The 2010 version of the Carrera Panamericana ended today. lacarrerapanamericana. As always, the competition was quite colorful. lacarrerapanamericana.
The famous Mexican race, the last really open road race, wiki/Carrera_Panamericana was resurrected in 1988 by Eduardo León Camargo and runs a 7-day, 2,000-mile (3,200 km) route aping some of the original course. It is run, unusually, with official backing on special closed stages of the public road network and fast transit sections through central Mexico at speeds approaching 160 mph (260 km/h). 80 cars compete in 10 classes, sorted regarding age and authenticity; virtually any car with a classic bodyshell is eligible. The bulk of entries are provided by 1950s and ’60s American stock cars; the most popular shape is the 1953 Studebaker Champion Regal Starliner, designed by Raymond Loewy, because of its exceptional aerodynamics (this is best proven by the fact that as of 2007, of 20 post-1988 races, 13 have been won by Studebakers). Other common European entries include Alfa Romeo Giuliettas, Jaguar E-types, Porsche 356s & 911s. Rarer cars included Saab 96s, Volvo PV544s, and Jaguar MkII saloons.
But, remember a posting on TW about a mysterious Tatraplan on sale in Mexico believed to have competed in the 1989 Carrera Panamericana? See: la-carrera-panamericana/ The question has now been solved partially after Mexican Rene Ortega Ranachilanga mailed TatraWorld that the Tatraplan indeed competed. It struck mechanical trouble and it is unknown whether it finished the race. Looking at the photo, one doubt whether still the original Tatraplan engine is installed.
Rene Ortega Ranachilanga will now try to track down the 1989 results and what happened to the Tatraplan. To be continued……..