Carrera Driver
Third Edition -- July 2011
**PAN AM PRE-RACE TOUR
**PAN AM ROUTE
**LCP RULES
**ROLL CAGES, SEATS, AND BELTS
**OTHER SAFETY ITEMS
**PRACTICE SAFETY
**TIRE TALK
**ENTRY FEE DUE NOW
**CANCELLATION POLICY
**CHIHUAHUA EXPRESS, MARCH 23-25, 2012
**CONTACT INFO
Special Edition for Carreraistas!
**PAN AM PRE-RACE TOUR
The first annual Pan-Am Pre-Race Tour is scheduled for September 8-12 in San Miguel de Allende. Three couples have signed up for this introduction to central Mexico and stage-rallying Mexican style.
San Miguel was the subject of a recent, extremely favorable article in Vogue magazine. CLICK HERE
Two weeks ago members of the San Miguel Moto Classico Club rode their motorcycles over the mountain to the city of Guanajuato for lunch at the main market. We traveled up the same winding road that will be used for the last speed sage on day #5 of LCP. This is a magnificent road for a speed stage. The Pre-Race Tour will visit this road in September, along with the speed stages known as “Mil Cumbres” outside of Morelia and Los Lobos near the city of Leon.
**PAN AM ROUTE
Not a many details have been published officially about this year’s route. However, it is official: the race will pay a visit to the main square (El Jardin) in San Miguel de Allende and then stop for service in our lovely city on day #5, October 25, during the transit from Mil Cumbres, outside of Morelia, to the last speed stage before entering the city of Guanajuato. Yes, this means we will race up Mil Cumbres around 9:30 AM upon leaving Morelia.
Leaving Huatulco on the first day, we will race south along the coast to Tehuantepec, before turning back north towards the city of Oaxaca on the old Pan Am Highway.
As far as I can tell, we will race on the same track in Queretaro and on the new NASCAR track in Aguascalientes as last year…..yes, the one that had a pile of gravel in the acceleration lane. Perhaps the gravel has been relocated?
With Gael Rodriquez making the route book this year, expect mostly uphill speed stages and conservatively-rated corners. Mr. Rodriquez prefers to keep us safe.
**LCP RULES- A “MAGNUS OPUS” IN PROCESS?
Last month the LCP Organizing Committee released a preliminaryset of rules governing most of the classes of Pan Am cars. This edition of the rules was forwarded to the competitors from the U.S. and Canada in CARRERA DRIVER.
On page 39 of these rules there is a new section stipulating the two options the Organizing Committee intends to use to limit the speed of cars in Turismo Production, Turismo Mayor, Sports Mayor, and Historic C. Speeds will be limited by two combinations of tire diameter, rear gears (differential ratios), and RPM chips. This assumes, of course, a 1:1 top gear in all cars.
After considering these new rules and discussing them with a few competitors, I have recommended the following to the Organizing Committee:
1. That each competitor in these four classes be permitted to select any combination of tire diameter, differential gear, and RPM chip that limits the car’s top speed to that specified in the rules.
2. That all competitors sign a statement that (1) their car is in compliance with the rules and (2) they will not change this set up during the race, and (3) they will accept immediate disqualification from the event if an unauthorized change is made to this set-up before or during the event.
3. That the inspectors will seal the transmission, differential case, and RPM chip into the car, and reserve the right to substitute a replacement chip in the ignition module.
4. That while in competition the cars be subjected to radar checks and random inspections, and
5. That the top four cars in each class be presented for inspection at the end of the event for compliance to these limitations and other rules. (Current practice.)
These changes are intended to allow competitors to use their current differential gear, and to avoid longer lines at the inspection tent in Huatulco by not checking each differential.
I also suggested that the penalties for exceeding the limit on speed for each class be stipulated in the rules.
Also note that the preliminary rules released last month incorrectly extended eligibility to any car in Historic B and C up to 1972. I have been informed by the race director that this was a mistake. These rules also contained several typos and organizational problems that have been highlighted for the race director. One rule which bears watching applies only to Historic C – that cars that weighed less than 2800 pounds upon manufacture must use a 2 barrel carb. This rule is not clearly stated in the written rules.
I also proposed the addition of a rule like found in the SCCA rulebook that says: if a modification is not specifically authorized by the rules, then it cannot be made. In Spanish it goes like this: “Lo no especificado esta prohibido.” The rule is borrowed from the competition rules of the Queretaro Racing Club.
**ROLL CAGES, SEATS, AND BELTS
Other than the limit on speed, the partial set of rules circulated three weeks ago did not appear to change much in the way our cars are fabricated and prepared. However, the Pan Am still does not have a clear set of instructions and diagrams for roll cages, seats, and belts.
Here is what the inspectors seem to be looking for:
a. All bars in the cage should be welded together, including all door bars (no Clevis pins). (FIA actually allows some bars to be bolted in.)
b. Each cage must have at least one support bar across the ceiling/roof of the car, if not a full “X” brace.
c. Seat belts (less than five years old) should be attached to the floor and cage properly.
d. There should two door bars; neither can swing open for entry.
e. Racing seats (one piece) are required. No seats on sliders, nor seats that fold or recline.
f. There should be at least one diagonal support bar under or behind the mail roll hoop, in addition to the two rear support legs.
g. The rear support bars for the main roll hoop should go back at a proper angle.
h. Cars that have wide front doors, like big American coupes, should have more bracing for the front of the cage (by the “A” pillar).
There is some understanding that a cage approved by the SCCA or FIA is OK, except perhaps for the bar(s) across the roof.
At least one car was not allowed to compete in the Chihuahua Express because its cage was ruled not acceptable, and other competitors were forced to modify their cages, seats, and/or belts to pass inspection.
**OTHER SAFETY ITEMS
Driving Suits --- expect the FIA limit of five years for a suit to be enforced. Check your suit for a tag or FIA label with a date on it. If you buy a new one, make sure you are getting the whole five years.
There is no rule requiring a two- layer suit or any level of SFI protection, but inspectors have been known to insist on them. A one-layer suit with Nomex undies may be acceptable. The wearer’s name, blood type, Rh factor and any allergies must be listed on the front of the suit and on the back of your helmet. I recommend a two-layer suit.
Drivinh Gloves and Shoes – Nomex/fire resistant gloves and shoes were checked and sealed in LCP last year and the Express in April, although there seems to be no written rule requiring them.
Helmets – Snell SA2005 or the European equivalent is required. Make sure the helmet has the proper tag inside. Closed-face helmets should be used in open cars. Absolutely no M/C (DOT) helmets are allowed. (I assumed that Snell1020 helmets are OK.)
HANS Device -- a HANS device or other approved form of head and neck restraint, like a Defender or Leatt Brace, is required. You cannot race without one. You may use 2” belts with the HANS, too.
Fire systems – cars should be equipped with a fire-suppression system (a bottle and two or more nozzles). Although not required by rule, having a couple of hand-held ABC fire extinguishers in the car might come in handy, too.
Power-Off Switch -- each car should have a switch that turns off all power to the car. This switch, by rule, should be mounted on the outside of the car. Some cars also have a switch inside the car within reach of the driver or navigator.
This may not be a complete list. Read the rules, again.
**PRACTICE SAFETY
Serious racers know that all safety gear must be worn properly.
Helmets should fit snugly, and the straps should be worn tight. In several recent wrecks, including one fatality, the helmet popped off the navigator’s head upon initial impact. Auto-racing helmets are constructed to take successive impacts and be fire resistant. Obviously, your helmet must stay on to serve its purpose.
Seat belts should also be tightened until they hurt, and then tightened a little more. After the first speed run, the harness should be tightened again. Competitors should NOT use a cushion to move themselves closer to the steering wheel. A specially made foam insert or dense foam padding (like that used by backpackers) is recommended.
Some European racing organizing require that the driver/co-driver have access to a knife or sharp implement (belt buster) to cut the harness in case of an emergency. Sometimes, in a roll-over, when the car lands belly up, the cam lock belts are impossible to open because of the weight of your body on the lock. Latch-type belts usually do not have this problem. Belt busters are recommended, but not yet required.
Practice emergency exits. All competitors, especially those who are not involved in racing on a regular basis, should practice quick escapes from their car several times, including through the window, starting with their helmet and belts tight, window nets up. This exit routine should also be practiced blindfolded--to simulate a cockpit filled with black smoke. Be able to get out in 10-15 seconds! Drivers should also be able to exit through the co-piloto’s window, too, and vice versa. The fire suppressions system and Nomex suit are designed only to give you a few precious second to get your fanny out of the car.
Rookies should also practice getting into their car with their HANS device on, raising the window net, locking their belts, putting on their helmet, connecting the HANS, putting on their glasses inside the helmet, gloves, tightening their belts, and using their toes to turn on switches on the dashboard. (Really, that advice is not always a joke.) Do not wait until Huatulco to learn this one minute routine.
Even if competitors intend to exercise moderation behind the steering wheel, as we all know, “poop happens.” Be prepared when that twenty pound bag of burro dung or felled tree drops on your head outside of Morelia. (Yes, the latter has happened.)
**TIRE TALK
The old, written rules continue to say in several places that 55 series tires or taller must be used in several classes, including the most popular class, Historic C. However, the tabular version of the rules says 50 series or taller. For the last many years competitors in most classes have used 50 series tires, since it is hard (impossible) to find DOT competition tires in taller sizes.
The most popular tires for the Carrera are Toyo RA-1, Toyo A-888, and Yokohama A-048 in the 225-255/--50--/15-16” sizes. It would seem that most competitors inflate them to around 30 pounds, although the RA-1s do not reach their maximum adhesion until they heat up to around 40 pounds, which is not likely in the Pan Am.
Toyo RA-1, A-888, or Yoko? Based on my experience with all three, the RA-1 seems to have a little stronger sidewall than the Yoko, but all are excellent. The A-888 puts more rubber on the road, but at full tread gets really slick on hot pavement when new. Some track racers have complained about the tire’s lack of longevity, but using them in Mexico for two years now, I have no complaint. Being a slow, cautious budget racer, one set of any of these tires lasts me for the whole Pan Am and maybe a Chihuahua, too. Then I have them recapped. ;)
As most serious racers know, these tires are fastest when the tread is just about gone. However, it is illegal to shave tires for this race. Unshaved race tires tend to be greasy and prone to chunking when raced at full tread. They may be OK as rain tires, but on hot pavement, at top speed, exercise a tad of caution until you get used to them.
Thus all DOT competition tires should be scuffed up good before using them in Mexico. “H” rated M+S tires will work fine for some, perhaps less competitive, drivers. Just remember that a well-functioning brake system, solid rims, and proper tires are critically important to your safety.
**CANCELLATION POLICY
As announced earlier, once the entry fee or the hotel rooms are paid, the following policies of the Organizing Committee apply:
50% cash refund on the entry fee until July 31st.
50% credit for the entry fee for 2012 event from August 1st until September 1st.
From September 2nd, no credits or refunds on the entry fee
For hotels, once paid, there will be no refunds, and the rooms are not transferable.
Have you made your request for your hotels in Huatulco for October 17-20, or whenever you and your crew will arrive? Ask about the all inclusive deals, too. Contact monica.grosmann@yahoo.com.mx about your hotel needs.
The Coyote Convoy will arrive in Hautulco on Monday, October 17.
**CONTACT INFO
Did I say that auto racing is extremely dangerous and that includes La Carrera Panamericana?
Adelante muchachos y muchachas!
Gerie
650-525-9190 (a Vonage phone, a free call to me)
Local Mexican phone: +52-415-185-8470
© Gerie Bledsoe 2011
Monday, July 04, 2011
Morning Qualifying – Whatsa Motto You?
By Jennings R. Scroggs, Jr.
Jean Trevoux's Motto-bodied Packard during the 1953 Carrera Panamericana.
In yesterday’s MQ comments, the topic of big cars, generally, and Packards, in particular, came up with respect to the original Carrera Panamericana. As it turned out, the driver of yesterday’s Monte Carlo Rally winning Delahaye, Jean Trevoux, also campaigned a custom bodied Packard in the 1953 and 1954 Carrera Panamericana. Both, the driver, and his car, have interesting stories.
Trevoux, an engineer by trade, was the top test driver for the French manufacturer Hotchkiss in the 1930′s. Trevoux was also a gifted race car driver, and a regular competitor at Le Mans during the era; However, he was even better on the rally stages, winning the highly challenging Rallye du Maroc twice, and the Monte Carlo Rally four times; Most notable of which were Trevoux’s wins in 1939 (the last rally before the war) and 1949(the first rally after the war) in the same car, a Hotchkiss 686GS with the same co-driver, Marcel Lesurque.
In 1940, Trevoux and Luigi Chenetti came to the US to prepare a pair of Maserati 8CLTs for the Indianapolis 500. Both men found themselves stranded in the US by the quickly shifting geopolitics of the day. While Chinetti spent the war years wining and dining with the top of the social registry building the personal relationships that he’d later use to sell Ferraris in America, Trevoux used his engineering skills in the defense industry building drive trains for tanks. After the war, Trevoux went to Mexico, met and married his wife, and opened a bar and restaurant, “La Cucaracha”. With the French auto industry’s slow post-war recovery, Jean was able to meet his obligations as Hotchkiss’s top test driver, compete in a few rallies, and still be a successful club owner in Mexico City. When Enrique Martín-Moreno organised the first Panamericana in 1950, Trevoux purchased a Motto bodied Delahaye 175s. Trevoux finished 9th in the 1950 Carrera then shipped it to Europe, where he used it to win the 1951 Monte Carlo Rally.
Trevoux and co-driver, Jean Bachereaux, in their Packard Motto Special.
In 1952 and 1953, Trevoux competed in the Carrera with a standard Packard 200 coupe. He liked the solid build and engineering of the Packard and the power that its 327 cubic inch made. Trevoux realized that a lighter car, based on the Packard chassis and running gear could be a serious challenger for the next Carrera. So, he shipped a Packard 200 chassis to his old friends at Carrozzeria Rocco Motto in Turin. While no one has seen the car or Motto’s plans, it is believed that car had tubular steel frame supporting its aluminum body panels.
Motto narrowed the Packard’s track by 4 inches, removed a foot off each end of the chassis while leaving the wheelbase unchanged, and significantly lowered the car’s stance. The drastic reduction in the chassis size, coupled with its snazzy aluminum clothes made the Motto Special 400 pounds lighter than a standard Packard 200.
Trevoux sent the Packard’s straight eight to legendary drag racing pioneer, Howard Jahanson for a mild upgrade. Johanson slightly over bored the Packard’s eight, and added a custom 3/4 Howard camshaft. Johanson built a log-style, custom manifold for its four Stromberg carburetors. When completed, Johanson’s engine made over 300 hp. That power was fed via a Borg-Warner T85 3 speed transmission with overdrive to a 3:91 rear end. The front suspension had twin shocks at each corner and a stabilizer bar added to the stock front suspension. The larger, drum brakes from a Packard 400 boosted its stopping power.
The interior was comfortable space working space for Trevoux and his co-drivers, Bachereaoux and Gonzalez. The dashboard is stock from a 1952 Packard 200, with a Nardi wheel, and padded, custom aluminum seats. Naturally, the back seat was removed. The Motto Special failed to finish in 1953 due to cracked oil pan, but returned with a strong, 13th place finish the following year.
Trevoux retained ownership of the Motto Special for several years, before selling it to an unknown collector in Mexico City. It is believed that the car remains in “as raced” condition. His restaurant, “La Cucaracha” was ultimately sold to Don Pedro N. Rodríguez, father of Ricardo and Pedro. Trevoux actively supported the Rodriguez brothers and Moises Solana in their racing careers. Jean continued to race and rally for the rest of the decade. Trevoux and Enrique Martín-Moreno formed Autos Francia, who imported Peugeots to Mexico. Trevoux passed away in 1981.
The Motto Special, with Trevoux and Jean Bachereaux, during the 1953Carrera Panamericana
Trevoux and Armando Gonzalez during the 1954 Carrera Panamericana.
Jean Trevoux's Motto-bodied Packard during the 1953 Carrera Panamericana.
In yesterday’s MQ comments, the topic of big cars, generally, and Packards, in particular, came up with respect to the original Carrera Panamericana. As it turned out, the driver of yesterday’s Monte Carlo Rally winning Delahaye, Jean Trevoux, also campaigned a custom bodied Packard in the 1953 and 1954 Carrera Panamericana. Both, the driver, and his car, have interesting stories.
Trevoux, an engineer by trade, was the top test driver for the French manufacturer Hotchkiss in the 1930′s. Trevoux was also a gifted race car driver, and a regular competitor at Le Mans during the era; However, he was even better on the rally stages, winning the highly challenging Rallye du Maroc twice, and the Monte Carlo Rally four times; Most notable of which were Trevoux’s wins in 1939 (the last rally before the war) and 1949(the first rally after the war) in the same car, a Hotchkiss 686GS with the same co-driver, Marcel Lesurque.
In 1940, Trevoux and Luigi Chenetti came to the US to prepare a pair of Maserati 8CLTs for the Indianapolis 500. Both men found themselves stranded in the US by the quickly shifting geopolitics of the day. While Chinetti spent the war years wining and dining with the top of the social registry building the personal relationships that he’d later use to sell Ferraris in America, Trevoux used his engineering skills in the defense industry building drive trains for tanks. After the war, Trevoux went to Mexico, met and married his wife, and opened a bar and restaurant, “La Cucaracha”. With the French auto industry’s slow post-war recovery, Jean was able to meet his obligations as Hotchkiss’s top test driver, compete in a few rallies, and still be a successful club owner in Mexico City. When Enrique Martín-Moreno organised the first Panamericana in 1950, Trevoux purchased a Motto bodied Delahaye 175s. Trevoux finished 9th in the 1950 Carrera then shipped it to Europe, where he used it to win the 1951 Monte Carlo Rally.
Trevoux and co-driver, Jean Bachereaux, in their Packard Motto Special.
In 1952 and 1953, Trevoux competed in the Carrera with a standard Packard 200 coupe. He liked the solid build and engineering of the Packard and the power that its 327 cubic inch made. Trevoux realized that a lighter car, based on the Packard chassis and running gear could be a serious challenger for the next Carrera. So, he shipped a Packard 200 chassis to his old friends at Carrozzeria Rocco Motto in Turin. While no one has seen the car or Motto’s plans, it is believed that car had tubular steel frame supporting its aluminum body panels.
Motto narrowed the Packard’s track by 4 inches, removed a foot off each end of the chassis while leaving the wheelbase unchanged, and significantly lowered the car’s stance. The drastic reduction in the chassis size, coupled with its snazzy aluminum clothes made the Motto Special 400 pounds lighter than a standard Packard 200.
Trevoux sent the Packard’s straight eight to legendary drag racing pioneer, Howard Jahanson for a mild upgrade. Johanson slightly over bored the Packard’s eight, and added a custom 3/4 Howard camshaft. Johanson built a log-style, custom manifold for its four Stromberg carburetors. When completed, Johanson’s engine made over 300 hp. That power was fed via a Borg-Warner T85 3 speed transmission with overdrive to a 3:91 rear end. The front suspension had twin shocks at each corner and a stabilizer bar added to the stock front suspension. The larger, drum brakes from a Packard 400 boosted its stopping power.
The interior was comfortable space working space for Trevoux and his co-drivers, Bachereaoux and Gonzalez. The dashboard is stock from a 1952 Packard 200, with a Nardi wheel, and padded, custom aluminum seats. Naturally, the back seat was removed. The Motto Special failed to finish in 1953 due to cracked oil pan, but returned with a strong, 13th place finish the following year.
Trevoux retained ownership of the Motto Special for several years, before selling it to an unknown collector in Mexico City. It is believed that the car remains in “as raced” condition. His restaurant, “La Cucaracha” was ultimately sold to Don Pedro N. Rodríguez, father of Ricardo and Pedro. Trevoux actively supported the Rodriguez brothers and Moises Solana in their racing careers. Jean continued to race and rally for the rest of the decade. Trevoux and Enrique Martín-Moreno formed Autos Francia, who imported Peugeots to Mexico. Trevoux passed away in 1981.
The Motto Special, with Trevoux and Jean Bachereaux, during the 1953Carrera Panamericana
Trevoux and Armando Gonzalez during the 1954 Carrera Panamericana.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Some New LCP Photos of The Canada Shoe Porsche.
My very good friend Reno from Mexico has been invited to dinner by the relatives of the former Panam racer Salvador Lopez Chavez was was owner of the Canada shoe factory and the Porsche Spyder 550/001 shown in these never before made public photos. I have high expectations of being able to post more for my readers in the future. Gracias Reno!
Monday, June 27, 2011
Let's Get Ready To Party!!!
Each year the La Carrera Panamericana get together during the Monterey Historics weekend is a must do for anyone who has any interest whatsoever with LCP. Viva LCP!
Tuesday, June 07, 2011
La Carrera News
CARRERA NEWS
JUNE 6, 2011 D-Day Edition
**CARRERA CITY: GUANAJUATO
*JOIN THE PRE-RACE TOUR
**COYOTE CONVOY
**PAN AM CARS AT PIKES PEAK, JUNE 26
**LCP RULES – SLOW DOWN!
**TWO SLOTS OPEN FOR LCP 2011
**CLASSIFIEDS
**LEGAL
**CONTACT INFORMATION
**CARRERA CITY: GUANAJUATO
The new city on the Carrera route for 2011 is Guanajuato (gwah-nah-HWAH-toh). Guanajuato is the capital of the Mexican state of the same name, which means “a place of frogs.” The city’s population is 76,900.
Founded in 1548, the city of Guanajuato was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. The wealth of the city was based on extensive silver mines found under and around the city.
In 1732, the Jesuits established a university in Guanjuato, thus establishing the city as a place of learning and culture.
This area is known as the “cradle of Mexican Independence,” because the revolution against Spanish monarchy started here in 1810 in Delores Hidalgo, San Miguel de Allende, and Guanajuato.
Guanajuato will be a challenge to Pan Am drivers because it is located in a steep valley. The streets follow the terrain rather than the normal Spanish grid pattern. In fact, the city features a maze of streets underneath the city that were built in old river beds.
Reportedly, the Pan Am will stop one night in the city, and the race cars will be serviced in the parking lot of the Convention Center. Finding our way around this unique city will be a challenge. Yet, most Pan Am vets were pleased to see Guanajuato replace Guadalajara as a stop on the route. Who can forget last year’s “Day of 1000 Topes?”
**JOIN THE PRE-RACE TOUR
Participants in the first “Pan-Am Pre-Race Tour” will tour Guanajuato and nearby speed stages on Sunday, September 11. The Tour will focus on the entrance and exits to the city, and provide participants with an opportunity to check out the service area and learn how to get from the service area to the hotels after two or three margaritas.
The Tour will also visit the famous speed stages on Mil Cumbres, have lunch in the Zocalo in Morelia, and be introduced to Queretaro, another city on the route. In addition to visiting Morelia, Guanajuato, and Queretaro, the Tour will include a relaxed introduction to San Miguel de Allende, and some of its race-car shops.
The Pre-Race Tour is planned for September 8-12. The registration fee is $450 per person.
Participants are expected to select their own airline flights, hotels, and airport transfers.
Registration is open to anyone with an interest in La Carrera Panamericana or San Miguel de Allende and the surrounding area. Special training in Mexican stage-rally timing and rules will be offered on Friday, September 9.
A detailed schedule and brochure is available upon request. gbledso@aol.com
**COYOTE CONVOY
Competitors towing their cars or having them transported to Huatulco in October and other interested parties are invited to participate in the 10th Annual Coyote Convoy. The Convoy will leave Nuevo Laredo on Friday, October 14. It will stop for two nights in San Miguel de Allende, and will go on to Oaxaca for one night, before arriving in Huatulco on Monday, October 17.
Each competitor will be asked to fill out the papers to have their race car and tow rig brokered across the border, instead of using temporary tourist permits. A procedure and forms for obtaining the necessary permits will be sent to all competitors soon.
Following the end of the race in Zacatecas, the convoy will return to Nuevo Laredo to be brokered back across the border to the U.S.
** PAN-AM CARS AT PIKES PEAK, JUNE 26
Doug Mockett and Angelica Fuentes will return to Pikes Peak outside of Colorado Springs to defend their championship on June 26 in the famous “Race to the Clouds.” They will resume their friendly rivalry with local favorite Keith Davidson in his Falcon. Todd Landon and father-in-law, Vance Stewart, will also challenge the mountain in “Phatt Man,” a new purpose-built GT-350 Mustang. Pan Am/Chihuahua vets Jake Shuttlesworth and Tony Bogovitch will make the 12.4 mile run in their ’65 Ford Fairlane, while Jack Rogers, a Chihuahua and Bonneville vet will also have a run in a Mustang GT-350. Last but not least will be Hayden Groendyke in his fantastic ’49 Caddy sporting a FI 427 engine and modern running gear in the modified vintage class.
Only a short stretch of the course is gravel. Suerte, y’all!
**LCP RULES – SLOW DOWN!
The Organizing Committee issued the rules governing the race cars last week. The rules remain mostly the same as 2010, except that the fast classes will have their top speeds limited by requiring a combination of tires, transmissions, and rear end (differential) gears.
The limitations apply to these classes: Turismo Production (144.6 MPH), Turismo Mayor (146.6 MPH), Sports Mayor (142.8 MPH), and Historic C (142.8 MPH). 144.6 MPH=232.6 KPH, and 142.8 MPH=229.8 KPH, according to the information provided by the committee.
These restrictions seem to favor classes whose top speed is not limited, such as Historic “B.” However, since the Pan Am is more about using torque to climb the mountains rather than top speed, the new limits are not expect to alter the overall outcome of the event. As few people know, the cars in the Historic classes have not been deemed eligible to win the overall trophy, since that honor has been reserved by convention, if not rule, to the “Grupo Automobiles Panamericanos,” that includes TP, TM, Sports Mayor and Sport Menor. (See Rules 10.2-3.)
**TWO SLOTS OPEN FOR 2011 LCP
Two slots have opened up for the 2011 event. These slots entailed renting a car from a shop in San Miguel de Allende. Full service is also provided. If interested let me know soon. gbledso@aol.com
**CLASSIFIEDS: CARS FOR SALE
Bag O Nails, 1966 Mustang GT 350 R
“Bag O Nails” is a 1966 Mustang GT 350 R clone maintained by Mustang guru Todd Landon with the intention of winning the Historic class on La Carrera and other events.
The car was built from a bare shell in 2007 utilizing the very best of everything, and with the possibility of reverting to FIA homologation spec after the event.
This car is simply the best prepared, fastest (420BHP) and most reliable Historic C Mustang alive, and is now for sale to a serious competitor.
A lot of work has been done (weight reduction operation) to bring it to the highest standards.
Results:
2007: La Carrera Panamericana : 6th overall and 2nd in Historic C
2008: La Carrera Panamericana: 6th overall and 1st in Historic C
2010: Chihuahua Express: 5th overall and 1st in Historic C
Pikes peak: 2nd in Historic class (just beyond Doug Mockett)
La Carrera Panamericana: 4 times on the daily podium with at the end the 4th place in Historic C. Despite the very high level of competition this year, most of the time we finished in the top 15 overall
For more detailed info please phone or email.
Phone : +32497495495 or email tdl@panini.be
’53 Studebaker Commander. $120,000. Finished to your specifications: color and FIA seats and racing harness fitment. This car won the La Carrera Panamericana championship in 2008 and qualified first in 2010. Finish will be as good/better than 2010.
The car has been re-bodied and completely rebuilt since the 2010 event. It is now even faster and safer. The price includes a spares package and delivery/service is available. A build sheet is available. Completely Carrera-legal in all respects and guaranteed to pass all tech inspections. Needs nothing but you to win again. A rental arrangement for 2011 is a possibility. Contact Bill Beilharz, bbeilharz@aol.com or 602-320-5173 (Phoenix).
’68 Porsche 911. Guards Red 2.0L. Full Cage, Fire System, Kirkey Seats, 5 Point Belts, 27 gal Fuel Cell, MSD, Fender Mounted Extra Oil Cooler, Smart Racing and Elephant Suspension. Fully sorted – Porsche Racing Ready. Built 2 cars at once, the sister car to this one in 2003 finished 9th overall. Call 512-346-1880 or email alg@texcpa.com
Over $55,000 invested– asking $26,500.
‘66 Sunbeam Tiger. Ford 302 .060 over. High flow head . Roller rockers. Heavy-duty valve springs. Racing pistons, 10.5 to 1 compression. Racing cam. Heavy-duty oil pump . Edelbrock F4B manifold . Single wire chrome alternator. MSD distributor, coil, and ignition. High flow water pump. Fluidyne aluminum radiator. Aluminum oil cooler. Braded stainless steel fuel and oil lines with Aeroquip fittings. Holley 650 cfm Double pumper with regulator. Headers from Sunbeam Specialties. Remote oil filter. Heavy duty racing clutch lightened flywheel. Engine was totally rebuilt and computer balanced with the flywheel and harmonic balancer, approximately 8 hours on the engine. Ford top loader transmission, Rebuilt by "Toploader Heaven". Custom made heavy-duty drive shaft . Welded rear end. Custom made Mark Williams one-piece solid rear axles. Dual Holley Blue fuel pumps with relays. ATL 15 gal. fuel cell. Dual inline filter screens, Summit racing canister type fuel filter. Stainless steel fuel flex lines with Aeroquip fitting. $33,000 or b/o. Contact: Ed (415) 341-4965; ehugo@bhplaw.com
Photos and additional information are available at www.panamrace.com. Click on Classifieds. The advertisers assume all responsibility for their ads.
**LEGAL
The views expressed in CARRERA NEWS are those of the author and may not (probably don’t) represent the views of the Organizing Committee. The author is a competitor and any advice he offers may constitute a conflict of interest.
All forms of motor sports are inherently dangerous, and La Carrera Panamericana is no exception. It is a long, hard endurance race at high speeds along mountain roads. Mechanical failures are common, accidents not uncommon, and serious injury and even death are quite possible.
Cars should be carefully prepared, with an emphasis on safety (brakes, seat belts, roll cage, etc.), and driven prudently. Drivers and navigators should remember that the most important goal of this event is to finish. Unless you finish, nothing else counts.
**CONTACT INFORMATION
Gerie Bledsoe, Coordinator
La Carrera Panamericana and Chihuahua Express
USPO address: 220 N. Zapata Hwy Ste 11
PMB 68B
Laredo, TX 78043
1-650-525-9190 (Home office)
Number in Mexico +52-415-185-8470
Mailing Address in Mexico (FedEx, UPS only):
La Quinta Prolong. 5-A
Centro-Ojo de Agua
San Miguel de Allende
37700 GTO
Mexico
Phone: 415-185-8470
Email: gbledso@aol.com
Skype: gerie.bledsoe
www.panamrace.com
www.lacarrerapanamericana.com.mx
www.chihuahuaexpress.com
Carrera car number: Chevy II, Nova, #395, Historic C (1999-2011)
JUNE 6, 2011 D-Day Edition
**CARRERA CITY: GUANAJUATO
*JOIN THE PRE-RACE TOUR
**COYOTE CONVOY
**PAN AM CARS AT PIKES PEAK, JUNE 26
**LCP RULES – SLOW DOWN!
**TWO SLOTS OPEN FOR LCP 2011
**CLASSIFIEDS
**LEGAL
**CONTACT INFORMATION
**CARRERA CITY: GUANAJUATO
The new city on the Carrera route for 2011 is Guanajuato (gwah-nah-HWAH-toh). Guanajuato is the capital of the Mexican state of the same name, which means “a place of frogs.” The city’s population is 76,900.
Founded in 1548, the city of Guanajuato was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. The wealth of the city was based on extensive silver mines found under and around the city.
In 1732, the Jesuits established a university in Guanjuato, thus establishing the city as a place of learning and culture.
This area is known as the “cradle of Mexican Independence,” because the revolution against Spanish monarchy started here in 1810 in Delores Hidalgo, San Miguel de Allende, and Guanajuato.
Guanajuato will be a challenge to Pan Am drivers because it is located in a steep valley. The streets follow the terrain rather than the normal Spanish grid pattern. In fact, the city features a maze of streets underneath the city that were built in old river beds.
Reportedly, the Pan Am will stop one night in the city, and the race cars will be serviced in the parking lot of the Convention Center. Finding our way around this unique city will be a challenge. Yet, most Pan Am vets were pleased to see Guanajuato replace Guadalajara as a stop on the route. Who can forget last year’s “Day of 1000 Topes?”
**JOIN THE PRE-RACE TOUR
Participants in the first “Pan-Am Pre-Race Tour” will tour Guanajuato and nearby speed stages on Sunday, September 11. The Tour will focus on the entrance and exits to the city, and provide participants with an opportunity to check out the service area and learn how to get from the service area to the hotels after two or three margaritas.
The Tour will also visit the famous speed stages on Mil Cumbres, have lunch in the Zocalo in Morelia, and be introduced to Queretaro, another city on the route. In addition to visiting Morelia, Guanajuato, and Queretaro, the Tour will include a relaxed introduction to San Miguel de Allende, and some of its race-car shops.
The Pre-Race Tour is planned for September 8-12. The registration fee is $450 per person.
Participants are expected to select their own airline flights, hotels, and airport transfers.
Registration is open to anyone with an interest in La Carrera Panamericana or San Miguel de Allende and the surrounding area. Special training in Mexican stage-rally timing and rules will be offered on Friday, September 9.
A detailed schedule and brochure is available upon request. gbledso@aol.com
**COYOTE CONVOY
Competitors towing their cars or having them transported to Huatulco in October and other interested parties are invited to participate in the 10th Annual Coyote Convoy. The Convoy will leave Nuevo Laredo on Friday, October 14. It will stop for two nights in San Miguel de Allende, and will go on to Oaxaca for one night, before arriving in Huatulco on Monday, October 17.
Each competitor will be asked to fill out the papers to have their race car and tow rig brokered across the border, instead of using temporary tourist permits. A procedure and forms for obtaining the necessary permits will be sent to all competitors soon.
Following the end of the race in Zacatecas, the convoy will return to Nuevo Laredo to be brokered back across the border to the U.S.
** PAN-AM CARS AT PIKES PEAK, JUNE 26
Doug Mockett and Angelica Fuentes will return to Pikes Peak outside of Colorado Springs to defend their championship on June 26 in the famous “Race to the Clouds.” They will resume their friendly rivalry with local favorite Keith Davidson in his Falcon. Todd Landon and father-in-law, Vance Stewart, will also challenge the mountain in “Phatt Man,” a new purpose-built GT-350 Mustang. Pan Am/Chihuahua vets Jake Shuttlesworth and Tony Bogovitch will make the 12.4 mile run in their ’65 Ford Fairlane, while Jack Rogers, a Chihuahua and Bonneville vet will also have a run in a Mustang GT-350. Last but not least will be Hayden Groendyke in his fantastic ’49 Caddy sporting a FI 427 engine and modern running gear in the modified vintage class.
Only a short stretch of the course is gravel. Suerte, y’all!
**LCP RULES – SLOW DOWN!
The Organizing Committee issued the rules governing the race cars last week. The rules remain mostly the same as 2010, except that the fast classes will have their top speeds limited by requiring a combination of tires, transmissions, and rear end (differential) gears.
The limitations apply to these classes: Turismo Production (144.6 MPH), Turismo Mayor (146.6 MPH), Sports Mayor (142.8 MPH), and Historic C (142.8 MPH). 144.6 MPH=232.6 KPH, and 142.8 MPH=229.8 KPH, according to the information provided by the committee.
These restrictions seem to favor classes whose top speed is not limited, such as Historic “B.” However, since the Pan Am is more about using torque to climb the mountains rather than top speed, the new limits are not expect to alter the overall outcome of the event. As few people know, the cars in the Historic classes have not been deemed eligible to win the overall trophy, since that honor has been reserved by convention, if not rule, to the “Grupo Automobiles Panamericanos,” that includes TP, TM, Sports Mayor and Sport Menor. (See Rules 10.2-3.)
**TWO SLOTS OPEN FOR 2011 LCP
Two slots have opened up for the 2011 event. These slots entailed renting a car from a shop in San Miguel de Allende. Full service is also provided. If interested let me know soon. gbledso@aol.com
**CLASSIFIEDS: CARS FOR SALE
Bag O Nails, 1966 Mustang GT 350 R
“Bag O Nails” is a 1966 Mustang GT 350 R clone maintained by Mustang guru Todd Landon with the intention of winning the Historic class on La Carrera and other events.
The car was built from a bare shell in 2007 utilizing the very best of everything, and with the possibility of reverting to FIA homologation spec after the event.
This car is simply the best prepared, fastest (420BHP) and most reliable Historic C Mustang alive, and is now for sale to a serious competitor.
A lot of work has been done (weight reduction operation) to bring it to the highest standards.
Results:
2007: La Carrera Panamericana : 6th overall and 2nd in Historic C
2008: La Carrera Panamericana: 6th overall and 1st in Historic C
2010: Chihuahua Express: 5th overall and 1st in Historic C
Pikes peak: 2nd in Historic class (just beyond Doug Mockett)
La Carrera Panamericana: 4 times on the daily podium with at the end the 4th place in Historic C. Despite the very high level of competition this year, most of the time we finished in the top 15 overall
For more detailed info please phone or email.
Phone : +32497495495 or email tdl@panini.be
’53 Studebaker Commander. $120,000. Finished to your specifications: color and FIA seats and racing harness fitment. This car won the La Carrera Panamericana championship in 2008 and qualified first in 2010. Finish will be as good/better than 2010.
The car has been re-bodied and completely rebuilt since the 2010 event. It is now even faster and safer. The price includes a spares package and delivery/service is available. A build sheet is available. Completely Carrera-legal in all respects and guaranteed to pass all tech inspections. Needs nothing but you to win again. A rental arrangement for 2011 is a possibility. Contact Bill Beilharz, bbeilharz@aol.com or 602-320-5173 (Phoenix).
’68 Porsche 911. Guards Red 2.0L. Full Cage, Fire System, Kirkey Seats, 5 Point Belts, 27 gal Fuel Cell, MSD, Fender Mounted Extra Oil Cooler, Smart Racing and Elephant Suspension. Fully sorted – Porsche Racing Ready. Built 2 cars at once, the sister car to this one in 2003 finished 9th overall. Call 512-346-1880 or email alg@texcpa.com
Over $55,000 invested– asking $26,500.
‘66 Sunbeam Tiger. Ford 302 .060 over. High flow head . Roller rockers. Heavy-duty valve springs. Racing pistons, 10.5 to 1 compression. Racing cam. Heavy-duty oil pump . Edelbrock F4B manifold . Single wire chrome alternator. MSD distributor, coil, and ignition. High flow water pump. Fluidyne aluminum radiator. Aluminum oil cooler. Braded stainless steel fuel and oil lines with Aeroquip fittings. Holley 650 cfm Double pumper with regulator. Headers from Sunbeam Specialties. Remote oil filter. Heavy duty racing clutch lightened flywheel. Engine was totally rebuilt and computer balanced with the flywheel and harmonic balancer, approximately 8 hours on the engine. Ford top loader transmission, Rebuilt by "Toploader Heaven". Custom made heavy-duty drive shaft . Welded rear end. Custom made Mark Williams one-piece solid rear axles. Dual Holley Blue fuel pumps with relays. ATL 15 gal. fuel cell. Dual inline filter screens, Summit racing canister type fuel filter. Stainless steel fuel flex lines with Aeroquip fitting. $33,000 or b/o. Contact: Ed (415) 341-4965; ehugo@bhplaw.com
Photos and additional information are available at www.panamrace.com. Click on Classifieds. The advertisers assume all responsibility for their ads.
**LEGAL
The views expressed in CARRERA NEWS are those of the author and may not (probably don’t) represent the views of the Organizing Committee. The author is a competitor and any advice he offers may constitute a conflict of interest.
All forms of motor sports are inherently dangerous, and La Carrera Panamericana is no exception. It is a long, hard endurance race at high speeds along mountain roads. Mechanical failures are common, accidents not uncommon, and serious injury and even death are quite possible.
Cars should be carefully prepared, with an emphasis on safety (brakes, seat belts, roll cage, etc.), and driven prudently. Drivers and navigators should remember that the most important goal of this event is to finish. Unless you finish, nothing else counts.
**CONTACT INFORMATION
Gerie Bledsoe, Coordinator
La Carrera Panamericana and Chihuahua Express
USPO address: 220 N. Zapata Hwy Ste 11
PMB 68B
Laredo, TX 78043
1-650-525-9190 (Home office)
Number in Mexico +52-415-185-8470
Mailing Address in Mexico (FedEx, UPS only):
La Quinta Prolong. 5-A
Centro-Ojo de Agua
San Miguel de Allende
37700 GTO
Mexico
Phone: 415-185-8470
Email: gbledso@aol.com
Skype: gerie.bledsoe
www.panamrace.com
www.lacarrerapanamericana.com.mx
www.chihuahuaexpress.com
Carrera car number: Chevy II, Nova, #395, Historic C (1999-2011)
Friday, May 13, 2011
Pan Am Pre Race Tour
Hola!
Three competitors who have signed up for the 2011 LCP have responded favorably to my proposal of a Pan AM Pre-Race Tour. We can make it work with only three or four. Having eight-ten would be better, of course.
The components of the tour would be:
(1) four/five days, three/four nights double room at a five star hotel in San Miguel de Allende.
(2) guided tours to the four speed stages on Mil Cumbres, plus the stages at Santa Rosa and Sierra de Lobos in Guanajuato.
(3) guided tour of San Miguel and Guanajuato (the new city on the route)
(4) airport pick up and drop off at the Leon-Guanjuato International Airport (BJX)
(5) training in stage-rally timing, including a mock speed stage with all timing check-points
(6) shopping opportunities for spouses and friends who may not want to tour the speed stages
(7) welcome reception and final dinner
(8) a DVD -- including video of the speed stages
Options: Fly in on Thursday and back home on Monday, or fly in on Friday and back home on Monday.
If you can be in San Miguel only three nights, we can make it work for you.
If we have time, we will also visit Queretaro, which is only 35 miles from San Miguel. Guanajuato, near the Leon airport, is 60 miles away. Morelia is about two hours. SMA is very centrally located.
Right now, the best weekend for the Tour would be September 23-25, since the preceding weekend is Mexican Independence Day. September 9-10-11 is also open.
Which weekend would be best for you? Please give me your first and second choice among these three.
Hasta pronto!
Gerie
650-525-9190
Three competitors who have signed up for the 2011 LCP have responded favorably to my proposal of a Pan AM Pre-Race Tour. We can make it work with only three or four. Having eight-ten would be better, of course.
The components of the tour would be:
(1) four/five days, three/four nights double room at a five star hotel in San Miguel de Allende.
(2) guided tours to the four speed stages on Mil Cumbres, plus the stages at Santa Rosa and Sierra de Lobos in Guanajuato.
(3) guided tour of San Miguel and Guanajuato (the new city on the route)
(4) airport pick up and drop off at the Leon-Guanjuato International Airport (BJX)
(5) training in stage-rally timing, including a mock speed stage with all timing check-points
(6) shopping opportunities for spouses and friends who may not want to tour the speed stages
(7) welcome reception and final dinner
(8) a DVD -- including video of the speed stages
Options: Fly in on Thursday and back home on Monday, or fly in on Friday and back home on Monday.
If you can be in San Miguel only three nights, we can make it work for you.
If we have time, we will also visit Queretaro, which is only 35 miles from San Miguel. Guanajuato, near the Leon airport, is 60 miles away. Morelia is about two hours. SMA is very centrally located.
Right now, the best weekend for the Tour would be September 23-25, since the preceding weekend is Mexican Independence Day. September 9-10-11 is also open.
Which weekend would be best for you? Please give me your first and second choice among these three.
Hasta pronto!
Gerie
650-525-9190
Monday, May 02, 2011
From The Desk Of Gerie Bledsoe
Carrera News
May 1, 2011
**CARRERA ROUTE ANNOUNCED
**CARRERA CITY: MORELIA
**STATUS OF ENTRIES
**CHIHUAHUA EXPRESS RESULTS
**COMING EVENTS
NEVADA OPEN ROAD CHALLENGE, MAY 12-15
PIKES PEAK ENROLLS PAN AM CARS, JUNE 26
INVITATION TO TRANS AM RACE, JUNE 11-12
**COYOTE CONVOY
**LCP RULES PENDING
**CLASSIFIEDS
**LEGAL
**CONTACT INFORMATION
**CARRERA ROUTE ANNOUNCED
Eduardo “Lalo” Leon, the founder and President Emeritus of La Carrera Panamericana, has announced the official route of the event for 2011. These are the cities where the race will start, finish, or spend the night.
Huatulco – Oct. 18-20 registration-inspection; race starts Oct. 21
Oaxaca City – Friday, Oct. 21
Puebla – Saturday, Oct. 22
Querétaro – Sunday, Oct. 23
Morelia – Monday, Oct. 24
Guanajuato – Tuesday, Oct. 25
Aguascalientes – Wednesday, Oct. 26
Zacatecas – Thursday, Oct. 27, finish
For a map go to: http://lacarrerapanamericana.com.mx/ruta_2010.asp
**CARRERA CITY: MORELIA
For the first time in a several years the Pan Am returned to the beautiful colonial city of Morelia last year. Thousands turned out in the main square on a sunny afternoon to take photos, collect autographs, and view the 100+ race cars.
Morelia features perhaps the most beautiful cathedral in Mexico in its “double” main square or Zócalo. The church’s interior is as impressive as the magnificent exterior. The interior includes one of the most outstanding organs in the world, and is the main reason that the city hosts an international convention devoted to organ music.
Morelia is the capital of the state of Michoacán, which is a largely
mountainous state that stretches from near the capital of Mexico
west to the Pacific Ocean. Its forests provide much of the lumber
for central Mexico and offer a famous winter home for the Monarch butterfly. It is also home of the President of Mexico Felipe Calderon.
A few miles east of Morelia is the famous mountain road known as “Mil Cumbres,” a thousand peaks. From the top of the mountain to the bottom are 317 turns. La Carrera will race down this road again this year, and may race back up the next morning before heading to San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato.
Next month we will learn about the race’s first stop in the fantastic historic city of Guanajuato (Frog Mountain).
***STATUS OF ENTRIES
Over 120 entries have been received by the Carrera Office in Mexico City, and the event now has a waiting list. If a competitor drops out, a name from the waiting list will be given an opportunity to submit an application.
The deadline for paying the discounted entry fee ended April 30.
**CHIHUAHUA EXPRESS RESULTS
The fifth annual Chihuahua Express ended on April 10 with Mexican driver Michel Jourdain, Jr., who finished second in the Pan Am, edging out American Doug Mockett and his navigator Angelica Fuentes, for overall honors in the three-day event. Both Jourdain and Mockett were competing in the Turismo Mayor class. Third place in class went to Stewart and Linda Robertson.
Jourdain’s ’54 Studebaker was built and prepared by Mats Hammarlund Racing in San Miguel de Allende.
In the largest class, Pan Am Historic “C” (V8s 1955-1965), the surprise winners were:
Gerie Bledsoe and Fernando Garcia, ’63 Chevy Nova; followed by Jack Rogers and C.J. Strupp, ’65 Mustang 350-GT, and John and Chrislana Gregory, in their “new” ’65 Chevy Nova.
Bledsoe and Garcia also finished tenth overall. Todd Landon and Vance Stewart, fourth in a Mustang, would have finished on top of the podium but ran short of petrol the first day, missing one speed stage.
Other North American competitors doing well were: Jake Shuttlesworth and Tony Bogovich, ’65 Ford Fairlane; Paul Fruchbom and Ray Stephens (Porsche 911), Hayden Groendyke and Charles Samples, ’49 Cadillac, and Robert Curry and Ricky Shaw (Porsche 356). Silver State organizer Steve Waldman and Felipe Arguelles turned in some impressive times in their Evo.
As usual, timing and scoring was not an issue and the race organization was excellent. About the only complaint was about the technical inspection by the Mexican racing federation and some “surprise” requirements. There were only a few racing “incidents” but no serious injuries during the event. Felicidades, Chacho!
**NEVADA OPEN ROAD CHALLENGE, MAY 12-15
There is still time to sign up for this unique event! Steve and Gail Waldman, Pan Am and Chihuahua regulars, are inviting all their Mexican racing buddies to join them in Las Vegas and Ely on May 12-15. Pan Am cars may participate in one of several classes, based on desired average speed and safety equipment. For more info go to: www.sscc.us.
**PIKES PEAK HILL CLIMB ENROLLS PAN AM CARS
For the fourth year, Pan Am cars are invited to participate in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, June 26, with the Rocky Mountain Vintage Racing (RMVR) entries. Thus far the following Pan Am competitors have signed up: Doug Mockett, John Rogers, Todd Landon, Ralf Christensson, and John Groendyke. Another two or three are expected to join. Navigators in this event are options. After all, there are 157 corners in the 12.4 miles to the top. Who can keep them straight? (Maybe Angie?) Mockett and local Keith Davidson are expected to continue their friendly rivalry as vintage king of the mountain, even if Mockett’s modern engine produces a few more pounds-feet of torque than Keith’s power plant.
**PAN AM CARS INVITED TO TRANS AM RACE
Keith Davidson, who is also the Chairman of the RMVR Trans-Am Invitational, has invited all Pan Am cars to participate in this event on June 11-12, 2011, as a way to prepare for PPIHC. The Trans-Am event is schedule for the Pueblo Motorsports Park in Pueblo, CO, about 50 miles south of Colorado Springs. It’s a 2.2 miles track with 11 turns. Elevation is “only” 4900 feet.
Pan Am cars will run in the most appropriate class for each of them, and if there is no appropriate class, they will run in Exhibition.
**KELLOGG AUTO ARCHIVES PAN AM VIDEO
The Kellogg Auto Archives in Los Angeles is planning a multi-DVD release on the original La Carrera Panamericana, 1950-1954. Stephen Mitchell is the director of the project. Most of the material for his project is coming from the seventeen hours of restorable film provided by the family of Ray Crawford, who raced the original event each year, finally winning his class (Big American Sedans) in 1954. Interviews with surviving racers are being included.
A short snippet of Crawford’s unique (16 mm color) film was shown at the Pan Am driver’s meeting in Tuxtla Gutierrez last year. The film is now being developed into a documentary by, and may soon be available for purchase. Several teaser’s for the project have been released to various web sites. Here are two: http://www.youtube.com/user/GTO3987 and http://vimeo.com/20908790.
The project needs additional film, especially from the races in 1950and 1952. Please let me know if you have film you would like to contribute to this project. gbledso@aol.com.
**CARRERA ARCHIVES 2011
Please send copies of your 2011 Carrera videos and photos to me on a DVD so they can been preserved in the Carrera archives. Please mail them to my address below in the Contact information. Thanks!
**MEXICAN CAR INSURANCE
All competitors must show proof of Mexican auto insurance on their service vehicles for the Carrera. In fact, it is a good idea to carry third-person liability insurance on the race car -- for when it is not racing.
Go to www.bajabound.com/?r=panamrace and shop for an insurance company and an appropriate level of coverage for your service vehicle and race car. Bajabound is one of the few brokers that will issue policies on older (pre-1981) cars. You can pay by credit card and receive your policy via email. They are also helpful on the telephone, especially because they understand racing in Mexico—from the Baja 500 to the Chihuahua Express.
Please note that the liability insurance is only valid on a rally car when it is not involved in the rally. While racing, the car is covered by a policy issued to the Organizing Committee.
All competitors should understand their rights and responsibilities while engaged in stage rally in Mexico.
**THE COYOTE CONVOY: A DIFFERENT APPROACH
Towing or driving a race car to Mexico? Join the Coyote Convoy. The convoy of twenty or more trucks, trailers, and race cars will leave Laredo, Texas on October 14, 2011 for the trip across the border and down to the start of the race. The convoy will stop for two nights in San Miguel de Allende, before heading on to the start of the race. It will arrive in Huatulco on October 17. Registration and inspection starts on October 18.
Participants in the convoy will be encouraged to use a Mexican Custom Agent (broker) to bring their vehicles, equipment, and spares across the border. Details will follow.
**LCP RULES PENDING
The official rules or “Reglamento” for the Pan Am are still being revised for 2011. Some changes are expected. These changes should be announced soon.
Please note that a HANS devices or other approved (FIA or SFI) head and neck protection system will be required again in all classes this year. Racing suits should be no older than five years, too, and that’s a new one.
FIA approved or SCCA homologated racing seats may also be required. There has been extensive speculation about restrictions to slow the cars down a tad, like: spec carburetors, spec differential gear ratios, and a limit on RPM, but nothing has been announced yet.
Owners of cars being built now for the Pan Am should have the design for their roll cages reviewed before the cage is installed. All roll cages and safety equipment are subject to inspection and final approval at the start of the event. Warning: just because a cage has been approved by SCA or NASA, if may not be accepted by the inspectors in Mexico, who are far more oriented toward rally cars, rather than track cars.
**CLASSIFIEDS: CARS FOR SALE
’53 Studebaker Commander. $120,000. Finished to your specifications: color and FIA seats and racing harness fitment. This car won the La Carrera Panamericana championship in 2008 and qualified first in 2010. Finish will be as good/better than 2010.
The car has been re-bodied and completely rebuilt since the 2010 event. It is now even faster and safer. The price includes a spares package and delivery/service is available. A build sheet is available. Completely Carrera-legal in all respects and guaranteed to pass all tech inspections. Needs nothing but you to win again. A rental arrangement for 2011 is a possibility. Contact Bill Beilharz, bbeilharz@aol.com or 602-320-5173 (Phoenix).
‘65 Mustang GT350R. “The Gypsy Wind.” Ready for the world famous Pikes Peak International Hill Climb June 26, 2011. It knows its way to the top. 400+ HP. Prepped for hill climb altitude and suspension. Rally computer and intercom system. Coaching and in-car video available to pre-run the hill in its entirety. Full support offered by experienced car builder and vet of the Hill Climb. Contact Todd Landon at TALandon@landolakes.com. Deadline is June 1.
’72 2002 BMW. SOLD Finished 25th overall in 2009 LCP, third in class. Balanced and blue printed engine. 10.5-1 pistons, dual Mikuni carbs. Full Roll Cage, Fire suppression system, Terra-Trip, Intercom, Fuel Cell. Custom Coil over Suspension, Wilwood Brake Master Cylinder and disc brakes front and rear, Limited slip rear end. Ready to race.
Email for more information and specs. Rick Row northbaybavarian@yahoo.com
’68 Porsche 911. Guards Red 2.0L. Full Cage, Fire System, Kirkey Seats, 5 Point Belts, 27 gal Fuel Cell, MSD, Fender Mounted Extra Oil Cooler, Smart Racing and Elephant Suspension. Fully sorted – Porsche Racing Ready. Built 2 cars at once, the sister car to this one in 2003 finished 9th overall. Call 512-346-1880 or email alg@texcpa.com
Over $55,000 invested– asking $26,500.
’65 Falcon. Built and prepared by MHRacing in San Miguel de Allende. Exactly the same as the two cars that came in first and second in Historic C in the Panamericana 2011. 302 Ford Motorsport engine with Dart heads, Air gap intake, 600 Holley and Canton Oil pan. Brand new Top Loader transmission. Ford 9 inch full floater rear end. Wilwood brakes all around. Tig welded roll cage, Fuel Safe fuel cell and Cobra carbon fiber seats. Apart from the body, there is not one single old part in this car, everything is brand new! Very fast, reliable and easy to drive. Email mats@mhracing.com.mx
‘66 Sunbeam Tiger. Ford 302 .060 over. High flow head . Roller rockers. Heavy-duty valve springs. Racing pistons, 10.5 to 1 compression. Racing cam. Heavy-duty oil pump . Edelbrock F4B manifold . Single wire chrome alternator. MSD distributor, coil, and ignition. High flow water pump. Fluidyne aluminum radiator. Aluminum oil cooler. Braded stainless steel fuel and oil lines with Aeroquip fittings. Holley 650 cfm Double pumper with regulator. Headers from Sunbeam Specialties. Remote oil filter. Heavy duty racing clutch lightened flywheel. Engine was totally rebuilt and computer balanced with the flywheel and harmonic balancer, approximately 8 hours on the engine. Ford top loader transmission, Rebuilt by "Toploader Heaven". Custom made heavy-duty drive shaft . Welded rear end. Custom made Mark Williams one-piece solid rear axles. Dual Holley Blue fuel pumps with relays. ATL 15 gal. fuel cell. Dual inline filter screens, Summit racing canister type fuel filter. Stainless steel fuel flex lines with Aeroquip fitting. $33,000 or b/o. Contact: Ed (415) 341-4965; ehugo@bhplaw.com
Photos and additional information are available at www.panamrace.com. Click on Classifieds. The advertisers assume all responsibility for their ads.
**LEGAL
The views expressed in CARRERA NEWS are those of the author and may not (probably don’t) represent the views of the Organizing Committee. The author is a competitor and any advice he offers may constitute a blatant conflict of interest.
All forms of motor sports are inherently dangerous, and La Carrera Panamericana is no exception. It is a long, hard endurance race at high speeds along mountain roads. Mechanical failures are common, accidents not uncommon, and serious injury and even death are quite possible.
Cars should be carefully prepared, with an emphasis on safety (brakes, roll cage, etc.), and driven prudently. Drivers and navigators should remember that the most important goal of this event is to finish.
**CONTACT INFORMATION
Gerie Bledsoe, Coordinator
La Carrera Panamericana and Chihuahua Express
USPO address: 220 N. Zapata Hwy Ste 11
PMB 68B
Laredo, TX 78043
1-650-525-9190 (Home office)
1-650-867-9488 (mobile, only in US)
Number in Mexico +52-415-185-8470
Mailing Address in Mexico (FedEx, UPS only):
La Quinta Prolong. 5-A
Centro-Ojo de Agua
San Miguel de Allende
37700 GTO
Mexico
Phone: 415-185-8470
Email: gbledso@aol.com
Skype: gerie.bledsoe
www.panamrace.com
www.lacarrerapanamericana.com.mx
www.chihuahuaexpress.com
Carrera car number: Chevy II, Nova, #395, Historic C (1999-2011)
Carrera Office, Mexico City 1-310-6959
Email info@lacarrerapanamericana.com.mx
© Gerie Bledsoe 2011
May 1, 2011
**CARRERA ROUTE ANNOUNCED
**CARRERA CITY: MORELIA
**STATUS OF ENTRIES
**CHIHUAHUA EXPRESS RESULTS
**COMING EVENTS
NEVADA OPEN ROAD CHALLENGE, MAY 12-15
PIKES PEAK ENROLLS PAN AM CARS, JUNE 26
INVITATION TO TRANS AM RACE, JUNE 11-12
**COYOTE CONVOY
**LCP RULES PENDING
**CLASSIFIEDS
**LEGAL
**CONTACT INFORMATION
**CARRERA ROUTE ANNOUNCED
Eduardo “Lalo” Leon, the founder and President Emeritus of La Carrera Panamericana, has announced the official route of the event for 2011. These are the cities where the race will start, finish, or spend the night.
Huatulco – Oct. 18-20 registration-inspection; race starts Oct. 21
Oaxaca City – Friday, Oct. 21
Puebla – Saturday, Oct. 22
Querétaro – Sunday, Oct. 23
Morelia – Monday, Oct. 24
Guanajuato – Tuesday, Oct. 25
Aguascalientes – Wednesday, Oct. 26
Zacatecas – Thursday, Oct. 27, finish
For a map go to: http://lacarrerapanamericana.com.mx/ruta_2010.asp
**CARRERA CITY: MORELIA
For the first time in a several years the Pan Am returned to the beautiful colonial city of Morelia last year. Thousands turned out in the main square on a sunny afternoon to take photos, collect autographs, and view the 100+ race cars.
Morelia features perhaps the most beautiful cathedral in Mexico in its “double” main square or Zócalo. The church’s interior is as impressive as the magnificent exterior. The interior includes one of the most outstanding organs in the world, and is the main reason that the city hosts an international convention devoted to organ music.
Morelia is the capital of the state of Michoacán, which is a largely
mountainous state that stretches from near the capital of Mexico
west to the Pacific Ocean. Its forests provide much of the lumber
for central Mexico and offer a famous winter home for the Monarch butterfly. It is also home of the President of Mexico Felipe Calderon.
A few miles east of Morelia is the famous mountain road known as “Mil Cumbres,” a thousand peaks. From the top of the mountain to the bottom are 317 turns. La Carrera will race down this road again this year, and may race back up the next morning before heading to San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato.
Next month we will learn about the race’s first stop in the fantastic historic city of Guanajuato (Frog Mountain).
***STATUS OF ENTRIES
Over 120 entries have been received by the Carrera Office in Mexico City, and the event now has a waiting list. If a competitor drops out, a name from the waiting list will be given an opportunity to submit an application.
The deadline for paying the discounted entry fee ended April 30.
**CHIHUAHUA EXPRESS RESULTS
The fifth annual Chihuahua Express ended on April 10 with Mexican driver Michel Jourdain, Jr., who finished second in the Pan Am, edging out American Doug Mockett and his navigator Angelica Fuentes, for overall honors in the three-day event. Both Jourdain and Mockett were competing in the Turismo Mayor class. Third place in class went to Stewart and Linda Robertson.
Jourdain’s ’54 Studebaker was built and prepared by Mats Hammarlund Racing in San Miguel de Allende.
In the largest class, Pan Am Historic “C” (V8s 1955-1965), the surprise winners were:
Gerie Bledsoe and Fernando Garcia, ’63 Chevy Nova; followed by Jack Rogers and C.J. Strupp, ’65 Mustang 350-GT, and John and Chrislana Gregory, in their “new” ’65 Chevy Nova.
Bledsoe and Garcia also finished tenth overall. Todd Landon and Vance Stewart, fourth in a Mustang, would have finished on top of the podium but ran short of petrol the first day, missing one speed stage.
Other North American competitors doing well were: Jake Shuttlesworth and Tony Bogovich, ’65 Ford Fairlane; Paul Fruchbom and Ray Stephens (Porsche 911), Hayden Groendyke and Charles Samples, ’49 Cadillac, and Robert Curry and Ricky Shaw (Porsche 356). Silver State organizer Steve Waldman and Felipe Arguelles turned in some impressive times in their Evo.
As usual, timing and scoring was not an issue and the race organization was excellent. About the only complaint was about the technical inspection by the Mexican racing federation and some “surprise” requirements. There were only a few racing “incidents” but no serious injuries during the event. Felicidades, Chacho!
**NEVADA OPEN ROAD CHALLENGE, MAY 12-15
There is still time to sign up for this unique event! Steve and Gail Waldman, Pan Am and Chihuahua regulars, are inviting all their Mexican racing buddies to join them in Las Vegas and Ely on May 12-15. Pan Am cars may participate in one of several classes, based on desired average speed and safety equipment. For more info go to: www.sscc.us.
**PIKES PEAK HILL CLIMB ENROLLS PAN AM CARS
For the fourth year, Pan Am cars are invited to participate in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, June 26, with the Rocky Mountain Vintage Racing (RMVR) entries. Thus far the following Pan Am competitors have signed up: Doug Mockett, John Rogers, Todd Landon, Ralf Christensson, and John Groendyke. Another two or three are expected to join. Navigators in this event are options. After all, there are 157 corners in the 12.4 miles to the top. Who can keep them straight? (Maybe Angie?) Mockett and local Keith Davidson are expected to continue their friendly rivalry as vintage king of the mountain, even if Mockett’s modern engine produces a few more pounds-feet of torque than Keith’s power plant.
**PAN AM CARS INVITED TO TRANS AM RACE
Keith Davidson, who is also the Chairman of the RMVR Trans-Am Invitational, has invited all Pan Am cars to participate in this event on June 11-12, 2011, as a way to prepare for PPIHC. The Trans-Am event is schedule for the Pueblo Motorsports Park in Pueblo, CO, about 50 miles south of Colorado Springs. It’s a 2.2 miles track with 11 turns. Elevation is “only” 4900 feet.
Pan Am cars will run in the most appropriate class for each of them, and if there is no appropriate class, they will run in Exhibition.
**KELLOGG AUTO ARCHIVES PAN AM VIDEO
The Kellogg Auto Archives in Los Angeles is planning a multi-DVD release on the original La Carrera Panamericana, 1950-1954. Stephen Mitchell is the director of the project. Most of the material for his project is coming from the seventeen hours of restorable film provided by the family of Ray Crawford, who raced the original event each year, finally winning his class (Big American Sedans) in 1954. Interviews with surviving racers are being included.
A short snippet of Crawford’s unique (16 mm color) film was shown at the Pan Am driver’s meeting in Tuxtla Gutierrez last year. The film is now being developed into a documentary by, and may soon be available for purchase. Several teaser’s for the project have been released to various web sites. Here are two: http://www.youtube.com/user/GTO3987 and http://vimeo.com/20908790.
The project needs additional film, especially from the races in 1950and 1952. Please let me know if you have film you would like to contribute to this project. gbledso@aol.com.
**CARRERA ARCHIVES 2011
Please send copies of your 2011 Carrera videos and photos to me on a DVD so they can been preserved in the Carrera archives. Please mail them to my address below in the Contact information. Thanks!
**MEXICAN CAR INSURANCE
All competitors must show proof of Mexican auto insurance on their service vehicles for the Carrera. In fact, it is a good idea to carry third-person liability insurance on the race car -- for when it is not racing.
Go to www.bajabound.com/?r=panamrace and shop for an insurance company and an appropriate level of coverage for your service vehicle and race car. Bajabound is one of the few brokers that will issue policies on older (pre-1981) cars. You can pay by credit card and receive your policy via email. They are also helpful on the telephone, especially because they understand racing in Mexico—from the Baja 500 to the Chihuahua Express.
Please note that the liability insurance is only valid on a rally car when it is not involved in the rally. While racing, the car is covered by a policy issued to the Organizing Committee.
All competitors should understand their rights and responsibilities while engaged in stage rally in Mexico.
**THE COYOTE CONVOY: A DIFFERENT APPROACH
Towing or driving a race car to Mexico? Join the Coyote Convoy. The convoy of twenty or more trucks, trailers, and race cars will leave Laredo, Texas on October 14, 2011 for the trip across the border and down to the start of the race. The convoy will stop for two nights in San Miguel de Allende, before heading on to the start of the race. It will arrive in Huatulco on October 17. Registration and inspection starts on October 18.
Participants in the convoy will be encouraged to use a Mexican Custom Agent (broker) to bring their vehicles, equipment, and spares across the border. Details will follow.
**LCP RULES PENDING
The official rules or “Reglamento” for the Pan Am are still being revised for 2011. Some changes are expected. These changes should be announced soon.
Please note that a HANS devices or other approved (FIA or SFI) head and neck protection system will be required again in all classes this year. Racing suits should be no older than five years, too, and that’s a new one.
FIA approved or SCCA homologated racing seats may also be required. There has been extensive speculation about restrictions to slow the cars down a tad, like: spec carburetors, spec differential gear ratios, and a limit on RPM, but nothing has been announced yet.
Owners of cars being built now for the Pan Am should have the design for their roll cages reviewed before the cage is installed. All roll cages and safety equipment are subject to inspection and final approval at the start of the event. Warning: just because a cage has been approved by SCA or NASA, if may not be accepted by the inspectors in Mexico, who are far more oriented toward rally cars, rather than track cars.
**CLASSIFIEDS: CARS FOR SALE
’53 Studebaker Commander. $120,000. Finished to your specifications: color and FIA seats and racing harness fitment. This car won the La Carrera Panamericana championship in 2008 and qualified first in 2010. Finish will be as good/better than 2010.
The car has been re-bodied and completely rebuilt since the 2010 event. It is now even faster and safer. The price includes a spares package and delivery/service is available. A build sheet is available. Completely Carrera-legal in all respects and guaranteed to pass all tech inspections. Needs nothing but you to win again. A rental arrangement for 2011 is a possibility. Contact Bill Beilharz, bbeilharz@aol.com or 602-320-5173 (Phoenix).
‘65 Mustang GT350R. “The Gypsy Wind.” Ready for the world famous Pikes Peak International Hill Climb June 26, 2011. It knows its way to the top. 400+ HP. Prepped for hill climb altitude and suspension. Rally computer and intercom system. Coaching and in-car video available to pre-run the hill in its entirety. Full support offered by experienced car builder and vet of the Hill Climb. Contact Todd Landon at TALandon@landolakes.com. Deadline is June 1.
’72 2002 BMW. SOLD Finished 25th overall in 2009 LCP, third in class. Balanced and blue printed engine. 10.5-1 pistons, dual Mikuni carbs. Full Roll Cage, Fire suppression system, Terra-Trip, Intercom, Fuel Cell. Custom Coil over Suspension, Wilwood Brake Master Cylinder and disc brakes front and rear, Limited slip rear end. Ready to race.
Email for more information and specs. Rick Row northbaybavarian@yahoo.com
’68 Porsche 911. Guards Red 2.0L. Full Cage, Fire System, Kirkey Seats, 5 Point Belts, 27 gal Fuel Cell, MSD, Fender Mounted Extra Oil Cooler, Smart Racing and Elephant Suspension. Fully sorted – Porsche Racing Ready. Built 2 cars at once, the sister car to this one in 2003 finished 9th overall. Call 512-346-1880 or email alg@texcpa.com
Over $55,000 invested– asking $26,500.
’65 Falcon. Built and prepared by MHRacing in San Miguel de Allende. Exactly the same as the two cars that came in first and second in Historic C in the Panamericana 2011. 302 Ford Motorsport engine with Dart heads, Air gap intake, 600 Holley and Canton Oil pan. Brand new Top Loader transmission. Ford 9 inch full floater rear end. Wilwood brakes all around. Tig welded roll cage, Fuel Safe fuel cell and Cobra carbon fiber seats. Apart from the body, there is not one single old part in this car, everything is brand new! Very fast, reliable and easy to drive. Email mats@mhracing.com.mx
‘66 Sunbeam Tiger. Ford 302 .060 over. High flow head . Roller rockers. Heavy-duty valve springs. Racing pistons, 10.5 to 1 compression. Racing cam. Heavy-duty oil pump . Edelbrock F4B manifold . Single wire chrome alternator. MSD distributor, coil, and ignition. High flow water pump. Fluidyne aluminum radiator. Aluminum oil cooler. Braded stainless steel fuel and oil lines with Aeroquip fittings. Holley 650 cfm Double pumper with regulator. Headers from Sunbeam Specialties. Remote oil filter. Heavy duty racing clutch lightened flywheel. Engine was totally rebuilt and computer balanced with the flywheel and harmonic balancer, approximately 8 hours on the engine. Ford top loader transmission, Rebuilt by "Toploader Heaven". Custom made heavy-duty drive shaft . Welded rear end. Custom made Mark Williams one-piece solid rear axles. Dual Holley Blue fuel pumps with relays. ATL 15 gal. fuel cell. Dual inline filter screens, Summit racing canister type fuel filter. Stainless steel fuel flex lines with Aeroquip fitting. $33,000 or b/o. Contact: Ed (415) 341-4965; ehugo@bhplaw.com
Photos and additional information are available at www.panamrace.com. Click on Classifieds. The advertisers assume all responsibility for their ads.
**LEGAL
The views expressed in CARRERA NEWS are those of the author and may not (probably don’t) represent the views of the Organizing Committee. The author is a competitor and any advice he offers may constitute a blatant conflict of interest.
All forms of motor sports are inherently dangerous, and La Carrera Panamericana is no exception. It is a long, hard endurance race at high speeds along mountain roads. Mechanical failures are common, accidents not uncommon, and serious injury and even death are quite possible.
Cars should be carefully prepared, with an emphasis on safety (brakes, roll cage, etc.), and driven prudently. Drivers and navigators should remember that the most important goal of this event is to finish.
**CONTACT INFORMATION
Gerie Bledsoe, Coordinator
La Carrera Panamericana and Chihuahua Express
USPO address: 220 N. Zapata Hwy Ste 11
PMB 68B
Laredo, TX 78043
1-650-525-9190 (Home office)
1-650-867-9488 (mobile, only in US)
Number in Mexico +52-415-185-8470
Mailing Address in Mexico (FedEx, UPS only):
La Quinta Prolong. 5-A
Centro-Ojo de Agua
San Miguel de Allende
37700 GTO
Mexico
Phone: 415-185-8470
Email: gbledso@aol.com
Skype: gerie.bledsoe
www.panamrace.com
www.lacarrerapanamericana.com.mx
www.chihuahuaexpress.com
Carrera car number: Chevy II, Nova, #395, Historic C (1999-2011)
Carrera Office, Mexico City 1-310-6959
Email info@lacarrerapanamericana.com.mx
© Gerie Bledsoe 2011
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