Drove Right By And Didn't Even Have A Clue

If anyone asked me what I "don't" like about La Carrera Panamericana I would have two answers and even though it's easy to understand why these are things that likely will never change I still wish it was different...

First of all it's really too bad drivers and teams don't ever get the time to spend some quality time getting to know each other. Oh sure, we all meet a few people and make some life long friends but when it's all over everyone loads their trailer up and gets back on the road toward home as fast as possible. Like many others who have ran LCP for me it's been two years and I still see faces in photos of people who ran with us and don't have a clue who they are. Sad.

The other thing I regret is simply that we drive the full length of this amazing country so rich in history, beauty and tradition and yet when we get home all we have to show for it is a few lousy trophies and a lot of pictures and stories of a lot of race cars. Sadly we know nothing about the country of the people whom invited us to their country to do something so amazing that is not done anywhere else in the world. Much of the history of many of the very places we raced through and visited is so interesting and yet we fail to stop and smell the roses so to speak.

Take the rock in these photos for example. All of us LCP veterans would recognize it it in a heart-beat as a landmark near Querétaro as would any of those who competed this year. But did you know that rock is called "The Peña de Bernal" and that it's the third largest rock in the world after the Rock of Gibraltar and Sugarloaf Mountain in Río de Janeiro. Now that's hardly just another rock wouldn't you agree?



Peña de Bernal translates to Bernal's Boulder or Bernal Peak and is the second-largest monolith in the world, after Mt. Augustus, Western Australia. At 1150 ft it is also the fourth-tallest monolith in the world, after Mount Augustus, the Rock of Gibraltar and Sugarloaf Mountain.

Many people make a pilgrimage to the highest point hikeable, visiting a little chapel about halfway up. On the Spring equinox, people gather all dressed in white to form a human belt around the monolith.

I feel as if we should know more about these things if nothing else simply out of respect. I have a little book that I bought in the early 70's to take with me on a long drive through Baja. This book pointed out so many points of interest along the way which I could read later and in doing so have even a broader appreciation of the country we passed through. Believe me there is so much more. Wouldn't it be nice if LCP organization made something available with respect to highlights along the specific route for us like that which we could enjoy on the trip down or back home?

General MacArthur Said I Shall Return...

My friend Jorge did a very nice job shooting this interview in Queretaro on day three with Team Predator before the cloud following them turned black. It will be interesting to see how many return.

Service Stop Near Queretaro

One of the service stops that I recall the most is the one at Cavas Freixenet de Mexico one of Mexico's premier winery's. For more information on this beautiful place CLICK HERE. One of the largest underground wine vaults in Mexico is right beneath the teams and most will not even know it's there.

Mats crew hard at work

Courtesy of Apple Farmer racing


Courtesy of Apple Farmer racing

While the Apple Farmer Racing service crew was making there way towards Queretaro today they had reason to be pretty nervous as they were pulled over by a Federally. Before he even reached their window they were ready to "negotiate" a price. But when the crew member rolled down his window the officer asked if they were with La Carrera. When the crew member replied, "Si." the officer reached out and shook his hand, turned and walked away.

Now you tell me... Does this look like someone who just got lucky? The funny thing is, for years the crew member will tell the story about the Federally that let him go and for years the Federally will tell the story about the time he shook a LCP crew member's hand. Only in Mexico. VIVA LA CARRERA!

Latest Weather Update From Mexico

Our good friend Jorge just reported as of right now (6:43 PM Wednesday Oct 21) it is raining in Queretaro and supposedly will continue at least until the weekend; Thursday, Friday and Saturday some rains in the afternoon, and Sunday cloudy only.
Attached is the satellite view of Mexico from a couple of hours ago and it seems that at least until Sunday or Monday it will be the same.

Here is the satellite view of Mexico from a couple of hours ago and it seems that at least until Sunday or Monday it will be the same.

Lucky's Day At The Winery

A lot of what I love about traveling is learning about places as well as their history and Heaven knows there is a lot to learn about so many of the places along the route during La Carrera Panamericana. The problem is... While driving at break-neck speeds you simply don't have time to take in any of the sites and even during those long transit stages the last thing on your mind is taking in the sites. (Note; if you are able to take in any sites you don't belong at this event.)

Taking all of the above into consideration I was really surprised to learn about one of the places along the 2007 LCP route where we had a service stop. Not too far from Queretaro is Cavas Freixenet de Mexico one of Mexico's premier winery's. How ironic that a couple of guys from California who spend the majority of their time racing at Infineon Raceway located smack dab in the middle of one of the premier vineyards in California didn't even realize this was a winery.

Cavas Freixenet de Mexico

I must admit when I found out I was really surprised even though I didn't realize there was anything significant about the place. What I do recall is that it was a much welcome rest stop and I was able to wander around inside the walls of the compound and enjoy a nice fountain. It was here that Jon and I bought three tacos and a drink for less than two dollars. When a gentleman walked up and offered me a newspaper I assumed he was trying to sell it to me so I said no thank you until he pointed out we were on the front page. It was a great moment for me and I didn't even care if I couldn't read a newspaper printed in Spanish. The memory of this place has lasted three years and just now learning this makes me want to go back.



Gary and Mark "Techno Viking" Williams hamming it up.


Lucky parked out front all serviced and ready to go.


Today I learned another very interesting fact about Cavas Freixenet de Mexico. Like any other respectable, well know winery, they also have a nice wine cellar. In fact this is one of the largest in all of Mexico and as far as I know none of the teams had a clue that we were walking around above them the whole time we were there.





What a beautiful back-ground the rock formation land-mark located behind Cavas Freixenet de Mexico during a local fireworks celebration.


There's one more very significant memory that stands out for myself and Jon with respect to Cavas Freixenet de Mexico... No sooner than we left the gates of Cavas Freixenet de Mexico we were at the next starting point for the next speed stage. All rested up and raring to go Jon, Lucky and I were ready to kick some ass and take names and numbers. When the green flag lifted Lucky's tires did a burn out that left no doubt we were in a big hurry. As soon as we came up to the first corner Jon was quick to call out, "Right. One." As we came around the corner Lucky's tires griped the road perfectly and had used up all of the road which took us to the far left oncoming lane. It was just as Jon called out "Left, Zero." that Jon began to yell out some rather interesting explicative's that I don't dare write here. All of a sudden, out of nowhere, square in front of us was some old beat up cattle truck (similar to the one in the photo below) dead center in the middle of our lane and it was headed straight for us!




Luckily a quick snap of Lucky's wheel was all it took to narrowly miss being driven to market ourselves. I have to say that when you are in the frame of mind that believes there will not be any other traffic let alone coming directly at you during a race stage it's a bit overwhelming. The next thing out of Jon's mouth was something to the tune of, "Where in the hell did that son of a bitch come from?" and them some grumbling about making a note in the log book but then he calmly said, "No foul. OK, let's go like hell Baby."

Saludos Amigos... By Jorge Arellano Vital

There is one aspect of La Carrera Panamericana that I find almost impossible to explain in words but one I desire to share with others. It is trying to tell someone how passionate the people of Mexico are about La Carrera Panamericana or understanding why they love it so. Regardless of age when you look beyond their smiles and into their eyes as they wave and cheer the drivers and cars you see so much more than someone who thinks the cars are cool. They don't see the cars and drivers as cool... they see them as those men and machines they heard their fathers and their fathers before them describe to them from the time they are little boys and girls. Somehow I can close my eyes and see a dark haired man using his two hands to describe how two cars passed on a tight corner as his children sit on the edge of their seat with anticipation and finally says, "And THAT... is what my grandfather told me about the magnificent Juan Fangio."

With that in mind it pleases me to share something with you that a friend Queretaro Mexico was kind enough to send me.



Carrera Panamericana… this is what it means to me.
By Jorge Arellano Vital

The first toys I can recall I had when I was a little kid were small plastic replicas of the formula one cars from the 50s, I was 3 or 4 years old. That started my love for race cars… then the years passed and my family moved to Queretaro. Then, when I was 8, my friend´s father told to us about a race with classic cars that used to drive by the Carretera Panamericana (Panamericana Highway), in Queretaro. That original highway is now Constituyentes Avenue. He described a lot of things about the cars and how his father used to take him to watch the cars when he was little like us. Then this thing grew up in him and his brother and they become amateur car racers.


(Photo by Gary at San Miguel de Allende)

Every time I was in father´s car while he was driving by Constituyentes Avenue and I saw old signs that referred to addresses with the Carretera Panamericana name on them, I dreamed of seeing those cars racing at top speed. When I was starting High School, in 1988, the new age for the Carrera Panamericana started up. Maybe I was too busy with my high school and college years, then with my work, because it wasn't until 2006 while surfing the web I rediscovered my interest for the Carrera Panamericana. That year I planned ahead and marked in the calendar that the race was coming and it was going to be in Queretaro.



From that year I toke the time to go and watch the cars as they arrived in Queretaro, take some pictures and video, then go to the place they arrive, meet the teams and see the cars up close, also I go in the morning to the start of the next stage. But I have noticed a thing that makes the Carrera Panamericana an event that can´t be compared to any other kind of race. The drivers, co-drivers and crews are very accessible with the people, they share their smiles, always willing to give an autograph or pose for a picture. And if you ask them anything they always answer you in a good mood, no matter if they have been on the road for hours.


Gerie Bledsoe with some excited La Carrera Fans. Photo Courtesy Of Coop.

They are common people with a dream and regardless of their activities outside this Carrera, here they are all here with a goal in common, to participate in the hardest car race doing what they like the most. I have met many people and try to be in contact with them, sharing pictures and video or only a salute once in a while. Like Thomas Haana, Geert Boels, The Gregory family: John, Chirslana, Mathew and Jacob, Bill Beilharz, Jorge Ceballos, The Predator Performance Team: Larry, David, Bruno and “English” Mike. They are all regular people that are always a pleasure to meet and talk to.

This race may be about cars running in the greatest race of all, but is also about the people that make an effort to come every year and have the thrill of a lifetime. Here in Queretaro they are always going to be welcomed with open arms and a smile and many others like me will look forward for this Autumn classic event for many years to come. So I can welcome back old friends and make new ones.

Now I know what a phrase that is commonly painted in the cars really means: Saludos Amigos!!

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.