CARRERAS NEWS - February 2015 - La Carrera Panamericana Pan Am (Veracruz) – October 16-22

CARRERAS NEWS

February 2015

**2015 CHIHUAHUA EXPRESS, April 23-26

**PAN AM CARS AT ROAD AMERICA, July 16-19

**2015 PAN AM & BUSY OCTOBER RACING SCHEDULE

**BUILDING A PAN AM PHOTO ARCHIVE

**CARS FOR SALE

**LUPITA HERNANDEZ AUCTION RESULTS

**LEGAL DEPT

**CONTACT INFO

**2015 CHIHUAHUA EXPRESS, April 23-26

Registrations for the Chihuahua Express continue to grow among North Americans and Mexicans.

Not ready to commit to a high-speed road race? Try the Express Tour, a time-to-distance rally. It is an excellent introduction to Mexico, its roads, and rally procedures. Experience the beautiful highways and landscapes of northern Mexico, while checking out the full-competition cars at the beautiful Soberano Hotel high on a hill overlooking the city.

For the first time the event will be covered by a reporter for the New York Times.

The cost of a Mexican racing license (full competition) for foreigners is 4000 pesos ($276 USD), and it is valid for the entire year. Obtaining a temporary tourist import permit for your vehicle is easy: via Internet, at a Mexican Consulate, or at the border for $48, plus a refundable security deposit.

A convoy of car and trucks will cross the border at Santa Teresa, New Mexico, on April 22, for the 240 mile drive south to Chihuahua City. Another convoy of cars will cross the border at Presidio, Texas. From there, it is only 145 miles across the desert to Chihuahua City.

**PAN AM CARS AT ROAD AMERICA, July 16-19

Once again, all classic Pan Am rally cars are being invited to participate in this huge vintage event at the most beautiful track in the country. If there is enough Pan Am cars they may have their own run group, otherwise they will be placed in an appropriate class. Check out the Hawk at www.roadamerica.com.

A special attraction this year will be the post-banquet presentation on the legends of the Pan Am, original and modern, by the editor of Carreras News, Gerie “Yeri” Bledsoe. Bledsoe has participated in every Pan Am race since 1999, and has been the North American representative of the event and the Chihuahua Express since 2002. He has one Historic C class championship and two top-ten finishes to his credit, and has published countless editions of CARRERAS NEWS. He will try, but can’t promise, to have two latex-clad Corona help him with his presentation.

Thanks, Gary!

**2015 PAN AM AND A BUSY OCTOBER RACING SCHEDULE

Clear your calendar for the entire month of October and early November for the Pan Am, the U.S. Grand Prix, and the Formula One race in Mexico City. That is four weeks, a solid month, of either participating or watching road racing at its finest. Is it possible to over-dose?

Pan Am (Veracruz) – October 16-22

U.S. Grand Prix (Austin, TX) – October 25

Formula One (Mexico City) – November 1

**BUILDING A PAN AM PHOTO ARCHIVE

The North American Pan Am web site, www.panamrace.com, is being re-designed and updated. Photos and short videos are needed to make it more inviting. Please send us a few high quality HD photos and indicate the year they were taken.

**CARS FOR SALE

Got an old Carrera car sitting in the garage? We have buyers looking for solid cars for the Original Pan Am class and other classes. Post them here for sale. Just send a nice photo and a description of the vehicle’s state of preparation. We only ask for a $40 donation to “Los Amigos of Lupita Hernandez.”

Right now we have three cars listed for sale. The first two were posted in last month’s CARRERAS NEWS, which can be found on www.panamrace.com, under the “News” tab. All will be ready to race in Chihuahua or in the Pan Am.

1964 Monte Carlo Falcon, Historic “C” Champion, call David Bate – 203-377-6745

1953 “Hot Rod” Lincoln Capri, Turismo Mayor, call Bill Richert – 602-548-9368

Photos and details about each car will be supplied upon request.

**LUPTIA HERNANDEZ AUCTION RESULTS

The auction of a donated 2014 Pan Am jacket and hat, and the accompanying fund-raiser raised over $1100 for Lupita Hernandez, the Mexican nurse who lost both of her legs in a Carrera accident years ago.

The top bidder for the jacket and hat was Todd Landon, owner of “Mustangs to Go.” Todd builds, rents, and supports pony cars for the Pan Am, Chihuahua Express, Pikes Peak, and Bonneville. One of his Mustangs now holds the vintage record at Pikes Peak, and he is committed to building a car capable of a sub-10 minute run up the mountain next year. Todd has two Mustangs ready for the Chihuahua Express, April 23-26, at a very reasonable price. TALandon@landolakes.com

**LEGAL DEPT

As most of you know, auto racing is inherently dangerous and unless you drive prudently, like a reasonable person (who races), it can be seriously injurious to your health. Rallying through the mountains of Mexico can also be addictive and ruin your career on the round-and-round tracks Stateside. Also note that the opinions expressed herein are the editors and do not represent the views of any race organizer on either side of the border.

**CONTACT INFO

Gerie Bledsoe, North American Coordinator

La Carrera Panamericana and Chihuahua Express

Santa Rosa Beach, Florida 1-850-66zero-178four (winter)

Evanston, IL 1-224-six66-729two (summer)

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico 1-650-525-nine one 90

LCP Main Office

Mexico City +52-55-5586-6898

US Number 1-310-86zero-6959

www.lacarrerapanamericana.com.mx

team@lacarrerapanamericana.com.mx (entries, general info)

monica@lacarrerapanamericana.com.mx (hotels and entry fees)