Karen Léon, current global director of Carrera Panamericana – an event that was once Mexico’s answer to Mille Miglia or Targa Florio. “My father, back in 1988, decided to bring the Carrera back with some friends. I am about 12 years old. “
Léon’s father was Eduardo León Camargo, who brought the historical event together with Pedro Dávila.
The first iterations of the Carrera Panamericana took place between 1950 and 1954. At the time, the event was organized in part by the government as a way to promote the creation of the Inter-American Highway, a network The highway network now stretches across the Americas – from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Ushuaia, Argentina with a short clearing for rainforest. These early races were designed to celebrate the United States’ connection to Mexico and to promote tourism.
But the race was canceled in 1955 at government expense, the danger of the event, and the shadow of the 1955 Le Mans disaster, which saw more than 80 people killed in a single crash, Mostly the audience. The golden era of motorsport – the era that saw legends from every sport flock to Mexico – is over.
However, when Léon Camargo and Dávila decide to return to the event, its success will have more to do with the passion of a small group of racing fans.
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To revive the event in 1988, former racer Léon Camargo and Dávila needed to organize the event themselves. They had to lay out a route, acquire the necessary permits from local governments, organize safety, run promotion, and find competitors. Such an intensive process meant that hosting the race became something of a family affair.
“I had to share my parents with the race,” Léon admitted during a call with Jalopnik, “but I also feel very grateful.”
Léon highlights one example: In the 1990s, the Carrera had achieved such prestige that Pink Floyd performed during the race’s celebrations. At the time, having grown up with the event’s promotion, it seemed normal. Now, having stepped into a more directorial role, Léon has developed a greater appreciation for the event — something she achieved from 16 years of working it.
“My profession is chef, so I thought we can combine the experience of this race with this lifestyle and great food each day,” Léon told me when I asked her how she’s influenced the modern Carrera Panamericana. “I wanted nice parties, and for people to arrive in the main square of the cities to find handcrafts and the colors of Mexico.
“I can tell you that I’ve put this little bit of lifestyle into the race, improving the catering with food from my country.”
The Carrera has run since 1988, with the modern route looks more like a protest than a frantic race across the country. This year’s race will take place between October 14 and 20 and its route is divided into seven parts – one each day – that will take competitors from Veracruz on October 14 to Durango in 20. There are transits to connect specially closed timed stages, and the closed nature of the race makes for a much safer event.
Government regulations limit the event to 100 participants, 80 of whom will be professional riders while 20 of them will compete in a new category called Sports and Classics – class The following include the Classic Tour (cars from 1950 to 1979) and the Sports Tour (cars from 2015 to 2020) for those who may not want race but those who still want to journey through the event.
As for competitors, there are four different categories to enter: Panamerican Cars Group (GT and passenger cars manufactured between 1940 and 1954 but including hot rods), Calendar Cars Group history (all cars manufactured between 1955 and 1973), Original Panamericanos Group (all cars with the same make, model, and year as the cars competing in the original Panamericana; those vehicles must be functionally identical, with safety enhancements) and the Show Car Group (vehicles are allowed to compete but do not have to meet the above standards). The first two categories are divided into smaller subcategories based on the make and year of the vehicle.
For Karen Léon, the continuation of the Carrera Panamericana is already in her blood – and the rest of us can benefit from having the pleasure of watching incredible vintage cars on the streets of Mexico .
