The Ride of a Lifetime
August 28th, 2008After yet another first-place Panamericana win in 2007, two crashes, and a complete overhaul and rebuild, the famous Mexican race car, the LT Special, made its comeback debut at the Jardin in San Miguel on Sunday, August 17th. The event began at 1:00 PM, and was the conclusion of a fundraiser begun in October of last year by San Miguel’s well known children’s charity, Feed The Hungry (FTH).
The LT Special is an exact replica of the only race car ever built in Mexico, owned by Lerdo De Tejada, and built and maintained by Mats Hammarlund Racing here in San Miguel. The original car, built in the 50’s and the only one of its kind in the world, is priceless and no longer races. But its clone has won La Carrera Panamericana a total of four times, including last year, and the sleek red machine was given a hero’s welcome at the event at the Jardin.
“It is definitely a crowd pleaser. The car is very noisy; it’s very bright; it’s very special, and…it is very, very fast,” said Mats Hammarlund, who rebuilt the car after last year’s Panamericana. Hammarlund and his hot-red hot-rod were at Sunday’s event on behalf of Feed The Hungry and the lucky winners of last year’s raffle. A total of six winners were drawn from hundreds of raffle tickets sold in October, 2007. The prize: a once-in-a-lifetime chance to ride in the renowned race car.
A large and curious crowd gathered round as the race car, which could be heard two to three blocks away, thundered into the Jardin for the event. Gleaming in the midday sun, and basking in the glow of last year’s victory, not so much as a single fingerprint marred its lustrous scarlet finish. The spectacle was such that onlookers shielded their eyes and covered their ears!
Emiliano Tristan, the first winner to claim his prize, brought his toddler son along for the ride. The little boy, not yet two years old, slept through the commotion and had to be gently awakened from his nap. Eventually he roused, and then seemed underwhelmed by the car, and overwhelmed by the crowds and all the attention he got. His father, however, couldn’t hide his excitement at getting to ride in the LT Special. “I have always liked cars a lot…so I have been looking forward to this for a very long time. It is very special.”
Another raffle prize winner, Duane Eriksmoen, is coincidentally a volunteer and board member of Feed The Hungry. Full of anticipation and anxious to redeem his prize, Duane was the first winner to arrive at the Jardin, but the last to take his ride in the famed race car. “I’ve been waiting for eight months…what’s another couple of hours?” he asked good naturedly. “I’ve been like a ten-year-old kid…waiting for the ride of my life!”
In addition to the raffle winners, two very lucky and very special young visitors from Los Angeles got a chance to take a spin in the passenger’s seat — lucky because they happened to be in the right place at the right time; special because, after hearing about the work done by Feed The Hungry for thousands of children in and around San Miguel, they decided to give part of their personal savings to the non-profit organization to help it continue its work.
Nine-year-old Hanah Daines said, “I wanted to spend my ‘charity money’ on children. The pictures in the brochure tell the story. Feed The Hungry makes kids happier.”
Her eleven-year-old brother, Noah, also made the same choice…and both children made their decision before they had any idea they’d be rewarded by a ride in the race car.
Their mother, Barberry Gray Byfield, explained: “Their charity money is part of their allowance. They each set aside one third every year, and then they decide how to donate it.”
Horst Tutepastell, a FTH board member and organizer of the event, set up a tent and booth alongside the race car, to spread the word about Feed The Hungry, answer questions, recruit volunteers, give interviews to reporters of EL SOL DE BAJIO and AZTECA’s Canal 4, etc. And he said that FTH’s part of Sunday’s event was also a success.
“The race car is a hit,” he said, “but we have had many inquiries about Feed The Hungry as well. We received donations today, and got new volunteers. We couldn’t ask for a better turnout; we are very grateful.”
Perhaps Mats Hammarlund, the builder and driver of the LT Special, summed it up best when he said, “This is great fun, but it is also a wonderful cause. Feed The Hungry is highly respected, locally and nationally. I like their work, and I love to help however I can.”
For more information about Mats Hammarlund and his LT Special please visit: www.mhracing.com.mx
Article by Cathy Long.
