What ever possessed us to take a worn, 45 year old Italian car, 2200 miles across Mexico at top speed? Sounded like fun.
The 2009 La Carrera Panamericana will once again see El Taxi lined up for competition. This time driven by yours truly, Martin Lauber and able co-piloto, Conrad Stevenson. After many months of preparation the car is ready and leaving to be towed down to Nuevo Laredo Texas, where it will be met by Conrad and me for the drive into Mexico. After four day of heading south, we’ll arrive at the start of the race Oct 20 and join 110 other cars in Huatulco Mexico. The race starts Oct 22 and lasts 7 days and covers approx 2200 miles of road, highway and village surface streets. Broken up in to Speed Sections where we go as fast as we can and Transit Sections where we go as fast as we can but aren’t supposed to, we’ll quickly work our way up the country stopping at beautiful towns each night, like Oaxaca and Zacatecas.
But for now, the car has to make it to Mexico. It’s in the hands of Bill “Memo” Mertz our able crew member driving our loaner support vehicle, the ridiculously comfortable 2005 Range Rover provided by Pedro Lambert, our second crew member. Rounding out our crew is Christina Rotolo, chief logistics person and Conrad’s wife. Wish us luck and please check back for daily updates on our progress with photos and times.
Loaded up and ready to rumble El Taxi Perdido - the Lost Taxi
the cart before the horse - not sure what I mean by that.
Conrad on the left, Martin on the right. Wonder if we'll be this happy after spending 7 days locked in a race car together?
October 15, 2009 at 11:57 pm |
Best of luck to the both of you (and the car).
Parts requests will be handled by FedEx
Watch out for pigs on the road!
Tom
October 16, 2009 at 12:01 am |
Fabulous. I will be glued to the blog as El Taxi Sucio…or was it…El Taxi Perdido storms through Mexico. Have fun and fly like the wind.
October 16, 2009 at 12:15 am |
Bueno Suerte Martin! Looks like fun…think you should really round out the experience by having a goat and a couple of roosters in the back seat
We will be following your progress!
October 16, 2009 at 1:35 am |
The blogging will be the hardest part.
Finishing under your own power is the ultimate reward. To finish under your own power you must be running at the end. “Rope a dope” Be safe, have fun, leave a margin for burros, perros, campesinos, etc. Make sure you and Conrad are laughing at each other more than screaming at each other. The night in Zacatecas is the best, pace yourself on the Mescal, you’re at 8200′
October 16, 2009 at 6:14 pm |
Mucho bueno! May there be large Mayan feathered crowns of victory for you all @ the finish! I know you’ll love driving like a couple of banditos but take it a little easy on ‘Pretty Perdida’ eh? She’s got a long way to go! Will be sending fast thoughts daily. Can’t wait for the adventure to unfold…. Vamanos!
October 16, 2009 at 7:45 pm |
Se fué como el viento!
The best of luck to you guys. I will definitely be glued to the blog updates.
October 17, 2009 at 8:31 pm |
Sounds like you already had some excitement at the border. Left the trailer behind? Hope you are taking the driveshaft out if you are flat-towing. Good luck.
October 19, 2009 at 7:26 pm |
Saw the photos in the church – are you praying already? The race hasn’t even started yet!