Chihuahua Express -- There is still time!

On the rim of the Copper Canyon, a major tourist attraction
Chihuahua, Mexico


The fourth annual Chihuahua Express is scheduled for March 19-21, 2010.

There is still time to sign up.

The Express is open to cars of all ages -- with or without roll cages. You may sign up for one of three types of competition, or simply come down to run the course at moderate speeds in your daily driver, pickup, or rental car. It's a great way to learn about Mexico and how to participate in a stage rally.

You do NOT need a competition license from the U.S. or Canada to participate. A special orientation on stage rallying will be provided to all participants, plus follow-up sessions each night. You may also participate on a daily basis (one, two, or thee days). The fun will be over on Sunday afternoon, so you can head back home. Trophies or medals are awarded on a daily basis and at the end of the event.

The event entails 1000 miles of beautiful scenery and nearly 325 miles of wide open, timed speed runs in the countryside on excellent paved roads around the city of Chihuahua, which is only 145 miles from Texas. We will visit the famous Copper Canyon and at one point come within a mile of the Texas border.

On March 16 participants from the U.S. and Canada with gather in El Paso and go across the border the next day at 9 AM as part of the Express Convoy. The convoy will actually cross the border at Santa Teresa, New Mexico, and will avoid Mexican border towns completely.

If you are interested, please request a copy of the latest Express FAQ, entry form, or email me. Go to www.chihuahuaexpress.com for additional information/

The Express is fun, exciting, safe, and relatively inexpensive. Please join us this year as a participant or as a spectator. It is beautiful country!

Ready for the Chihuahua Express?

The Chihuahua Express--now in it fourth year--is a condensed version of La Carrera Panamericana, with a few advantages:

1. modern, classic, vintage, and Panamericana cars are featured

2. cars without roll cages are welcome

3. there's a Rally Master school to teach rookies how to rally properly

The Chihuahua Express was designed to be:

1. a weekend event

2. close to the USA

3. in the same hotel each night

4. relatively inexpensive

5. staged on good paved roads

6. surrounded by beautiful scenery

7. remembered for large amounts of challenging speed stages

The Express comprises nearly 1000 miles of driving, including about 325 miles of speed stages, mostly in the mountains around Chihuahua, which is only 145 miles from Texas. By contrast the Panamericana offers around 350 miles of speed stages over seven days and 2000 miles or more.

Until January 1, the Express entry fee is $2000, when it goes up to $2200. This does not include the hotel rooms. Rooms at the luxury HQ hotel are $165 per night (tax included), while rooms in nearby "racer" hotels go for as little as $55.

Where else in the civilized world can you race on closed public roads for three days under the protection of the Federal Police?

To race at full speed, you will need a car with a six-point roll cage and all the usual racing gear. All cars are subject to a safety and technical inspection.

If you do not have a roll cage, you may participate in bracket competition (limited speed), or a time/distance rally. You may also select the Express Tour and optional Rally Master program. Only helmets are required. The entry fee for the Tour and the Rally Master program is only $900. The cars in the Tour will run the same course as the racecars.

The Express visits the famous Copper Canyon of Northwest Mexico, a canyon that rivals the Grand Canyon in Arizona for beauty. You will have lunch on the northern rim of the canyon, so you'll have a good view.

Race or drive it as part of the Express Tour, it is beautiful country. Join us in El Paso, Texas on March 16 for the trip down to Chihuahua City in the Express Convoy. If you are interested, please let me know and I will send you a detailed FAQ. gbledso@aol.com 650-726-9890.

Check out http://www.chihuahuaexpress.com/ for a detailed map and additional information.