Topes (speed bumps) and required clearance to run the route

Establishing required ground clearance of vehicles for The Unlimited Class.

Topes, or speed bumps, are scattered along the route of La Carrera Panamericana. NONE of them are in the velocity sections. Velocity sections are full race sections, blocked off from traffic by the Federal Mexican Highway Patrol. Topes will be found during transit sections. They are unpleasant, but taken at 45 degree angles, are manageable. Topes are usually marked by road signs, or will be found in your route book. Topes are used to regulate speed in cities and “bookend” towns in the countryside to slow traffic before populated areas.

One of the reasons to pre-run the route this year was to check what the required ground clearance of participating vehicles needs to be. When Kevin won La Carrera Panamericana overall in 1995, the clearance on his Studebaker was 4.5 inches, and he had a skid plate.

The Unlimited Class cars will be a bit lower than that, so we decided on a test height of four inches, which is the height of the Enzo Ferrari (3.9 inches.) We created a front splitter and sides with thick black plastic to pre-run the route with.

While I was certain we should use sheet metal screws to fasten the plastic to the rental (We DID get full insurance!), Kevin was the voice of reason and convinced me we could accomplish the feat with double sided tape and duct tape.

The only two topes that were unmanageable were in the transit section of day 1, outside of Oaxaca. These topes were at a military checkpoint, and the military has agreed to move their checkpoint booths so that our cars will be able to drive around them. We have run the entire route of La Carrera Panamericana, and can tell you that it is our opinion it can be run with a minimum of 4 inches (relying on a skid plate), but 5 inches or more is recommended. Feel free to call or email Kevin or myself about sugestions. Remember to slow down and take them at a 45 degree angle!!!