An ongoing look at the people, places and machines of the worlds most demanding open road race.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Not Everyone Completes La Carrera Panamericana
Bill France and Curtis Turner hitching a ride after they crashed.
During the 1950 inaugural running of La Carrera Panamericana, then called the Mexican Road Race, NASCAR president Bill France and Curtis Turner entered a Nash Ambassador to race across the rough Mexican terrain. Back then the race was run from north to south starting in Juarez, Chihuahua, and ending in El Ocotal on the Guatemalan border. Bill France who had teamed up with Curtis Turner crashed and never finished the race. It just goes to prove, La Carrera shows no favoritism regardless of who you are and if you are going to get in respect it must be earned.
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3 comments:
Awesome Pic!
We found that you can always expect the unexpected while running.
Turner DID finish. Bought a second Nash at nearest dealership. I read of his incredible driving ability and courage in Speed Age magazine which told details of this race. France wrecked the first car. Turner took over and won, but was disqualified because he did not finish in car he started with. I've seen him drive. Today's NASCAR is boring in comparison.
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