Deadly Race

In its brief history, Mexico's border-to-border Pan-American road race, world's longest (1,908 miles) and most punishing, has more than earned its reputation as a mankiller: in its first four years, it took the lives of 17 drivers and spectators. Before this year's opening gun was fired, two Argentine competitors were killed in pre-race tests. Before the contestants roared across the flat homestretch to Juarez last week, so many cars had missed turns, somersaulted off the road and plowed through packs of spectators, that more than a score were injured and seven more drivers were dead. But by the time they wound up the bloodiest Pan-American yet, the racers had also managed to hang up a few less gloomy marks. In the unlimited sports car division, Italy's Umberto Maglioli, driving a Ferrari, set a new race record of 17 hrs. 40 min. 26 sec. In the small sports car division, Germany's Hans Hermann, driving a Porsche, finished in a record 19.32:33. In the U.S. small stock car division, Texan Tommy Drisdale, driving a Dodge, ran the route in 22.35:53.

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