Emilio J. Lezcano

Journalist - Editor - Photographer Professional Race Car Driver

MEMOIRS IN AUTORACING

On July 22nd, 1894 twenty one assorted vehicles rumbled out of Paris on their way to Rouen. A year later a race was held from Paris to Bordeaux and back to Paris. The winner was Emile Levassor with his Panhard et Levasor who covered the 1,200 kilometers in 48 hours.

The first motor competition had begun.

Rudolf Caracciola. B January 30, 1901 at Remagen, Germany.
D September 28, 1959.

Caracciola born in Remagen, Germany to a Hotelier Italian family, was a champion racer in Europe in the Grand Prix motor racing era.

Nicknamed “The Ringmeister” for his success in rainy conditions especially at Nurburgring. Caracciola’s legend grew from his very first race, the 1926 German Grand Prix (Grosser Preis Von Deutschland) at the Avus circuit, in Berlin. Caracciola, at the time a 25 year-old weekend racer and salesman for Daimler-Benz, won the event in a factory sports car he borrowed for the weekend. He made history in 1931 after becoming the first non-italian driver to win the famous Mille Miglia.

He went on to win the driving championship three times between 1934 y 1938 even in the light of devastating injuries and the death of his wife in an avalanche.

Caracciola (Mercedes-Benz) and fellow countryman Bernd Rosemeyer (Auto Union) battled for supremacy year after year during the “Silver Arrow” era of motor racing (1934-1938).

After spending World War II in exile in Lugano, Switzerland, Caracciola returned to the track in 1946. Tony Hulman invited Caracciola to compete in the 1946 Indy 500, for which Caracciola was schedule to drive a pre-war Mercedes Benz W165, but the car did not clear customs in Switzerland. Car owner Joel Thorne then invited Caracciola to compete in a Thorne Engineering car.

Caracciola crashed violently in the Speedway’s Turn 2 during practice after -it is believed- he was struck in the face by a bird. He suffered a concussion and skul fracture.

Hulman and his wife, the late Mary Fendrich Hulman, invited Caracciola and his wife, Alice, to be their guest in Terre Haute, Indiana, while Caracciola recuperated. Their friendships remained strong until Caracciola’s death of a bone disease in 1959.

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MUSEO REAL DEL AUTOMOVIL DE JORDANIA

Por Emilio J. Lezcano  –  carsNtravel.com

Uno de los museos más interesantes que recuerdo haber visitado es el Royal Automobile Museum de Jordania.  A diferencia de otros, dedicados solamente a la industria automovilística, el Museo Real del Automóvil representa también la historia del Reino Hachemita de Jordania, la vida de la monarquía, sus protagonistas desde los años ‘20 hasta el presente, y también los principales eventos e historia jordana.

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2012 Audi Q7 TDI quattro

By Mauricio Lezcano carsNtravel.com

The premier luxury SUV in the Audi lineup provides impressive carlike handling and functional utility for every day driving. New for the Audi Q7 for 2012 is the S line version of the TDI model. The new S line package includes enhanced design elements, such as lower bumper and door trim in contrast paints, exposed dual exhaust tailpipes with polished tips, and matte Black trim on roof rails and around side windows.

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