Mexicali, Mexico

The air race promoter was experienced at promoting off road races in Baja California, Mexico. He did not allow his inexperience at air race promotion to stand in his way and the races were LOTS of fun. For our departure to Mexicali, we met at my home base of Compton, CA for the short trip south. Don Perri came all the way from Tenino, WA and John Astlund came over from Torrance, CA and we were off to Mexico. We overflew Palm Springs to land at (then) Thermal airport for fuel. John expressed his displeasure at the prospect of taxiing the 1.5 miles out to the runway. Instead he proposed that he would takeoff from the taxiway directly in front of the fuel pit and FAA Flight Service station.

I may as well interject the rest of this Thermal episode here. Don Perri had never transferred #32. Two years after this Thermal takeoff I had occasion to speak with R.J. Odgers. RJ asked me if they had ever found us. I inquired as to who was looking for us, and for what purpose? His response was, the FAA. Apparently the Flight Service Station personnel did not appreciate our takeoff from the taxiway and the only registration number they were able to get was N32RJ, the #32 Mong which I was flying. They never got to any of us!

Shortly after our arrival there was a meeting which I happened to attend. It was on the ramp in front of the airline terminal building. Present were the promoter, Bob Downey, myself and the airport commandante. It was stated that in Mexico the Aeropuerto Commandante was all powerful embodying the airport manager, the Mexican equivalent of the FAA, judge, jury (and probably executioner) etc. Bob Downey asked the Commandante what and how we were to conduct ourselves during, before and after the racing. His response was something like "don't you know what to do?" And that just about stated it all. We were given carte blanche with only one exception. The single daily airline flight was at 12:30 so the airport would be closed to our operations from 12:15 to 12:45. Otherwise, we had the airport. The control tower was ordered to land and takeoff its normal traffic on the southeast end, or 1/2, of the runway and we could use the other half as we saw fit. WOW! At one point in time we had, simultaneously, a Champ 'clown' act just off the runway, an ongoing race and arriving/departing traffic! On Friday afternoon the Commadante suggested that some airplanes fly over town to stir up some spectators for the weekend. There were 6 of us in biplanes who flew over town at less than 500 feet on this foray. On Sunday the airliner made a 360 after takeoff to make a pass down the runway at 100 feet or less.

I do not recall whether the races were called 1977 and 1978, or 1978 & 1979,  since they were both held in 1978 in the months of January and December. The promoter was negotiating for other races in Mexico when he was killed in an auto accident. We lost a good friend. So much for air racing in Mexico.

The first Mexicali race headquarters were at an old Mexican hotel which added to the flavor and ambiance. The second race headquarters were at the Holiday Inn or some other American generic hotel. The flavor was not quite as nice though the presentation banquets were both somewhat formal and very nice. At the first party I was very close on funding which produced my question to Bob Downey "does anyone know when we will receive our 'el checkos?' " Bob found this so amusing I thought he was having some kind of fit in his laughter. After a few days in Mexico we were all butchering both languages.

Jan & Dec 1980, was alot of fun.

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