Woke Up Today And Thought I Was Late For The Start

It's so good to hear upbeat accounts of the race but some of the best are written by team mates who are dead-beat tired. Many times because of all that wear and tear not to mention the fact they have had very little time to themselves or rest it's only normal for some minor depression to set in. But here is a sample of nothing but a positive outlook when Lauren Scheller, co-piloto of the #433 Ford wrote;

"Fun day yesterday for the last day of racing. Started out on La Bufa
coming out of Zacatecas (after my morning uphill sprint) then 4 high
speed sections. The last 2 were on a beautiful toll road that was shut
down for us. The car ran well, not 100% but maybe 90%. We had a lot
of fun. Really long transit into Nuevo Laredo but well worth it.

It was an amazing feeling getting into N. Laredo with car running
having survived against the odds. I've heard it said many times and it
is so true - anyone who finishes this race and crosses the finish line
truly deserves a big congratulations. This ain't no Sunday drive to
Grandma's!

Last night was a fun dinner and awards at the cultural center in N.
Laredo. Our table had a rockin' good time, especially after the third
bottle of tequila! We sat with the Fudges and Ricky (and) Bobby. Big
congrats to Ricky (and) Bobby on winning Historic A in their yellow
porsche!

We got 2nd in our class by 23 seconds and 2nd overall to Chrislana and
John Gregory in the studebaker. Given our trials we are pretty darn
stoked with that. We also got an award for having the prettiest car in
class. I wonder if they voted for that before we crashed??

Leaving Laredo now, can't wait to sleep in my own bed. Woke up this
morning thinking we had to rush to the starting arch..."

Carson and Lauren Scheller Get Off To A Great Start

After suffering some valuable time loss as a result of Carson using more than the pavement as a road course (Meaning he went off) the #433 Ford had lost a big lead in Original Panamericana Class. They did get the car repaired and back into the race but it still needed some more parts. Based on what I am calculating the times for the top four cars in his class this is summing up to one hell of an exciting finish. All of them are friends and some of the greatest LCP friends on the face of the planet.

This is what Lauren posted on her blog this morning...

"I don't want to talk about yesterday.

Fast forward to 6am this morning. More phone calls to find the ball joint that we need (ours broke when we crashed 2 days ago, among the other things).

7am. We find the part from Renee from Tumbaburros Racing. Renee is awesome!!! Part put in.

7:45 take off following taxi to get to starting arch. Stuck in traffic to get to arch. Ran up hill with car chip to get time card. 1 km at 8000 ft is not fun!

Just finished La Bufa and passed the two cars ahead of us. The old Vicky is feeling good again!

And my odometer is working again and that makes me a happy girl!"

Based on my personal opinion, Lauren is indeed a lady but she may have started this race as a girl but by the time she reaches the finish line she will be a woman. ;)

#433 Carson and Lauren Scheller On Side Of Road

I just got a phone call and my very good friends Carson and daughter Lauren in the #433 Ford got a little too hot into a corner and ended up stuck on a rock. There appears to be some possible suspension/brake damage but the car is stuck in such a way that they are not able to see how much damage there is. The service crew is in route as I type. Lauren and Carson are safe now but they came very close to being hit by the #116 Studebaker driven by Michel Jourdain Jr. Carson and Lauren had ran up the road with their red flag to warn race cars but when Michel Jourdain Jr. came around the corner he almost hit them and lost control of his car and ended up spinning out. Fortunately he was able to get going again. In the mean time a the Federally is now waiting with Lauren and Carson until Tom and crew arrive. They are hopeful that they can get the car repaired and back in the race. Up until now they were leading the Original Panamericana Class.

This photo wont show you but they are high-centered on the gutter while trying to get out.

Lauren also said the Federally had mentioned that somewhere behind them a Volvo had gone off the road on what he described as a "Not so bad hill side." but we do not know which Volvo or how much damage at this time. More later.

A Few More Chihuahua Express Photos

Thanks again to Lauren Scheller for some great photos.

Job Well Done

Today I was thinking about Lauren and Carson Scheller as they are on their way home. I couldn't help but remember the drive home with my son Will after our first La Carrera Panamericana. It's a long drive especially after such an action packed event and the adrenaline keeps your heart racing for a good long while. Even though we were exhausted the return trip seemed to whisk right by as we reminisced so many what ifs, humorous, dangerous, and spectacular moments that we had. It seemed like every other sentence began with 'And do you remember... " As a matter of fact just a week ago my son and I were having the exact same conversation and we laughed about how it doesn't take much to start reliving that awesome rush of adrenaline created my memories of La Carrera Panamericana and what's better is having done it as father and son.

But today it's all about Lauren and Carson, father and daughter, as now it's their turn to talk about the same moments and for a father to see the excitement in his child's face and then for the child to share the same feeling of pride and accomplishment that keeps bringing the father back time and time again. This was Laruen's first time taking on the demanding responsibilities as co-Piloto and there had to be some reservations but in the end, she really stepped up to the plate. She's not even my daughter and yet I couldn't be more proud.



There are a couple things about Lauren's adventure that really pleased me and one of them was the awesome blog she kept up to date which in turn helped keep all of us so well informed. Anyone that has been involved with these knows exactly how difficult it is to do. There is so much to do and so little time that a team barley has time to get anything done let alone find time to maintain a blog. And that's even IF you can find a computer with any speed to do it on. Regarding Lauren's blog, one could really feel her enthusiasm, excitement and so much more which really made for excellent reading.



The other thing I loved was Lauren's great outlook on every single turn of events which were not all positive ones at that. Regardless she made the very best of each situation and was a team player doing everything in her power to help turn a negative into a positive. From where I'm sitting, that's exactly what she did and the bottom line was they are coming home having shared what will most certainly be a memory her and her father will never forget. How cool is that? Lauren said it best when she wrote... "FRICKIN' AWESOME!!!"

Thanks Lauren.

What Could Possibly Be Better Than Father And Son In LCP?

Having been so very fortunate and to be able to look back at so many awesome adventures and experiences in my lifetime it can often be overwhelming. But one of the very best adventures of all was competing in La Carerra Panamericana. Most of us know why and it is so much more than just another race. It's a tradition, it's exciting, it's all about becoming part of a legendary race, one of the most recognized in the world, it's about making some of the most unforgettable friends in your lifetime and if nothing else, it's an honor just having been involved. Combine this with the facts that I got to do it with one of best friends and teammate Jon Emerson and not to mention we finished so well especially considering it was our first time in LCP and it makes it all the more rewarding.




As exciting as all of the above was and still is, all that aside, one of the very best parts of the entire journey was being able to do it with my son Will. From the time Will was a very little boy he was driving/racing something. We have more battle scared walls, furniture, ankles and yes even a few cars, than most people will ever encounter. The point is, it truly has been a special journey of it's own having a son like him to watch grow up let alone remembering all the smiles he has put on our faces and memories I am sure to take to the grave with me.



Not only was Will an intricate part of Team California's Best which was an asset in helping us obtain such a great finish and helping us find our place in the history books but he was so much more. He was my best friend, my confidant, traveling companion for such a long and arduous trip, but best of all WE did the La Carrera Panamericana as father and son. Only a father and son, especially one who has raced as many years as we have, can completely understand the merits, satisfaction, self esteem, and rewards of such an adventure.



While in Mexico I saw a side of my son I had not seen before. He never ceases to amaze me. He spoke Spanish like an old pro which was something I didn't know he could do. For the first time in our lives he was the one playing the roll of being the supporter saying things like, "Now just don't worry about it. Go to your room and get some rest and I'll fix it for you. You just focus on the things you're supposed to." We raced together, we drank together, we laughed together and we even chased a few gals together. Unfortunately for the latter he always got to them ahead of me.




Knowing how exciting all this was for me and other father and son teams before us, I began thinking about my good friend Carson Scheller and a similar journey he is about to embark upon with his beautiful daughter Lauren. That's right... Father and Daugther team. How cool is THAT! It's one thing to take part in a race like this as a husband and wife team and like I already made clear, doing it with your son is something else but when I heard Carson's daughter was Co Piloto for him this year I damn near fell off the stool I was sitting on at the time. To be honest with you, since I have an amazingly beautiful daughter too and one that drives as crazy as Will, (well almost) and having a perfectly good understanding as to all that goes on in LCP, I just can't fathom what must be going on in Carson's mind. Sweet Jesus!


Lauren is the one without the mustache.

What I do know is that Carson and his wife have done a simply amazing job raising what is an amazingly beautiful, extremely smart, multi-talented and wonderfully charming young lady. I have no doubt Lauren will be an awesome co-piloto. I am also sure Carson's car will be surrounded by more autograph seekers and photographers than any other car along the way and justifiably so. If Carson ask me to be a body guard... I'm there.


Unlike most young lassies, pressure of competition is something Lauren is not unfamiliar with not to mention horsepower.


Will Carson's daughter be able to deal with all the craziness during La Carrera Panamericana. Check out this photo and you tell me.


Carson and Lauren's upcoming LCP adventure without a doubt will be one of my top priorities to stayed tuned to and I hope to be able to keep everyone up to date along that journey. I can just hear it all now, "Ok Dad... Right 4..... Left 2.... Long straight.... Flat over crest.... Right Zero... HEY LOOK AT THAT DONKEY OVER THERE!" SCREEEEEEEAAAAACCCCHHHHHHHHHH. LOL! Just kidding. What I would give to be a fly on the wall in that car.


The Scheller Family.

I wonder what the odds are that Will and Lauren could do the LCP as Piloto and Co-Piloto. I can dream can't I.