Day One---
8:30 AM- South of San Antonio picked up a coolant reservoir, ours was leaky.

12:00 PM- lunch at Kingsville, TX- Saw cowboys with boots and spurs- 29 MPG

It's good to be heading south again after a brief trip to San Antonio we headed on past miles and miles of Texas. Border crossing was a breeze.
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The MINI is a perfect car for Mexico, fast, nimble, fun to drive. 30+ MPG when Debbie drives, and 25 MPG when cruising 90-100. Passing cars like they were standing still. We ate supper in Cuidad Victoria.

Day Two---
Cuidad Valles, SLP (770 miles from home in Austin)
We'll let schmutzi tell her own story today:

"Yesterday they drove me like they stole me- what fun! Today they start later & drive slower, but the roads are curvey & I get to pass lots more cars...I LOVE THAT! Then they turned off onto a dirt road & I discovered mud! YUCK! What do they think I am? They bottomed me out and spun my wheels. Finally I convinced them to turn around, I hope they won't try that again. I didn't go far today, but I did stop in some beautiful places...."
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-Schmutzi
2003 MINI Cooper S
Central Texas ALTA spokes-model
and now, world traveler
http://www.terrysaytherauto.com

 

Day Three ---

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10-17, Valles to Tulancingo, Hidalgo, 1050 miles.
Yesterday was a day of rest--we tried to go see Cueva Quintera but had to turn back due to MUD. We tried to go swimming at Cascada Micos, and found that the river was in FLOOD. Click here for larger ImageOh, well. Today we made a brief stop at Xilitla to see the Edward James house of Phantasms, and the waterfalls there--then we drove south as fast as the curvy roads would allow. Click here for larger ImageTen hours of driving and just under 300 miles. This thing is a sports car exclamation point. Out of the cloud forest, up into the pines, into the deep forested mountains of northern Hidalgo, south into the mountainous deserts---some of the most beautiful driving in Mexico. At lunch I ordered orange juice and my waiter went out and shook the tree to get oranges...that´s fresh.
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Day Four---

10-18, Tulancingo Hidalgo to Minatitlan, Veracruz, 1500 miles
Finally found a toll road so we could make some time, but Debbie didn´t like it and we got back off so we could experience the real Mexico. I took the wrong turn, dammit, sezs Deb. Lunch and a walk in the surf along the beach north of Veracruz at Costa Esmeralda. VERY NICE. Piles of shrimp, yum, sez Terry. The MINI continues to perform flawlessly, although we hope the next generation has better seats----and bigger washer reservoirs---and taller ground clearance---and 4-wheel drive. Well, that would be good here at least--but we are having a motoring blast nonetheless. The "Topes" or "sleeping policeman"---big concrete HUMPY LUMPS across the road are pains in the BUTT literally and make Schmutzi squeek sometimes. They sneak up on you, so you must watch every minute. And brake ALL THE WAY. Schmutzi can do 90 to 0 faster than you can imagine. And then you must creep across the topes, even still sometimes grinding away Schmutzi's little under-parts. And Terry is still asleep!
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Terry and Debbie
Terry Sayther Automotive
Independent MINI service & Performance
Austin, TX
www.terrysaytherauto.com

 

Eags, Thanks for the very nice pics. Looks like lots of fun, but I sure hate to see your MINI get so muddy! YUK. :smile:

 

Wonderful text and pictures- thanks.
Mud? That's good in play in. It all washes off anyway.
MINIs like mud.

Excuse me but what happened with your exhaust?
The stock exhaust is replaced by a dual side tip system? Remus dual side tip for MCS?

_________________
ALOHA

 

Great pics and text about a beautiful country. Muchos Gracias!

 

>>Wonderful text and pictures- thanks.
>>Mud? That's good in play in. It all washes off anyway.
>>MINIs like mud.
>>
>>Excuse me but what happened with your exhaust?
>>The stock exhaust is replaced by a dual side tip system? Remus dual side tip for MCS?

If I'm not mistaken, that looks like the Rogue exhaust, with the Rouge trailer hitch in the stock exhaust outlet.

 

Great pictures! And it's nice to see real touring dirt on a MINI

Hasta Luego,

Red

 

>>>>Wonderful text and pictures- thanks.
>>>>Mud? That's good in play in. It all washes off anyway.
>>>>MINIs like mud.
>>>>
>>>>Excuse me but what happened with your exhaust?
>>>>The stock exhaust is replaced by a dual side tip system? Remus dual side tip for MCS?
>>
>>If I'm not mistaken, that looks like the Rogue exhaust, with the Rouge trailer hitch in the stock exhaust outlet.

Yes, this is correct I found it and the rogue trailer hitch.
http://www.rogueengineering.com/Merc...tegory_Code=EX

I guess that is a dilemma- need the hitch so move the exhaust.

 

Nice pictures...I once drove from Chapala Mexico to Puerto Vallerta
in a 1970 Dodge Dart...bet your ride was a lot more fun

 

>>Nice pictures...I once drove from Chapala Mexico to Puerto Vallerta
>>in a 1970 Dodge Dart...bet your ride was a lot more fun :smile:

 

Just a six...and it was the scariest ride of my life. Steep cliffs and no guardrails...

 

thoes are some sweet pics

 

Day Five---

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10-19, Minatitlan, Veracuz to Villahermosa, Tabasco to Palenque, Chiapas to Cascadas Agua Azul, 1706 miles
Stopped to see Agua Blanca Falls and Cave Ixta-Ha just before Palenque. Click Here for larger ImagePalenque is our favorite of all of the Mexican Mayan ruins, and it is better cared for now then we have ever seen it. The Howler monkeys have returned, Nestle of Switzerland has undertaken huge new restoration projects and the park is altogether more beautiful than ever. We found a guide to take us on some jungle trails and we had a great afternoon. We ended the day at the HUGE falls of Agua Azul in a rustic cottage. That sounds romantic...it really means no lights or running water !

Day Six---

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10-20, Cascadas Agua Azul, Chiapas, to Huehuetenango, Guatemala, 2050 miles
We awoke today to a beautiful sunny morning and we found that we had NOT been captured by the rebels. The local roads all have signs on them saying that we have entered Zapatista rebel territory and we had teased ourselves into being genuinely fearful. For example, we would tell ourselves if we come to a roadblock, this is what we are going to do........and we hid our money in various personal places.....silly behavior, you get the idea. By the time we had talked about the signs and these thoughts, for 100 kms, we were primed for disaster. And the MINI clearly marks us as turistas, ripe for the plucking ! We found out that the road to Bonampak, another fantastic Mayan ruin, is only undertaken from here in a convoy every morning with Mexican military at the front and the Green Angel mechanic truck at the rear to tow any stragglers. We decided to skip that, another time, we hope. We got to Agua Azul in the dark, and had a bit of a restless night-----every truck, every light, every noise, every bug-----all woke Debbie who promptly woke Terry. Not true, he snored all night long. Big help against the rebels he is.

Click Here for larger ImageBut this morning, all is beautiful again, the sun is shining, the locals are friendly, the falls are ROARING past our delicious breakfast place. Unfortunately no swimming as the river is in flood. We hiked for a couple of hours, then headed on past San Cristobal through the border---after they sprayed INSECTICIDE all over Lil Schmutzi! Into Guatemala we go. The roads are better here, for the most part,and there is much less traffic and best of all, there are none of the dreaded TOPES. The MINI has 17 inch wheels with run flat tires, giving a rough ride anyway, but the concrete topes are a nightmare. Guatemala is immediately beautiful, driving thru Click Here for larger Imagedeep mountain gorges and into a country that seems a bit less spoiled than Mexico. Villages are smaller, cities are less planned and have narrower streets. People are very friendly, but the Spanish is a bit harder to understand. The local language is actually not Spanish, but Mam. We don´t know no Mam. Terry says, I want my Mammy. We are now spending Quetzales and the dollar goes a little further than the peso in Mexico.
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The MINI continues to shine, particularly after a helpful local washed all the mud off of her with a dry rag in the night. OUCH. She is a total rarity here, no big surprise, but EVERYONE else drives 4 wheel drive little pick ups. Mountain roads are where Click Here for larger Image Schmutzi is most at home, we can seemingly accelerate out of any situation, outhandle anything on the road, and pass most of the gas stations. The seats are actually better than we expected, and it is still great fun to drive. I´m sure a stock MINI would be just fine, but our 200 hp is a delight. It´s a good thing we love her so much as we are going to be good friends for another many more thousands of kms.

Terry and Debbie
Terry Sayther Automotive
Independent MINI service & Performance
Austin, TX
www.terrysaytherauto.com

 

Great pics, reminds me of the trips I've taken from the US to Central America. "Guate" is a wonderful place. I lived there in 1989 - 1990. let Schmutzi keep those windshield stickers denoting your trip for as long as possible (read until the windscreen is replaced ). They will be great conversation starters when you get home.

 

Day 7---

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10-21, Huehuetenango, Guatemala to San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico, 2175 miles

We are so happy to be here in Guatemala. It seems like it should be just the same as Mexico, but it is not. The cities are different, the traffic, the people, the clothes,the markets are all different from what we are used to seeing. We took a 40 quetzal taxi ride to a local ruin the first thing this morning and wandered around for awhile. A one quetzal bus ride got us back into town--a much more interesting way to travel, at least short distances.....and we think the taxi guy might of seen us coming. Guatemala is famous for it´s handmade cloth, and Debbie had a great time in the native market examining and buying beautiful woven samples. Click Here for larger image Guatemalan women weave cloth on a backstrap loom, and then embroider on the top of the weaving. The colors and patterns they use are characteristic of their home villages throughout their country, so if you know the language of the threads you can tell where they are from. Guatemala is much more rugged and mountainous than Mexico and the villages are more isolated ( and individualistic) as a result. What a great country!

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Only with great reluctance and a vow to return did we turn north. The border crossing was record easy--but did warrant another insecticide spray for little Schmutzi.

So back to the land of topes! Just about 170km north of the border lies San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, an old mountain town that attracts world wide tourists all year long. Less well known is that it is the center for study of the Lacondon Indians who inhabit the isolated jungles and mountains to the east. The center of this study in San Cristobol is Na Balom--a library, museum, and shelter for these endangered Indians. Occasionally, when one of it´s resident scientists is not in town, they rent out rooms. We were fortunate enough in 1992 to get a room in Na Balom, and we got the same room this time. Wandering the gardens, visiting with the residents, and even sharing a meal with several Lancandon families made our visit very memorable.

Day 8---

10-22, 2250 miles, San Cristobol to Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas

After a restful morning wandering the streets and gardens of San Cristobol, we headed down off the Chiapan highlands to the capitol of Chiapas, Tuxtla Gutierrez.
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Here in Tuxtla, we join the preparations for La Carrera Panamericana--an annual vintage car race that takes 7 days, covers 3000 km, and is the only event of it´s kind in the world. Last year we participated in the race with our 1958 502 BMW (the report on the race is on this website--you´ll like it!) This year we have volunteered to help others in their efforts. We spent the afternoon renewing old friendships and making new ones.

Like all events human, I guess, participants in the race are here for different reasons. Some racers have their racecar built and shipped to Tuxtla, and amazingly enough are then ¨meeting¨ their car for the first time, Others have built their cars, tested it, bonded with it--so, in essence, the cars, pilots, and co-pilots all have their own stories. Today we met old friends, ready to run their cars again--and new ones, hoping just to finish. Two guys from Great Britain spent the afternoon pounding a shock bolt back in place. Our friend, Elke from Germany, is back driving on the only all-woman team. Click Here for larger image The Carrera is about personal goals, and that strange, wonderfully exotic, sometimes erotic bond between humans and the road. We have to admit regrets about not being able to race this year--but also gratitude that we can be part of the story. The truth be told, Lil Schmutzi would give them ALL a run for their pesos, I'll bet!! But, alas, she is too young.....

Terry and Debbie
Terry Sayther automotive
Austin, TX
Indpendent MINI Service & Performance
www.terrysaytherauto.com

 

Day 9---

10-23-03--Thursday, Tuxtla Gutierrez Chiapas
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Today we spent all day working with the Carrera racers and getting ourselves set up as an official Servicio crew. This is the day before the race starts and it is spent with final car and driver preparation. A surprising number of cars arrive unfinished and untested--some are even shipped from Europe, the US, or Mexico not completely assembled. One British team finished assembling their car in Veracruz and then drove it down to Chiapas. Click Here for Larger Image Another Finnish team car was detained for 5 days in Customs before it was released. I got to work briefly on a British Ginetta, on a helmet intercom wiring problem, on a 54 Chevy with a loose connection at the starter, and on a state of the art 57 Chevy with an inadequate alternator. Don't tell anybody that I can work on that stuff--let people think I only know BMWs!
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Late in the afternoon there was a brief practice session for drivers, navigators, timers, and scorekeepers--an exciting start to the race week. After that, of course, there´s a whole new round of problems and challenges to confront.

The day went very fast.

Day 10---

10-24, Friday, Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas to Oaxaca, Oaxaca, 2550 miles

Let Lil Schmutzi tell the day's story....

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Hi! Its me again. They've got me all decked out in racing stickers and I look like a thoroughbred. I ran out early, ahead of the racers and waited 175km down the road at the La Ventose Service stop. I watched the race cars come in--first the 200 mph Studebakers and a few 160 mph 53 Fords and last years winning 54 Olds. Stragglers kept coming for hours, their drivers fueling cars and bodies. I headed out late, following the racers, while Terry stopped to help anybody in need. These curvy mountain roads are made for MINIs, but I must say, I was surprised that the racers all kept ahead of me on the long mountainous transit stages up to Oaxaca. I heard there were a couple of wrecks when a Studie coughed its cookies and oiled down the road. First an ambulance spun off the road and then Frank and Evelyn Currie crashed their Mustang into the ambulance. They are OK, but the ambulance driver was hurt, we do not know how badly.
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This was a long day of driving, even for a MINI like me. I am going to enjoy my nice quiet garage tonite.

Terry Sayther
Terry Sayther Automotive
Independent MINI Performance in Austin, TX
www.TerrySaytherAuto.com

 

Day 11---

10-25, Sat, Oaxaca, Oaxaca to Puebla, Puebla, 2860 mi


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Another day, another day of driving. Today we started by following the race cars out of town to the north. Schmutzi forgot to tell something yesterday--because there are no new MINIs here yet, and because we have all the racing stickers on the car, spectators think that we are a race car! More importantly, the police all think that we are a race car!! So the cops give us escorts through towns, they stop traffic and wave us through red lights, and they honk and wave as we pass them at 90+ mph. We spent some time this morning on one of the new toll roads--autopistas--and were able to cruise at 110-115mph for an hour or so. The MINI is a tremendous car--it does whatever it is asked without complaint. Click Here For Larger Image

One of the people we stopped to help today was an early 50s Buick with a broken suspension. They hit a tope at speed without seeing it and bottomed out a shock, tearing out the steel bracket welded to the differential and also the steel mounts for the Panhard rod that holds the body and axle in their proper place. Now they are driving at 10mph with the body swishing back and forth at the back. Looks funny, and it is scary for them. Another car, a beautiful 54 Merc kept dying at stops whenever driven hard--that turned out to be due to the fuel pumps being mounted too high and losing their prime. Click Here For Larger Image To get it running again, one of them would have toget under the back of the car and blow into the fuel cell vent hard enough to pressurize the tank and force fuel into the pump--then it would start again. Not a nice job. There are so many ways a machine can malfunction!

Our hotel in Puebla is the Meson de los Angels, a Frank Lloyd Wright inspired work of art. All aspects, every angle, every detail of this place is spectacular. Debbie is going crazy looking for details. The race has been pretty accident free so far. We have heard that someone, possibly a Mercedes, left the road and rolled yesterday, but we have no details. At least 10 cars had to be towed in today, so lots of people are up late tonite working...a typical evening at the races.

Day 12---

10-26. 3150 mi, Puebla, Puebla to Mexico, Mexico to Morelia, Michoacan

Sunday means Mexico City. ARRGH. Mexico City is very difficult. There is no direct way through a city of 6 million, and no easy way around. So we get up at 5:30 am (actually, it was really 4:30am because we were unaware that the time changed today...) and followed our friend Jose Antonio Calderon through the city to his house for breakfast and then on west. Jose Antonio kind of adopted us last year--and we needed all the help we could get! After breakfast we went west almost to Morelia and turned off to Mil Cumbres.

Mil Cumbres is (choose one, or two) a 1)really beautiful drive through the pine forest; 2) a really twisty road; 3) terribly frightening and dangerous; d) hell; e) all of the above. I personally have had a lot of fun on Mil Cumbres, but the people who drive really fast cars have a difficult time. Doug Mockett, last years winner and in first place this year, slid off the road and rolled this afternoon damaging the Olds badly, breaking his hand, several ribs, and getting a concussion. He had left skid marks but was not visible from the road. Several cars passed the scene, but fortunately Doug´s navigator got out and climbed back up to the road. A Swedish Volvo team, Mats Hammarlund and Eva Helstrom, saw him, over reacted, slid off the road, and smacked into a bank, bending their RF suspension. Click Here For Larger Image
They immediately found that Doug was unconscious but alive, and Mats ran 2km back in his helmet and race suit to the checkpoint to get an ambulance. Our kind of fellow racer.

The Mercedes coupe also rolled today and another car, a 356 Porsche, was hit by a taxi as it entered Morelia. Totaled. Quite a number of cars are out today for mechanical difficulties and several crews were up all night putting cars back on the road.

Feelings are mixed tonite--reminders of mortality mixed with the hard grind of the event--some spirits still very high, others somber. And it is only half over.

 

>>>>Nice pictures...I once drove from Chapala Mexico to Puerto Vallerta
>>>>in a 1970 Dodge Dart...bet your ride was a lot more fun :smile:

Great photos just want to add:

OR like my 68 Dart with a 383

Earl