10 replies to this topic

[Joe Fan]

Does anyone know where I can find or have information on these races?

I read in a book about NASCAR stock car drivers where Bill France Sr. (the founder of NASCAR) and NASCAR legend Curtis Turner (who was regarded as the greatest stock car driver on dirt and master of the dirt track power slide) teamed up together to race in a Mexican Road Race that was spread over 2,176 miles. They were running third until the fourth leg until a flat tire sidelined their efforts. Turner was disqualified for changing cars late in the race but his stellar driving style was the talk of the race.

I am assuming that this race was one of the Carrera Panamerica races that were held in the early 1950's. If someone can help me verify this by entry lists of the races it would be very much appreciated.

[This message has been edited by Joe Fan (edited 04-21-2000).]

[Ray Bell]

Perhaps there are a lot of us who know all too little about these events. Mercedes entered works cars, did they not, and there were Lincolns and Chryslers, real desert chewers. Who's got the info?

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Life and love are mixed with pain...

[Joe Fan]

Here are the race winners for the Carrera Panamerica.

1950-Hershal McGriff/Ray Elliott in an Oldsmobile
1951-Piero Tarufi/Luigi Chinetti in a Ferrari Viganle
1952-Karl Kling/Hans Klenk in a Mercedes-Benz
1953-Juan Manuel Fangio/Bronzoni in a Lancia Sport V6
1954 Umberto Maglioli in a Ferrar 375 Plus

Other notable drivers who have competed in at least one of these events were: Alberto Ascari, Luigi Villoresi, Hermann Lang, Tony Bettenhausen Sr. and Phil Hill.

[Michael M]

La Carrera Panamericana was initiated to celebrate the completion of the Pan-American highway running from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego. It was a road race across Mexico, in the first year (1950) from Ciudad Juarez in the North to Cuauhtemoc in the South. The consecutive races were held in the opposite direction, starting at Tuxtla Guiterrez with finish at Ciudad Juarez, allowing the US competitors to bring home damaged cars and exhausted staff more easily. The event had been held over 5 or 6 days, and betwen 7 and 9 stages, the route varies somewhat year by year, but the average distance was about 3.000 kms.

From the beginning this race was dominated by US teams, as there was nothing similar at home, and big sedans with V8 engines had been the standard machinery. A lot of NASCAR and Indy drivers of these days took the chance to race on public roads without risking to get speed ticketed. As this event received large attention not only in Mexico, but also in the USA, very soon the European sports cars manufacturers realized that winning the Carrera Panamericana would be perfect advertising, as for all of them the US market was most important. 1950 was more or less an US dominated event, but the following year the nimble Ferraris frustrated the Yanks taking win and second place. For 1952 the organizers arranged 2 classes, "Standard" and "Sport", in order to attract the important US entries, for 1953 the categories had been renamed to "Sport Internacional" and "Turismo Internacional". In the last year 1954 even 5 categories had been entered, Sport Mayor, Turismo Mayor, Sport Menor, Turismo Especial, and Turismo Europeo. Most remarkably is that in 1953 and 1954 La Carrera Panamericana counted for the newly created World Sportscar Championship, attracting therefore even more European entries.

Although the race was interrupted by overnight stops, it was extremely hard for men and machines, taking into consideration the sometimes extremely bad condition of the roads. Most competitors had to use the nights to work on their cars allowing them to continue the event next morning. The whole race took place on public roads, which had not been closed for the event, so mortal accidents had been the rule, and this finally lead the Mexican government to ban La Carrera Panamericana.
However, 10 years or so ago, the event has been brought back again to life as historic race. Although times have changed, 2 things remain the same: it's still 3.000 kms flat out through Mexico, and it's still the old battle between US V8 power and European roadholding.

If anyone interested in more details about results, stages, distances, and so on, I can place them here.

[Michael M]

For everybody interested to more details:
"Carrera Panamericana 'Mexico'" by Adriano Cimarosti is a vastly documented history of the short-lived but thrilling "Carrera Panamericana". With more than 380 pages, it depicts in depth the five editions of the race, with hundreds of fine quality B/W photos, memoirs -Taruffi, Villoresi, Maglioli, Kling, Fangio, Jenkinson, etc.- and a separate Appendix with complete rankings. With Italian/English/French text.

[Barry Lake]

As well as the excellent Cimarosti book, there are the following:

Carrera Panamericana Daryl E Murphy 1993 Motorbooks International Publishers

The Carrera Panamericana "Mexico" R M Clarke Editor 1999 Brooklands Books (reprinted magazine articles on the event)

Mexican Road Race Roland Goodman 1950 Floyd Clymer Publications

[Joe Fan]

Thanks for the info guys! I found out that there are video tapes of the Carrera Panamerica as well, one with Pink Floyd music as the audio.

[Falcadore]

The reason that tape's full of Pink Floyd, is because vocalist and lead guitarist, Dave Gilmore, and lead drummer, Nick Mason, both enterred their C-Type Jaguars in a revival event version, which included a bit of the hostory of the event.

Unfortunately Mason destroyed his car in a bad a shunt and he and his navigator were hospitalised. He must have recoverred allright because I believe it was made prior to the Pulse tour, which unfortunately didn't come down here.

[Joe Fan]

Falcadore, eventually I will break down and buy that video. I bet Pink Floyd music married to the video of a grueling and treacherous Carrera Panamerica race would be something to behold.

[schlepper]

The Amelia Island concours featured cars of the "Carrera Panamericana" this year. Here's the American big iron. I'll post the Europeans in a bit. All but the Olds are reputed to be originals.

1927 Ford El Caballo De Hierro now owned by the NHRA Museum.



1954 Lincoln Capri Custom Coupe that won in 1954 and is now owned by the National Auto Museum



1950 Olds 88 "recreation"



1951 Packard 200 that came in 5th in 1951.



1954 Caddy

[antonvrs]

It's interesting to me that the Caballo de Hierro is now accepted as "the Car". It's my understanding that the original car ceased to exist 40 or 50 years ago and the current is a replica.
Anton
Edit:
In fact, I'd be willing to bet that all of those cars are replicas with the possible exception of the Lincoln.