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.

Come Along On A Donkey Walk

One of the more popular festivities that everyone looks forward to that takes place during La Carrera Panamericana is the traditional Donkey Walk. It is believed that donkey walks found thier roots as far back as the birth of Jesus. Traditionally a donkey walk is a relaxing way to spend an evening walking along with fellow competitors and teams accompanied with musicians and a donkey who just happens to be carrying a load of tequila and other local spirits. Everyone is given his or her own shot cup which is tied around their neck with a colorful ribbon. Trust me, if they didn't tie it around your neck by the end of the evening you couldn't find it.

Since the entire event has had everyone sleeping, eating and working on race cars it seems this is the only chance where everyone gets a well deserved opportunity to get to unwind and this is an evening that many new life-long friendships are born. As we all walk along the cobblestone streets we see some many of the most beautiful sites up close and personal. The musicians never stop singing and the tequila never stops flowing and at any given moment everyone will simply stop in the middle of the street and begin dancing.

One of the things I loved most about the donkey walk is as you walk along locals or other tourist will simply join in and the crowd just keeps getting bigger until finally we reach the city square. Wouldn't it be nice if more people could walk along and sing and have a good time for no other reason than to enjoy each other.

Thank you George for sharing this video taken during the donkey walk in Zacatecas.


In San Miguel de Allende we all gathered at our hotel overlooking the beautiful cith down below.


Local musicians accompanied us down through the cobblestone streets as other joined in along the way.


One of the best parts of the donkey walk is getting up close and personal to many of the beautiful colonial sites.





















I know it looks bad but trust me... I went back to my hotel room alone. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.


If you think the celebration ends at the end of the donkey walk think again. Now it's time to relax with some more spirits and dinner at one of the local watering holes.


Even during dinner there is lively music.


After dinner there is still plenty of time to dance the night away at the local dico before taking a taxi back to the hotel. (Tip; Local taxis charge extra for donkeys.)

Visiting Coops Jungle

Our friend Coop told me that he has added his color film from 2008 to his flicker account after it was processed and scanned. Coop has one of the best eyes in the business and unlike many of the rest of us, he doesn't just take a picture of the elephant so to speak. Cook takes the time to get the shot that takes you right into the jungle where the elephant lives Granted I didn't see any elephants while in San Miguel de Allende with Coop last year but as you look at these photos you will grasp what I'm talking about.

Anyone who has spent time with the Coyote Convoy in San Miguel de Allende will tell you that Coop really does catch the true essence of what this place is all about. Since my wife and I spent several days walking around San Miguel de Allende prior to the arrival of the Coyote Convoy we had lots of time not only to site see but to go inside many of these unique shops and restaurants. It was an amazing week and I really enjoyed lots of stories from Hershel about his involvement in the first LCP. Like so many others, I never tire of seeing photos from any place along the La Carrera Panamericana route. Thanks Coop!

This first photo reminded me of the scene in Mel Brooks Young Frankenstien when Dr Frankenstien said, "What knockers!"