Time to pack our bags and leave Ouro Preto towards Vitória, ES. Bazolli had warned me that the road was in bad shape, full of potholes. Let me tell you: the road wasn’t that bad; it was actually quite decent. Of course, there were a few potholes here and there, but nothing a Dodge Charger with tank-like suspension couldn’t handle. What really makes this stretch exhausting is the long line of trucks and the complete lack of overtaking points. Add to that a desert-like heat, and there you have it: the perfect recipe for a tiring journey. Honestly, this road between Belo Horizonte and Vitória has deserved a dual carriageway for at least 20 years.
The Charger’s highway range is just over 300 km. That means I stop to refuel every 200 km. The upside? I get to stretch my legs and avoid the dreaded fuel starvation since, in Brazil, there are practically no stretches without gas stations for more than 100 km – unless you're trying to cross the Amazon.
We arrived in Vitória, where I encountered a new challenge with the hotels along our route: parking. Maneuvering a massive Charger into hotel parking spaces designed for Beetles and bicycles is an extreme sport. On the first night, the receptionist suggested I take up two spaces because if someone parked beside me, I wouldn’t have the angle to exit the garage. The Mustang, on the other hand, is not only big but also low – so low that it couldn’t enter the garage without scraping the spoiler on the asphalt. The solution? It spent the night on the street. Life goes on.
We were soon welcomed by my namesake, Márcio Cabeludo. Like me, his name is Márcio, and as expected, he is not hairy. He lives in Serra, in the metropolitan region of Vitória, and showed up with his wife, Lu, and their son Bryan to take us to a great restaurant. This kind of reception easily wins over our hearts – and our stomachs.
The next day, we took a tour around Vitória. It had been about 15 years since I had last been there, and now I found the city even more beautiful. I really like Vitória’s waterfront. My impression is that the city is appreciated by its residents, not just by tourists. We met up with Márcio again, who became our tour guide.
Márcio was driving his Camaro, and on the way to his house, he passed by a friend’s establishment. Just for fun, he revved up the Camaro. Of course, I couldn’t let that slide and did the same. The result? My belt slipped. Wonderful. Upon closer inspection, I noticed the belt was starting to tear – not from natural wear, but as if someone had made a small cut on it. I remembered a recent air conditioning maintenance and suspected they had messed something up. Oh well. Life with classic cars is like this: if nothing breaks, something is wrong.
At Márcio and Lu’s house, we had a fantastic coffee break. We also gave the cars a good wash, as they were dirtier than a politician’s conscience. I took the opportunity to admire his beautiful Dodges and his Chrysler Newport – I have a deep love for full-size cars. In Serra, we also attended a nighttime car meet, where I met some great folks and, of course, enjoyed a delicious barbecue. After lots of car talk and gasoline-scented air, all that was left was to head back to the hotel and rest. The next morning, we would hit the road again.
From Vitória, we headed towards Juiz de Fora, with a brief passage through the state of Rio de Janeiro before returning to Minas Gerais. Along the way, we once again struggled with the heat, single-lane roads, truck traffic, and strategically placed potholes. The situation got worse on the stretch between Leopoldina and Juiz de Fora. By the end of the day, we arrived at the hotel completely exhausted. At least our next destination isn’t too far, and who knows, maybe we’ll find better roads. The journey continues!
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