First day confusion. Imagine our surprise to arrive in the Zocolo this morning and discover that the Carrera Panamericana was finishing it’s first stage in our front yard. So to speak.
Lots of classic cars (with classic drivers) rallying across Mexico. You can find the whole story of a race that was revived on the official site (en espanol) and an english version.
The race finished somewhere out of town but the final transit stage took the cars into the center of the city. Here’s the finish line.
![the point of the exercise finish line](http://blackdogandmagpie.net/shoes/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/1finishline-400x326.jpg)
There are a lot of Studebakers entered. This one is done up in Mexican green, white, and red. (#116)
![who's inside? studebaker in Mexican colors](http://blackdogandmagpie.net/shoes/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/2MXstudebaker-400x328.jpg)
Some classic Volvos as well. A PV 544 (#121)
![interesting color choices volvo races](http://blackdogandmagpie.net/shoes/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/3volvo-400x226.jpg)
By now you’ve noticed that there isn’t much in the way of crowd control. Taking pictures was just a matter of standing in the middle of the street and waiting for the cars to arrive.
![lara intrepid photographer #1](http://blackdogandmagpie.net/shoes/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/4intrepidphotog1-225x400.jpg)
We’d hear the police sirens and then see a car turning the corner. (#231 maybe listed on the website as #407)
![maserati coupe turning the corner to Alcala](http://blackdogandmagpie.net/shoes/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/5mazcoupe-400x190.jpg)
This lovely purple Studebaker is local. To us, at least. (#120)
![from British Columbia purple studebaker](http://blackdogandmagpie.net/shoes/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/6bcstudebaker-400x266.jpg)
Somethings are a little hard to identify when they’re race prepped. This one is a sunbeam??? (#222)
![what exactly? looked very red, sounded very red](http://blackdogandmagpie.net/shoes/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/8ferrari-400x266.jpg)
![happy racers must have run very red as well](http://blackdogandmagpie.net/shoes/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/7happyguys-400x266.jpg)
Sometimes the shots just don’t work out. Grimacing is common.
![jim intrepid photographer #2](http://blackdogandmagpie.net/shoes/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/9intrepidphotog2-262x400.jpg)
A lovely Mercedes SL that came all the way from Germany. (#302)
![mercedes came from a long ways away](http://blackdogandmagpie.net/shoes/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/10arty-266x400.jpg)
Everybody wanted pictures and autographs. There were a couple of recognizable stars but all the drivers got special attention from the crowd.
![Miguel Angel Diez y Michel Jourdain some of these guys are famous or something](http://blackdogandmagpie.net/shoes/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/11famousguys-400x266.jpg)
In case you didn’t figure out who the fellows above were.
![mystery guests and the answer is...](http://blackdogandmagpie.net/shoes/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/12who-400x342.jpg)
This is a rather arty shot. The first SL I’ve seen with a tow hook. (#311)
![benz 230SL 1967? you don't see too many of these turned in to race cars](http://blackdogandmagpie.net/shoes/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/13benzracer-400x266.jpg)
The drivers headed back to the hotels. We came back and sorted pictures.
![that's all that's all for tonight](http://blackdogandmagpie.net/shoes/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/14thatsall-266x400.jpg)