I don't think since the first one of these blogs I have said much 
about the actual race. I guess this is as good a time as any to give a very short history lesson.
about the actual race. I guess this is as good a time as any to give a very short history lesson.The first year of the Carrera was 1950, and the basic premise was to show that the Panamerican Highway was open and that the family sedan could travel to Mexico City and beyond. Most of the entrants were from the U.S. and Mexico, and almost all the cars were Detroit iron. The Europeans were limited to two Alfa-Romeo's from Italy which both happened to finish in the top ten. The rules were pretty simple, stock cars with no modifications, except for a extra fuel tank. The winner in 1950 was Hershel McGriff from Oregon, driving a Oldsmobile right off the showroom floor. That first year the race went from Ciudad Juarez to just south of Tuxtla Gutierrez at El Ocotal on the Guatemala border. After that, it was reversed to go from South to North.
After the first year, the rules were slightly changed to allow more modifications to the engines and the cars themselves. But they still wanted to see a four seater and no convertibles. The Italians had always had an eye on the race, both Lancia and Ferrari had entries in 1951. The second year, the Ferrari's finished first and second. After this, they separated cars into two classes, stock cars and sports cars. The third year 1952, Mercedes Benz entered and beat both Ferrari and Lancia. The American stock car side saw almost every manufacturer 
represented, Ford, GM, Chrysler, Hudson, Nash and Studebaker all had different models entered.
represented, Ford, GM, Chrysler, Hudson, Nash and Studebaker all had different models entered. By 1953 this was a big time race, on the same level as LeMans, Sebring, and the Mille Migila. To borrow from an article in Motor Trend Magazine, "The Panamericana 1953 had everything a world-class race should have: big money, factory teams, famous drivers, rule-pushing, cheating, backbiting and manipulation". This year the race car categories were again split, this time to large and small sports cars and large and small stock cars. In the small sports car class, Porsche was the car to beat, this race is where the "Carrera" name that's still used today came from. The Lincoln was number one in the big stock class. The last year of the race was again 
dominated by Ferrari in the large sports class, Porsche in the small class. The Lincolns were challenged by Cadillacs, but not beaten. Some of the drivers who participated in the early race were champions from NASCAR, Formula 1, and the Indy 500. These included Phil Hill, Carroll Shelby, Richie Ginther, Juan Manuel Fanigo, Johnny Mantz, Tony Bettenhausen, Roger Ward and Mickey Thompson to name a few.
dominated by Ferrari in the large sports class, Porsche in the small class. The Lincolns were challenged by Cadillacs, but not beaten. Some of the drivers who participated in the early race were champions from NASCAR, Formula 1, and the Indy 500. These included Phil Hill, Carroll Shelby, Richie Ginther, Juan Manuel Fanigo, Johnny Mantz, Tony Bettenhausen, Roger Ward and Mickey Thompson to name a few.By 1954 the Carrera was starting to come apart at the seams. The fatality list was growing of drivers and spectators, with the world press calling it "the death race". Cars were now going 
170 mph on small two lane, winding highways. The crowds were bigger than ever just outside the cities, forming human walls opening just wide enough for a car traveling 125 mph to pass through. In the government and the race organization, things also looked shaky, with politics and greed taking its toll. Finally the President of Mexico declared the race had proven its point, about driving the Pan American Highway, and was terminated.
170 mph on small two lane, winding highways. The crowds were bigger than ever just outside the cities, forming human walls opening just wide enough for a car traveling 125 mph to pass through. In the government and the race organization, things also looked shaky, with politics and greed taking its toll. Finally the President of Mexico declared the race had proven its point, about driving the Pan American Highway, and was terminated. In 1988 Eduardo Leon and some partners from the US and Mexico got permission from the Mexican Government to celebrate the original race with a parade of old cars. Certainly Mexico 
and their racing community had not forgotten the original race and with the support of the Department of Tourism and the Mexican Highway Patrol, who has the power to close the roads, the event was off and running again. Instead of a caravan, it emerged as a stage rally--full speed runs on closed roads--sanctioned by the Federation of Mexican Auto Sports (FMAD). This year is the 20th anniversary of the resurrected race and will have somewhere around 100 cars competing in nine different classes.
So there you have it, we will be running with some big dogs in Mexico, and when we finish, I'll be looking forward to somebody handing me a
tall cool one.
and their racing community had not forgotten the original race and with the support of the Department of Tourism and the Mexican Highway Patrol, who has the power to close the roads, the event was off and running again. Instead of a caravan, it emerged as a stage rally--full speed runs on closed roads--sanctioned by the Federation of Mexican Auto Sports (FMAD). This year is the 20th anniversary of the resurrected race and will have somewhere around 100 cars competing in nine different classes.So there you have it, we will be running with some big dogs in Mexico, and when we finish, I'll be looking forward to somebody handing me a
tall cool one.Next Time: Hello Sponsors!
WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SPONSORS
WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SPONSORS
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