Johnny Tipler

We’re heading into Mexico this morning – having spent 6 hours taking the truck and racecar into Mexican customs at Nuevo Laredo last evening to get visas and permisos ticked off – much waiting in line and more waiting around, pleading ones case to get back into the States going back into Laredo, Texas to our hotel. And got fleeced $100 for not wearing seat belts…! Still, the Coyote Convoy is poised for action as a dozen or so trailered racecars are set for the off.

Left Salinas at mid-day having changed a flat tyre on the trailer, met up with Pan Am veteran Sam Burg at San Luis Obispo for lunch, then headed to Palm Springs via Ventura freeway and Pasadena – got to Bill Hemmer’s folk’s condo at 9.00pm. Long 10 hour haul today across Arizona, New Mexico to Texas.

Yesterday Bill Hemmer met us downtown San Francisco and we drove south to his charming arts-and-crafts style home at Salinas – pausing on the way to take a look at Laguna Seca circuit, shortly to hold a massive gathering of Porsches (shucks!) but that Corkscrew is one awesome set of bends. Went to see the 914 racecar at the raceshop  - the front lid had blown off during a test drive (no Dzus clips in place) so that needed fixing. Final tune up too. Collected Garmin from UPS, batteries from FedEx Monterey, then back to Bill’s for RnR and sushi dinner. Away to Palm Springs today, Joshua Tree territory, Texas tomorrow. Loooong journeys…

My co-driver for La Carrera Panamericana, Sarah Bennett-Baggs, and I flew over from the UK to San Francisco yesterday, complete with stickers for the Porsche 914 racecar painstakingly made by Rick Cannell at Highgate House. After a night at the Hotel California we checked out (and it is possible to leave) to rendezvous with Bill Hemmer and head down to his Salinas pad and get stickering. The run to Laredo begins tomorrow, 11th October.

In just over a week, my co-driver Sarah Bennett-Baggs and I will be off to California to join team principal Bill Hemmer to board the truck taking our 914 race car down to southern Mexico for the start of the six-day race.

We have some great sponsors on board now: Adrian Flux Insurance, Dutch engine specialists Duel Motorsport who build 911 racers, Paul Stephens the Porsche dealer and retro specialist, Porscheshop who’ll provide virtually any dedicated consumable you could wish for, Highgate House decal manufacturer, Michelin tyres, Motul lubricants, and we travel courtesy of Journey Latin America.

There’s still space on the car and truck for more partners, with the promise of widespread coverage post event…