Filmmaker and Sports Car Digest contributor Stephen Mitchell, along with Jeanetta Dumouchel of InterFUND and Ron Kellogg of the Kellogg Auto Archives, introduced their documentary on the Carrera Panamericana road races which ran in Mexico from 1950-54 during the Cannes Film Festival, held May 11-22, 2011.
The documentary titled Carrera Panamericana 1950-54 presents original footage and photographs of the races along with new interviews conducted by Mitchell of participants including American race driver John Fitch.
“The races were run in stages over several days and took quite a toll on man and machine. What we have come to expect as safety concerns were nonexistent and we see crowds lining the road just inches away from race cars going by at a hundred miles per hour or more,” says Mr. Mitchell. According to Ms. Dumouchel, “The Carrera is probably the most dangerous road race ever run. It could never happen again as it did.”
The catalyst for the documentary was Ron Kellogg, founder of the Kellogg Auto Archives, who states, “The original footage and photographs document an historic moment in auto racing and in the development of Mexico’s infrastructure. It was my desire to present these along with the commentary and anecdotes of those who took part before time robbed us of the opportunity to hear their words.”
The documentary will be screened privately to an invitation-only audience during the Cannes Film Festival.
Great to hear that these archival films are going to see the light of day after all these years.
I would only hope that this would be made available to race fans sometime in the future. I had the pleasure of being at the finish for the 1952 race. 😀
The DVD will be available soon. Also, a companion book featuring the still photos from the Kellogg Auto Archives that are featured in the documentary.should be available by the end of the year.
Is the historic la Carrera Panamericana DVD and book mentioned above still on track for “end of the year ” release ? hope so