Over the last fifty-five years, seasoned drivers from around the world (most reveling in glorious male menopauses) have gathered in Tuxtla Gutierrez on the southern boarder of Mexico to race “vintage” cars.  

Not just any cars; not just any race.  

La Carrera Panamericana is a hard driving 2,200 mile seven-day rally, taking drivers up through the center of Mexico to Nuevo Laredo on the Texas border. The race covers some of the most spectacular country and switchback roads on earth. 

"1965 Studebaker, Piloto Rusty Ward, Co-piloto Stephen Page "

Race cars have been clocked at 190+ mph – all shepparded by a wonderful contingent of Federale police that protect the drivers and the public from each other during the event.  

The cars are pre-1955 sports and saloon cars with wickedly fast engines and six pot disc brakes that could stop a 747 on an aircraft carrier.  “Historic” cars (1995-1965) also participate.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.  

I remember the admonition during the initial navigator’s meeting before the race started. Fifty percent of all accidents in La Carrera Panamericana happen during day one in the morning speed trials along the winding and treacherous “Rizo de Oro” from Tuxtla Gutierrez to Oaxaca. I’m sad to report that we added to this statistic.  

I am the “co-piloto” for one of the race’s great characters – Rusty Ward. Rusty has attended the race for eleven years and brought the car home in all six years that he has competed. His chariot of choice is a late model Studebaker, painted to resemble a Mexican Federale Police car, siren and light included. The thing is built like a tank. Magnificent roll cage. 500 bhp short block Chevy engine. Lovingly prepared and supported by the greatest unpaid “Tin Cup” race team on the planet – Al, Glen and Roland. The car is fast as lightening. More...

"Los Tres Viejos Locos"

very mildly tuned engine. The rules require running on pump gas purchased from the normal Pemex gas stations. Thus 93 octane is the best that can be found, although additives are allowed. Thus a fairly low 9.5-1 compression ratio was used. We ran in the “Sports Menor” class. This class is for cars under 2000 cc that have the appearance of entrants in the original 1950-54 Pan Am races. The rules allow wide latitude in modifications and we were definitely out modified by the other entrants. We did manage to finish 6/8 in class and 56/85 overall. Scott Harvey, a well known American rally driver for almost fifty years won the “Historic A” class, which is for four cylinder cars up to 1965 and does not allow major modifications, in a 912 that year. We talked to him at length about his car and thought if we were to try again it would be in a 912.

We call ourselves “Los Tres Viejos Locos” (The three crazy old men). Ed Diamond and I have been friends for over forty years. I began crewing for him in 1963 and although we have had long breaks in our racing we have always stayed in contact. John Simonson has been codriving/navigating for me since 1998 in our local club rallies. I have been involved with auto sport since 1959 but had not driven as a race driver until the summer of 2001 when circumstances finally allowed me to fulfill that life long ambition. More...