Russell Gee Wins 2,000-Mile Road Race in Mexico
Behind the wheel of his 1959 Jaguar, Russell Gee III '64 drove 2,000 miles across Mexico to victory.
This, La Carrera Panamericana in October 2011, was Gee's first win as an amateur racer, and it was also his most grueling. The race reached altitudes of 6,000 feet and at times topped speeds of 120 miles per hour. Gee witnessed fellow racers drive off cliffs, hit trees, run out of gas, and become snarled in traffic jams.
The 65-year-old Mercersburg alum had his share of obstacles to overcome as well. He broke the throttle, brakes, and front suspension of his car during the seven-day race. "Everyone else in the race had a story to tell as well, and that's what it's all about—survival," he says.
Gee first became interested in driving when he was a child. "I grew up near the famous race track Watkins Glen International Raceway, and seeing those races as a kid stuck with me," he explains. It wasn't until 2006, when Gee retired from the software industry, that he earned his racing license. He attempted La Carrera Panamericana once before, in 2009, but barely crossed the finish line.
By winning this time around, Gee raised $15,000 for the Franciscan Hospital for Children in Brighton, Massachusetts. The children followed his progress by reading his daily Facebook updates, and they presented him with a trophy made out of duct tape and aluminum foil and topped with a plastic car. "Our larger goal is raising awareness of the hospital and their mission of working with some of the Boston area's most challenged kids and their families," Gee says.
Next year, he plans on competing again—and will aim to raise $20,000 for the hospital.
*Article written for Mercersburg Academy's Alumni News page and can be found HERE*
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