Event Coverage Mexican Blackbird... Again.

That looks like too much fun to me. I dunno if the modern version is too wimpy, from the photos on the website it looks like there is still plenty of tequila and wild rides to go around.

And, as I know Mexico, I bet there are still some hands out for a bribe or two.

 

If anybody's interested, I have the complete build up and spec article for the factory sponsored 1952 Lincoln La Carrera car.

 

Who needs a co-driver? I'm in!!!!

 

Anyone know if Dennis Varni & Dick DeLuna still run their "Stinkin' Lincoln" in the La Carrera Panamericana?

Varni and DeLuna placed Second and Third during the two segments of the 1994 re-creation of the Mexican Road
Race. What you can't see is the speaker located behind the grille bars. Varni likes to play hard-core mariachi music
when he's on the road.


In reality, the '55 Capri is a highly modified road racer that relies on either reworked '55 assemblies or aftermarket
(Carrera, ARE, JFZ) and modern NASCAR-mandated spindles, springs, bushings, sway bars, and Panhard rods.
The color scheme features a yellow body with a white hardtop and red and black lettering.


The Stinkin' Lincoln rocks and rolls on NASCAR-style steel wheels surrounded by BFGoodrich rubber. The
ride is firm and flat but not harsh.


The race car interior mixes '55 components with aluminum wallpaper and a full NASCAR-style rollcage.
Note that the controls for the Lincoln's power windows were retained.


The reason behind its sneaky speed is 317 cubic inches of modern SVO power. Why such an odd displacement?
The engines in these re-creations must be the same size as their forbearers, and the '54-'55 Y-block Lincoln V8s
displaced 317 cubes. However, Ford's first OHV V8 didn't have highly modified Dart heads, a 650-cfm Holley
double-pumper, and an MSD ignition, nor did it torque into a Hurst-shifted, four-speed Top Loader.


Obviously, the Capri's exterior decoration features Varni's off-the-wall sense of humor. What you see is what
most people see when the Stinkin' Lincoln is at speed. The two-ton two-door has been timed at more than
152 miles per hour.


Even though the trunk area is taken up by a 20-plus-gallon fuel cell, spare tires, tools, and a battery, there is still
enough room for Kathy Varni's luggage and a cooler full of Corona.​

NOTE: All photos & captions by the late Gray Baskerville (from the HOT ROD Magazine article entitled "Re-Carreration with car enthusiast Dennis Varni")

 

Mexican Blackbird,...........They all call her puta, cause no one really knows her name...

 

One of my friends built up a similar Lincoln.He could cruise at over 100 MPH. He had one non standard item...AC!
No need to do the retro sweat thing man!

He said it was a real hassle though with the "local" police.Always looking for bribes.

 

Is there a book you can find about this race, it would be a fun read.

 

1951 Chrysler took first place in Stock Car class with the Saratoga. Not sure if this is the car but I thought I would post them anyways.

 

I've been contemplating turning my '58 Commander hardtop into a Carrera car... ever since I first saw it...

Pretty tempting...

 

I hadn't really heard much about the La Carrera Panamericana, what an adventure.
Is this the race Coop666 ran in last year?

 

Anyone interested in learning more about La Carrera Panamericana can visit by dedicated blog at... http://lacarrera2007.blogspot.com

This blog started off 2 years ago when I began building a car to race in the 2007 La Carrera Panamericana. The entire build and race was professionally documented from the day I brought home a rusted out shell and restored it to a fully race prepared 65 Shelby GT350R.

To say this race was life changing would be putting it mildly. The entire documentary was done by three production companies and it will be available in December on both HD DVD and Blue Ray. Without a doubt it is 100 times better than any La Carrera race including the Pink Floyd edition and it includes lots of awesome in-car footage and even me doing 160 miles per hour thru downtown Mexico City. Here is a short teaser... http://blog.cardomain.com/blog/2008/09/rebirth-of-a-le.html

Anyone who has never ran La Carrera Panamericana before is considered a rookie and no rookie has finished ever single stage of the race on their fir attempt however not only did we finish but in fact we took 3rd in the very fast Historic C class as well as finished 8th overall. We are very proud that we won what is without a doubt the undisputed most dangerous stage of the entire race is Mil Cumbres (1000 curves) and in fact it was so dangerous that it has now been closed due to too many deaths and wrecks.

I am very excited to mention Hershel McGriff and I will be in Mexico this week where he will be honored by the Mexican people for his many racing accomplishments including being the first driver to win this famous race... http://www.concursosanmiguel.org/pressnews.htm

As for Dennis Varni and Dick Luna, yes they are running in this years La Carrera Panamericana in car #99.

No Coop did not run this race last year but he did in 2006 and will be again this year.


Best regards,

Gary Faules
CEO California's Best Racing

 

There are a cople of books around. I have one that is a compilation of race coverage press from the day. There is also a coffee table book that is excellent except its out of my price range right now.

Check out 'Montezuma's Ferrari' by BS Levy. Its a great novel set in the race, well worth your reading

 

Man i got to have the book, you know these guys had some crazy stories to tell! Man how much fun would that have been.

 

I recall following it in Hot rod magazine as a kid and as much about the cars as I could. There were a couple of books around back in the mid sixties. I found the thought of racing hot rods like that down in Mexico so exotic.

 

These are the 2 best books on La Carrera Panamericana

http://www.coastal181.com/2008_Bits/250 Carrera Panamericana.jpg

http://www.arteauto.com/bookofthemexicanroadrace.aspx

 

Here is the story behind that art piece... http://lacarrera2007.blogspot.com/2008/10/la-carrera-panamericana-not-to-be-taken.html

And here is one of my favorites...
http://lacarrera2007.blogspot.com/2008/10/vintage-la-carrera-panamericana.html

 

I just checked out the race website and looked at the racers, man a lot of them love them studebakers, i wonder is there a reason for that or is it probly just the car they had sitting around. I noticed some were historic A, B what makes the differance in classes?

 

Man sure looks like i'm going book shopping!!

 

Studebakers can run in several classes depending to how they are set up. Some run in a class called Original Panamericana, which pretty much keeps things stock like they were in the 50's. On the other hand most of the Studebakers are nothing like you will find in anyone's garage. They are tube frames with wild suspension and they have Winston Cup motors and all of them will do well over 200 miles per hour and average between $150,000 to $350,000. (Not including trailer, back up engines/parts, etc.)

 

What makes up historic classes, A, A+, C, and B ?

 

Hay Emil lets go show them boys some good old boy in the wall ball busten raceing, Oh ! your nova right, the plymouth has a flat tire. LOL

 

Some examples of Historic A;

Austin Healey
Mini
Alfa Romeo
Volvo 1600
Karmann Ghia


Some examples of Historic A Plus (faster cars)

Datsun 510
Ford Cortina
Volvo 122

Some examples of Historic B

Jaguar
Aston Martin
Austin Heley 3000
Mercedes Benz 310SL
Ford Falcon (6 cyl)
Porsche 911
Chevrolet Corvair
Maserati

Some examples of Historic C (Very fast class) (nothing newer than 65)

Chevrolet
Nova
Chevy II
Corvette (V8)
Mustang
Shelby
Sunbeam Tiger (V8)
Studebaker Hawk

 

I see you're from Grants Pass. You might be interested to know the first guy to win this race was Hershel McGriff and not only was he from Oregon (like myself) but he drove his 1949 Olds all the way down to Mexico, won the race, collected his $17,000 (in 1950) then repaired a huge hole in his oil pan and drove all the way back home to Oregon. During the race he became good friends with Bill France who also ran that first year and later became one of the most famous Nascar drivers of all time.

 

Thanks gfaules, that kinda clears up what i'm looking at.

 

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=141456

Post # 17 with pics another HAMBer and myself witnessed...

 

Bitchin!

 

There is a video called "Junkyard to Finishline" about the Carrerra that is pretty good. The first part about the building of the car is a bit lame but the second part with lots of cool race footage is really good. It would be the experience of a lifetime to participate in that thing.

 

There are several good videos of the Carrera on You Tube. This is one of my favorites http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4hKxN_sSyU