we're just minutes away from the start of the 82nd annual casa cristo classic, the grand dame of cross-country, the second oldest rally race in the world, spanning two continents, three climate changes and five thousand kilometers of the most winding and treacherous roads ever raced. heturns to his colleague.
with me again is five time casa cristo champion, johnny "goodboy" jones.
one of the most romantic cities in the world.
safety has been the primary concern for casa cristo officials, especially the last few years.
fans started calling it "the crucible."
but you look today, we've got some major names like millie "the mouse" manno, snake oiler and katsu okamoto as well as the young rising star speed racer. not to mention, the shadow that seems to hang over every major race these days, the masked racer that some fans call the harbinger of boom. what's your take on racer x?
but is he a head hunter?
nuff' said.
the marathon as opposed to the sprint?
the reason.t-180 drivers have always come to casa cristo is because the winner is automatically offered an invitation to the grand prix next week. a hold over from the days when rally racing was far more popular then track racing.
every race fan has heard the rumors of spearhooks, tire shanks and battery boosters.
the moment the queen of casa cristo sees the sun, she'll signal the start of the race.
they're out of the city and heading into the zunubian desert.
things have started heating up, as the cars head out across the desert flats.
a rear single set jump into a forward flip!
we're nearing the end of the first leg of the casa cristo as snake oiler, lead driver for the hydrocell team, roars through the streets of cortega, heading for the finish.
the hydrocell team jumped on the lead early and would not give it up.
they have their work cut out for them tomorrow.
the second leg of the casa cristo is under way. and the stage is set for what might be one of the most ferocious rallies we've seen in years.
now the gloves are off and they are pounding one another, bumper to bumper, rail to rail!