La+Carrera+Panamericana

= LA CARRERA PANAMERICANA = = = media type="youtube" key="I6iCt21KP2I" height="385" width="480" align="center"

HISTORY media type="youtube" key="NRCsnm5GaJA" height="385" width="480"

This international and famous event had its beginnings in the 50’s, under the orders of Miguel Alemán, Mexican president in those years, to celebrate the inauguration of the first highway that crossed all the American continent. With the participation of the best drivers and automotive brands for the event, the route for that event (1950) was from Ciudad Juárez to Tuxtla Gutiérrez. The next year the route was inverted from Tuxtla Gutierrez to Ciudad Juárez. The last time was celebrated in 1954, in those 5 years La Carrera had winners as famous Pietro Tarufi, Juan Manuel Fangio, Karl Kling, Umberto Maglioli and H. Mcrgriff. At this time, La Carrera Panemericana was considerated one of the most important in world head-to-head with the [|24 heures du lemans] race from France and the [|Mille Miglia] from Italy. = __In 1988, it was modified__ __to be a [|rally*], and not a race, and as a result, increase the security year to year.__ =
 * Rally: Kind of race, divided by stages, or/and days, with special stages, where the driver time is timed, every racer starts from 30 seconds to 3 minutes behind the forward car, the driver who made less time in the special stages total win. Its obligatory race with the co-driver, who is de encharged to guide the driver, with a pre-maded route book, where is all the anotations of the following turns, and important signals.

PRESENT "La Carrera" is considered the most important classic cars race, and almost unknown here in México. There heve been many important people in the race in history: F1 drivers - Guy Edwards, Clay Regazzoni, Philippe Aliot ; Le Mans drivers - Alain de Cadenet, Robert Lamplough, Alistari Caldwell, Mark Knopffer from Dire Staits; Musicians like: Nick Mason & David Gilmour from Pink Floyd; famous persons like : Adrian Paul (Highlander) race designers - Jon Ward & Knight Rider ; Royalty members: Carol Spagg, Valentine Lindsay, Renato Biciato, Burhardt von Schenk, Ludovic Lindsay; Cars museums owners - Herve Ogliastro, Arturo Perez & Dave Petersen, between others.The race its classified into 10 categories: Turismo Mayor, Turismo de Producción, Sport Mayor, Sport Menor, Original Panam, Historic A, Historic A+, Historic B, Historic C, and Unlimited Class. For the Panam classes there are available only cars from 1940 to 1954.

TURISMO MAYOR.- In this category, the car modifications are open, with a 5 velocity gear box, 360cc engines, special suspension, full disc brakes.

TURISMO DE PRODUCCION.- For this one, the car modifications have to keep the original engine size and transmission.

SPORT MAYOR.- As the name is, only sport class cars are legal for this one, for 6, 8 or more cylinders engines, and keeping the original size, disc brakes all the way.

SPORT MENOR.- The same as the mayor class, but with small cars, with 4 cylinders engines.

ORIGINAL PANAM.- Here, the slowest class from "La Carrera", need to keep, the original engine, transmission and brakes.

The next categories are called historic ones, from 54 to 65.
HISTORIC A.- Cars with 4 cylinders engines, and keep the original engine size. Keeping the original transmission and can use 4 disc brakes.

HISTORIC B.- Cars with 6 cylinders engines, 4.2 L for Jaguar engines, and 2.4 L for Porsches and all the rest.

HISTORIC C.- Cars with 8 or more cylinders, keeping the original transmission and engine.

HISTORIC A+.- A recently new category for small new cars, from 1966 to 1972, with up to 2000 cc engines, and the original transmission.

UNLIMITED CLASS.- This class is for all the people who want to run the race with their new cars in the historic Panam route, it is open for every car, every year, engine, etc.

= ROUTE = Almost all the editions start at Tuxtla Gutierrez, with 1998, 2006, 2007 and 2009 exception, starting from Veracruz ( 98, 06), Oaxaca (07) and Huatulco (09), the race is divided in days, or stages, arriving to one city, generally, Tuxtla Gutierrez-Oaxaca-Puebla-Morelia-Aguascalientes-Zacatecas-Zacatecas-Nuevo Laredo.

The race finishes in Monterrey, and this year will finish in Zacatecas because of the actual economic situation.

STAFF

For the organization of this big race, the people involved in are very important, at the head organization is Eduardo Leon´s family, a visionary who has worked very hard in this more than twenty years to keep alive this big event year after year.

Also, the people who work in the organization, almost all volunteers working very hard in things like medical issues, drivers, timekeepers, assistants, tech inspection, and lot more. The participation of Mexican autorities like highway patrol (PFP), Secretaria de Turismo, and Local authorities make of this event one example of organization and well done job.

= This year, it is expected the return of the 7 times winner from France, Pierre de Thoisy, with his Mercedes Benz 300 SL. Also, the participation of other winners like Doug Mockett (Oldsmobile), Carlos Anaya and Gabriel Perez (Studebaker). Including the participation of the Televisa-Nextel team with many famous and important people. If you want to see the cars, look for "La Carrera Panamericana" news, La Carrera will arrive to Queretaro(24th 25th), and Puebla (23th 24th October), the closest Mexico City locations. =

For more information log on to [|www.lacarrerapanamericana.com]