Presented by MobilOil and dedicated to the memory of Clay Smith, “The Fifth Mexican Road Race” (c.1954) is a color, documentary film about the 5th and final installment of the Carrera Panamericana. Created in 1950 by the Mexican Government to showcase the opening of the Mexican stretch of the Pan-American Highway, the Carrera Panamericana was a border-to-border sedan (stock and touring and sports car) rally racing event on open roads in Mexico running from 1950 to 1954 and was considered to be the most dangerous race of any type in the world due to the tough landscape encountered on the race course.
Farmer in ox-pulled cart (0:09). Opening credits (0:52). Farmers with donkeys, woman prepares fresh tortillas (1:07). Perhaps Ferrari 500 Mondial Scaglietti, Ernie McAfee (1:30). Race day preparations: Kids run to get autographs, look at model racing cars through glass display windows (1:33). Examples of different classes of competing cars: big sports, small sports, big stock cars, small stock cars, European stock cars (1:50). Racers arrive: Chuck Stevenson, Bill Vukovich, Jack McGrath, Johnny Mantz, C. D. Evans (2:07). Mechanics prep vehicles for race day inspecting engine, spark plugs (2:27). Race course: Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Oaxaca, Mexico City, Durango, Chihuahua, to Juarez (4:09). Crowds gather around starting line; Cars set out in order big sports cars, small sports cars, American stock cars (racer Ray Crawford), European models i.e. Volkswagen, Alfa Romeo (4:53). Aerial views of race course and cars speeding along winding roads (6:40). Local spectators gather along course in rural towns (7:07). First fatality: Debris of red Ferrari 375 Plus of Jack McAfee and Ford Robinson (7:37). White Ferrari 375 MM Vignale of Phil Hill, Richie Ginther leads (7:49). White Lincoln Capri of Walt Faulkner, Francis W. Hainley pulls up for first pit stop; Drivers change tires in record time (8:16). (8:42). Finish line first leg Oaxaca; Mechanics fix vehicles (9:58). Beginning of Oaxaca to Puebla Leg (11:07). Cars arrive in Puebla (12:54). Snow-covered peak of Popocatépetl (13:46). Aerial view Mexico City, street scenes around city (13:50). Mexican Independence Day Parade in front of National Palace (Mexico), Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral (14:01). Crowds make their way to viewing spots along national highway (14:16). Crowd cheers as first cars cross finish line; Medics come to aid of two Mexican drivers Julio Mariscal, Luis Pombo Rivadeneyra after pushing their stalled Buick Century (14:37). Cars crossing finish line stop at booth to receive tickets with lap time (15:28). Cars undergo maintenance work before being sent to impound area; All corners of street packed with people, young children hang from support beams of flags and banners (16:15). Route Mexico City to Durango (17:04). Mexican police officers patrol race course, cars come speeding down winding road with some wiping out, sea of white cowboy hats moves with the cars as spectators try and watch (17:16). Aerial view of Leon; 30 minute rest and fuel stop - cars greeted by crowds of locals, sites around city: Triumphal Arch of the Causeway of the Heroes, perhaps Aqueduct of Querétaro, bull fighting arena (17:52). Jaroslav Juhan passes through Leon in Porsche 550 Spyder; Ray Crawford in Lincoln Capri; Walt Faulkner in Lincoln Capri (18:43). Aerial shot cars barreling along course: Ray in Dodge V-8, Scott F. Yantis in Studebaker Commander, Tommy Drisdale in Dodge V-8 (19:06). Ray Crawford in Lincoln Capri crosses into Durango (19:35). Cars set off for Chihuahua at dawn; Aerial footage cars racing across changing arid, mountainous landscape (19:56). Umberto Maglioli in a Ferrari 375 Plus crosses into Chihuahua; Cheering crowds (21:23). Close-up of MobileOil can for lubricating engine (21:55). Aerial view Maglioli’s Ferrari driving 175 mph along final stretch to Juarez; Other cars whiz past curious crowds (22:40). Armed soldier stands in front of sign for Juarez (23:55). Maglioli’s Ferrari speeds over black and white checkered finish line (24:35). Phil Hill embraces wife (24:54). Ray Crawford, Enrique Iglesias win stock car class in Lincoln (25:11). Closing credits (27:27).
The 1954 event was the fifth and final Carrera Panamericana and the sixth and final race of the 1954 World Sportscar Championship. The race was run from Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, to Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, over 8 stages and 1,910 miles. 150 cars started the race, and 85 finished. The race was won by Umberto Maglioli in a Ferrari 375 Plus. He finished the race in 17:40:26, averaging 107.93 mph. Tragically, there were two fatalities during the race, which is the primary reason it was cancelled.
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFilm.com