Nine entries were registered & presented to the grid for the second edition of La Carrera Panamericana. The grid was set as follows:
The field would set out three at a time at 5 minute intervals. For all pictures click on the gallery poster below:
The paddock full of entries in the second running of La Carrera Panamericana
Behind Suhr's Porsche 356 sits American muscle...
Back to the European entries - Prince von Hohenlohe's VW1200, Fon Portago's Ferrari 750 Monza and a Mercedes 300SL W196 (close to the W194 that actually raced)
At the far end of the paddock a Porsche 550 Spyder...
Final preparations in the paddock for La Carrera Panamericana II...
Topping up fuel in the No. 2 Ferrari 750 Monza - Notice Alfonso enjoying a cigar...
Portago turning onto the starting straight.
Inspecting for potholes down the starting straight...
Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe's VW1200 about to leave the paddock enroute to El Ocotal
'Flash' Gordon's Ford 8 leaving the paddock.
The number 3 Mercedes 300SL W196 braking into the first corner.
Hot Rod specialist Bill von Esser in familiar equipment cresting the hill entering Oaxaca.
'Fon' Portago powering through turn 2 leading onto the foothills surrounding Mexico City.
Suhr slows to avoid trouble with the concrete walls of the narrow Xavier bridge.
Gordon doing his best to hang on to the Porsche of Suhr under braking for the Xavier narrows.
Portago understeers through La Rosquillia
Slow but steady - Prince von Hohenlohe manages to stay just ahead of the cut off time averaging just over the manufacturer's claimed top speed.
Hans Herrmann would muscle his way past several limping competitors on his way to Leon...
The lone Chevrolet of von Esser exiting La Rosquillia.
The lead VW and leader in its class embarking on the last leg of the Carrera Panamericana.
Hans in the 550 spyder aproaches the finish line in Oaxaca.
The Chevrolet Corvette not only avoids engine trouble but also finishes in the overall race lead.
Without incident and averaging 63mph this Beetle would finish the race with time to spare.
'Flash' Gordon in the Ford 8 entry braking early before Oaxaca.
Porsche number 55 of Hans Herrmann negotiates La Rosquillia.
Less wheel caps and 53 tires later Prince Alfonso de Hohenlohe still leads a train of VW1200s near the finish of the last leg of the race.
Spectators helped push Suhr's 356 out of a ditch on the approach to Puebla - not the only off track excursion.
Hans Herrmann and Hermann Lang tip toe over the Oaxaca river on their way to finish the fourth leg.
Overall Race Order After 1/2 Distance (300 sec. x 3 x 1 = 15 min.):
- #12 – Bill von ESSER (Chevrolet Corvette C1) S+1.5;
- #3A – Hermann LANG (Mercedes-Benz 300SL) S;
- #55 – Hans HERRMANN (Porsche 550 Spyder) S1.5;
- #3 – GRUPP (Mercedes-Benz 300SL) S;
- #153 – Guillermo Suhr CONTRERAS (Porsche 356SL) S1.6;
- #210 – ‘Flash’ GORDON (Ford 8) TS;
- #261 – Alfonso de HOHENLOHE (Volkswagen 1200) TE1.9;
- #22 – FITCH (Mercedes-Benz 300SL Spyder) S;
- #2 – Alfonso de PORTAGO (Ferrari 750 Monza Scaglietti) S+1.5;
Overall Race Results After Full Distance (300 sec. x 3 x 2 = 30 min.):
- #12 – Bill von ESSER (Chevrolet Corvette C1) S+1.5 (x2 – Red Flag) 241 Laps (14.749 ext.);
- #3A – Hermann LANG (Mercedes-Benz 300SL) S (x10 – Y/R, Yellow Flag) 241 (41.510);
- #55 – Hans HERRMANN (Porsche 550 Spyder) S1.5 (x6 – Y/R, Checkered Flag) 238 (41.013);
- #153 – Guillermo Suhr CONTRERAS (Porsche 356SL) S1.6 (x4 – Green, Yellow Flag) 232 (24.896);
- #210 – ‘Flash’ GORDON (Ford 8) TS (x9 – Green, Red Flag) 229 (21.068);
- #261 – Alfonso de HOHENLOHE (Volkswagen 1200) TE1.9 (x0) 224 (21.976);
- #3 – GRUPP (Mercedes-Benz 300SL) S (x8 – Black Flag) 237 (29.427);
- #22 – FITCH (Mercedes-Benz 300SL Spyder) S (x7 – Yellow Flag) 219 (23.997);
- #2 – Alfonso de PORTAGO (Ferrari 750 Monza Scaglietti) S+1.5 (x2 – Green, Yellow Flag) 216 (63.741);
Final Results By Class:
S+1.5 (Mid) & (Jack Rabbit):
- #12 – Bill von ESSER (Chevrolet Corvette C1) S+1.5 (x2 – Red Flag) 241 Laps (14.749 ext.);
S+1.5 (Front) & (Ninco NC1) & (+90g):
- #2 – Alfonso de PORTAGO (Ferrari 750 Monza Scaglietti) S+1.5 (x2 – Green, Yellow Flag) 216 (63.741);
S1.5 (Mid) & (BWNC1):
- #55 – Hans HERRMANN (Porsche 550 Spyder) S1.5 (x6 – Y/R, Checkered Flag) 238 (41.013);
S1.6 (Mid) & (BWNC1):
- #153 – Guillermo Suhr CONTRERAS (Porsche 356SL) S1.6 (x4 – Green, Yellow Flag) 232 (24.896);
S (Mid) (BWNC1):
- #3A – Hermann LANG (Mercedes-Benz 300SL) S (x10 – Y/R, Yellow Flag) 241 (41.510);
- #3 – GRUPP (Mercedes-Benz 300SL) S (x8 – Black Flag) 237 (29.427);
- #22 – FITCH (Mercedes-Benz 300SL Spyder) S (x7 – Yellow Flag) 219 (23.997);
TS (Mid) (BWNC1):
- #210 – ‘Flash’ GORDON (Ford 8) TS (x9 – Green, Red Flag) 229 (21.068);
TE1.9 (Mid) (Vanski):
- #261 – Alfonso de HOHENLOHE (Volkswagen 1200) TE1.9 (x0) 224 (21.976);
Great pics as usual!
Hopefully I’ll have at least one entry for the next CPA.