Where is Fang?
Sept. 7: Departure from Port of Seattle on MSC NERISSA Bound for Oakland. Where the ship will pick up two Rally cars also heading to the Inca Rally.
Oct. 6: Hurricane hits the gulf and ship scheduled for cars to be transferred to travel on the east coast, south to Buenos Aires, doesn't make it to Panama.
The three cars are rescheduled on a west coast ship bound for Chile, where a truck(s) will meet them for transfer east to Buenos Aires.
Nov. 1: Fang missing from ship. Ground shippers show up for connection in Chile, and only two of the cars are there, without Fang.
Nov. 2: Abandoned on Dock. Call received in Seattle that Fang is missing from ship and shipper has discovered that he has been sitting on a Panama dock for over a week, without anyone knowing it. Presumed abandoned, he is impounded!
Nov. 3: Impounded, Holidays, Family Emergency. Over a week lost, not knowing Fang was not on the ship, 10 days before the race. And now it's Panama's Independence day and nothing can be done for five more days, on Monday Nov. 7th! Race starts Friday, There are five days to pull this off! All options are explored. Another roadblock is that the CARS transport representative has a family emergency and has to leave the country, turning duty over to an unknown. There are no roads south to just send someone down to drive him to Buenos Aires. The only possible chance is somehow coordinating a flight and hoping for quick release from impound on Monday. Only flight routes with the required 767 freighter planes needed to transport him, is back to Miami and then south to BA, with two more customs clearances. Fortunately, CARS, the transportation company comes through, via a new Europe coordinator, with a plan, and all we can do is hold our breath!
Nov. 7: Extracted. Amazingly Fang is extracted from Impound and transferred to the Panama Airport.
Nov. 8: Back to States. Fang Removed from a container and loaded on a 767 Freighter for flight to MIAMI!
Nov. 9: US Customs. Arrived in Miami and continued through customs
Nov. 10: Another 767 Flight. First flight booked on the 9th, is not taken because of a connection that would cause delay. Next direct flight is another day wait. Fang is loaded onto this late afternoon flight bound for Buenos Aires.
Nov. 11: Argentina Customs. Arrives in Buenos Aires, in just enough time to clear customs Friday afternoon.
5:15 PM: Down to the wire! Delivered to Hotel car collection area just in time for vehicle check-in!
Started right up and Ready to Race!
