A few laps at Queretaro

Hop in for a few laps around The Autodromo at Queretaro with Jon and I. Arriving in Queretaro was a special day not to mention the huge crowd of racers that were waiting at the track when we got there. The entire event was an awesome adventure for sure but for some reason when Jon and I pulled in to the Autodromo it was different. Throughout all of Mexico hundreds of thousands of fans lined up to watch La Carrera race cars pass but the majority of those waiting at Autodromo where in fact racers. Getting into the lineup and getting our log sheet was a bit frustrating but as soon as Jon and I got Lucky on the track we knew we were in our own element and now everyone was going to have to play by our rules.

It's important to remember this is the sort of driving Jon and I came from and it's what we do best. The only thing Jon and I hated about Queretaro was having to leave so soon. No sooner than we had finished our laps we hit the road for yet another transit section. Jon and I both hope that the next time we run La Carrera (and we will) that we will get to revisit Queretaro and Autodromo. Had we had more time to run this track we would have changed a few settings on the suspension to help reduce push but the car was perfect for the overall event and best left right where it was. In the mean time, check out some of the video that will be in our new HD DVD and crank up your dial and sit back and enjoy a few leisure laps with Jon and Gary.

Some awesome living history... Frank Ruppert

Over the weekend I was very fortunate to get to spend a lot of time with a simply incredible car guy. His name is Frank Ruppert. While many of you La Carrera fans may not be familiar with his name, more than likely you have seen or read about some of his cars or drivers that he and his brother Frank C. Ruppert had part in sponsoring during some of the most historical La Carrera Panamericana races of the early 50's. Unfortunately Frank C. Ruppert (who is Frank's brother with the same name) is no longer with us but it would have been our pleasure to have listened to any input that he could have shared with us since he had so much to do with Ruppert Motors involvement and success's as well. Thanks to Frank C. Ruppert's daughters I was able to learn he was equally as amazing. One of them told me that Frank C. Ruppert did own many yachts throughout his lifetime and was considered one of the most accomplished yachtsmen and navigators on the West Coast. It seems both these gentlemen lived glorious lives.

I had the awesome fortune not only of getting to meet Frank in person so we could interview him for our soon to be released HD DVD about our La Carrera experience but Frank and his son and his son's wife treated us to brunch at his private yacht club. It goes without saying this was a first cabin experience and one we will not soon forget. Don't even get me started about visiting some of the car collections that Frank is involved with or his yacht.




Considering Frank Ruppert is without a doubt one of the most unforgettable characters I have ever had the distinct pleasure of meeting it's difficult for me to understand why everyone hasn't heard of him. Working with his brother Frank helped operated a Los Angeles Lincoln Mercury dealership and several other automobile business as well back in the 50's which took part in sponsoring some of the most famous names that have ever been known in the automotive racing hall of fame. Besides those sponsored, he was best friends with so many other racing greats on a first name basis. Not only did the cars and drivers that Frank was involved with win several of the early La Carrera's but in fact set records doing it many of which still stand to this day. There are too many to name but some of the most famous names in racing drove on that Lincoln team including Clay Smith, Johnny Mantz, Troy Ruttman, Bill Stroppe, and the list goes on and on. All of these drivers raced in other venues as well such as Indy and Nascar. One of Frank Ruppert's relationships was with the youngest driver to ever win the Indy 500. Not only did Frank travel with the teams back in those first history making races but he was instrumental in helping teams develop methods that have carried over into many other venues of automotive racing today.



Frank's son and wife brought the winning trophy which was awarded to Troy Ruttman and Clay Smith in 1951 by the Mexican Government which is a one of a kind trophy that requires at least two men to carry around. This is one trophy that you will most certainly not see someone hold above their head on the pedestal. To stand in the presence of this spectacular award is an honor all by it's self. Frank Ruppert has a mind like a steel trap and a wit that is it's equal and when he talks about the days of those great men and their machines you are a captive audience. Our interview with Frank is nothing short of magnificent and there simply isn't enough time in a weekend to enjoy listening to him reminisce about what are possibly the greatest moments that ever took place with respect to La Carrera Panamericana especially when you consider he was there in person.





This is just one of many old car magazine adds using one of winning Lincolns that was sponsored by Ruppert Motors.


Frank's participation in helping us document and express the true passion felt by anyone having "personal" involvement with La Carrera Panamericana simply cannot be told any better. I cannot wait to spend more time with a man who is indeed the true essence of La Carrera Panamericana. To meet and know Frank is to love him. Just wait until you hear him on our DVD.

Morelia Memories

Have you ever had a memory that you so badly wanted to be able to share with others? Many of us would give anything to turn back time so we could spend a few moments with loved ones or to be able to take our children to a time we cherished when we were their age. Then there are those who we love and miss whom we wish we could have just one more moment with to tell them how so very special they were and still are.

For those of us who participated in La Carrera Pamnamericana there is also the deep inner desire to be able to take friends back to the very moments we reveled in so that we could once again feel that excitement and awe and also share it with them and see the look on their eyes that we once experienced.





One such moment was the day we finished the exciting run through Mil Cumbre and drove into Morelia often cited as 'the most beautiful city in Mexico', with its fabulous colonial architecture where we parked our race cars right in front of the amazingly stunning 600-year old cathedral and its museums. Even though it's an amazing experience for one's self esteem the whole experience was so much more than just signing autographs and posing for photographs. While we sit in front of colonial style restaurants across the street from our cars and the church enjoying simply unbelievable food we could not help but become engulfed in what has to be one of the most beautiful city settings in the world. This is teh same city we spent the night before our second race back through Mil Cumbre with the sun shining directly into our eyes. This was the same day that several cars ahead of us would suffer everything from running poor, flat tires and yes, even crashing. This video comes as close as I ever could to helping me take you to that place we all love so very much. Come along with Jon and me as we take you for a walk through a place we will never forget and keep in mind, this is only a few moments of an entire week we spent in places equaly as awesome as this.

This is the same place where yearly between about October and March, some hundred million Monarch butterflies migrate from the northern climets, some over a distance of up to almost 3,000 kms, to winter.

Stay alert.... A Big surprise is coming regarding the HD DVD.

Today I had the great pleasure of having a couple wonderful phone conversations with none other than Ben Iskenderian, the brother of the famous Ed Iskenderian. Back in the early 70's when I drove dragsters and hung out at Gotellies Speed Shop, with ole Man Gotelli better known as "Terrible Ted" I was blessed to be able to call Ed any time I needed advice and great advice Ed had plenty of. Today was the first time I had ever talked with Ben but he is just as fine a gentleman as his brother Ed. Before we hung up both Ben and his wife invited me to come visit them the next time I was in Southern California not to mention we would head down to the Isky Cam factory for a personal tour with Both Ben and Ed. That is an invitation I will look forward to and one I will not pass up on.

Funny that I would be talking to one of the most famous cam grinders of the racing world from Southern California since on this very weekend our production company and I will be traveling to Southern California to meet one of the most amazing me who has ever had anything to do with regards to La Carrera Panamericana. His name is Frank Ruppert, of Ruppert Motors who in fact sponsored some of the Lincoln and Mercury teams that won so many races during the first years of La Carrera Panamericana. One of those teams included Clay Smith. Borrowing a quote from Hemmings.... If you've been around a long time you likely remember the woodpecker decal, the one with the snarl on its face and a cigar hanging out to the left. That redheaded bird is a trademark and a characterization of Clay Smith, who was known as Mr. Horsepower and whom none other than Smokey Yunick called "the world's smartest mechanic." Another compliment paid to Smith by his peers was the title "America's Genius Mechanic." So adept at fixing cars was Smith, he could tell how an engine was running by pressing his loins against the body of a car, according to another hot rod pioneer, Ed Almquist.

Interesting footnote; All three of these racing giants (Smith, Isky & Gotelli) were very seldom seen without holding or chewing on one of their signature cigars.


Frank Ruppert has invited our production company to spend the day aboard his yacht while sharing his wonderful involvement in La Carrera Panamericana. Having spoken on the phone numerous times with Frank I am amazed how many famous drivers, owners and other famous racing rascals he and his brother (Also Frank Ruppert) knew on a first name basis.

If that isn't enough excitment to make me crazy then let me tell you about a phone call I had this week inviting me to visit with Herschel McGriff. Talk about feeling like a kid in a candy store! Hershel McGriff has won NASCAR races in the last six decades and won the Mexican Road Race in 1950.

When I said our upcoming HD DVD was nothing short of the greatest La Carrera Panamericana video ever made bar none I wasn't kidding so stay tuned.

2008 La Carrera Panamericana dates & route

It's official... The 21st running of La Carrera Panamericana will begin in Tuxtla Gutierrez on October 24 and end in Nuevo Laredo on October 30. Unfortunately, Mil Cumbres will not be included in this years event but on the other hand the start of this years race will be held in Tuxtla Gutierrez. Back in the 50's Tuxtla Gutierrez was the traditional starting point so the trade off is a good one for those who wish to race into Oaxaca rather than park in the parking lot of a baseball stadium. Hey, it's all good.