Hello members of the Mercedes forum board!

We are posting this (and hopefully it is ok to do so here, and not considered spam) to let you know about our upcoming race.

www.theunlimitedclass.com

In brief: In November of 2006, La Carrera Panamericana will be opened for the first time to modern day production cars! 100% legal. 100% race.

La Carrera Panamericana is the last great road race in existence. It is fully sanctioned by the Mexican Government, Police, and Tourism board.

The Unlimited Class at La Carrera Panamericana will take place from November 9th to 16th of 2006, starting in Oaxaca, Oaxaca and finishing in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. For the inaugural race, the modern cars will be a separate class immediately proceeding the traditional Historic race.

The approximate length will be 3,050 km. La Carrera Panamericana will be divided into seven stages (days) over paved roads. The race consists of timed travel sections and unlimited velocity sections. Detailed information can be found in the "Application" section of our website.

The Unlimited Class will consist of any production car manufactured after 1990. It will operate under the same rules and authority of La Carrera Panamericana Historic racing. There will be case by case exceptions made for some "super cars" such as the Ferrari Enzo, Bugatti Veyron, and Mercedes Clk-Gtr in regard to roll cages, hood locks, and tow hooks.

In 2006, the Unlimited Class will be limited to twenty entrants. Prize monies will be awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place each day in addition to an overall winner's purse. Further information is in the "Application" section of our site.

We are now accepting applications.

We hope to see some of your cars at the races and also hope to see some of you on our chat boards!

The Unlimited Class Organization.

 

Cool. It's like a Cannonball Run.

I wonder about security and safety. I've always been advised not to drive my personal car in Mexico.

 

In regard to security and safety, the race is fully supported by the government, the police, and the tourism board. La Carrera is like the Tour de France of Mexico, and all the people come out to cheer the drivers on. Insurance is also readily avaliable for you car in Mexico!

 

I don't mean to argue, but the government and police in Mexico are corrupt or easily corrupted. That's a really long route to provide security.

There's a lot of insurance fraud there, hence the advice I've been given not to drive there. That's just normal tourist driving, though, not an organized race.

I guess you'd be on your own, realistically. It's not for chicken ****s.

What's the concealed-carry law in Mexico? Any info on that?

 

I'm American, and I'd agree that some of the border towns like Tijuana can be a little sketchy. This race is happening in the heart of Mexico, so it is a much nicer place. I have never had a problem in my many travels to Mexico. Since 1988, when La Carrera Panamericana was resurected as a historic race, there has never been an incedent. The cars that are running the historic races include 1950's Ferraris, Mercedes, Jauguar D types and many other high dollar, big ticket items. There has never been an incedent of theft. Many of the cars running the La Carrera Panamericana Historics are 300k-1mil + valued autos. All of them have run and been insured in Mexico. So while I respect your concern, we have a proven track record of holding this event since 1988 as a historic race without incedent. Most of the historic racers return year after year as happy campers. The "only" thing that will change is the year the car was made, not the value. Those old cars are doing 190mph+ during the race, so it really is just a new "look", not an issue of speed or cost.

 

Thanks for the info.

 

No problem! Throw a roll cage in that SL600 or Corvette of yours and send in an application! That is what it is all about!