Terry Sayther with Rhett Hubertus and Phil Hartman
We have arrived in Chihuahua City, Chihuahua, Old Mexico via Big Bend National Park and overnight in Terlingua, Texas. Our route crossed paths with roadrunners, coyotes, desert jackrabbits, and a herd of big horned sheep. The always traumatic border crossing made easy by thorough preparation and all proper paperwork, was fortunately made through Presidio, Texas/Ojinaga, Chih. in obscure west Texas. We have heard that not all were so lucky: the racers who crossed in El Paso/Juarez were delayed for many hours for reasons unknown.
Racecars have been trickling into the parking lot here at the five star Westin Hotel, where they undergo a cursory safety inspection before getting their official stickers and numbers. Nothing would do for our Project Lemon Bimmer but that we get lucky number 13, of course.
Many of the other participants have brought cars that are veterans of La Carrera Panamericana----and why not? They are perfect cars for this event, essentially street legal race cars for this open road race. Full safety equipment---rollcage, harnesses, window nets, fire extinguisher---with pretty much whatever go fast add ons you care to make. Cars have been driven here from as far away as Virginia and Oregon; many have been trailered.
There are hot ´60s Volvos, mid-60s Chevelles, one Chevy powered Hudson Hornet, a one-of-a-kind hot rod roadster called an LT Special, an old Mercedes, several old Chryslers {including one early ´50s hemi powered}, one gorgeous fast V8 Studebaker, and Doug Mocket´s La Carrera winning 160mph 1957 Oldsmobile.
Additionally, there are cars from other racing venues---especially veterans of
the Silverstate Classic in Nevada----a Corvette, a Viper, and some HOT Asians: some modified Suburu WRX´s including one with 20psi boost, and a nicely prepared turbo Mitsu Lancer.
Thursday, 4.19.07
Racecars have continued to arrive. California CCA member Gerie Bledsoe, one of the event organizers, is here driving a modern Corvette. More California Club members Richard Row and Logan Wilson, from independant BMW shop North Bay Bavarian, are here driving a ´64 Chevelle. And finally Klaus Hirtes, CCA member #704, has entered an old Mercedes 220b in the race [how embarrassing!].
We were able to take the morning hours off for a bit of touristing----to see
the small historic district downtown and visit the excellent Pancho Villa
Museum. Nothing like a taxi tour to whett the appetite for a return trip!
Mid-day found us back at the hotel to unload the trailer and visit with fellow
competitors working on their cars. Some racers never seem to be quite ready
enough. The official race doctor pronounced our blood to still be warm and we were given our route and rule books to study. Oh, and we were allowed to spend another $400US to buy Mexican Racing Licenses!
In the late afternoon all the Gringos gathered for an English language class in how to follow the Racing Route Book. The rules place strong emphasis on the fact that any rules or route conflicts can be simply solved by reading the Spanish language version of the book. Like we didn´t already know that! Another surprise awaited us as we arrived to the meeting about 15 minutes ahead of schedule---the meeting was already underway and was, in fact, in it´s final minutes. Welcome to Mexico!
Finally, the race starting order was announced and we have
been relegated to starting in 22nd place---last place among the race cars
[but ahead of the non-racing ´´Touring Cars´´].
Fortunately, I always like starting at the back---it seems people always
expect the least of you when you start last!