A Testimony Of How Being Prepared Can Save Your Life

Watch this video of my friend Bill Beilharz's #108 Studebaker crash as he goes over a cliff and rolls down into a canyon. Bill reports, "I discovered I had no brakes about 3 seconds before I left the road." You can hear his co-piloto frantically calling his name while Bill lay unconscious. After a few moments of panic Bill comes back with us from his deep sleep. This video is absolute proof that a "well prepared" car and team can in fact save your life and knowing Bill well I know for a fact he left absolutely nothing to chance. To this day every time I watch videos like this I am amazed knowing there are those who cut corners to save a buck as they have the mentality of, "That will never happen to me." Instead, everyone should say to themselves, "WHEN that happens to me..." and in doing so they will be prepared. The end result is that Bill's car saved both the co-piloto and his life and they both walked away.

An Update From Clyde Morter

Thank you to my very good friend Clyde Morter for the additional information of the 54 Vette. I am excited to follow this car this year.




Dear Gary,

Thanks for all the moment-to-moment reporting you do on the Carrera.You have the best reporters on the ground, and with your editorial contribution, your blog is the most informative, accurate, and entertaining. Keep up the great work.

Attached are some more photos of the Bill Peter & John Schantz 1954 Corvette which they restored, and entered in this 60th anniversary year of the Carrera. I've watched Bill and John tirelessly work towards this moment, in the hope they will accomplish what Bill Esser was not able to in 1950.....that is finish the race and hopefully win their class in a 1954 Corvette.

They have a large following in the Elkhart Lake/Milwaukee WI area. Bill has vintage raced for +25 years (a Griffith ? & an original Ford GT40), and also raced in SCCA classes. John rules his class on Lake Sinissippi in a Camero in January - March. Watch John on the sideways stuff..in ice racing the car rarely goes straight.

Bill, John and Tom Hollfelder were co-drivers with me in "The Lucky Taco" in my 1st Carrera in 2007, the year we met. We place 4th in class in 07 having missed one entire day of racing for lack of oil pressure. We were ecstatic we finished the race and placed as well as we did.

John was also a co-driver of the " Not So Lucky Taco" in 2008 along with Tim McQuiston and Carl Jensen. John Schantz is an Engineer and was for the first 2 years the main wrench head on 54 Olds. Carl qualified the Taco in Tuxtla Gutierrez at a record pace, then John drove to a 1st place finish in class at the end of the 1st day. We led every speed stage until the engine quit late morning of the 2nd day. That was the end for the "Not so Lucky Taco" in 2008. I finished the race as the navigator for Polo Escamilla's 1950 Olds.

After my wreck of the "Not so Lucky Taco" in qualifying in 2009, it was John Schantz who with a moments notice Friday night, went to my brother Guy's garage to obtain the necessary parts, then drove to Chicago O'Hare airport to catch a Saturday 6AM direct flight to Mexico City. The parts were 'carry on' so as to eliminate any possibility of loss. John arrived in Mexico City, and our hotel before Guy & I did. With the needed repair parts and the car at the same place all we needed was a torch to bend/straighten some critical suspension and steering components. With no luck finding one we left Mexico City with the race Sunday morning, and John flew back to Chicago. We never found access to a torch until Monday morning. Guy and Tony Bogovitch did the repair work along with two husky Mexican guys who arrived at the hotel with the torch and a pickup full of bars & pipes to straighten metal. Within 2.5 hours we were ready to race, but we never caught up with the race that day. Tony then did a great job of driving the Taco the last 3 days of the race, getting us on the podium with two 3rds and one 1st. I was sick as sick can be, not able to talk much less drive. Tony did all the driving and most of the navigating, with me sleeping most of the time.

We all wish Bill and John good luck and Godspeed in their great adventure of 2010.

I know we can count on you to bring accurate and timely news of that adventure to all of us so far away. Keep up the great work.

Live Report From San Miguel DeAllende

Here is a fantastic in-the-field report that my good friend Jorge Arellano has sent from San Miguel DeAlende.

Good day Gary, I hope you are having a great sunday. Here I am in a San Miguel Bar, with a cold pacifico michelada. While writing my report from the Coyote Convoy in San Miguel.

Enjoy

The Coyote Convoy in San Miguel de Allende

After arriving to San Miguel de Allende from Queretaro. I went to the "Jardin", right in front of San Miguel´s church. There they were, 11 cars from the Coyote Convoy, just parked on display. An excellent sunny day was the perfect reception for them. Among the cars I recognized Mr Gerie Bledsoe. I had the oportunity to talk to him. He was as friendly as always and he told me he was happy to be in San Miguel, after a long drive from the border. He had a two hour sleep from friday to saturday after prepairing the paper work and all the setup for the import. He is looking forward to prepair a different logistic for next year, so it can be done as a whole import package next year, as other motorsports do it to reduce the process of getting all the cars, trailers and stuff into Mexico. Now he is looking forward for the next leg of the covoy to move to Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, and from there to Tuxtla Gutierrez.

Doug Mockett and Angelica Fuentes were also at the Jardin, enjoying the good weather and very accesible to talk about the race. Doug´s opinion about this year´s Panamericana is that is going to be as tough as always, but he is very confident that the preparation they have been having is doing a lot for their knowledge and experience, specially while doing their work on the new stages. They will be practicing again tomorrow near Pachuca. Angelica also told me the practing has been very demanding, but they want to go for the whole thing and do their best to go for the third win to close the year. After their success in the Chihuahua Express and Pikes Peak.

Angelica also asked me about an accident with a Porsche while doing practice near Mexico City, but I told her I didnt knew anything about it. Hopefully you know something we can post in your blog or on FB.

I also met Taz Harvey, navigator for an american Datsun that will race the Panamericana for the first time. They had an accident before arriving to Monterrey, when their trailer was hit in the back. The team was expecting the worst, as the damage was kind of big and they had to dismount the back trailer door to check the car. There was a transmission behind the car that received most of the hit, and damaged a little the fuel cell, but after checking it, they considered that the car was intact and they made some repairs and continued their way to San Miguel.

As always, all the drivers at the Jardin were very friendly with the people, specially the ladies and kids. Taking pictures with them and letting them go into the cars to experience from within how it is to be inside a race car.

In a few days the convoy will be in Tuxtla ready for the final reviews and to start the race.

Attached you an find some pics from the cars at the Jardin.

Have a good day

Jorge

Taz Harvey and in-field reporter Jorge.

It's Gonna Be Wild This Year

Check out Finnish rally driver Harri "Rovis" Rovanperä putting one of Mats Hammarlund Racing cars through the paces and getting some seat time before the race in a few more day.

Looks Who's Back!

When I got news today that my very good friend Ralf Christensson was running in this years 2010 La Carrera Panamericana it really put a huge smile on my face. Having not only raced with Ralf but in fact having competed against him in the very competitive Hictoric C class not only did we get to know each other but have enjoyed a life long friendship ever since. You can bet that even though I enjoy and route for all classes that I will most certainly be cheering for Ralf.



Ralf Christensson will be driving the yellow Volvo owned and supported by Mats Hammarlund in the 2010 La Carrera Panamericana and what a perfect matchup this will be. Not only are they good driver and support team but their both from the same country and know how to drink, drive AND party!!!

Ralf is an excellent driver with many years experience from the Panamericana and European rally racing. 2006 was his best year in LCP with a 1st place in Historic C with his Ford Falcon. This year he will have a chance to challenge for the overall title in our Turismo Major Volvo. The Volvo has been updated from last year with new front suspension, bigger brakes and lighter weight.

I wonder What The Odds Are

In light of the fact that the Mercedes Gullwings are attempting to recreate the race from years ago I thought it might be a good time to remind them about an event they might not want to reenact.




One of the most expensive crashes ever recorded in racing history took place in La Carrera Panamericana? It was the Mercedes Benz SL 300 Gullwing pictured below. These cars are valued at almost a million dollars. The piloto of this car took on La Carrera Panamericana and lost.

You Can't Keep A Good Man Down

Retirement didnt last long as multiple winner of La Carrera Panamericana Pierre de Thoisy confirmed his participation in 2010 with a team of two Mercedes Benz Gullwing.