Steve Waldman Takes Third in Class at the 6th Annual Chihuahua Express
- Jun 13, 2011
"My Mitsubishi is perfect for this event because of the 2-litre turbo engine that puts out 300hp," Waldman told K&N Race News. Waldman has participated in this event every year since its inception. "In 2007 and 2008, my co-pilot was Juan Jose Alessio, who graciously offered to navigate when Felipe could not," continues Waldman. "In our class we finished first and second those two years. Since 2009, my usual co-pilot Felipe Arguelles has been back in the navigator seat. Felipe has been my navigator for the past 14 years. In 2009 we came in second in our class, and in 2010 we came in first." "This year, we started 30th in a field of 51 cars, and after the three days, we came in eighth overall and third in our class. We feel really good about our accomplishment and our overall standing especially when we were going against Michel Jourdain Jr., who came in first!"
The Chihuahua Express, a part of the Silver State Classic Challenge, is an open-road rally run on paved highways across northern Mexico. Each day the participants start and finish at a four-star hotel in the heart of Chihuahua, navigating a different road each time. The Express covers 1,000 miles of highways with 360 miles of racing. The stages in between are transit sections designed to get drivers to the next speed stage. Cars must check in at the next speed stage within 59 seconds of their assigned time in order to avoid time penalties. The Express rules are based on FIA and SSCC rules and regulations.
"After a ceremonial start from Chihuahua City on day one, we race northwest across the mountains to the city of Madera," Waldman says. "Then after lunch and service we race back on the same roads. The second day we run southwest to the famous Copper Canyon, the Grand Canyon of Mexico. On the third and final day, we head 145 miles east towards the Ojinaga, near the Presidio, Texas, border across ridges and valleys." "Prior to the first event that took place in 2007, the organizer of the Chihuahua Express, Chacho Medina, consulted with me. Based on both of our experiences in organizing events, the Chihuahua Express was designed to be a weekend event, close to the U.S. (only 220 miles south of El Paso), based in the same hotel each night and run on good roads. Since then, it has become very popular with the SSCC participants and La Carrera Panamericana participants from the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Europe." The Silver State Classic Challenge has been affiliated with one rally or another in Mexico almost since its beginning, giving it a true international flair. Any participant that competes in the Chihuahua Express, and at least one of the SSCC's events in May or September, and depending on how they finish, can earn points. Then the participant with the most points after the September SSCC event is awarded the International Series Trophy. "I participate in four events each year," Waldman adds. "The first is the Chihuahua Express, followed by the Silver State Classic Challenge events every May and September, with the last one being the seven-day La Carrera Panamericana rally through Mexico. All three of my race cars, as well as my truck and my wife's car, all carry K&N air systems and oil filters. In the Mitsubishi I use a K&N Typhoon Performance Intake Kit (#69-6545T) and K&N Oil Filter (#HP-1004). Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world. |
