RoadRallyRhythms

Overcoming PCSD

When all is said and done and the wrecks tallied and bills paid, there is sleep deprivation to recover from and chest tightening moments of “if only” to expunge. 

Negative emotions eventually diminish and are filed away into life’s lessons. The positive experiences tend to commandeer the brain’s memory cells.

The good, the bad, the ugly?

All of it? It doesn’t matter!

Because the recollections that remain once the months have transpired into years will be cause for laughter. And…,according to Victor Borge...,

Laughter is the closest distance between two people.

The Border Looms - La Carrera Panamericana

It’s the day where everyone packs up and hits the road one more time, but not to race. The vintage racecars are packed on trailer rigs. The helmets and, oh so fragrant, race suits are stuffed into suitcases and duffle bags. Everyone begins to head “home” to a variety of life’s happenings. The inklings of PCSD (Post Carrera Stress Disorder) coined by Gerie Bledsoe (U.S. Coordinator for La Carrera Panamericana) start filtering in.

Sometimes, how you get home becomes an adventure in itself. Whether you walk across, drive across, or forget all your paperwork in some town along the route and have to pay your way across, becomes mute to the emotions that surface as you leave Mexico.

It is no small feat to participate in this race. You cannot leave unaffected.

 

Adios! Mi amigos!

Now, let the bench racing begin!

Hotrod ’54 Lincoln – Great Green Machine!

So hyped after hearing of their podium finish yesterday in Guadalajara, I was even rallying the troops where I work to root for Team #426.

At lunchtime, I received a text from the co-piloto, Paul Wendt.

“Crashed first stage may have totaled.”

The ensuing messaging assures that he and Tom are ok, but the racecar is messed up. As I head off to a meeting, my phone beeps indicating an incoming message:

“Smashed but good! Lucky we didn’t roll. Hit rock wall up on Tom’s side scratched bottom of Tom’s door.”

Reading the other La Carrera blogs tonight makes me believe that the Spirit of La Carrera is alive and well. When tomorrow arrives (earlier than brighter for those that have imbibed in the donkey walk in Zacatecas!), my hope is Team #426 will be back on the road to greet the final arch in Nuevo Laredo!

'54 Lincoln - La Carrera Panamericana

Yesterday evening I received this text: “Second place.”

I was just parking my car in the grocery store parking lot. I let out a yell that I’m sure could have been heard all the way to Mexico! Team #426, the Original Pan Am Class ’54 Lincoln was seeing the podium in Guadalajara.

Folks in the grocery store were staring at me, not sure why. Maybe it was the big grin I had plastered to my face. After running my errands, I stood by the driver’s side car door returning a text message. The lights in the car came on. I didn’t hit the unlock button on my key fob, what triggered the lights?

I feel a presence near my right shoulder and look up from my phone. Standing next to me is the owner of the car. I look at him and state, “This isn’t my car, is it?” He shakes his head. I plead, “It looks just like my car…, honest!” and add a laugh for good measure as I give him room to open his door.

Twenty feet away is the same car…, my car.

And, here my old teammates were texting about how they missed my navigational skills! Lol!

Zacatecas up next! Beautiful Zacatecas!

Keep the momentum going, Team #426!!!! Go! Go! Go!

 

Mo Pics - La Carrera Panamericana 2009

More photos have been uploaded from the Apple Farmer Racing Team. Steve has added great comments! Click on the link below to view:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sberry/sets/72157622539189518/ 

And..., here's a few beautiful shots from the Leningrad Cowboys:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pixeleye/sets/72157622671973498/

Mail & Communiqués - 2009 La Carrera Panamericana

This notice arrived in the mail today!

Ah! Mexico!!!

I know some folks who are having an awfully good time there! And, they are not hanging at the beach! They are hauling butt in an Original Pan Am Class ’54 Lincoln across the highways and byways from Mexico’s southern border and enjoying a step up on the podium! Paul Wendt, navigator extraordinaire, sent me a text today just before I left work.

I had taken a chance yesterday and sent the piloto, Tom Overbaugh an email because I knew Team #426 would be stopping in Queretaro. Last year, the Fiesta Inn was touting how great their internet was. And…,it actually was one of the few places on the route that had free internet access that worked! I remember staying up until 4am to get my blogging done. (The fact that I HAD to stay up till 4am is documented in last year’s blog report… if you want to read that piece, click here.)

So, my hope was that Tom would get my email and let me know how they were fairing.

Well, text messages aren’t long and detailed, but the gist of it is that the ’54 Lincoln, the Mean Green Machine, is still shiny side up on the road and they are loving it!

Paul’s text (enhanced only slightly:) “Well, we are in San Luis Potosi. Finished all 4 days; two third place finishes and one fourth place because of a break down in the morning.” (It was near the same place where the piston head broke off and the rod punched a hole clean through the cylinder last year and where their service crew came to reclaim them around midnight up in the mountains near Bernal.)

Paul continued on stating that they had a great run today from Queretaro to San Luis Potosi. They hopefully placed third! “We r trying!” he ends it.

What a great team! What a great attitude! Lord! I miss being their service nav!

Go, Go, Go Team #426!!!

Leningrad Cowboys Racing_La Carrera Panamericana 2009

Some pretty pics (excellent photography): http://www.flickr.com/photos/pixeleye/sets/

And..., the story goes:

http://www.leningradcowboysracing.com/

(Well? It doesn't look like they've had much time to post, but the site sure is creative!)

It's true that in this endurance race, it's easier to post 140 characters or less. Stay up with the action on Twitter.com

http://twitter.com/panamcowboys 

Topes!!! La Carrera Panamericana 2009

Took a look through YouTube today.

Just had to post this short vid!

2009 La Carrera Panamericana - Oaxaca - Dia 1

Check out whose first in line coming into Oaxaca!

It's the Apple Farmer Racing Team!!!Go Go Go!!!

2009 La Carrera Panamericana: Mo Blogs

More blog sites “trailering” the race:

Excellent blog! Fun-loving, serious competitor spirits from CA:
El Taxi Perdido

Another: Bring_A_Trailer

Some good threads: JalopyJournal.com/forum/showthread

Coop’s Flickr collection: Flickr_photos/Coop666

Interesting promo – motorbikes allowed in this year’s La Carrera Panamericana. Something to think about for the future? ADV_Rider.com

First Day's Musings - 2009 La Carrera Panamericana

Corky and I pulled the truck and trailer rig off the road at the first speed stage during last year’s race. The route was the only road through the mountains from Tuxtla-Gutiérrez to Oaxaca.

The plan?

Take photos of the race cars and cheer on each and every one.

As we waited, a fine mist descended and gently caressed our cheeks and clothing. That moist, humid tropical wetness helped lower the anxiety that is spurred on by the first day.

You know the fellows are hyped. You know there is just a little more lead in the right shoe.

And…, you know it can’t be helped.

 

 

You pray that everyone will come through this first day unscathed, no more the worse for wear. Happily clinking cerveza’s in Oaxaca’s town square at the end of the day, ready to take on another six.

Dia Uno – 2008 La Carrera Panamericana

It's Started

It’s dark outside. The lights’ reflections play off the wetness of the road up ahead. He asks, “What’s happening with that La Carrera race, Mom?”

I’m thinking how funny it is that he should ask at this specific moment while I’m driving him to school.

“It’s started,” is all I say in a monotone voice. Did a slight sigh escape?

Maybe…,

He says, “Really? I thought it was already over.”

“No,” came my reply. “They just started. Well, probably the first cars went through the arch 10 minutes ago.”

“But, I didn’t think they started in the dark!”

A slight smile brightens my mood, “It’s not dark there. They’re way down in southern Mexico in a place I can’t pronounce correctly, Huatulco; beautiful place, from what the tourist ads state. The sun comes up there around 6:30am and, they are, at least, an hour ahead of us. We’re further north, so the angle of the sun is different,” I trail off, “you know…tilt of the earth and all.”

The conversation switches to his after school preferences. My mind relates half-heartedly, lagging behind wistfully listening to the rain as it swishes off the tires.

Apple Farmer Racing: A+ Team you should get to know.

Richard Bailey and Nate Wilson are a father and son team from Eastern Washington State. 

This will be their third attempt at finishing La Carrera Panamericana in the Historic A+ 1967 red Volvo 122S. They stood on the podium for five out of seven days last year and got a first in Zacatecas knocking the Alfa (Historica A+ winners Ulrich Lanius & Trevor G. Smyth driving an 1965 Alfa Giulia TI) off the top – for only a day.

Richard and his crew mate, Al were busy picking apples or they would have made it to the NW Contingent’s first annual gathering. While corresponding through email prior to the get together, Richard mentioned that the Volvo “has a b20 motor with 4-wheel disc brakes. It goes and stops, well. We think we’ve solved our problems from last year and would like to first finish and then finish well.”  The reason he keeps returning to La Carrera? “Uncertain…, but I really like a challenge!”

While you wait for the start of La Carrera Panamericana, read through their bio’s. You’ll be a fan in no time!

Apple Farmer Racing

 

La Carrera Panamericana - Word Gets Around

As the days lessen to the start of La Carrera Panamericana, the opposite occurs with hits to my blog. 

Raul checked in to let me know the terrific times he has had attending the final celebration in Nuevo Laredo for the past 5 years.

Glenn T. emailed at the last minute and asked if he could bring his studebaker to the LCP party we hosted a couple weeks ago. "Of course!" He apologized that he'd be late because he had to attend to his father's birthday party first. By late afternoon, he showed with truck and trailer rig and we bench raced into the night.

Dean T. sent a note along with beautiful photographs of his ride. I've included them here.

"I thought you might like to see some pictures of my Carrera Panamericana Lincoln."
 

" It is done as an Argentinean entry that, placed 10th overall in the stock class, after a roll over on the last leg of the race (crossed the finish line with a dramatically compressed roof). "

   

"It is normally displayed without the rear fender skirts, has dual spares,vented brakes, period tweaks to the suspension etc."
   
    
 
  
This is the type of momentum I've talked about in the past. Things may start small and be insignificant in some folks eyes, but others get a hold of it and word gets around.

Raul stated it well in his email, "I am glad that there are fans in the Seattle area because this is just a magnificent race that everyone should know about."

All of us share in the same spirit - El Espiritu de La Carrera!   

 

 

Note: If you wish to get on the list for news about the NW Contingent gatherings or just have anecdotes to share, please contact me. Click on the "About" header in the upper left column for email access.

La Carrera Panamericana - 2009

Ten days remain. Folks in the U.S. A. and Canada are starting to move toward our southern borderline with Mexico.

A small armada of vintage race cars, truck and trailer rigs, supplies, and crew mates are heading off once again to enjoy an adventure; a grueling, incredible, 7-day endurance road rally like no other.

If you like vintage cars and racing them, there is nothing much that compares to La Carrera Panamericana.

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.

On the Road - Tehuacán to Mexico City, continues

Paul relates, with subtle shudders, the escapades in navigating several kilometers down the Sierra Madres with no brakes. Tom adds bits to the conversation, but seems content to let Paul do the talking. Paul then removes the concern from our faces by interjecting the enthusiasm he felt once they reached the town square in Tehuacán. An unbelievable number of people surrounded the ’54 Lincoln. All were clamoring for autographs and presenting well wishes. Paul was amazed and pleased with the attention; this being his first entrance into a town square along the race route. He said he threw postcards of the racecar into the air because he loved watching the children’s reaction. They and he couldn’t get enough! It was great to see the laughter in both Tom and Paul’s eyes after the high-tension drive they’d been through.

The conversation begins to die off as we distance ourselves from Tehuacán. As we climb the pass, a dirty fog rolls in tainted by the sun’s low stance on the horizon and the exhaust from the sprawling city that lies in the valley below. I’m praying we’ll make it to Mexico City before nightfall.

On the Road - Tehuacán to Mexico City

The call came at 4:30pm. Whew!

Tom and Paul were OK, but the brakes on the Lincoln were shot! Paul lamented that they’d lost their brakes about 40 klicks back. “In the Sierra Madres?” I exclaim. “Yeah, it was touch and go, for awhile,” he sighed. “Geesh!” I’m thinking, “these guys are amazing!”

Paul and I (the navigators), based on our hands-on knowledge of the Route Book, discuss over the cell phone where we will meet up in Tehuacán. Well…., sometimes best laid plans go awry – especially when the pilotos don’t listen to their navigators! (Or, is it the other way around? =0

After jockeying for position at the first Pemco station just outside Tehuacán town square, Corky and I settle into our routine, we wait. Once again the call comes, "Where are we?!" "At the Pemco Station, where else?" A bit more locational conversation and Paul gets me on the cell phone and retorts in his best upstate New York nasal drawl, "If only they'd listen to their navigators, we knew where we are!"

As we finally meet up alongside the second Pemco station just outside of Tehuacán town square. Paul hands me a Corona and, I watch, as the fellows get the Lincoln up onto the trailer in short order. A truck and trailer rolls by. The cage atop the trailer is carrying two young Bengal tigers! They are by far my most favorite land animal; sleek, beautiful creatures. (Link to Sumatra Tigers imminent peril) I allow myself a momentary reprieve as I watch them pass.  I’m saddened to see them caged, then my focus returns to the job at hand.

 Corky finishes working the tie downs.

We jump into the truck. I get to ride shotgun and Paul is driving (he owns the truck). Once we hit the toll road, my anxiety lessens as I calculate the time before sunset. Paul is driving about 90 to 95 miles an hour. At that speed, we just might make Mexico City by dusk!