Take a ride on the Chihuahua Express in 4K

"valkyr" (valkyrfilms)
08/31/2015 at 13:45 • Filed to: Chihuahua Express, Chihuahua, vintage, road racing, la carrera, mexico, studebaker, valkyrfilms, documentary, mini-doc, drone, racing, classic

Living in the shadows of the larger and more widely known Mexican road race, La Carrera Panamericana, there exists another race held in Northern Mexico that boasts the same amount of speed stages for a fraction of the cost. This is the Chihuahua Express.

Now in its 10th year, the event’s efficient organization is matched only by its tremendous scenery, all with the added benefit of returning to the same hotel each night.

We were invited to the 2015 edition of the Chihuahua Express by pilot Ralf Christensson and organizer Chacho Medina. We had no idea, and discovered very quickly just how beautiful the state of Chihuahua is.

After 5 days of chasing along with the race, it’s certainly something that we not only want to continue to film, but participate in as well, especially since it’s a very affordable $3000 entry fee.

Many use the Chihuahua Express to test their cars for larger races such as the Carrera Panamericana in the fall, but we’re convinced that it’s not only a great place for veterans to run, but the perfect place to get your feet wet in vintage road racing.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! | !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Directed & Produced By Jeremy Heslup | !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Cinematography & Drone by Graham Mattock | !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Original Score by David Schmalz | !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Special thanks to Ralf Christensson & Chacho Medina for making this possible!

Shot on Blackmagic 4K Cinema Camera, GoPro Hero 4 and DJI Inspire One

Participate in the 2016 Chihuahua Express next April | !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Photos © JEREMY HESLUP

DISCUSSION (20)

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > valkyr
08/31/2015 at 14:02

Kinja'd!!!

Kind of a cursed set of letters...

Jobjoris > valkyr
08/31/2015 at 14:05

Kinja'd!!!

Great event, awesome film! Lovely truck-nuts.

TrevorF > valkyr
08/31/2015 at 15:06

It is a beautiful state, but I would never bring an expensive vehicle there. In a large group, there is some safety, but solo, you’d be insane to. Getting away from Juarez is the best thing to help your safety, but highway robbery is not uncommon in Northern Mexico. The mountain regions they drove through are beautiful, as is Copper Canyon, but it’s also a major drug trafficking route. It’s estimated that in the last 10 years, 50,000 people have been killed in Chihuahua. For example, according to the Mexican government, from January through September 2011 2,276 deaths were recorded in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, more than were killed in Afghanistan during the same time period.

EDIT: I don’t mean to be a complete Debbie Downer here, but I lived down there for 18 months and am speaking from personal experience.

PissedOffAmerican > TrevorF
08/31/2015 at 15:11

What a shame.

danx3 > TrevorF
08/31/2015 at 15:28

Juarez is the only place to stay away from but the rest of the state is filled with smalls towns and cities and wide open roads....its perfect for road trips. I have family there and have been going since i was a child, im 29 now

Paullubbock > TrevorF
08/31/2015 at 15:35

These look like mostly closed road courses with tons of assitance and aid vehicles from what I saw. I don’t think it’s the same as just driving aimlessly on your own in a fancy car.

willmederski > TrevorF
08/31/2015 at 16:08

i was just out in west texas.

let’s get something like this going on the roads out there!

DrScientist > willmederski
08/31/2015 at 16:59

us citizens would complain too much over their public roads being used for something like this. and we’re much too litigious.

willmederski > DrScientist
08/31/2015 at 17:09

naw. not out in west tex.

there are plenty of rural roads that could be shut down for a weekend. plus, the business it would bring to towns in the area. pretty sure they wouldn’t mind too much.

(of course, events like this can get carried away and start to be a burden to areas. but i’m thinking an event like this size would work well)

Mr. Fantastic > TrevorF
08/31/2015 at 17:39

It is better now, I wouldn’t be afraid of taking an expensive car to this event, specially because its government sponsored so there is 0% change of something happening to you.

mata > TrevorF
08/31/2015 at 17:46

been living in the region for 35 years now. Dive a porsche cayman and a brand new bmw across the border every week. Never had a single security issue. although you are on the spot if you`re talking about 2008-2012 era......this was one risky time to be living in this region. Driving/enjoying the tourist regions and the big cities in the state...i would dare to say there is no more risk than any other metro city in the state

willmederski > DrScientist
08/31/2015 at 18:40

oh my. look what i found!

holy hell this looks fun.