Thursday, June 24, 2010

From The Desk Of Gerie Bledsoe

CARRERA DRIVER -- UPDATE

**CARRERA FIESTA -- MONTEREY HISTORICS, AUGUST 14
Plans are being made for another Carrera Fiesta at the Monterey historic races or reunion on Saturday evening, August 14, at a nearby Mexican cantina. Please put it on your calendar. Details will be circulated shortly.

**CONTACT INFORMATION CHANGE
As some of you in the Bay Area already know, Diane and I sold our home in Half Moon Bay and moved to Foster City on Monday. Our new address and phone number is listed below.

**CARRERA RULES
The Organizing Committee of the Carrera has not yet updated the rules for 2010 on the official web site www.lacarrerapanamericana.com.mx. It is not unusual for the final rules to be promulgated in the summer or early fall. However, I do not expect any significant changes.

As I understand the current rules, a HANS device or similar SFI or FIA approved head and neck restraint will be required in all classes, as it was last year. And, although the rules are not clear, it seems that a fuel cell of some sort is required in all cars, including the Historic and Pan Am classes, too.

Last year, for the first time, a two-layer driving suit was required. A one-layer suit and Nomex underwear was deemed to satisfy this requirement, however. Nothing has been said about fire-resistant driving gloves or shoes.

In 2011, according to Mr Eduardo Leon, the event will include the first generation Chevrolet Camaro with a small block engine.

**MEXICAN INSURANCE
To obtain the required insurance for your tow rig, and optional coverage for your racecar (when it is not in competition), go to the web site of Baja Bound at http://www.bajabound.com/?r=panamrace or call them toll free within the U.S. 888.552.2252. Make sure you tell them that you are participating in La Carrera.

**FMAD RACING LICENSE
All competitors, especially those new to the event and those shipping a racecar to Mexico, should send their application for a racing license and two small photos of their face (like on a driver's license) to the offices of the Federation of Mexican Auto Sports (FEMADAC) in Mexico City. It is not necessary to send payment ($260 USD) with your application. You may pay the fee in Tuxtla Gutierrez when you pick up the license.

You may download the application in English from http://femadac.org.mx/pdf/solpan.pdf. Their address is on the form.

**FMAD CAR IMPORT PERMIT
Any competitor using the services of a Mexican customs agent to import their tow rig and racecar into Mexico must also send another application to FEMADAC. You may obtain this form by clicking on http://femadac.org.mx/pdf/FORMA_IMPORTACION_RALLIES_ingles.pdf. Include a check for $150 payable to FEMADAC.

If you plan to bring your tow rig and racecar in on a Temporary Tourist Permit, as most of us do, you do NOT need to file this form and pay the fee.

Temporary Tourist Permits may be obtained on the Internet by going to www.banjercito.com.mx.

**COYOTE CONVOY
If you or your service crew plan to join the Coyote Convoy for the trip down to Tuxtla Gutierrez, please let the North American coordinator know at gbledso@aol.com. The convoy will gather at the Residence Inn del Mar (Marriott) in Laredo, TX at 8 PM, Friday, October 15, and will cross the border early the next morning. If you stay at the Residence Inn, make you own reservation via Marriott, and ask for the Carrera's group rate.

Driving at night or driving alone from Laredo to Monterrey is not advised. It is 540miles from Laredo down to San Miguel de Allende, and it takes about 11-12 hours with rest and petrol stops. This trip must be accomplished during daylight hours.

Sign up for the special Coyote Convoy email list, too.

**HOTEL RESERVATIONS
By this time you should have contacted Monica Grossmann about your extra hotel needs for the event. If not, please do so immediately at monica.grossmann@yahoo.com.

**ENTRIES CLOSED
The Carrera Office has announced that it has signed up 120 entries for 2010, and registration is closed. They claim to be maintaining a stand-by list, but have announced no procedures for this process.

Last year, they had 107 sign up, but only 100 cars start the race. I would assume that there will be several no-shows this year, and that a couple of North Americans on the stand-by list will be allowed to participate, but I do not know when any announcement about openings will be made. But who wants to show up in Tuxtla and take a chance?

**CONTACT INFO
Gerie Bledsoe
North American Coordinator
La Carrera Panamericana and Chihuahua Express
*1288 E. Hillsdale Blvd. A-204
*Foster City, CA 94404
*650-525-9190 (home office)
650-867-9488 (mobile)
Email: gbledso@aol.com
www.panamrace.com
www.lacarrerapanamericana.com.mx
www.chihuahuaexpress.com
CarreraCoyote (Twitter.com)
Car #395, ’63 Chevy II Nova, 13th Year

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