There are only two types of luck.
And today we had both. Good in the morning. Bad in the afternoon.
Day 5 started out well. Three great speed sections and the car performed admirably. A little worse for wear perhaps but a survivor and a willing warrior. Then lunch happened. After the lunch time service the car developed an electrical gremlin that just couldn’t be found. Or at least not whilst doing 180km. It wouldn’t start without a push or bump start and seeing as how there are only two of us and the afternoon sessions were uphill – we were SOL if we turned off the car. But if we didn’t turn it off it would overheat as we sat and waited for our turn. Well that’s exactly what happened on the first post lunch speed section. That and the battery didn’t have enough juice to crank the starter once we stopped to cool it down. In any case, we missed two speed sections and the finish arch. All of which means we’ll be back in the back again tomorrow and also that we’re out of contention for a podium finish. BUT! we’re still having fun and pinching ourselves over how lucky we are to even be here, battery or no battery
http://motors.ebay.com
http://www.bringatrailer.com
http://www.lacarrerapanamericana.com.mx
You can do it, guys! Finish strong and stay safe! -BaT
Forget the podium, boys! The most fun I ever had in a car was when we won the “Most Misery” award during our BABE2009 run. We had massive breakdown after breakdown, but we still crossed that line (and were later vindicated when we crushed it at LeMons)!
Here’s a little motivation- http://bit.ly/u7oTPw
Best of luck,
Chris
Go! Go! Go! And have the best luck!
Actually, there are three types of luck (good luck, bad luck and no luck!).
As they say in Italy, Forza Alfa!!
Run strong, be safe and finish well!
Paul
Wishing you only the BEST kind of luck!
Bring it home El Taxi Perdido!!
ONWARD Gentleman!!
You still have great racing ahead, good luck for continued success
Gus
Regardless of the level of luck or lack, you guys are living the dream. I wish you all the very best!
Keep at it!
Press on Regardless!
Viva Taxi!
Good luck folks and warm wishes for a fantastic finish from the Bring a Trailer fans!
Kevin
Glad someone still goes for it! Think of all the fans looking over your shoulder as you keep on going. We won’t be smiling any wider podium or no podium. Actually makes me think of an appropriate line. “Podium? We don’ need no stinking podium.”
Good luck guys, this year and I hope next year.
Alan B
Hmmm, Scions of Lucas go Italian?? May the winds of good fortune blow up your skirts!
“Podium? We don’ need no stinkin’ podium”.
Think of all of us looking over your shoulder and grinning. Good luck for this year and next.
Alan B
Forza ! Forza ! (Oh, wait, that’s Italian, isn;t it?) In any case, keep it up and finish strong!
It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game. Keep playing it well and enjoy the ride as much as you are now. From a long time BAT reader.
I am going pantsless for the next two days in support of balls out Taxi driving.
Hammerdown gentlemen.
Leave no tire unscorched.
D. A. Link
Viva Taxi! You guys rock!
Keep the rubber side down, and press on! Alfa Romeo Sempre Il Primo!
Did something happen to Jochen ? My dad thinks he had a frontal crash ? Did it happen on a special stage ?
I wish you good luck for the rest of the event !!!
Christina
HOLA!!!!
ALL the Best from my desk here in JERSEY!! Of course we all wish we were THERE! So for now, keep forging ahead, NOTHING BEATS A TAXI!! Even in the Rain…
Adios, and step on it!!! We’ve got a race to WIN!!
Jersey Joe
At the British would say: Keep Calm and Carry On. Best of luck, wish I was there. You guys are living the dream.
I envy you you lucky bastards. Flags high!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good luck, be safe and finish well. You don’t need no stinkin’ battery!
Joe L.
Forza Alfisti!
BTW: Push starting seems easier to me down a hill than on a level road?
Go Team! Keep up your spirits and Finsh The Race!!!
Good job guys After completing my own long distance journey in a vintage 911, complete the pre-requisite electrical grelims, I can truly appreciate what you are going for.
But the journey is truly the enjoyable part. Reaching the ultimate destination can be a bit of a let down – excepting for the satisfaction of completing the journey.
Good luck and keep the shinier side up – altho after several thousand km it could be difficult to really figure out which side is shinier.
jb
Go Taxi!
Que Viva El Taxi Perdido
Awesome, a really challenging race for sure, I hope to someday participate. Good luck on your alfa. I race a 57 Monoposto Veloce. Love it and they are great cars !
Good Luck!!!
Hang in there and finish! This is a great undertaking and only the strong can finish!
“You can do it” You are creating soon to be wonderful memories. We bat fans are all pulling for you
Rick
¡Tomense una bien fria!
If any of you chaps need a job after hammering an old Alfa through the backroads of Mexico, Helga’s House of Pain has openings and WILL hire you on the spot!
Suerte, ¡vaya con los dios (de etectrico)!
Viva Equipo de el taxi perdido!
Rock and roll, guys!
(well, maybe not the roll bit, but you know how to rock!)
Run hard, stay safe, and live the life of dreams…
Dan R
Good luck – stay safe!!!
You’re doing great! Keep having a blast and remember, things could always be worse. When we did our cross-country trip in Willie Run ’08, we had to pee in our pants for 38 and a half hours. Keep ‘er rollin’ and stay safe.
Believe in ALFA!!!!!!!
Believe in ALFA!!!!
Believe in ALFA!!!
Everyone on BaT is pushing for you!
Viva Taxi and enjoy…
Viva TAXI !!! Is it warm there? It is 19 this morning, good luck on your electrical ghosts, keep’er going!!!! Kathy
In the imortal words of “Speedy Gonzales” Ariba, Ariba, Andele, Andele!
Best of Luck!
Buena suerte. Green,Green,Green! Go get the checkered flag! Viva TAXI!
Viva Alfa Romeo ! Viva el Taxi Perdido ! Viva La Carrera
Buena Suerte !
arriba, motherfuckers!
Press on, regardless!!
I hope you have your Official Papajam Wiring Diagram.
What do they say about a bad day racing beats a good day working?
Press on regardless, team. Boo-rah!
Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!
Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Go Go Go Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo in my best Spanish Soccer announcer voice!
You guys are doing awesome, keep up the good work! Wish I could be down there to help give the car a push!
Is the meter running on this trip? That’s a lot o’ Pesos…
Hope you guys have a great run and remember to keep it rubber side down, shiny side up!
Forget about the podium and enjoy the rest of the race, you are living one of my dreams. Keep going with the same enthusiasm!
From Colombia, South America
Best of Luck!
Keep the faith gentlemen, I know that all of us addicted to BaT dream of doing just what you are doing someday no matter the outcome in terms of placement. Being there is an amazing award in and of itself! Let me know if you want an additional crew member next time!!
Good luck people. Drive it like u stole it!
Viva Mexico!!! Never surrender!!!
Fantastico! I couldn’t help but be envious of overheating while watching 10″ of snow falling here in Colorado. Best wishes!
Martin and Conrad…You can pull it off full support from all of your friends in Washington State.
Jim Sullivan
Go get ‘em! Do you still have the meter running? Good luck!
Wishing you more of the good luck and less of the bad, but it sounds like fun either way! Reading of your adventures brightens my day. Keep living the dream!
So many of the rest of us, laboring at desks, are enchanted by your adventure. What a way to travel…Best of luck guys; return healthy to the Bay area with stories!
You guys are the best and using the car as Alfa had intended! Best of luck the rest of the way!
Yours is a fine example of “press on regardless” daunted perhaps but dauntless in the end. ! My son, Anthony, won the coveted WILLYMAKIT Melee award in 2010 after an seemingly endless series of mechanical mishaps. Turned out to be half the fun.
You can do it!
Viva La Taxi! You can do eeeeeeeeeeeeet!
Ha! Most taxi drivers just think they’re in the Carrera!
Andele! Andele!
Love the car, love the effort….You are making Alfisti’s everywhere proud!
Tear off the rear view mirrors. Whats behind you, dosen’t matter!
Life is too short to not drive Italian. POR, you make your own luck.
Viva Alfa!
You’re doing great! You’ve got a great car in the Alfa, and look at that beautiful country you’re running through!
All the best,
Kirk F. White
Keep going guys, keep going ! Nice Team and a wonderful car.
Best regards !
Viva Taxi!!!
Best of luck for the duration. Viva Taxi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keep trucking, sounds like you are still having fun.
BAT fan
Marylee
Still more fun that work! Wish I was there too, I would help push.
Rally on.
jim
Think of all the great stories this race will bring. At least it looks like one of you guys still have a smile on your face! Best of luck with the rest of the race and have fun!
Long after the trophies have been forgotten on a dusty shelf its the triumphs over adversity that are remembered. Press On, and Never Give Up! As for luck, if it wasn’t for my bad luck, I’d have not luck at all.
You guys have the car I’m enamoured with. What a great car in a great setting. Show them what you & the car are made of.
Alfa rules!
Best wishes to win this one for the Flying Mantuan.
Viva La Taxi! Love the car! Have fun… drive fast….. be safe!
AlfaQuad
Viva Taxi! Vamanos -
If it can’t be fixed with hose clamps and duct tape than it’s truly broken.
Keep smiling and finish strong!
If it can’t be fixed with hose clamps and duct tape, then it’s truly broken.
Keep smiling and finish strong!
Best
Awesome job! Keep it going! I just bought a ’67 Super and it is on the transporter on its way to me right now, not going to use it for this though!
Andale, Andale, Andale!!! Come on Taxi!!! Everyone knows that in La Carrera a huge achievement in itself is to finish, if this one’s your third in taxi, I’m guessing you’ll come back for more next year, so do all of us BaTers proud and push on through to the finish line!!
Vaya con Dios!
Good luck guys! Get ‘er going with duct tape and spit if you have to, and get across that line!
Try a set of jumper cables and an extra battery in the trunk. Espero tienen suerte mejor.
The Bella will get you there!!!
So kewl to be in the Carrera… Man, when I grow up…
Keep that pedal down! Best wishes to you all – you’re living my dream.
Keep fighting and moving — as a former Fiat 124 Spider owner, I can sympathize on chasing Italian electrical gremlins. We admire you for your effort. Good luck!
We are so jealous not to be racing against you, so if you can not beat them join them right? Keep up the great work and best of luck for the last couple of days. Michael @ Kiwi Customs LLC via BaT!!!
Allez Allez Taxi Perdido
hopefully you have enough jumper wires. They’ll run any circuit, work as a throttle, handle voltage regulation and can provide cabin heat (not suggested in Mexico). Put the pedal to the metal, and keep the dirty side down, if you can. Viva 60′s Alfas!!
Keep going! You guys are touch and so is your car!
That’s the spirit gentlemen!!!
As a ’64 TI owner I really admire your rallying. Maybe one day I will be doing the Carrera as well. Keep up the good driving.
Go guys, and good luck. Even when you’re having bad luck, it’s better than being at work. Right? Have fun.
You’ve gotten success already-you’re racing! Keep having fun for the duration, you lucky paisanos.
The first time I was in a car when it ‘pulled the ton’ (100mph) was over 30 years ago, as an eight year old in the back of my father’s giulia super, with no seat belts, and I survived. GO THE GIULIA!!
Keep going you never what will happen ! the best racing may be ahead .
ALFAS RULE!!!
Give it some gas and go for it! Andale, rapido, tiempo divertido! Hurry up, go fast, have fun. The latter is the most important. Great teamwork.
Andale, rapido, tiempo divertido. Hurry up, go fast and have fun. The latter is the most important.
Go go go. From RP in the Melee group.
Vai! Vai! Vai la piccolla bella Giulia, e’ possi fare!
Put the hammer down, even if it means coasting/pushing. Wish I could be here to do both.
Martin & Conrad…..you’re on the last lap of the great race & the Finish Line is within sight.
Finish Strong – Be Safe.
Your NorCal – Alfa Ghetto compadres will miss you @ Thunderhill this weekend.
We will be sure to toast you @ dinner.
Via Con Dios…..
Roberto Fuerte; Jon; Glen; Sid; Ross; Gary; CJ & the CSRG gang
Keep going till the wheels fall off! Cheers from a Bat reader!
Good luck and have fun.
U don’t know how badly I would like to race in any rally.
Good luck and hang in there, from all of us at Bernal Dad’s Racing. Seeing you guys on the Melee a couple of years ago was fantastic!!
–Fiid.
looks like a blast..
My best two Nomex friends!
First time since three years I’m not part of the party! But from the distance……..(every morning)!
Don’t give up! Keep on going but stay on the road! Litle Italian taxis are not made for guard rails, ditches or trees.
Your follower Wolfgang from Germany
Saludos desde La Fuerza Aeria Americana en Bagram Air Field, Afganistan!
Go Taxi, your San Clemente Friends!
Bring A Trailer Referral – You folks are living it! Keep up the effort!
From my experience not there but in other intense events, burn each moment into your memory. They are flashing by , never to be repeated quite the same again!
Su aventura es nuestra fantasía … velocidad de, amigos!
Most excellent work! Push starting Alfas is a way of life….. even in reverse on hills… you guys have the chutzpah to keep it going! Forza!!!
Finish Fast and Finish strong, and have fun doing it
Hi Guys,
I made a picture of you handing out cards to a group of school kids.
I think it was the last day when we had to wait to go down the hill (the scariest stage)
Let me know where I can send it.
Mike
Shelby GT350 (the real one)