RALLY MEXICO BULLETIN
HOLIDAY EDITION 2009

***CHIHUAHUA EXPRESS DEADLINE – JANUARY 1
***LA CARRERA NEWS AND SPECULATION
***PIKES PEAK 2010—LIMITED TO 20 VINTAGE CARS
***CLASSIFIEDS
CARS FOR THE EXPRESS – READY TO RACE
***CONTACT INFO

***CHIHUAHUA EXPRESS DEADLINE

The entry fee for the fourth annual Chihuahua Express is $2000 until January 1, when it goes up another $500.

In addition to the twenty competitors who have signed up thus far, another fifteen from the U.S. and Canada have made the commitment. And 15-20 more from Mexico and Europe as expected to sign up as well.

As I stated at the race of the event last year, this is truly a world-class event. The roads, scenery, race organization, civil and popular support, timing and scoring, and other aspects of the race were just excellent. It is nearly 325 miles of top-speed stages in only three days with no complicated handicapping system or navigation problems.

It’s a racer’s race. So tell your friends to come on down and check it out.

New to the fine art of a “stage rally?" We’ll teach you in the Rally Master Program, a combination of classroom instruction, audio-visual aids, and driving the actual course under supervision. Any (safe) car will do, and you do not need a roll cage, only a helmet. The fee is only $900 until January 1.

Worried by the reports of violence in Mexico? Do not let these reports keep you away. I just finished my 12th year and 17th race in Mexico, and I have never seen an act of violence against one of our racers down there. Besides, the Mexican Federal, Para-military, and State police watch over us along the whole route.

***CARRERA NEWS

The Carrera Office in Mexico City has been mostly closed since the event, and the Leon family has been on a much-deserved vacation, recovering from the Pan Am. Now it is the Christmas season; announcements about the 2010 event are not expected soon.

However, here are several unofficial speculations:

1) the dates of the race will probably be October 22-28, with qualifying on October 21.
2) the race will start, more than likely, in Tuxtla Gutierrez
3) the race will not stop for the night in Mexico City, rain or shine
4) the race will probably end in Nuevo Laredo
5) there will probably be a modest increase in the entry fee
6) it is unlikely that there will be a change in the North American Coordinator
7) there will be likely be a change in the chief timer and score keeper
8) the Coyote Convoy will roll from Laredo, Texas on October 16, 2010

Determining the exact route of the Pan Am normally takes weeks of planning, discussions, and even neogotiations with the cities and authorities along the way. Anything speculated above is subject to change.

***PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL HILL CLIMB -- JUNE 27, 2010

Just twenty vintage and Pan Am cars are being invited back to Pikes Peak this year. The date has been moved up to June 27 to accommodate the paving plan on the mountain. This will be the last year to race the upper mountain’s dirt course.

In 2009 six Vintage Division drivers added their names to the record books as hill climb rookies. Ten vintage autos ran including three Mustangs, three Falcons, a Corvette, a Oldsmobile Super 88, a Desoto Firedome 8 and a '71 'Cuda. A Falcon set a new course record of 13:56 for the Vintage Division, narrowly edging out defending vintage champions Doug Mockett and Angelica Fuentes in their ’54 Pan Am Oldsmobile.

In addition to the hill climb, the Rocky Mountain Vintage Racing club sponsors a car show in Manitou Springs featuring vehicles from vintage car and motorcycle groups, as well as local residents' private vehicles. Manitou is a resort city nestled in the foothills just west of Colorado Springs. The setting for the show is in a park with plenty of shade, grass, music and food vendors. The '52 Desoto Hemi of Dean Smith and Frank McKinnon was the show favorite in 2009, taking home a trophy for Best Racecar. The car show will again take place in 2010, on June 26, the day before the race up the mountain.

The early entry fee until January 31 is $900. After that, it goes up $100-200. If more than 10 cars sign up, a rebate from $100 to $400 will be to each entrant.

For more information, go to http://www.rmvr.com/ or call race chairman Keith Davidson at 303-526-2807 or Gerie Bledsoe at 650-726-9890 or email gbledso@aol.com.

***CLASSIFIEDS

’93 Camaro Z-28 -- ready for the Chihuahua Express. This track car finished first in class and sixth overall in the 2008 Express. $5,900 (firm). Stock fuel injected 350 engine, six speed, big brakes, sub-frame connectors, new adjustable Panhard rod, 800# front springs, upgraded shocks, PS/PB, P/S cooler, newer set of Toyo tires, full roll cage, Kirkey racing seats, current seat belts, interior stripped, fire extinguisher, window nets, no glass in front doors, windshield and rear window excellent shape, tow hooks, slate gray, etc. Rear bumper has scuffing. Car is set up for NASA’s Camaro-Mustang Challenge series. Easy to drive and dependable. Prep for the Express, repainting, and delivery possible. Contact Gerie Bledsoe @ gbledso@aol.com

Transport to La Carrera. Duane Wilcoxon has room on his truck for one more car next October. Contact him at cri59@msn.com or 425-418-3680.

Chihuahua Express. Dean Smith needs a funded co-driver for the Chihuahua Express.
Dean offers an unforgettable ride in his ’52 DeSoto hemi that won the prize for best racecar at Pikes Peak last year. Contact Dean in Las Vegas at mexicoracerdean@embarqmail.com or 702-438- 3445. Dean has mucho experience in Mexican racing.

Mustang Support. Todd Landon, who fabricates Mustangs and Falcon’s for the Chihuahua Express, La Carrera, Pikes Peak, and other events, has cars ready for these adventures now, at different price points. He also provides race support. Contact him at TALandon@landolakes.com or 952-250-7948.

Studebakers Unlimited. Mats Hammarlund, MHRacing, is looking for partners/drivers to build a Falcon or Studebaker for the Chihuahua Express or La Carrera. Last October cars from his shop took four of the top six spots in La Carrera, including first and second overall and in Turismo Mayor, plus first in Sports Mayor. Contact Mats in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, at 213-291-1840 (U.S. number) or mhracing1960@gmail.com.

Coyote Convoy T Shirts. I have the XXXL Convoy T 2009 shirts for sale. $13.00 plus $3.00 postage. Proceeds go to Lupita Hernandez. gbledso@aol.com. Also 2008 Convoy shirts (same design), 3 small, 3 med, 1 XL, and 3 XXXL. The shirts are all $10.00 except XXXL, which is $13, plus postage.

***‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE GENEROUS – HELP LUPITA

Your personal contribution is needed to build a trust fund for Lupita Hernandez, the Mexican nurse who lost both of her legs at the hip in 2003 in a Carrera accident.

Lupita was standing by an ambulance when a Carrera car hit a pool of oil and slid off the road during a speed stage. Lupita was pinned against the ambulance. Given the massive trauma and loss of blood, no one expected her to survive. But after three weeks in intensive care, she pulled through. Today she remains confined to a wheel chair in a small town outside of Tuxtla Gutierrez.

Since the accident Lupita has been supported by her parents and siblings, and her friends from La Carrera. This support paid for her physical therapy, rehabilitation, continuing education, and opening of a “micro-business.” A generous benefactor also purchased and refurbished a small house for her.

Today we need to build a trust fund for Lupita that will generate enough interest income to support her in poor economic times, as well as good times.

Please help us this Holiday Season. Checks may be sent to:

Friends of Guadalupe Hernandez Ramirez
c/o Ms. Fanny Davila
South Bay Bank
2200 Sepulveda Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90501

The Friends of Lupita would like to thanks Ralph Carungi, Stewart and Linda Robertson, and Kim Watkins, plus others for their recent contributions.

The trustees of Lupita’s account are: Doug Mockett, Oscar Carillo, and Gerie Bledsoe.

The photo above is of Lupita in front of her house. Ocozocoautla, Chiapas, Mexico. 2008.

Thanks for the consideration, and many Happy Holidays!

Gerie

P.S. The accident that crippled Guadalupe Hernandez Ramirez happened in the second speed stage of the very first day of the Pan Am in 2003, just outside of the starting city, Tuxtla Gutierrez. I remember the morning clearly.

My '64 Chevy Nova had blown its engine during the first speed stage, so my navigator, Mike Goble, and I were standing on the side of the road waiting for our support guy, Logan, to come by and pick us up. After an hour or so, we noticed a medivac helicopter flying low, following the road. In twenty minutes it returned at full speed.

We assumed, of course, that a Carrera car had crashed and someone was badly injured. Later that evening it was reported that a 22 year old Mexican nurse had been killed when a Mustang hit a puddle of oil dropped by another Carrera car. The Mustang, driven by Frank Currie, spun off the road and into a parked ambulance. Two or three people were standing by the ambulance, but only Lupita was struck. A doctor sitting in the driver's seat of the ambulance suffered a broken leg.

Later during the race we learned that the nurse was still alive but not expected to live. But three weeks or so after the event was over, I found out that Lupita had miraculously survived, and our efforts to help her soon began.

Months later we also discovered that, while the emergency workers were tending to Lupita, another Carrera car lost control and almost hit the ambulance again -- a scene caught on video.

I will always remember that sick feeling in my stomach when I watched the helicopter return to Tuxta that morning in October 2003, knowing that someone was seriously injured. It could have been any of the racers, instead it was a young Mexican nurse who had volunteered to help any of us who might be injured. Now, I knew, it was our turn to help her.

GB

First Entry for 2010 Race Received

Yesterday I received the first entry for next year's edition of La Carrera Panamericana. I had to explain to the guy that I was missing some important details about the race in 2010, like the exact dates, the route, the starting city, and the amount of the entry fee. But he was insistent that he was going to be in the event, so he took the first of the 40 entries available to Canada and the U.S.

At this point, my best guess is that the official dates will be October 22-28. These dates would be consistent with past practice.

I am also predicting that the route will be about the same as last year. Some people will be very happy, however, if we do not stop in Mexico City or make the trek to Guadalajara.

Most of us will be pleased if the event ends in Nuevo Laredo.

Next year the start may well be in Tuxtla Gutierrez, the traditional starting city, down in Chiapas. Reportedly, the major highway construction outside the city has been completed.

The vets, like me, like Tuxtla because it has the Carrera tradition and the fairgrounds are just right to prepare for the event. The people are very friendly and supportive, too.

With the economy improving, I expect a major turn out for the 2010 Pan Am. Last year we had 107 entries, with 99 starting the race. And in 2008, we had 105 entries, with 100 starting.

Next year I suspect many old friends to return to the event. They have been out knocking off other adventures from their bucket list, like Paris-to-Peking or the Targa, but they will be coming back to the Pan Am because there is nothing really like it in the world.

Why is it so special? It's really about the people, like our many friends in the Carrera Fraternity. And where else can you drive as fast as you want every day for seven days, through beautiful county, surrounded by adoring fans and friendly cops?

It's an adventure, with tradition!