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.

3 comments:

F.O. said...

Awesome Pic!

George Sullivan said...

We found that you can always expect the unexpected while running.

Hammered01 said...

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.