Some things just keep getting better and better and this years LCP get-together at Tarpys Roadhouse was no exception. Bill Hemmer and Adriana Robles do such an awesome job making sure this event such a huge success that you simply can not help but have a relaxing and wonderful time. Anyone that has ever been involved with organizing any such event knows full well how much hard work is involved in getting every little detail dealt with. Once again they left no detail out as everything went off without a hitch.
Our Gracious Host Bill Hemmer and Adriana Robles
Speaking of details, this year we even received very cool name badges which makes it so much easier to identify each other. There is nothing more embarrassing than asking someone, "Who are you?" only to have them say, "Don't you remember me? I drove with you last year." DOH!
As usual the food preparation was plentiful and to die for and no fear of not enough to drink. Oh yeah.
Master of ceremonies Gerie Bledsoe
I had such a good time visiting with Bob Young from Elkhart lake, a friend and teammate of my good friend Clyde Morter also from Elkhart Lake. Bob kept me laughing for an hour telling tales of some of his (for lack of better words) racing mishaps.
I was so surprised when these guys told me my very good friend Fancisco Ortiz from Monterey Mexico had asked to to come by and say hello. Left to right Francisco's brother Jesus Ortiz, Gary Faules, Juan Guel Davila
On a personal note one very special reason I enjoyed this years Tarpys gathering so much was because of the premier debut of our new LCP HD DVD. Since the video is over an hour in length and includes several other features as well we only had enough time to show a short teaser but based on every one's reaction it was a huge success. The only reason we didn't sell every single one of the dvds we brought was because I hid two for myself. In a few days I will post all the details for ordering your own very exciting copy.
I had such a good time and just cant wait for the next one but I would like to thank everyone involved, especially Bill Hemmer and Adriana Robles for what is truly one of the best annual LCP events of the year.
It's been almost 4 years in the making but today is the big day. I'm like a little boy who finally got to open his Christmas presents on Christmas morning and just cant wait to show them to his friends. Steffan Shultz, the producer who has spent countless day and nights and hours piecing La Carrera Panamericana Rebirth Of A Legend all together after thousands of hours of building the car, testing and racing has really created the best ever La Carrera Panamericana movie production ever made and today it makes it premier debut at the Pebble Beach Monterey Historics.
As amazing as this movie will be to anyone who has ever been involved with La Carrera Panamericana it will be just as exciting to anyone who has a love affair with automotive racing. Included in this movie are some never before seen slides and movie footage from the very first La Carrera Panamericana. There are some amazing and insightful interviews with some of the most recognizable LCP participants of all time including men and women from around the world, one of the original team owners from the first LCP and the legendary Hershel McGriff himself.
Everyone who has seen it has said the same thing... "It's so good that it seemed as if it was only ten minutes long and I was left wanting more." Speaking of legendary drivers, the forward was written by none other than my dear friend Bob Bondurant himself and C. Van Tune, former Editor-in-Chief, Motor Trend & ESPN TV personality.
Other than running in La Carrera Panamericana what could be possibly better than spending an afternoon at the Monterey Historic's with a group of La Carrera Panamericana friends and watching this movie?
Every man knows that destiny is what shapes each man's life but very few of them realize that our destiny was not created by things we had anything to do with but rather by those before us all to often decades before our very existence. This last weekend as I drove to Oregon to be with my mother for what is realistically the last time, I had lots of time to think about my own destiny and how it has been effected by others before me.
In one of the letters that President Reagan wrote to me he said, "It's hard to find anything more distinctive about American life than the variety of the opportunities it affords people to improve their own lives and, in the process, the lives of so many others." Then I realized what a perfect example Hershel McGriff has been in affecting my life and the lives of so many others and in doing so my own destiny. Because Hershel seized opportunities many years ago which in fact improved his own life and in the process, the lives of so many others, many of us are now able to enjoy a more distinctive life.
Hershel McGriff and Gary Faules
For those of us involved in racing, more specifically, with La Carrera Panamericana, it's almost unfathomable to comprehend how uneventful our roles in today's La Carrera Panamericana might be had Hershel not won that first race thus bringing home the distinction to The United States. Hershel's successful involvement in racing for the next many decades to come had a lot to do as a result of his early success and Hershel has always given credit to that race being one that opened so many doors of opportunities.
Had it not been for the likes of Hershel McGriff and a few other greats like him many young drivers today would not have had many of the doors open to them that they did. Always the diplomat, a real man's man, Hershel has always been able to back himself up with his own actions. The truth is, if it were not for Hershel, racing may very likely not be what it is today. It's the ground work that was set up by great drivers like him that became the very foundation known as one of the greatest racing venues ever realized in the racing world.... NASCAR.
Speaking of greats think Kentucky Derby. Super Bowl. America’s Cup. Indianapolis. Le Mans. Daytona ... each the epitome of sporting excellence. Add to that list the Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races. Since 1974, the Rolex Monterey Historic's have showcased the world’s passion for vintage racing cars and has risen to a preeminent place on the international motorsports calendar, held at the beautiful Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. During this year's event "La Carrera Panamericana, Rebirth Of A Legend" produced by Steffan Shultz, will be making it's debut. In doing so one of my biggest dreams will be realized after having competed in La Carrera Panamericana which has long been widely recognized by it's contemporaries to be the most dangerous race of any type in the world.
This amazing production is by far the most comprehensive and exciting documentary not only about La Carrera Panamericana but also about the involvement of Team California's Best and those who made it a reality. Besides tons of exciting footage, photos, interviews and more during the 2007 La Carrera Panamericana, the film includes the entire build and preparation of my 1965 GT350R Shelby that finished 9th overall made all the more exciting since finishing that high is unheard of for any first timers.
I would like to take this time to thank Hershel not only for his part in this film but for his friendship and for helping shape Team California's Best and so many other's destinies, mine included, into some of the most amazing adventures and opportunities any man could ever ask for. Thank you Hershel.
Once again Bill and Adriana have been working very hard getting all the preperations in order for the annual La Carrera Panamericana gathering at Tarpys Roadhouse during the Monterey Historics an event I just love. Not only am I looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones but I am very excited to show everyone the best La Carrera Panamericana Teaser that has ever been produced. For those who will be there I'm really looking forward to it and to those who can't make it you will be missed. As for those of you still deciding... Don't miss out of what has always been a great event and one you will not want to miss.
It was good to talk with you again. As I mentioned the preparations for La Carrera Panamericana Corral at the Monterey Historics is going very well. The event will again be held at Tarpy’s Roadhouse. As you remember Tarpy’s is on Highway 68 on the way to downtown Monterey. It is an ideal stop for those who have just left the Historic Races at Laguna Seca. We are especially looking forward to previewing the movie. It is sure to be a memorable event.
We already have quite a collection of both old and new participants who have committed to attend. As you are aware the proceeds from this non profit event go to the Lupita Hernandez trust fund. Enjoying the afternoon making new friends , reuniting with old ones and raising funds for Lupita makes this one of the more special events during the Historics weekend.
Please advise those interested that tickets are still only $40.00 if paid by Monday, August 10th. Payment can be made very easily to Gerie Bledsoe and his paypal account. Gerie can be reached at 650 726 9890 or thru his website at www.panamrace.com
Please forward this on to those you feel would be interested. We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, August 15th at 2:30.
Yesterday Jon and I hopped in Lucky and drove south to Monterey. Now if you have ever been to Monterey during the weekend of the prestigious Monterey Historis's and Concourse De Elegance then you know that it's not just another Sunday drive. There is some of the most exotic hardware in the world and it's not all parked in some showroom either. I doubt that at any given time that we were ever more than a block from several million dollars worth of cars and that was before we ever reached the track. Ferraris were as ordinary as VW bugs were in the 70's. At one point we pulled up behind a CHP and parked next to us was a Ford GT with a custom paint job, a million dollar McLaren F1 and a Ferrari all of which seemed too timid to pass the CHP but Lucky wasn't and so off we went. As much awesome hardware as there was it was very rewarding to realize that Lucky was ever bit as appealing as any other car we saw and we saw a lot of thumbs up throughout the day and even more fun was passing the majority of them while doing it.
The first place we went to was to pick up our ace in the hole which is a little something that Jon has access to during all of these events which is the all powerful "Media Pass". This was nice because it meant we didn't have to park miles away. As a matter of fact we were waved thru the usual security check-points and drove right in to the track and parked in the very popular Ford Corral.
During the early part of the day Jon and I enjoyed ourselves while the vintage racing was going on and equally beautiful vintage fighter planes buzzing the track and a whole lot more. Oh and did I mention cars? Geeze, no matter how many years I attend this thing I never get tired and if it's possible it just keeps on getting better and better every year.
After Jon and I left Laguna Seca we headed on over to Tarpy's Roadhouse where there was the annual La Carrera Panamericana get together. There were about 60 La Carrera members in attendance some who have been many times, some who will be making their first run this year but everyone enjoyed the afternoon of camaraderie.
There were people in attendance from all over the United States and world. Also in attendance was Arturo Perez. It was was his son Gabriel that won the Carrera with Angelica Fuentes in 2006 in a Turismo Produccion Ford.
With everyone else in attendance Jon and I enjoyed the local grog & ale as our new La Carrera Panamericana DVD mades it's debut. Unfortunately there were some problems with the video equipment on hand resulting in poor sound however without a doubt THIS IS THE BEST LA CARRERA PANAMERICAN MOVIE EVER PRODUCED and many shared the excitment.
A special thanks to Gerie Bledsoe for helping make the La Carrera gathering a special one and also to Bill Hemmer and is wife Adriana Robles since this year they negotiated the deal with Tarpy's, got everything set up, including the parking for Carrera cars and supplied the AV equipment. Bill and Adriana have driven the Carrera twice. In 2007 they were down there in a Porsche 550 replica. Thank you. As master of ceremonies Gerie Bledsoe made sure to introduce everyone and took a few minutes to give us all some updates for the upcoming events. I cracked up when Gerie asked everyone if they were ready for this years event since there were only two months left and I heard Carson Scheller say, "I was born ready." And our friend Dr. Sam Burg in attendance with co-piloto Dyana Marlett cracked me up when he told me he would not miss the gravel and trees on Mil Cumbres. I never thought to ask him about the narrow bridges.
I wish I had written down everyone's name and taken more photos but you know what they say about how time flies when you're having a good time.
Some of the cars and drivers in attendance included Andy Prill from England and Richard Clark from from Monaco who ran with us last year. Andy and Richard had flown over from Europe to race in this weekends event and they also brought along two amazing and historical cars as well. Both were older Porsches which they recently used to compete in this years LeManns one of which ran in one of the very first La Carrara race.
Left to right; Andy Prill, Jon Emerson, Gary Faules, Richard Clark.
Our good friend Doug Mockett and his crew also took a break in the action at the Monterey Historics to attend. Not only did Doug have his Mockett Rocket which just took first place at Pikes Peak at the event but he was also racing two of his formula cars at this weekends event as well including his 1975 Penske PC3. Left to right, Richard Clark, Gerie Bledsoe, Gary Faules, Doug Mockett.
Doug Mockett proves to Dr Sam Burg that it's not necessary to get lubed up before putting on his Cooper formula car.
Here are few other cars that made a showing at the La Carrera get together. A hot little La Carrera Falcon.
Our good buddy Carson Scheller drove his fantastic Ford and is always a pleasure to be around.
Another Curtis.
I had to laugh... the parking lot was filled with just about every type of car you would never expect to see at the local mall parking lot but when I saw a Rolls Royce parked near Lucky I cracked up. Where else except Monterey would you ever expect to find one with a fork laying on the hood?
Apparently the chauffeur was off looking for some Grey Poupon. But of course!
It's impossible to post just a few photos from an event such at this but here are just a few including a couple of my favorite formula cars one of which I watched Jackie Stewart race right here at Laguna Seca.
At one point during the day as Jon and I walked around Jon says, "There is Rod Millen's Pikes Peak car." Then a second later he says, "Hey, that's Rod Millen talking about the car!"
