HOME I WEEKEND EVENTS I HISTORY OF LA CARRERA PANAMERICANA I BENEFICIARIES I SAN MIGUEL SIGHTS
REGISTRATION PROCESS I GALLERY I LIST OF APPROVED HOTELS AND B&B I SPONSORS I MAPS I CONTACT
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CONCURSO MOTOR SPORTS SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE |
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HOME I WEEKEND EVENTS I HISTORY OF LA CARRERA PANAMERICANA I BENEFICIARIES I SAN MIGUEL SIGHTS REGISTRATION PROCESS I GALLERY I LIST OF APPROVED HOTELS AND B&B I SPONSORS I MAPS I CONTACT
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Short History of La Carrera Panamericana Original and Modern
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La Carrera Panamericana is one of the greatest motor sports events in history. In 2008 it remains the last, top-speed endurance race--2000 miles or 3240 KM—taking place on public roads in the world.
La Carrera Panamericana was created by the President of Mexico, Miguel Aleman, in 1949. It was sponsored by the federal government to celebrate the completion of the Panamerican Highway from Ciudad Juárez (El Paso, Texas) to Guatemala.
The first race was held in 1950 for sedans (turismos) with four or five seats only. The government wanted to show how easily a North American family could drive their car into Mexico for vacation or business. Only two of the 125 cars that started the race were from Europe. Very few modifications of the cars were allowed.
The Panam race started in Ciudad Juárez on 5 May 1950 and ended five days later in a small Mexican village, El Ocotol, on the border with Guatemala. Hershel McGriff, a young man from Portland, Oregon won the event in an Oldsmobile. He walked away with the top prize of 150,000 pesos ($17,442 USD), a huge purse at that time. Three Cadillacs came in next after McGriff.
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The second race in 1951 started in Tuxtla Gutierrez (Chiapas) and went north
to Ciudad Juárez. Again only sedans (turismos) were allowed, but there were
many more cars and drivers from Europe. By 1952 the race had become a major
international event and part of the sports car championship.
During 1952-1954 most of the great sports car drivers of the world raced la Carrera Panamericana, including world champions Juan Manuel Fangio and Phil Hill. One of the most popular drivers in Mexico was the Italian, Piero Taruffi, known as the “Silver Fox,” who won in 1951. Famous North American drivers from Indianapolis and NASCAR also participated. Race cars included: Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Mercedes, Jaguar, Lancia, and many others. Porsche made their racing debut in the Panam and won the small sports car category. Until this day, many models of Porsches are known as “Carrera,” as a tribute to the Panamerican race. In later years “hot rod” Lincolns would dominate the sedan category (turismo). But Ferrari, Mercedes, and Lancia dominated the race overall. Most cars did not finish this grueling event because of mechanical failures and there were many crashes. |
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In
1955 the Mexican government canceled the race. It was very expensive to
support and too many people, drivers and spectators, were injured or killed.
Americans and Europeans knew about the Panamerican Highway. The race made
all motor sports extremely popular in Mexico through the present day.
In 1988, 33 years after the race was cancelled, a group of motor sports enthusiasts worked to revive the tradition of La Carrera Panamericana. For the past 20 years, the modern race is conducted as a “stage rally,” with the approval of the Mexican government. In a stage rally the cars follow a route book and must check in at timing stations punctually during the day—from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Six or eight times a day the cars line up and start in 30 second intervals -- to go as fast as they can on roads closed by the Federal police. These “speed” stages range from 3 to 16 miles (5-26 KM) in length. Some of the cars reach speeds of 190 MPH (305 KPH). Times are recorded and those cars with the lowest elapsed times are declared the winners each day and for the week. There are no cash prizes, only trophies. There are eight categories of cars in the modern event and all of the cars must be manufactured in the period from 1940 to 1965. Extensive modifications of the cars are allowed. |
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Several Mexican drivers, including Carlos Anaya, Gabriel Perez, and Juan Carlos Sarmiento have won the event. North Americans, like Doug Mockett, have won the race. A Frenchman, Pierre de Thoisy, has won the race six times.
The standard route of the Carrera is: Tuxtla Gutiérrez (Chiapas), Oaxaca, Puebla, México, Querétaro, Morelia, León, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas, and Nuevo Laredo. In 2008 the race will stop for the night in San Luis de Potosi.
Each year 40-50 North Americans come to Mexico to race in La Carrera Panamericana. For the past two years many of these drivers agreed to stop for an extra night or two in San Miguel de Allende to help to raise money for organizations that help children and families. Their support is greatly appreciated.
La Carrera is always an adventure!
Viva la Carrera Panamericana!
Gerie Bledsoe February 2008 |
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