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Last Update: 06/14/2008

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1954 Mexican Road Race

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La Carrera Panamericana Road Race

See a Model Collection Dedicated to this Race:

Click on image for link to the site

These images were scanned from slides that are showing some age.  The order may not be correct as they were intermixed with each other and they came from two different sources. Captions will be added later, as they come in. The mailing label on  two of the boxes show Bill Zaring as the addressee.

The captions are taken from the notations on the slides or direct first hand accounts.

The start of the race began in Tuxtla with stops in the following cities:

Oaxaca, Mexico City, Leon, Durango, Chihauhau, and the finish in Ciudad Juarez.

If you think that today's drivers have "bolitas mas grande", then think again. Not only did these guys have to survive the grueling race, but also the airplane trip and the taxi ride to and from the airport!

"The 4 slides above are from the first pit stop at Oaxaca. All cars had one hour to prepare for the next days run, and were then impounded until 15 minutes before the next start. No touchies allowed. I am in the first frame, walking from right to left, Bill Stroppe is working on the right front side of the engine, probably changing plugs. Remember, this is way before NASCAR ever got as organized. Stroppe was the brains. Also notice everyone is dressed alike." Contributed by S. Baker

	This car went over the side of a mountainous road one night traveling at 75 mph with Bill Edwards at the wheel and Johnny Glue asleep in the front seat. Glue went out the front windshield backwards. They were found 50' down an embankment with Edwards honking the horn. A 5 point shoulder harness fitted with aircraft retractors & a full cage saved Edwards. Glue landed in soft dirt. The chief of Police in Oaxaca was paid 500 pesos to get a local with a dump truck to pull the car out the next day. Then John Holman, Bill Stroppes' parts man, went to work
	Refrigerated, self-contained food truck for the 53 members of the Lincoln team. Fresh water, milk, etc. Not one member of the team had Montezuma's Revenge throughout the whole trip thanks to the preplanning  and forethought of Stroppe and his people.
	Roadside pit "stall" complete with a nitrogen operated jack that would lift the car instantly for the much needed tire and complete brake change. Set up by a Long Beach, CA police officer who raced under the alias of Ted Tracy.
View of the Highway	View of the Highway	Mexico City Airport	"The" Mountain	Walt on Highway
Naval Air Station	Naval Air Station	Naval Air Station	Sky Shot	Danny
Runner from impound area to pits	Pre-Parade	Pre-Parade	Pre-Parade	Pre-Parade
Parade -Mountain Climbers	General Popo -Tire Manufacturer	Parade	Parade	Ray Crawford entering Pit Area
				Left to Right: Transportation Durango Chihauhau from the air Chihauhau from the car
Finish Line	Magioli Won in Sports Car	Walt Faulkner -2nd	Trophy	Trophy
			The Winning Car Photos taken at Harrah's Reno in 1970

The below images were submitted by Roger Clements

and taken at the 50 year reunion held at the

Peterson Automotive Museum

Bill Vukovich

The Rule Book

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