I seems like only a week ago that we decided to go run the 2007 La Carrera Panamericana. Then it seems as if it were only a couple days ago that we were in some strange hotel in Texas meeting up with the Coyote Convoy and the next minute we were in Laredo Texas crossing the border into Mexico. But the best part of all is it seems like only an hour ago Jon, Will and I were crossing the border back into the United States. It seems as if it were only moments ago that we were hauling ass down some section of road as fast as Lucky our GT350 could go all the while passing Federalies and large crowds of spectators that lined the highways everywhere we went. I can still smell the air of the long beautiful transit sections and the spectacular views of the Sierra Madras, the long flat cactus flats and each and every one of those amazing little villages and everything in between.
I feel so much excitement for those who will be going for the first time and no matter how much they may have felt the excitement of racing they are in for the treat of their racing life. There will be roads that they will carve through that are more exciting than any race course. There will be cliffs, canyons with unforgiving drop offs, curves, corners and then there will be the unexpected. They will be telling themselves to take a breath as they realize they haven't done so since they passed that last car on a blind corner. To say the adventure before them will be exciting is like saying there is sand in the Sahara. And just like sand in the Sahara the excitement of this once in a lifetime journey will seem never ending.
For those who have been, they know exactly what I am feeling. For those who are thinking about doing it, all of us are shouting "DO IT!" because we know there is no racing experience in the world that can captivate one's inner soul like this one will. The closer we get to the 2008 La Carrera the more I feel my heart palpitate and seem to skip a beat. Then I begin to feel an emptiness knowing Jon, Will and I will not be attending this year. There is an old saying about gentleman who have been to Africa on hunting safari that suggest that it somehow changes a man. Having been on just such an adventure as well as having run the La Carrera, I must agree it''s so very true. But to those who dare to live the dream, I challenge you to read Dylan Thomas work of "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night" and while it may all seem melodramatic to you at first, trust me when I tell you that your love of racing will change before you return from Mexico.
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
