“I want to revisit my homeland and contribute something along the way,” says Gerardo Ortiz, originally from Mexico, who emigrated to the United States in 1995, and has not been able to return to his country even for a visit since then.
Participating in the Pan-American Race and using it to bring school supplies to an orphanage in San Miguel would be a dream come true for him.
In 1990, Gerardo saw the runners arrive in Querétaro and they made a big impression on him. “I thought: when I grow up, I want to participate in it. By chance, I arrived in the United States and due to immigration issues I had not been able to return to my country, this is my opportunity.”
Gerardo is preparing, together with his son and co-pilot Joaquín, a 1964 Classic Mini Cooper called “El ausencia” for La Carrera Panamericana, all on a budget and with DIY.
This Mini Cooper was assembled in New Zealand and imported to California. It was bought in 2004 to be restored. But now it is being prepared for racing.
It requires professional safety requirements like a racing car. Based on international FIA regulations such as a roll cage, a sealed fuel tank (to prevent spillage in the event of a rollover), special fire extinguishers, brakes, suspension, and many other features.
The race is a high-performance race. More than 3,000 kilometers are covered in 7 days. This time it starts in Oaxaca on October 14, 2022.
From Oaxaca, Veracruz is the next stop, then Mexico City on October 16, Michoacán on the 17th, Aguascalientes on the 18th, Durango on the 19th, and Coahuila on October 20 and 21, 2022.
“Being here in the United States, missing my country, Mexico, I always aspired to participate in this race… I bought the Mini with the dream of one day participating in this race.”
Mexico is not a very safe country to travel by road and this is a good opportunity to do it collectively. During the journey, together with the pilot Pedro Vidal from Miami, we will take school supplies and other necessities to the orphaned children of the orphanage. Casa Hogar Santa Julia Don Bosco, A.C.
The Santa Julia Children's Home is a home for children from precarious family circumstances. Children are brought to the home by police, social services staff and relatives, and are welcomed with open arms.
Please join the cause! https://gofund.me/503e7c4d
I will use the money only to participate in the race and bring supplies to the children. Please help!
You can follow the complete restoration of the Mini Cooper and the safety requirements on social media:
https://www.instagram.com/scuderiaortiz/
Please make our dreams come true!
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