Thanks Sled. As you already know I have been very involved with La Carrera Panamericana for some time now. After winning the 1999 Mexican Gran Prix and many major endurance races including becoming the first to win the grueling United States Air Force 25 Hours of Thunderhill (an hour longer than Le Mans and Daytona) and as a result I became infatuated with competing in the world famous La Carrera Panamericana. I built and ran a GT350R model Shelby in 2007 and finished 3rd in class and 8th overall. It truly is an honor and not bad considering very few had completed the entire event on their first try since 1951. Last year my good friend Hershel McGriff and I took our wives to San Miguel de Allende for a week to meet up with the La Carrera Panamericana teams and attend a fund raiser. I was raised in Oregon but you can't even begin to imagine how surprised I was one evening at dinner when Hershel told me he was good friends with my father. WHAT! Yes it was true... Hershel was in the lumber business and so was my father and even though I had a go cart with the name "McGriff Special" hand painted on it when I was growing up I didn't have a clue they knew each other. Photo of Hershel & Gary at Infineon http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iBxAzFjPTxU/SjrbHskfUNI/AAAAAAAAGCo/9EPqxrZ_HpE/s1600-h/DSCF2517.JPG (Still havent figured out this photo install. When I posted the URL in the box only a red X posted) When I began the build of my car for that 2007 race every detail was documented including not only the build and preparation but the race as well and my DVD was produced which is selling like hot cakes. Anyone who enjoys exciting racing especially La Carrera Panamericana, this is the movie to see. Not only is there some of the best in-car LCP camera footage but there's also lots of never before seen historical footage and slides, historical facts and amazing interviews with teams as well as the legendary Hershel McGriff. This DVD made it's debut at the recent Monterey Historic's and another friend legendary Bob Bondurant did the forward for it. Since the very first day I have maintained a daily diary of sorts dedicated to the whole LCP experience and is kept up right up to date and is viewed by more LCP that any other blog on the topic which can be found at http://lacarrera2007.blogspot.com/ Recently I wrote an article about a couple of the most legendary LCP drivers of all and it was very interesting to me to learn that Juan Fangio should never have won that race and had it not been for several wrecks and a lot of misfortune of others he never would have. You cane read about it here... http://lacarrera2007.blogspot.com/2009/08/he-left-his-heart-in-mexico-literally.html
yo sled finally i joined! ! ! this is HELL MARIACHI project! ! ! i just wanted to thank you for stoping by and giving me hints and ideas! i.m working on that 28 hurst... i been waiting 2 weeks to go see it! ! ! i.ll send you pics! chido carnal.. ay de rato!...
Based upon your photos, I think the car inventory in ole Mexico is truly great. However, I think I'll keep my ass and my money here in the good ole US of A.
what does it take to legally import a vechicle into the USA? My next door neighbor Jose said that you can take a 9 year old or older car to old Mexico (he has done this in the past...a S10 Chevy for his sister's use on the farm. But he said that you can't get a car out...otherwise he'd get his dad's 51 Chevy farm truck loaded up and moving north to Michigan.) But the Mysterian is now back in the USA...so that tells me that Jose isn't up to date on his info... What gives? Mark
Jimi'shemi,well...i do travel a lot especially in certain areas to find stuff...for example never been scarfin down south close to Guatemala altought i did heard of some good cars over there...depends the hints i have...there are several areas to look at but this i wont reveal it for obvious reasons...you never know really,but funny as you mention north of DF (Mexico City) which i've been today in some dangerous areas in the hills...no cars came out but good leads on more stuff so tomorrow will look at some shit with the new infos...usually close to the coast there is no stuff ,gets rotten with the salt...is really difficult to say where stuff is cause is totally unexpected where you find it,really... Next week will be going to Baja California but the hurricane just came thru so perhaps i have to delay my tour,heard that made some damages around there... Yeah,you don't see much around DF anymore,not in the streets at list,is all hidden...is not like couple years ago,when stuff was almost everywhere outside...Sled
Dirty Charro,welcome on board carnal...told ya that you could have some good fun here,glad you joined...hope that the Hell Mariachi gets forward man,can't wait to see some good stuff...heard that's you're in Chiapas now,been drivin south again your 59 Chevy again??that will be cool...one of these days i'l catch you up in San cristobal ,you'll see....have fun and keep your eyes open for good junk also,ya know that...remember the hearse too...stay cool carnal,soon...peace,Sled PS.Dont forget to introduce yourself also,you're a newbie...
Abonecoupe31,where to start here?? there is truly a LOT of BS and misinformation about exporting old cars /bikes to USA....makes me a bit sick to talk about this ,honestly...no offence intended but listen...i did export literally 100's of cars,bikes ,vintage stuff worldwide,Australia and Europe mostly...never had paperwork problems even when it was just a body without papers,or parts in this case...cause you have to undersatand that puttin somethin in a container it will be seriously inspected by the customs at the harbour,and believe me they are peaky...for example at Altamira harbour they are more than peaky lookin for drugs and illegal shit...so double checks there. So,it means that the stuff that goes out of the country has to be 100% legal and clear on papers.... So,funny enuff you guys in US are the most difficult on papers cause you don't have much infos at all...and double funny cause all the US stuff was built in your country,reason more to get it back really easy and without payin ANY import fee...yeah,you're the only ones which could import back a vehichle for free,no duties(import fees or such).. Everybody else pays HEAPS to import an old vehichle for the fun of it... I did crossed the border personally with old cars that were sold to US and never had any problem at the border..Laredo TX bridge 2 in this case...have no experience in other crossing points..basically they look for drugs but that's normal,so is perfectly legal to get back cars and such to the US...i think they have to be at list 10 years old but who cares on a 10 years old car...the good stuff starts way below to me,so is all legal...probably any state changes on title application,i can't say anything on this end cause i dont live there..some hambers drove down to Mexico ,put the old jalopy to a trailer and crossed back,is that simple..no a single problem,but could be different for other guys... Yeah,Jose's info is useless i'm afraid.... And Mysterion is back and restored already as we all know,well done.That was a bit too far from me otherwise i would have known,ah!..Sled
Gfaules,glad you posted back some updated infos on your blog which i consider extremely interesting in many ways... also if you wanna promote your DVD just go to the miscellaneuos for sale section and you put it there,easy to get it done... Lookin forward to read the news on your blog...and october is gettin closer!! Are you racin this year ??In any case are you comin down for the race?? In case this year i wont miss ya...cheers ,and keep up the great work..Sled
Thanks Sled. Unfortunatly I will not be running this years LCP however I mostr likely will be running in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Then hopefully do the LCP the following year.
Gfalues,i see...you're not racing ,too bad!But are you comin down to enjoy the race as a visitor cause i would love to introduce myself in case... Also just found a private photo historical LCP archive from the early years 50/54 which i plan to check out these days...talkin of 1000's of B/W professional pix..can't wait to put my hands on it,will be fun to see em... have a nice day , Sled
back on topic,im runnin around to get more stuff,so hopefully some more pix asap for you all,pushin more on the bikes side.....aloha sled
Sled, Now that sounds exciting and I would love to see them. Please keep me up to date on the photos. I have the never before seen slides taken during the 1953 & 1954 race which were taken by my good friend Frank Ruppert's brother. They owned Ruppert Motors that sponsored the winning Lincolns. Any posibility you copuld email me some for my LCP blog? Hershel McGriff and I flew down last year and spent a week down there with the teams and had a great time.
Gfaules,i can't wait to see all these old pix myself,told that are many of em made from a professional family photographers so i im really lookin forward to it...These are from 50 to 54...hope i can make it accordin to my time in DF...i'll keep ya informed ...cheers Sled
Sled, I can't believe it but I recently met someone who's mother and her brother both went to the 1954 LCP and traveled with the teams. As you know, many Americans traveled together and as it turns out there is a very good possibility that between her and I that we may have photos that each of them took of each other. lol. I have already seen a bunch of them but she is getting the rest scanned to send me. What are the odds that after so many years these never before seen slides from two different families will meet and now even a possiblilty of yours to boot. lol
Gary,that's a cool coincidence or not a coincidence at all here...funny enuff because here we're triangulatin in perfect timing and amazing enuff i just been back from the first meet with some of this family generation pro photographers...of course this era is long gone and according to infos the father of my contact has 100's of 1000's of negatives and B/W pix...then an uncle which i just met has a mass archive stored closed to Mexico City from his granddaddy..so,i already agreed with both that i will go thru all these huge number of stuff as soon they are ready..it will take some time to scarf out from the archives the automotive related stuff,both bikes and cars...from racing to meeting,shows and anything related to LCP also....plus another brother i just met today he was an official Ford photoghapher in DF for more than 30 years up to today and he has also an huge archive to look at...guess i found a goldmine here!! Gary,the closest possibility i have these days (cause im leaving Df in 2 days) is that my buddy Paco set an apoinment with his father so we can start lookin at some LCP stuff...pix that he did personally during the early years 50/54..he has many of em and i really can't wait to go thru this... But no worries,at list a real door it's already open,so if not this time i will give some time to these guys to prepare all these stuff out and then wil fly again to Df fot this reason ,i don't care what it takes...i'll do it! Very cool and friendly family,so they agreed to show me all this..i have to figger out if they like to sell copies or such,haven't asked yet..but hey,perhaps we can find the same friends of you pictured from another angle,it will be fun here... Stay tuned,more news soon...Sled
Fellas,hope you don't get bored with this LCP stuff...already have some other pix to post but i need to find some time..im runnin around here to scarf some more shit,so time is always an issue...more news soon,promised ..Sled
Sled, I'm hoping you will share with us a look at these historic LaCP photos. Caramba! You seem to find everything worth finding.
Benzine440,yep...why not??actually it will take some time cause im leaving DF tonight and i doubt i can see somethin now...im on the move but it gives the time to these family members to take out from the archives the correct stuff..i asked both LCP, cars in general and bikes too..races,shows and anything in between...now,i have no idea how they would like to manage all this..if they sell or make copies or only allow me to look at it...i have to make a plan about this detail...we're talkin on literally 1000's of slides,negatives and pics..so it might take quite some time to have access to all...can't wait really... Since i do love Gfaules LPC blog i look forward to scan for him some stuff to be shown there,Gary hit the nail there and i would be happy to contribute somehow...again,will do my best accordin to my time wich is never enuff..stay tuned, Sled
Sled, thanks for the kind words, bro. Please do use a little caution in your travels. I've had cars stolen here in OHIO, and our crowd is known to carry guns (as I do when in the hinterlands). Just watch yer butt, OK?
Benzine440,mmmm...a book?You made me thinkin here cause if the amount of material (pix,slides,negatives) it's that big as it seems, that could be the way to go to show lots of unpublished LCP stuff... Left DF already and did'nt had any chance to check out this stuff,so i will coordinate it for the future... But sure it's an idea that might be interesting to consider...thanks,Sled
Jimi'shemi..no worries,i know how to move down here..actually i don't carry guns,don't need em but i will take care out there.. i never had a single problem even in the worse barrios,fingers crossed but i feel quite relaxed ...thanks for the concern...and more pix comin soon,ah! Sled
My latest post of some very rare La Carrera Panamericana photos in my blog taken during the 1954 La Carrera Panamericana. http://lacarrera2007.blogspot.com/2009/09/rare-la-carrera-panamericana-photos.html
Cool pix Gary,glad you posted em here..always cool to see the real stuff! Now,im tryin to get organized to see all the archives that i mentioned above,it will take some time cause im far away now but if i can get some or they let me scan some no problem to pass em along for your blog..Can't really wait to put my hands on such historical stuff actually...Sled
Sled, I sure would like to see some slides or photos of the #8 Austin Healy that started the race in 1954. Have any?
Sled thanks for your awesome thread! Can you clarify for me what I need to get a Mexican car into the US? I didn't quite understand. Do you need mexican papers(title or whatever) if its just a shell, on the back of a truck? Do you need mexican papers(title or whatever) if its a driver? This is for crossing into the US by land. Thanks much! As you know, 90% of what we hear is disinformation, actual experience is hard to come by!! Sean
Gary F,as stated above i don't have YET any pic of the archives i found...simply because i went in touch with this family the last days in Df and time flew away..you have to understand there are different family members and there are couple different pix/slides/negatines archives both in DF and Cuernavaca..these archive ahave literally millions of images,some inventoried and mostly not...so,imagine scarfin fo find specifically the LCP pix among others...that's 1 archive! Luckily Paco's father has his own LCP archive ,pics that he did personally in 50 to 54 race,the original one...that will be LUCKILY at hand next time i will be in Df,already prepared to look at...as far i understood 1000's of B/W images and so forth..it will be a blast,i know that.... At the meantime the other members will separate for me (it will take sure some time due to quantity) the all automotive pics from others...anything related with cars and bikes,from 1890 to 50's max i guess according to theier work...so,anything from early races,car shows,exibitions,LCP and so on... Gary,im currently workin on this project and no problem to show you and others some cool stuff,simply be patient cause i need to be in DF again to start lookin at the 50/54 LCP stuff...then we can start exchanging infos cause i will need an hand to find out all the racers and such...will be great fun...hopefully some cool shots of Ak Miller and " el caballo de hierro" will show up....my favorites will be the Mercedes and Ferraris prototypes,i guess...keep ya informed.. Gary,can you PM me an email adress also??Too much to talk... thanks Sled
Brandon,you made me thinkin here...but i dont recall 40 Pontiac cars or parts right now...i have couple Ponchos cars but a bit newer,a 51 and 2 55 verts..also a 55 and a 57 Safari but no 40 Ponchos at the moment..sorry, Sled
Johnny1920,well...it takes a while to go thru this point and actually i can talk for my own but other guys experienced different stories... Basically let me say that is perfectly legal to import back to USA an 25 years older US car.. No import fees whatsoever...lucky you cause everybody else pays HUGE fees..and you're the guys that still complain about it I expored back myself couple cars from Mexico to USA crossing thru Laredo TX ,at bridge 2..a Chevy 56 coupe towed with a van...no problems at all.Customs checked the car papers and was all ok...checked withy dogs for drugs ,normal at every border,all fine...went thru easily.Went to San Antonio,met ther TX owner ,swapped car/mex papers ...get the agreed cash and with a handshake deal was over.. Did the same thing with couple different cars,always 25 years old at list...and same border cause i have contacts there but nothin was necessary... Some other friends passed thru the same border and altought they found a bit more harder (kinda assholes, a lady actually) customs they simply could'nt refuse any old car to cross by if has papers,it's just legal...they love to see this old stuff too,so with me they were quite relaxed and loved the cars pretty much... Of course you guys have to ask your own customs to fully understand what import rule are,but basically if car is clean (not stolen) and it has papers is easy to cross thru.... I did export literally 100's of cars woldwide and it's funny that looks the most difficult for you US guys especially considerin that the cars are made there...ironic to me!!Frustrating sometimes to explain all this but hey,i hope it gets a bit clear now... Again,this is what i experiend myself..there sure be other cases around which could be totally different,no idea PS.with 1 specific car customs in Laredo ,talkin always the US side they did'nt even bother to check the papers,they just loved the car and i passed thru without any inspection,i just reminded that detail..this was 2 years ago. Sled
The Jalopy Journal
