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!