11-21-2007, 11:47 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Belgium
Posts: 597
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 Quote:
Originally Posted by dretceterini
The 1951 car with the big number 19 on the side is the car that went off a cliff with Panini and his daughter, who was driving at the time. If I remember correctly, both were killed.
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Carlos Panini, a pioneer of Mexican aviation, died when his car crashed during the second stage from Oaxaca to Puebla, of the second Carrera Panamericana. Although the registered driver for the race was Carlos' daughter Teresa (Teresita) it seems that he was at the wheel of car, despite he did not have a valid license and he was in ill health. The accident happened while the young Bobby Unser was trying to overtake Panini who was travelling at a lower speed and blocked the American for a long stretch, after several attempts Unser forced the maneuver but the two cars touched. Unser was skilled enough to control his Jaguar, while Panini's Alfa Romeo went straight into a wall. Ricardo Ramirez of Mexico City abandoned the race to rush the Paninis to a hospital in Puebla, but the father was dead on arrival. Teresa Panini survived the accident with minor injuries.
Carlos Panini was of Italian origin, most probably from the province of Como in Lombardia region. He is credited with being the first pilot to fly a light plane around the world. In 1927 he had established Mexico's first scheduled airline, which he had recently sold with plans for retirement. Newspapers gave his age as 54, but one states his age as 48.
Although several sources, including website Automovilismo Deportivo, indicate his surname as Pannini, a message posted by his grandson Bruno in the genealogy website Appellidos Italianos clearly shows that the correct spelling is Panini.
Carlos Panini was the third of three drivers killed in the 1951 running of the Carrera Panamericana: José Estrada Menocal and co-driver Miguel González died the day before, on 20 November 1951.
Source: motorsportmemorial.com: The Leading Memorials Site on the Net
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