Mexico's Road Race - Great Video - Lots of Studebakers

[Commander Eddie]

From this morning's Hemmings news, this very well done video about the La Carrera Pan Americana race with tons of Studebaker content. Spool this up, get a cup of coffee and sit back and enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3e3PFqR17s&feature=youtu.be

[bumpkinvilledano]

Very cool. Thanks for posting this.

[studegary]

Thank you. That was the best coverage that I have seen.

[J_Cole]

Angie Fuentes who races with Team122MX sent me a sticker from their race this year which I put on my 54 Commander. They finished third this year and I believe her team has won the race outright twice.

[Dick Steinkamp]

Angie Fuentes who races with Team122MX sent me a sticker from their race this year which I put on my 54 Commander. They finished third this year and I believe her team has won the race outright twice.

I met Angelica in Guanajuato during the race in 2017. She is one of the best rally navigators in the world and a real ambassador to the sport. With my buddies Javier, Tom, and Larry...

[Noxnabaker]

What's the car at 8:30..?
Really nice covering by the way!!!

[J_Cole]

Dick Steinkamp Wow, that is way too cool!! I'm blown away by what a small world the auto hobby and Studebaker group really is. She does seem like a real ambassador to the sport! I started following her on Instagram about a year ago and sent her a message asking if she had any apparel or souvenirs that they sell. She said no, but if i send her my address, she'd send me a sticker from this years race! I never thought she'd get around to it. Once I get better pictures, she is going to post them on her pages as I guess I'm the first fan to put their team logo on a Studebaker. We've seen chatted a few times on Instagram and she seems really nice! I absolutely love the race as it continues to promote Studebakers and bring them up into conversations 50+ years after they went out of business.

[Dal smilie]

There are a bunch of ‘53-54 Studes. Built really as NASCAR rigs really. Going really fast, making lots of healthy noise. Lots of them. Amazing

ah, wish I was richer, younger and with a modicum of talent

these folks are having way too much fun with cars that are way too cool

[brngarage]

I forwarded the link to all members of our chapter; they really enjoyed it! Thanks

[JRoberts]

Thanks indeed for posting this. I just watched the entire thing was in awe most of the time. A great video of a grand automotive competition. I too have forwarded the link to several of our chapter members.

[RadioRoy]

ah, wish I was richer, younger and with a modicum of talent

You and me both, brother.

[BobWaitz]

And information about a related event:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15^th Chihuahua Express – Organizer Chacho Medina has announced that the dates for the next event will be April 22-25, 2021. This date will not conflict with the famous auto show in Mexico City earlier in April, thus allowing more of those participants to join us in Chihuahua.

ChiX Fee Schedule: Until Dec 31^st, 2020: $4000 US plus room nights at $160 US per night (double or single) or $4800 including 5 nights at the Sheraton.

Until Feb 28^th, 2021: $4200 plus room nights at $160 US per night (double or single) or $5000 US including 5 nights at the Sheraton.

Until April 22d, 2021: $4400 plus room nights at $160 US per night (double or single) or $5200 US including 5 nights at the Sheraton.

Tour: $1500 US plus room nights at $160 US per night (double or single) or $2300 US including 5 nights at the Sheraton.

As announced, those competitors who paid the entire entry fee for 2020 will not be asked to pay the increase in the fee for 2021. Any contributions, however, will be appreciated, given Chacho’s significant losses this year.

Given the fact that we may well have a vaccine for Covid-19 sooner than expected, we finally can be optimistic about the event actually running in late April.

Pan-Am Results – This event went off as scheduled, October 16-22, running from Oaxaca to the modern industrial city of Torreón south of Chihuahua for the first time. Thirty cars were listed as having participated; how many finished is an open question. As usual, there was significant attrition.

Winner – Ricardo Cordero and Marco Hernández (Mexico) by 2 min, 11 sec over:Runner Up – Hilaire Damiron (France) and his beautiful esposa Laura (Brazil)

Drivers from the USA – 2 -- Doug Mockett 11^th place, and Pedro Vidal, 30th

Drivers from Canada – 1 -- Karlo Flores, 7^th place

Drivers from Europe – 1 -- Hilaire Damiron

Drivers from Mexico – 26

Gabriel Pérez and Angelica Fuentes – 5^th place after losing an engine one day.

Felicidades!

Cars by Class:

Turismo Mayor – 5

Turismo Production – 5

Sports Mayor – 2 including a 1965 Ford GT

Historic A – 2 Austin Minis

Historic A Plus – 1 VW Beetle (?)

Historic B – 4

Historic B Plus -- 4 (3.0 liter Porsches finished 3d, 4^th, 5^th overall)

Historic C – 3

Modern BMW – 2

Modern BMW Mini Challenge – 2

Original Pan-Am – 0

Cars by Make:

9 Studebakers

5 Porsches

2 Austin Mini Coopers

1 each: Ford GT, Camaro, Falcon, Datsun 260Z, Datsun 510, Ford Escort, VW, and ‘51 Ford (TM)

According to the daily reports on the official website, several cars had serious mechanical problems, such as blown engines, and off-road excursions. Heavy rain was a problem at least one day. One competitor reported that the top finishing Studebaker are fully tubed with NASCAR quality engines, steering, and suspensions. As noted, Studebakers, Porsche 911-912, and modern BMWs made up half of the car in the event. Not a lot of diversity, it seems.

Competitors complemented the Pan-Am staff on maintaining sanitary conditions.

Anticipated dates for next year: October 15-22.

CARS FOR SALE -- I have two parties in California looking an Original Pan-Am car that is pretty much ready to race the ChiX in April. If you have a car for sale--in any class--and want it advertised in this publication, send me a couple of photos and a description. If the car sells, I will only ask for a contribution of $50 for Lupita Hernandez, the Red Cross nurse, who was seriously injured and crippled by a Pan-Am car. If you want me to privately broker the sale (no ad), please let me know.

Viva Mexico!

Gerie "Yeri" Bledsoe

Please note that this newsletter has not been pre-approved by any event organizer in Mexico. If you wish not to received it, simply reply with "unsubscribe" in the subject line.