raced in the rain. I have a new appreciation for modern windshield wipers.

After servicio (mid-day service break) we ran the same set of speed sections we ran yesterday, only backwards. Then was the famous party start in Tehuacan. It blows me away how much the townsfolk treat us like rock stars! I'm sure I will be the new profile pick of 1,000 Mexicans.

Happy copiloto at end of day:

Long 2+ hour transit to Mexico City. Once we arrived to the outskirts of the city we were bunched into groups of 10 cars and escorted in, around the main zocalo and to the finish arch. This was an awesome experience! Navigating Mexico City without the escort would have been a nightmare. Plus, how lucky to get to drive around the main square in one of the largest cities in the world?! Huge crowds gathered to see the cars tonight. Very humbling.

Another early start en la mañana. We can't miss the escort before they close some streets in Mexico City for a bike race or else we might be trading in the Vicky for a tandem bike. 

And more great news, we're again leading our class!

Cars, giant fish and tequila

Late night report from Veracruz:

Our two major to-dos today were to finish technical inspection and get the car out to run. We successfully accomplished both. 

Piloto and co-piloto gear inspection of race suits, helmets, shoes, haans devices and fire proof underwear. 

Motor inspection. We passed! They check engines and specs to make sure we legally fit our class specifications. 

Car weight (in kilograms). The Victoria weighs a lot! Interesting to see the weight displacement over each tire. 

After passing all technical inspections we get our official car numbers and ok sticker! Car 433 is ready to go!

After we passed, we needed to take the car out to stretch her legs a bit and to also make sure the rally computer was properly working. We had to change the "factor number" in the computer because we changed tire makes and models this year. Any difference in width and diameter will change the odometer and a navigator without an odometer is an unhappy navigator. We got the factor number dialed in and went for a special lunch at the downtown marina area. 

 The Gran Cafe Parroquia is the place to be! This particular location is the oldest cafe in Veracruz. Over 200 years old! We came for the cafe con leche but enjoyed some bomb [dot] com food also. Above is the cubano sandwich. Anna, I thought of you! 

I can't upload the video but let me tell you about the cafe con leche - they bring you a tall glass with espresso and then you clink your spoon on the glass and another waiter brings a large metal tea pot of hot, steamed milk. He pours in the milk while raising the pot really high while never spilling a drop. I want to take him home and have him make my coffee every morning! 

We had to get back to the hotel for our co-pilotos meeting but made a few stops along the way. 

Veracruz marina. Very stormy today. 

We may have driven up onto the sidewalk and through a fish art display. 

And then time to be serious and astute co-pilotos in out 2.5 hour meeting:

Which I thought was actually really well done. I am very surprised at how many new navigators there are this year. 

AND THEN, off to a very serious dinner with friends.

Sam Burg, ladies and gents, and the best grilled octopus any of us have ever had. 

Chip agrees!

I'm so proud - Everyone ordered beef. REALLY fantastic beef. Chip and Taylor Fudge (father/son from Oklahoma), Adrian from England, Sam Burg from Santa Maria, Ricky and Bobby of Shake 'n' Bake fame with their crew and Dad and me. 

Taylor thought it wise to order "jumbo" tequilas with sangritas. We'll see how wise it is in the morning! 

Speaking of the morning, if it isn't raining we will be having our prequalification run which will determine order of go for Friday morning. 

PS. Jason, is this a 50s concept car? Brought home "one piece at a time?" Thought you would appreciate.