It's Started!

The cars have arrived and here is a line-up of the cars running in the La "Carrera/Vintage" class all of whom are classified as rookies. While our La Carrera friends will not be charging up the hill like the above photo it's not to say there will be any less excitment. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE! An important change is the re-scheduling of race day. In past years, that was held on Saturday. This year, however, it has been moved to Sunday.

Today was technical inspection day and since I have heard first hand from other friends who have run Pikes Peak in the past I can tell you these guys take tech inspection to a whole new level. I have realized however one thing about La Carrera Panamericana that beats the hell out of Pikes Peak.... During La Carrera at least you can sleep in until 5am. But to get up the hill for this event each day the toll Gate opens to Competitors at 3:30am. Do you have any idea what time that means you have to get up to get ready each morning? For those who think it's easy to take a drive up trhe hill, think again.


Driver/Co-Driver/Division/Vehicle#/Rookie/Vehicle/Year/Make/Model/Demographics


1 Allen Douglas Vintage 369 Y 1965 Ford Mustang Aspen, CO
2 Bledsoe Gerie Vintage 395 Y 1963 Chevy Nova Half Moon Bay, CO
3 Carungi, Ralph Richert, Bill Vintage 101 Y 1954 Lincoln Capri Phoenix, AZ
4 Cooper David Vintage 403 Y 1951 Chrysler New Yorker Southlake Tahoe, CA
5 Daniels David Vintage 145 Y 1949 Cadillac Sedanette Minneapolis, MN
6 Davidson Keith Vintage 163 Y 1963 Ford Falcon Golden, CO
7 Hill Bob Vintage 66 Y 1966 Ford M Colorado Springs, , CO
8 Jantzen Joel Vintage 656 Y 1965 Ford Mustang Colorado Springs, CO
9 Johns Chip Vintage 385 Y 1964 Ford Rally Falcon Santa Teresa, NM
10 Jones, Mike Coffey, Doug Vintage 220 Y 1966 Ford Mustang Colorado Springs, CO
11 Landon Todd Vintage 399 Y 1967 Ford Mustang Mound, MN
12 Linton Jim Vintage 816 Y 1969 Ford Mustang Parker, CO
13 Mockett, Douglas Garcia, Angelica Vintage 133 Y 1954 Oldsmobile Super 88 Christiansted, St. Croix USVI
14 Morrison, Richard Hamlin, Richard Vintage 422 Y 1958 Mercedes 220S Coupe Salina, KS
15 Neal Jess Vintage 42 Y 1971 Plymouth Cuda Colorado Springs, CO
16 Salyer, Christopher Wiley, Carlile Vintage 106 Y 1954 Chevy Corvette Oklahoma City, OK
17 Smith, Dean Akey, Ashley Vintage 351 Y 1961 Chrysler 300R Las Vegas, NV

Total 17



Here are the the cars from the "Time Attack" class and it's interesting to note the first car is NOT a rookie. This is the class Kevin Jones and Mark Williams are running in. I know my fingers are crossed. How about yours? GOOD LUCK YOU GUYS AND MAKE SURE YOU GET IT RIGHT!

Driver/Co-Driver/Division/Vehicle#/Rookie/Vehicle/Year/Make/Model/Demographics


1 Fletcher, Brent Time Attack 4 N 2004 Mitsubishi EVO VIII Thousand Oaks, CA
2 Gerner, Jeff Time Attack 44 Y 1994 Audi S-4 Kansas City, MO
3 Jones, Kevin Williams, Mark Time Attack 43 Y 2005 Subaru WRX Sti South Gate, CA
4 Hine, Kelly Time Attack 25 Y 2006 Nissan 350Z Calabasas, CA
5 Kern, David Kern, Allison Time Attack 9 N 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Centennial, CO
6 Keeney, Melissa Keeney, Vicki Time Attack 69 N 1991 Honda CRX Colorado Springs, CO
7 Millen Rhys Time Attack 6 N 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP Huntington Beach, CA
8 Norman Roger Time Attack 8 Y 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Reno, NV
9 Workum, Peter Time Attack 11 N 2004 Subaru STI Paradise Valley, AZ
10 Scott, Brian Dillon, John Time Attack 96 N 1971 Datsun 240 Z Coupe Pine, AZ

Total 10

Women of La Carerra Panamericana

A lot of men have been immortalized since the beginning of La Carrera Panamericana but it's equally important to remember there have been some amazing women pilotos and co-pilotos as well. I stand in awe of those women as well as the ones I have had the privilege of racing with in La Carrera Panamericana. I will be posting some stories about these amazing women and the teams they competed with and to get things started here are some interesting facts about the first women to drive in La Carrera Panamericana.

Her name is Jacqueline Evans de Lopez an English-born film actress who had married a Mexican and became a well known Mexican actress, often playing gringas in Spanish language Mexican films and soaps including a career spiced with the occasional Hollywood outing. She is also remembered for her help in establishing and funding the archive of Mexican and foreign magazines and newspapers, "La Torre del Papel" in Mexico City. Jacqueline died in Acapulco in 1989.

In the early '50's, Porsche's reputation for reliability in racing hadn't yet been established. By the end of 1952, about 2,740 cars had been built; only about six percent of them had made it to the U.S., primarily to the sports car-rich Northeast and to car-crazy California. Porsche owners reasoned that if a Porsche could beat a Cadillac it most certainly could do the same for a longer distance, like La Carrera Panamericana.
















By 1952, the annual event had been placed on the international racing calendar and had captured the attention of some very fast factories and it was also the year Porsche made its first appearance in Mexico. In 1953 Porsche which was barely five years old but busy building a reputation. They had won their class at both Le Mans and the Millie Miglia in 1952 so Porsche wanted to make an all out attack on a victory at La Carrera Panamericana and so they sent ten Porsches to La Carrera Panamericana in 1953. It was this year that Jacqueline Evans de Lopez would make her fourth attempt to finish Carrera in her personal coupe unfunded by as where the factory Porsches. Unable to complete any of the races she was given the nickname Jacqueline "did not finish" Evans de Lopez.

It is said, only the strong could survive La Carrera Panamericana but in this writer's opinion she was as strong as they come. I can only imagine what determination and guts it must have taken a woman competing against men in that day and age must have been like let alone coming back four years in a row. Partially because of the stubbornness, courage and perseverance of Jacqueline Evans de Lopez, Porsche commemorated it's wins and rightfully gave the name Porsche Carrera to honor their success in La Carrera Panamericana.

As seen in the photo of a commemorative model of Jacquelene's 1954 Porsche below, Jacquelene dedicated the race to Eva Peron by having Eva's face painted on the hood of her car. On the subject of women, talk about an interesting lady.... check out Eva Peron's bio.




Be sure to check out the interview with the beautiful Angelica Fuentes who co-piloted Doug Mockett in 2007 in our up-coming HD DVD.

LIGHTS... CAMERA... ACTION!

Yesterday was spent mostly in a very high tech production studio taping interviews to be used in the new La Carrera Panamericana HD DVD along with driver's, crew, cameramen and North American Coordinator, Gerie Bledso. All three production companies were present and I am amazed how the professionalism in which this entire project is coming to a head. If we keep this up one of these days I might be able to say, "Did I ever tell you about the time I was a movie star?" LOL.

It never really occurred to me how overwhelming this day would be. As I sat quietly and listened to the extremely well organized question answer interviews I found myself transported back into that period of time as if I was back in Oaxaca or that I might walk outside and see Lucky parked amid thousands of fans waiting for us to take off again. I listened while others relived specific moments during La Carrera, some exciting and some not so exciting. It was very rewarding to hear the anticipation in other voices as they relived moments that we all shared together and that many others that were involved with La Carrera will enjoy as well.

Without a doubt, this is going to be by far the best La Carrera Panamericana video ever made. Both Veterans and rookies alike will love this production. Those who have been there will enjoy reliving the spirit of the event while rookies or first timers will be able to get a feel of the adventure that they are about to embark upon. Then again it will be good to watch to get ideas as to how to better prepare for their next trip to La Carrera.

Thank you to all who are involved and a special thanks to Gerie Bledso for just being the wonderful personality that he his. They were all great but just wait until you see Gerie's interview. There have been hundreds of man-hours spent in editing and production and the time is coming soon when this HD DVD will be a reality. In the mean time stay tuned as we hope to release a trailer soon. In order to get your copy and to be added to the list drop us a note at teamCBR@gmail.com.