Someone asked on a Yahoo group list if Mexican cops ever stopped cars with U.S. license plates to collect a illegal fine, called "mordida" (little bite). This is how I responded.
To Pay Mordida or Not? That is the question!
Yes, there are Mexican police, especially the city Transito and state cops (not Federales) that will stop cars with U.S. plates just because it portends a big pay day. The police in the state of Mexico, for example, are notorious for this way of raising money for their kid's private-school tuition or retirement fund.
In my fourteen years of driving long-distances across Mexico, as a tourist and in a rally car, I have been stopped by the police five times. In four of these cases I did something wrong, or "arguably" wrong, like a U-turn. I was soon faced with a decision: pay the "fine" (mordida) on the spot, or surrender my driver's licence, stand on principle, and spend half a day paying a much smaller fine at the police station.
Here's what I have learned from these experiences:
1. First and foremost: do not give the cops a reason to stop you. Slow down and watch your turns. In most cases in Mexico, mordida is usually collected from a driver, Mexican or gringo, who violates (again, arguably) some traffic law or whose cars are not properly registered.
Here are some preventive measures: make sure your car has a front license tag of some sort, as a few U.S. states do not issue front tags, and they are required in Mexico. Just about any tag works. Also, do not drive a vehicle with temporary U.S, tags, if you can help it. And keep your temporary tourist vehicle permit in your car when traveling. Oh, yes, one, crisp fifty-dollar U.S. bill tucked away in your billfold might come in handy, too.
2. If stopped by a local cop, be slow to hand over your driver's license initially, especially if you think the stop is bogus. When cop has your license, he has you by the short hair. Some people carry more than once license, like an expired license or international license, just for occasions like this. A little drama is OK, too. Just fumble through your purse and say with feigned shock and chagrin, "I must have left it at home." (Speaking Spanish too fluently may actually be a handicap at this point in the transaction.)
3. The amount of mordida is highly negotiable, but do not act like you are in a hurry. If a typical traffic violation costs 200 pesos at the station, why pay the cop $200 USD, when he will probably accept your crisp $50? Be patient. Make him work for it.
The basic question is, how much is your time worth under the circumstances? For example, if you are trying to get across the bridge in Laredo before sundown, you might not want to hang around Saltillo half the afternoon.
4. Believe it or not, cops worry these days that you will report them for demanding or accepting mordida, especially the state police. If you are really in a hurry and want to end the transaction by paying on the spot, do not threaten to report him (or her) as part of the negotiations, just handle it as a business transaction. Just flash the crisp fifty, down in your lap. If the deal goes down, just slip it to him. Of course, you'll get no receipt. :)
I know, some people will see this as capitulation to a corrupt system. If you want to make a stand, especially over a totally bogus charge, demand firmly and politely to see the cop's superior officer, or just hand over your driver's license and head down to the police station. It will be a vivid experience. And, it is always possible that the cop will back off, especially if your Spanish improves. Name dropping helps, too.
5. And yes, an obscure little car like a dusty Tsuru with heavily tinted glass and Mexican tags is less likely to be stopped than a cherry red Ford F-150 pickup or pearl-white Lexus SUV with California plate. But remember, the best defense is not to given the cops ANY excuse to pull you over. (Actually, the cops might be reluctant to stop a shiny black Suburban with 22" chrome wheels, fearing it might contain narco button men. On the other hand, a rival gang may "light up" your vehicle just because.)
Most of the cops in Mexico are helpful and polite to American visitors, but all societies have a few bad apples. Mexico has done a lot to reduce the amount of illegal pay-offs to public officials, but the mordida system, especially for traffic fines, is more deeply entrenched. In too many Mexican cities, it's just a way of handling traffice violations out of court.
Safe driving and suerte!
Gerie Bledsoe
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
CARRERA NEWS
CARRERA NEWS
JUNE 6, 2011 D-Day Edition
**CARRERA CITY: GUANAJUATO
**JOIN THE PRE-RACE TOUR
**COYOTE CONVOY
**PAN AM CARS AT PIKES PEAK, JUNE 26
**LCP RULES – SLOW DOWN!
**TWO SLOTS OPEN FOR LCP 2011
**CLASSIFIEDS
**LEGAL
**CONTACT INFORMATION
**CARRERA CITY: GUANAJUATO
The new city on the Carrera route for 2011 is Guanajuato (gwah-nah-HWAH-toh). Guanajuato is the capital of the Mexican state of the same name, which means “a place of frogs.” The city’s population is 76,900.
Founded in 1548, the city of Guanajuato was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. The wealth of the city was based on extensive silver mines found under and around the city.
In 1732, the Jesuits established a university in Guanjuato, thus establishing the city as a place of learning and culture.
This area is known as the “cradle of Mexican Independence,” because the revolution against Spanish monarchy started here in 1810 in Delores Hidalgo, San Miguel de Allende, and Guanajuato.
Guanajuato will be a challenge to Pan Am drivers because it is located in a steep valley. The streets follow the terrain rather than the normal Spanish grid pattern. In fact, the city features a maze of streets underneath the city that were built in old river beds.
Reportedly, the Pan Am will stop one night in the city, and the race cars will be serviced in the parking lot of the Convention Center. Finding our way around this unique city will be a challenge. Yet, most Pan Am vets were pleased to see Guanajuato replace Guadalajara as a stop on the route. Who can forget last year’s “Day of 1000 Topes?”
**JOIN THE PRE-RACE TOUR
Participants in the first “Pan-Am Pre-Race Tour” will tour Guanajuato and nearby speed stages on Sunday, September 11. The Tour will focus on the entrance and exits to the city, and provide participants with an opportunity to check out the service area and learn how to get from the service area to the hotels after two or three margaritas.
The Tour will also visit the famous speed stages on Mil Cumbres, have lunch in the Zocalo in Morelia, and be introduced to Queretaro, another city on the route. In addition to visiting Morelia, Guanajuato, and Queretaro, the Tour will include a relaxed introduction to San Miguel de Allende, and some of its race-car shops.
The Pre-Race Tour is planned for September 8-12. The registration fee is $450 per person.
Participants are expected to select their own airline flights, hotels, and airport transfers.
Registration is open to anyone with an interest in La Carrera Panamericana or San Miguel de Allende and the surrounding area. Special training in Mexican stage-rally timing and rules will be offered on Friday, September 9.
A detailed schedule and brochure is available upon request. gbledso@aol.com
**COYOTE CONVOY
Competitors towing their cars or having them transported to Huatulco in October and other interested parties are invited to participate in the 10th Annual Coyote Convoy. The Convoy will leave Nuevo Laredo on Friday, October 14. It will stop for two nights in San Miguel de Allende, and will go on to Oaxaca for one night, before arriving in Huatulco on Monday, October 17.
Each competitor will be asked to fill out the papers to have their race car and tow rig brokered across the border, instead of using temporary tourist permits. A procedure and forms for obtaining the necessary permits will be sent to all competitors soon.
Following the end of the race in Zacatecas, the convoy will return to Nuevo Laredo to be brokered back across the border to the U.S.
** PAN-AM CARS AT PIKES PEAK, JUNE 26
Doug Mockett and Angelica Fuentes will return to Pikes Peak outside of Colorado Springs to defend their championship on June 26 in the famous “Race to the Clouds.” They will resume their friendly rivalry with local favorite Keith Davidson in his Falcon. Todd Landon and father-in-law, Vance Stewart, will also challenge the mountain in “Phatt Man,” a new purpose-built GT-350 Mustang. Pan Am/Chihuahua vets Jake Shuttlesworth and Tony Bogovitch will make the 12.4 mile run in their ’65 Ford Fairlane, while Jack Rogers, a Chihuahua and Bonneville vet will also have a run in a Mustang GT-350. Last but not least will be Hayden Groendyke in his fantastic ’49 Caddy sporting a FI 427 engine and modern running gear in the modified vintage class.
Only a short stretch of the course is gravel. Suerte, y’all!
**LCP RULES – SLOW DOWN!
The Organizing Committee issued the rules governing the race cars last week. The rules remain mostly the same as 2010, except that the fast classes will have their top speeds limited by requiring a combination of tires, transmissions, and rear-end (differential) gear.
The limitations apply to these classes: Turismo Production (144.6 MPH), Turismo Mayor (146.6 MPH), Sports Mayor (142.8 MPH), and Historic C (142.8 MPH). 144.6 MPH=232.6 KPH, and 142.8 MPH=229.8 KPH, according to the information provided by the committee.
These restrictions seem to favor classes whose top speed is not limited, such as Historic “B.” However, since the Pan Am is more about using torque to climb the mountains rather than top speed, the new limits are not expect to alter the overall outcome of the event. As few people know, the cars in the Historic classes have not been deemed eligible to win the overall trophy, since that honor has been reserved by convention, if not rule, to the “Grupo Automobiles Panamericanos,” that includes TP, TM, Sports Mayor and Sport Menor. (See Rules 10.2-3.)
**TWO SLOTS OPEN FOR 2011 LCP
Two slots have opened up for the 2011 event. These slots entailed renting a car from a shop in San Miguel de Allende. Full service is also provided. If interested let me know soon. gbledso@aol.com
**CLASSIFIEDS: CARS FOR SALE
Bag O Nails, 1966 Mustang GT 350 R
“Bag O Nails” is a 1966 Mustang GT 350 R clone maintained by Mustang guru Todd Landon with the intention of winning the Historic class on La Carrera and other events.
The car was built from a bare shell in 2007 utilizing the very best of everything, and with the possibility of reverting to FIA homologation spec after the event.
This car is simply the best prepared, fastest (420BHP) and most reliable Historic C Mustang alive, and is now for sale to a serious competitor.
A lot of work has been done (weight reduction operation) to bring it to the highest standards.
Results:
2007: La Carrera Panamericana : 6th overall and 2nd in Historic C
2008: La Carrera Panamericana: 6th overall and 1st in Historic C
2010: Chihuahua Express: 5th overall and 1st in Historic C
Pikes peak: 2nd in Historic class (just beyond Doug Mockett)
La Carrera Panamericana: 4 times on the daily podium with at the end the 4th place in Historic C. Despite the very high level of competition this year, most of the time we finished in the top 15 overall
For more detailed info please phone or email.
Phone : +32497495495 or email tdl@panini.be
’53 Studebaker Commander. $120,000. Finished to your specifications: color and FIA seats and racing harness fitment. This car won the La Carrera Panamericana championship in 2008 and qualified first in 2010. Finish will be as good/better than 2010.
The car has been re-bodied and completely rebuilt since the 2010 event. It is now even faster and safer. The price includes a spares package and delivery/service is available. A build sheet is available. Completely Carrera-legal in all respects and guaranteed to pass all tech inspections. Needs nothing but you to win again. A rental arrangement for 2011 is a possibility. Contact Bill Beilharz, bbeilharz@aol.com or 602-320-5173 (Phoenix).
’68 Porsche 911. Guards Red 2.0L. Full Cage, Fire System, Kirkey Seats, 5 Point Belts, 27 gal Fuel Cell, MSD, Fender Mounted Extra Oil Cooler, Smart Racing and Elephant Suspension. Fully sorted – Porsche Racing Ready. Built 2 cars at once, the sister car to this one in 2003 finished 9th overall. Call 512-346-1880 or email alg@texcpa.com
Over $55,000 invested– asking $26,500.
‘66 Sunbeam Tiger. Ford 302 .060 over. High flow head . Roller rockers. Heavy-duty valve springs. Racing pistons, 10.5 to 1 compression. Racing cam. Heavy-duty oil pump . Edelbrock F4B manifold . Single wire chrome alternator. MSD distributor, coil, and ignition. High flow water pump. Fluidyne aluminum radiator. Aluminum oil cooler. Braded stainless steel fuel and oil lines with Aeroquip fittings. Holley 650 cfm Double pumper with regulator. Headers from Sunbeam Specialties. Remote oil filter. Heavy duty racing clutch lightened flywheel. Engine was totally rebuilt and computer balanced with the flywheel and harmonic balancer, approximately 8 hours on the engine. Ford top loader transmission, Rebuilt by "Toploader Heaven". Custom made heavy-duty drive shaft . Welded rear end. Custom made Mark Williams one-piece solid rear axles. Dual Holley Blue fuel pumps with relays. ATL 15 gal. fuel cell. Dual inline filter screens, Summit racing canister type fuel filter. Stainless steel fuel flex lines with Aeroquip fitting. $33,000 or b/o. Contact: Ed (415) 341-4965; ehugo@bhplaw.com
Photos and additional information are available at www.panamrace.com. Click on Classifieds. The advertisers assume all responsibility for their ads.
**LEGAL
The views expressed in CARRERA NEWS are those of the author and may not (probably don’t) represent the views of the Organizing Committee. The author is a competitor and any advice he offers may constitute a conflict of interest.
All forms of motor sports are inherently dangerous, and La Carrera Panamericana is no exception. It is a long, hard endurance race at high speeds along mountain roads. Mechanical failures are common, accidents not uncommon, and serious injury and even death are quite possible.
Cars should be carefully prepared, with an emphasis on safety (brakes, seat belts, roll cage, etc.), and driven prudently. Drivers and navigators should remember that the most important goal of this event is to finish. Unless you finish, nothing else counts.
**CONTACT INFORMATION
Gerie Bledsoe, Coordinator
La Carrera Panamericana and Chihuahua Express
USPO address: 220 N. Zapata Hwy Ste 11
PMB 68B
Laredo, TX 78043
1-650-525-9190 (Home office)
Number in Mexico +52-415-185-8470
Mailing Address in Mexico (FedEx, UPS only):
La Quinta Prolong. 5-A
Centro-Ojo de Agua
San Miguel de Allende
37700 GTO
Mexico
Phone: 415-185-8470
Email: gbledso@aol.com
Skype: gerie.bledsoe
www.panamrace.com
www.lacarrerapanamericana.com.mx
www.chihuahuaexpress.com
Carrera car number: Chevy II, Nova, #395, Historic C (1999-2011)
JUNE 6, 2011 D-Day Edition
**CARRERA CITY: GUANAJUATO
**JOIN THE PRE-RACE TOUR
**COYOTE CONVOY
**PAN AM CARS AT PIKES PEAK, JUNE 26
**LCP RULES – SLOW DOWN!
**TWO SLOTS OPEN FOR LCP 2011
**CLASSIFIEDS
**LEGAL
**CONTACT INFORMATION
**CARRERA CITY: GUANAJUATO
The new city on the Carrera route for 2011 is Guanajuato (gwah-nah-HWAH-toh). Guanajuato is the capital of the Mexican state of the same name, which means “a place of frogs.” The city’s population is 76,900.
Founded in 1548, the city of Guanajuato was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. The wealth of the city was based on extensive silver mines found under and around the city.
In 1732, the Jesuits established a university in Guanjuato, thus establishing the city as a place of learning and culture.
This area is known as the “cradle of Mexican Independence,” because the revolution against Spanish monarchy started here in 1810 in Delores Hidalgo, San Miguel de Allende, and Guanajuato.
Guanajuato will be a challenge to Pan Am drivers because it is located in a steep valley. The streets follow the terrain rather than the normal Spanish grid pattern. In fact, the city features a maze of streets underneath the city that were built in old river beds.
Reportedly, the Pan Am will stop one night in the city, and the race cars will be serviced in the parking lot of the Convention Center. Finding our way around this unique city will be a challenge. Yet, most Pan Am vets were pleased to see Guanajuato replace Guadalajara as a stop on the route. Who can forget last year’s “Day of 1000 Topes?”
**JOIN THE PRE-RACE TOUR
Participants in the first “Pan-Am Pre-Race Tour” will tour Guanajuato and nearby speed stages on Sunday, September 11. The Tour will focus on the entrance and exits to the city, and provide participants with an opportunity to check out the service area and learn how to get from the service area to the hotels after two or three margaritas.
The Tour will also visit the famous speed stages on Mil Cumbres, have lunch in the Zocalo in Morelia, and be introduced to Queretaro, another city on the route. In addition to visiting Morelia, Guanajuato, and Queretaro, the Tour will include a relaxed introduction to San Miguel de Allende, and some of its race-car shops.
The Pre-Race Tour is planned for September 8-12. The registration fee is $450 per person.
Participants are expected to select their own airline flights, hotels, and airport transfers.
Registration is open to anyone with an interest in La Carrera Panamericana or San Miguel de Allende and the surrounding area. Special training in Mexican stage-rally timing and rules will be offered on Friday, September 9.
A detailed schedule and brochure is available upon request. gbledso@aol.com
**COYOTE CONVOY
Competitors towing their cars or having them transported to Huatulco in October and other interested parties are invited to participate in the 10th Annual Coyote Convoy. The Convoy will leave Nuevo Laredo on Friday, October 14. It will stop for two nights in San Miguel de Allende, and will go on to Oaxaca for one night, before arriving in Huatulco on Monday, October 17.
Each competitor will be asked to fill out the papers to have their race car and tow rig brokered across the border, instead of using temporary tourist permits. A procedure and forms for obtaining the necessary permits will be sent to all competitors soon.
Following the end of the race in Zacatecas, the convoy will return to Nuevo Laredo to be brokered back across the border to the U.S.
** PAN-AM CARS AT PIKES PEAK, JUNE 26
Doug Mockett and Angelica Fuentes will return to Pikes Peak outside of Colorado Springs to defend their championship on June 26 in the famous “Race to the Clouds.” They will resume their friendly rivalry with local favorite Keith Davidson in his Falcon. Todd Landon and father-in-law, Vance Stewart, will also challenge the mountain in “Phatt Man,” a new purpose-built GT-350 Mustang. Pan Am/Chihuahua vets Jake Shuttlesworth and Tony Bogovitch will make the 12.4 mile run in their ’65 Ford Fairlane, while Jack Rogers, a Chihuahua and Bonneville vet will also have a run in a Mustang GT-350. Last but not least will be Hayden Groendyke in his fantastic ’49 Caddy sporting a FI 427 engine and modern running gear in the modified vintage class.
Only a short stretch of the course is gravel. Suerte, y’all!
**LCP RULES – SLOW DOWN!
The Organizing Committee issued the rules governing the race cars last week. The rules remain mostly the same as 2010, except that the fast classes will have their top speeds limited by requiring a combination of tires, transmissions, and rear-end (differential) gear.
The limitations apply to these classes: Turismo Production (144.6 MPH), Turismo Mayor (146.6 MPH), Sports Mayor (142.8 MPH), and Historic C (142.8 MPH). 144.6 MPH=232.6 KPH, and 142.8 MPH=229.8 KPH, according to the information provided by the committee.
These restrictions seem to favor classes whose top speed is not limited, such as Historic “B.” However, since the Pan Am is more about using torque to climb the mountains rather than top speed, the new limits are not expect to alter the overall outcome of the event. As few people know, the cars in the Historic classes have not been deemed eligible to win the overall trophy, since that honor has been reserved by convention, if not rule, to the “Grupo Automobiles Panamericanos,” that includes TP, TM, Sports Mayor and Sport Menor. (See Rules 10.2-3.)
**TWO SLOTS OPEN FOR 2011 LCP
Two slots have opened up for the 2011 event. These slots entailed renting a car from a shop in San Miguel de Allende. Full service is also provided. If interested let me know soon. gbledso@aol.com
**CLASSIFIEDS: CARS FOR SALE
Bag O Nails, 1966 Mustang GT 350 R
“Bag O Nails” is a 1966 Mustang GT 350 R clone maintained by Mustang guru Todd Landon with the intention of winning the Historic class on La Carrera and other events.
The car was built from a bare shell in 2007 utilizing the very best of everything, and with the possibility of reverting to FIA homologation spec after the event.
This car is simply the best prepared, fastest (420BHP) and most reliable Historic C Mustang alive, and is now for sale to a serious competitor.
A lot of work has been done (weight reduction operation) to bring it to the highest standards.
Results:
2007: La Carrera Panamericana : 6th overall and 2nd in Historic C
2008: La Carrera Panamericana: 6th overall and 1st in Historic C
2010: Chihuahua Express: 5th overall and 1st in Historic C
Pikes peak: 2nd in Historic class (just beyond Doug Mockett)
La Carrera Panamericana: 4 times on the daily podium with at the end the 4th place in Historic C. Despite the very high level of competition this year, most of the time we finished in the top 15 overall
For more detailed info please phone or email.
Phone : +32497495495 or email tdl@panini.be
’53 Studebaker Commander. $120,000. Finished to your specifications: color and FIA seats and racing harness fitment. This car won the La Carrera Panamericana championship in 2008 and qualified first in 2010. Finish will be as good/better than 2010.
The car has been re-bodied and completely rebuilt since the 2010 event. It is now even faster and safer. The price includes a spares package and delivery/service is available. A build sheet is available. Completely Carrera-legal in all respects and guaranteed to pass all tech inspections. Needs nothing but you to win again. A rental arrangement for 2011 is a possibility. Contact Bill Beilharz, bbeilharz@aol.com or 602-320-5173 (Phoenix).
’68 Porsche 911. Guards Red 2.0L. Full Cage, Fire System, Kirkey Seats, 5 Point Belts, 27 gal Fuel Cell, MSD, Fender Mounted Extra Oil Cooler, Smart Racing and Elephant Suspension. Fully sorted – Porsche Racing Ready. Built 2 cars at once, the sister car to this one in 2003 finished 9th overall. Call 512-346-1880 or email alg@texcpa.com
Over $55,000 invested– asking $26,500.
‘66 Sunbeam Tiger. Ford 302 .060 over. High flow head . Roller rockers. Heavy-duty valve springs. Racing pistons, 10.5 to 1 compression. Racing cam. Heavy-duty oil pump . Edelbrock F4B manifold . Single wire chrome alternator. MSD distributor, coil, and ignition. High flow water pump. Fluidyne aluminum radiator. Aluminum oil cooler. Braded stainless steel fuel and oil lines with Aeroquip fittings. Holley 650 cfm Double pumper with regulator. Headers from Sunbeam Specialties. Remote oil filter. Heavy duty racing clutch lightened flywheel. Engine was totally rebuilt and computer balanced with the flywheel and harmonic balancer, approximately 8 hours on the engine. Ford top loader transmission, Rebuilt by "Toploader Heaven". Custom made heavy-duty drive shaft . Welded rear end. Custom made Mark Williams one-piece solid rear axles. Dual Holley Blue fuel pumps with relays. ATL 15 gal. fuel cell. Dual inline filter screens, Summit racing canister type fuel filter. Stainless steel fuel flex lines with Aeroquip fitting. $33,000 or b/o. Contact: Ed (415) 341-4965; ehugo@bhplaw.com
Photos and additional information are available at www.panamrace.com. Click on Classifieds. The advertisers assume all responsibility for their ads.
**LEGAL
The views expressed in CARRERA NEWS are those of the author and may not (probably don’t) represent the views of the Organizing Committee. The author is a competitor and any advice he offers may constitute a conflict of interest.
All forms of motor sports are inherently dangerous, and La Carrera Panamericana is no exception. It is a long, hard endurance race at high speeds along mountain roads. Mechanical failures are common, accidents not uncommon, and serious injury and even death are quite possible.
Cars should be carefully prepared, with an emphasis on safety (brakes, seat belts, roll cage, etc.), and driven prudently. Drivers and navigators should remember that the most important goal of this event is to finish. Unless you finish, nothing else counts.
**CONTACT INFORMATION
Gerie Bledsoe, Coordinator
La Carrera Panamericana and Chihuahua Express
USPO address: 220 N. Zapata Hwy Ste 11
PMB 68B
Laredo, TX 78043
1-650-525-9190 (Home office)
Number in Mexico +52-415-185-8470
Mailing Address in Mexico (FedEx, UPS only):
La Quinta Prolong. 5-A
Centro-Ojo de Agua
San Miguel de Allende
37700 GTO
Mexico
Phone: 415-185-8470
Email: gbledso@aol.com
Skype: gerie.bledsoe
www.panamrace.com
www.lacarrerapanamericana.com.mx
www.chihuahuaexpress.com
Carrera car number: Chevy II, Nova, #395, Historic C (1999-2011)
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