RoadRallyRhythms

Photos of Chihuahua Express 2009

Found some ChiXpress photos uploaded to Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexaguirreagencia/3397050659/in/photostream/ 

(Courtesy of Alex Aguire)

Stay tuned!

The search continues!

Chihuahua Express 2008 Video

Last year about this time, we were in Mex-hee-co!!! Getting ready for the Chihuahua Express, looking for a sweet little rally car to celebrate our 25th anniversary in and learn the proper techniques about road rally racing along Mexican highways and byways. Alas, our rally car never materialized and we were relegated to Tourist Class. But, the show of support we received from the Chihuahua Express participants was phenomenal. We joined in the laughter and camaraderie as the "Accidental Tourists," driving the highways and byways in a rented VW Jetta! Car #86. Automatic, no less! =) You couldn't help, but have a good time!

Raise a Corona for ChiXpress!

Got off the bus and looked around for Franc’s truck, but instead I noticed a pretty sweet Nova some fellows were ogling over in the parking lot.

Woohoo!

“We gonna ‘open this baby up?” I ask.

“Let’s, shall we?’ Franc smiles.

Give a quick call to our La Carrera buds in Ballard. “You guys still at the shop?”

“Sure, come on over!” John replies.

It was a bit difficult maneuvering through the congested Seattle traffic at high speed, but Franc did an impressive job. We got to Apex Automotive with daylight to spare and a half dozen unbroken Corona’s in hand.

A clink or two to wish we were there and another to send all our compadres in this year’s Chihuahua Express good luck and Godspeed.

As we chatted, a fellow at the shop who makes a living building roll cages in racecars, inspects our Nova. He had lots of good things to say about it! I asked and he explained how he might have done it differently, but as we conversed, he pointed out some cool features. Eventually, I hope to get the plans of our roll cage digitized and up on this blog site.

But for now, the Chihuahua Express is taking place.

To stay updated with the race, here are a few good resources:

Lauren Scheller's blogspot

 

 

Gary Faules blog

 

 

 

Kristen Stewart’s blogspot

 

 

Mats Hammerlund Racing

Chihuahua Express 2009

So, after a night spent in El Paso and a warm, welcoming dinner in Santa Teresa, the Mexican road rally racers hit the border crossing yesterday with Gerie Bledsoe at the helm.

It is a scenario that plays out year after year about this time. And, every year newcomers join veterans in an affectionate embrace for the love of racing the open roads near Chihuahua, Mexico.

The Chihuahua Express is in its third year. Forty-seven competitors are on the roster looking to partake.

Vintage racecars mix with late model varieties; the skills of the drivers and co-drivers as multi-faceted and diverse as the racecars.

Rampin Up - Evergreen Speedway & the D4D Program

Evergreen Speedway is the local NASCAR track up in our neck of the woods and folks here are ramping up for the racing season.

The fellow who got us involved in La Carrera has a new gig up there, a new love…,

And it’s prettier than a deuce coop!

Roger Habich and I had lunch the day before I left for La Carrera this past October, 2008. I surprised him with my news about joining Team #426 as service crew and he animatedly talked about his new adventure, the NASCAR Drive for Diversity (D4D) program. I was thrilled for him!

This guy loves racing and fixing racecars so that the set up creates a winner. It would be an understatement to say he is fairly passionate about it.

As he exited my car to head back to work, I gave him my newly created Road Rally Rhythms business card. He hesitated for a moment outside the open passenger door. I asked him if the D4D candidate was well-qualified.

He absentmindedly ran the business card up and down the rubber seal on the car’s window as he slowly exhaled, “She’s pretty…,

“She’s pretty…,

She’s pretty..., GOOD!!!”

I stifled a laugh as I leaned back behind the wheel thinking, “My, Oh, My! He’s been smitten!” Not sure if it’s ‘cause of her looks, her talent, or because he’s daydreaming about getting his hands on her racecar.

So..., you decide for yourself!

Check out Natalie Sather this season on the D4D site. Make sure to sign up as a fan! (The scoop bantering about town is that the Drive for Diversity member who gets the most fans to sign up wins special prizes.)  So, show your support and become a member!

For the inside skinny on local track news, check out Natalie’s blog site at: NatalieSather.com

It’s exciting to see young women entering the field of racing and doing well. I wish her and her Total Velocity Motorsports (TVM) crew a successful season!

Open that Baby Up!

When the kids were little, we bought an old ’69 Chevy Impala Caprice.

It had a California sunroof.

It was big, gray, and burly.

It was cheap!

We’d strap our eldest in his car seat in the back and go for long drives.

He loved it!

Our second son came along and we had two in the back seat.

We bought an old boat to trailer along behind the old car.

I stopped off once at my place of employment as we returned from a trip in the San Juan Islands.

A fellow I worked with who owned a sleek, late model SUV commented, “I didn’t know there could be anything older than your car, but there IS! It’s your boat!!! Har, har, har!!!

(He left the company soon after, I didn’t much mind…)

In summer, we’d open up the California sunroof and the kids loved the wind whooshing down around them. Every time, we strapped them in and the brum, brum, brum of the engine started its beat, Franc would get that look in his eye and put the pedal to the metal. Inevitably, we’d hear giggling from the back seat and a high-pitched voice saying, “Open that baby up…. Dad!  Open that baby up!”

Today, Spring came to the NW. After working the weeds from the garden landscape, Franc looked longingly at the Nova. “Gonna take it out for a spin, you want to come along?”

Hmmmm….,

We headed out on the highway. As Franc downshifts and the motor roars its response, he turns to me and grins, “Let’s open this baby up!”

And, that’s exactly what we did!

Starting in the Red...., Zone

Nothing quite like starting a new job and seeing the Blood Mobile in the parking lot when you arrive!

Decide to join in the “orientation” and supply some platelets for the betterment of mankind.

Receiving a rejection notice because the state of Oaxaca, Mexico is a red zone on the map - - under quarantine for Malaria! Anyone visiting the area in the past six months is an unacceptable donor for an entire year!

“But I went through Oaxaca soooo fast,” I explain to the health nurse, “The chances of a mosquito latching on are a million to one!”

“Sorry,” says the health nurse, “we can’t take ANY chances.”

Hmmmm…,

Later that evening….,

Google: Symptoms of malaria?

Nights sweats, headaches, fatigue, impaired function of the brain…,

Symptoms may appear in cycles and come & go at different intensities.

“I was wondering what was wrong with me,” I matter-of-factly announce after relaying the symptoms to my husband.

Peals of laughter burst forth as I end my narrative.

Franc’s shoulders heave as he tries diplomatically to hide his merriment, but he can’t contain himself and the laughter bubbles up through his words, “You had those symptoms long before your ride through Oaxaca, babe!”

Retirement Plans

So, most of my stories of this past year’s La Carrera are told. There are bits and pieces, glimmers of memories (like almost getting run over by the Zero car on the Queretaro track!) that make me smile and count my blessings, but overall, I’m done. Our Nova sits idle in our garage awaiting: a suspension rebuild, an engine rebuild, and a multitude of other improvements.

I would like to offer good news that we will get it all together and ride like the wind in La Carrera 2010, but it is doubtful. A few weeks ago, our financial advisor squared his shoulders and, looking us straight in the eyes, stated, “You know that these next few years will be the poorest you’ve ever been?”

“We had some notion that it was coming” I sarcastically imbue.

“Yes,” he restates looking directly at me, “you might want to get a job.”

The message is coming in loud and clear. “First born off to college - - parental support continues unabated!”

As we continue our meeting, Franc’s talking, rather dreamily, about retirement locales in the mountains (to support my need for snow) and in warmer climes (to support his need for warmth and sun). The restless imp in me (hoping to get the message across subliminally :) keeps murmuring, ‘road rally racing’, ‘road rally racing’, ‘road rally racing’…….., 

As we leave the meeting, I shoot a glance at our advisor’s columnar pad. Did I really see it? Or, was it just wishful thinking? Scribbled along the edge of the paper where he was taking notes on our retirement hopes and dreams were three precious words: road rally racing.

A Beautiful Mercedes

I recently viewed Gary Faules blog and I am so saddened to read about Richard Morrison’s racecar being caught in a shop fire. I don’t know Rich well, but we enjoyed a conversational lunch together on Qualifying Day. His roots are right here in the Pacific NW with family ties to Carnation Dairy.

 

Rich has a gentle heart and steady-on driving skills. Richard Hamlin (Rick), his co-piloto became very ill with pneumonia during La Carrera 2008 and, to his credit, he remained for the duration as service crew to make sure the Mercedes was in top-notch condition every morning. Day 3 saw Gerie Bledsoe helping out as interim co-piloto.

Seeing fellows pull together like that is what the spirit of La Carrera is all about. After seven days of endurance road racing, Team 422 went on to garner an Original PanAm class podium finish. 

 

Good Memories of a Night spent in Mexico City.

Paul rushed off to the Driver’s meeting. I took care of the luggage and room check-in. The Camino Real is the largest hotel I have ever been in! By the time I found all our rooms, I swear I’d walked a kilometer or two. Then, I took a walk along the streets of Mexico City at night, just to be able to say I have and returned, without incidence, with a few needed supplies.

Corky and Tom worked on the Lincoln in the park and replaced the brake shoes while I bustled about the hotel. That’s where I saw John Voss stepping down the highly polished, marbled stairs in the expansive high-ceiling lobby.

His chin bent down slightly, shoulders hunched, obviously deep in thought as he took the steps slowly, methodically, not really paying attention to where he was going. I wasn’t sure I should disturb his reverie. But, the look on his face was so serious; I couldn’t help but ask if everything was OK.

As he cleared the last stair, he looks up at me briefly. A fog clears from his eyes in recognition and he states, “Yeah, just got some things on my mind. I’m having some service crew trouble.”

Having worked around men for most of my life, I knew I needed to remain silent. If John had something to tell me, he would do it in his own good time. We walked silently through the lobby side-by-side. As I turned to make my way to the gift shop, I quietly expressed hopes that whatever was bothering him could be easily worked out. He nodded in acknowledgement.

The gift shop was small and didn’t have what I needed, so I left and came shoulder to shoulder with John as he returned from, what I’m guessing was, the parking garage. I may have asked if there was anything I could do to lift his concerns a bit. John stopped and stated, “Not unless you know someone who could drive our rig home.”

I mentioned that I didn’t have my return flight reserved yet.

Then he continued, “It’s just Oddvar…, he and our other guy are not getting along. Oddvar just doesn’t listen! He’s driving the truck and trailer over topes at 93 miles an hour! Took out the rear end on the trailer! I’m so ready to get him on a flight and ship him back home!”

My initial reaction? I wanted to give John a hug and tell him everything will be OK. My secondary? To laugh out loud at the crazy who would drive 93mph over topes! Mexican topes can be the size of small burial mounds. They are not something you drive over at high speed!

The next day, I saw John and Alan in good humor at the Servicio stop.  They had a fine run and, it seems, John and Oddvar had talked. Oddvar understood John’s concerns and would try to amend his behavior.  Things were looking up! 

Day 4 on the road to Aguacalientes, Tom was at the wheel; the Lincoln was on the trailer. We had a long way to go and a short time to get there according to Tom’s driving demeanor; we seemed to be passing semis at regular intervals!

A tanker truck appeared before us with a truck and trailer rig following it. The truck and trailer pulled out to pass the tanker truck on an uphill climb, blind crest. Tom looks at me and grins, “Should I follow him?” I look up and recognize John and Alan’s rig. “Absolutely NOT, under no circumstances!” which caused Tom to back off just in time as Oddvar’s trailer tires met the edge of the pavement and spit up tons of gravel and dirt.

Oddvar made the crest before the oncoming car did.

I think I failed to mention the incident to John and Alan. =)

Map Lights in Mexico City

The dreaded night has fallen.

We are on the last leg of our journey into Mexico City. I ask if I can turn on the map light. We drive down what looks to be a lovely four lane avenue with a median strip dividing the lanes of traffic: Paseo de la Reforma.

That’s it!

We’ve made it!

I am jubilant.

Just a few kilometers further.....,

I tell Paul, “Take a left up here, not this traffic light, the next one, ok?”

“You got it, sunshine!”

Then, I look at the Servicio route book. The words blur, but I note that the length of the vehicle cannot be over 14 feet. I broadcast this information to the crew. “Longer than 14 feet?” Tom asks incredulously.

“Yes, that is what it says.”

“Well, we can’t go that way!” Tom retorts. My heart sinks.

“OK, well, it explains how to come into the park from a different direction,” I murmur.

Paul takes the left turn, but continues and makes it a U-turn. A glimpse of Carrera folks on the side of the road causes me to discern the underpass which shouldn’t have constituted a vehicle length issue.  I reread the Servicio instructions and there, in front of my eyes the word “length” dissolves into “height.” Oh, how incredibly bizarre! I muster up the courage to admit I made a mistake.

“It says height?” Tom bristles, “I thought you said it stated length?”

“I did. I swear I read it correctly,” I add deflated, “I’m sorry.”

Paul calls out, “It’s time for a Retourno!” Corky reiterates the same sentiment. “Hey, look! There’s one in 500 meters. Let’s do this again!”

(What amazing compadres!!!)

With 15 minutes to spare before the Driver’s meeting at 8:00pm, we find a slot to park our rig near the Museo de Antropologic in the Distrito Federal of Mexico City.

There is no time to even let out a sigh. A taxi needs to be garnered and the Lincoln’s brakes need to be assessed.  We have been on the road since 7:00am. But, for La Carrera Panamericana participants, the night is still young!

Sunset and Mexico City

We’ve hit the outskirts of Mexico City. This is it!

As if on cue, Paul makes a jovial statement regarding if the navigator in me is ready. “Ready and waiting,” I’m thinking as both the Servicio Route Book and Libreta de Ruta Route Book sit balanced on my knees open to the appropriate pages. “Let’s get it on and over with!”

We pull off the highway into a large dirt parking lot and visit a convenience store of sorts. Gather a few snacks and a coke or two. Everyone takes a breather as we mentally prepare. We hustle back onto Mexican Hwy 150 D into four (or was it five) fully-loaded lanes of traffic.

Dusk is descending, quietly, assuredly.

I am concentrating so hard. I ignore the brief moments where the conversation travels to “we can always get a taxi.” “NO!” I’m thinking, “I know, we can do this!”  But instead I murmur, “I’m sure we can do this. Let’s try it before we look for a taxi, ok?”

A forced calmness descends on our little group. Paul stays effervescent while my anxiety level rises and we begin tracking the route with the instructions provided in the Servicio book. I am flipping back and forth between both the Servicio and Racer’s Route books to make sure we remain on the correct course. Kilometers pass. Several kilometers pass. I state we are looking for a road whose name I can’t even pronounce. I give it a try. A few more kilometers and Paul calls out the avenue. “Is that it?” he looks at me with a grin. I look aghast at his complete bastardization of the street name, but instead of making some retort, I just get the giggles.

We both laugh. But, my giggling won’t stop. It continues unabated like those hated moments when unwanted hiccups proceed without recourse.  I shoot a look toward Paul; he is staring at me as my giggles begin climbing toward all out hysteria. I take a deep breath and say a quick prayer to hold the giggles at bay. A monotone voice resonates to the surface from within me as I stare into the route books, “No, that wasn’t the street name. It’s about 2 kilometers further.”  I attempt to pronounce the avenue’s name again as the street we are on narrows from four to three lanes.

With Paul preoccupied, I glance to the rear seats. Tom has pulled the Garmin GPS from the dashboard and is trying, without success, to enter the address of the Camino Real Hotel where we will be staying for the night. Corky, ever the helpful assistant, is presenting possibilities for menu manipulation and assorted inputs. I grin wishing I had a video of the ensuing animated gestures. It might make a good script for a Laurel and Hardy production.

Paul pulls me back to the task at hand, by asking, “Which way next?” He leans over the route books and I show him the photo of the area that we are looking for. “I can’t see a damn thing!” he states.

I note that the text in the books does seem to be blurring a bit. Dusk has turned to near nightfall.

Oh yeah!

We’re at the age where good lighting makes for good readability. We all scramble to find our reading glasses!

By now, Tom has given up trying to get the address of our hotel into the GPS system. The back seat team is following a little pointy arrow on the display. The front seat team is navigating by Braille.

It IS getting rather comical.