Jose Manuel “Hotrod” Ponce has been playing low key in the racing scene and working on restoring classic vehicles while continuing his secret racing project in Norway and Europe. His private elite partners in Mexico referred him to an opportunity to show his acting talent in an action packed international gangster film under production in the UK.
In 2011, Ponce was discovered by Discovery Channel International UK for being the first and only true under dog who figured out a way to race multiple motor sports without having any personal funds, tools or even a race vehicle at times. This Mexican has managed to race world class events in the USA, Mexico, Venezuela, Germany, and Norway. He was the first Hispanic to ever compete and finish extreme off road races such as UROC Super Crawl, King of the Hammers, Nordic and Euro Trial in Scandinavia, WRC Mexico, German Offroad Masters 24 Hr Nurburgring Offroad Race, without any prior racing experience in those motor sports.
Ponce dedicates everything to his younger brother and all the Minority Racers that are out there. "There will always be adversity as an underdog, but no matter what happens don't ever let anyone take away your Bongo and you will survive! Ponce commented".
Ponce recently returned to the UK to play the role of José de Jesús aka the Mano Negra (Black Hand) of the CF6 (Caja Fuerte Cartel which translates to the Safe Box Crew who handle the funds for crime organizations all over the globe). His character is an educated ghost like business man with many contacts who call him the Mano Negra because as a kid he burned his finger prints to prove his loyalty to his partners, he wears black gloves and only shakes hands with his crew and family. His crew of Sicarios (Hit Men) are played by actors Neil Smith, AJ Singh, and Jon Baile in this final scene that ends the first film and introduces the Mexican cartel to the plot. ,
This spectacular new film stars real UK gangsters such as the infamous Dave Courtney who has appeared in many films such as the Dead Sleep Easy filmed in Mexico and Full English Breakfast in the UK to name a few. Dave is also an author and written six books. "Working with Dave is fantastic, especially because Dave is a real gangster and not plastic, a true celeb gangster who has worked very hard and respected by many. Ponce commented."
The film is written and directed by actress Sally Clack aka Shampagne, John Clack, and David Manning. Sally also stars as one of the main actors in the films, she plays a stock broker who out smarts the MI6. Their concept about this 9 film project involves gangsters from all over the globe such as the Russian Mob, Asian and Jamaican Gangs, Dubai Sheikhs, and now the Mexican Cartel and Sicarios. Future filming will be done in places where the real crime occurs, no other film company or news media has ever dared to work in these locations due to the danger and remote environment. Some future locations include Southern Norway and Mexico.
Ponce is very excited about this new venture and is ready for some action. He is really looking forward to the upcoming driving scenes that range from drifting a limo, racing thru the desert, out running police and military. Not to mention all the music and fiestas that exist in the real cartel/gangster lifestyle where there are no limits. So you can bet that he will most definitely be promoting his race partners that have helped him from the start. Tecate Beer, Casanova Automotive Inc, and Scorpion Mezcal have already agreed to jump on board!
Tell us a little about yourself and why you love off road racing?
I was born in Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico and now reside in Arendal, Norway. I studied International Business in the USA and after graduating I worked 2 years but decided to head back to Mexico where I ended up organizing the first free Jeep Jamboree events in 2002-2003, this followed with a crazy new venture of promoting US sanctioned Rock motor sports in Mexico.
My concept was never to profit from this, but instead promote extreme rock crawling and rock racing at a professional level with international guest stars. The amount of money that went into promoting these events and hosting the teams is a whole another story, especially when the local government officials in Mexico never helped out. But in the end I always made it look great and the media and fans loved it, so I guess you could say that I have done my part to show my true passion for off road.
In the end, my investment and hard work paid off and destiny transformed me into the Minority Racer. But I do miss promoting off road racing, but for now I love off road racing and proving that anyone can do it if you make a plan, so if you are an underdog racer feel free to contact me and let's see how I can help you out. I have tried and finished various different types of off road racing, but there are still many races on my bucket list, so my adoration for off road will never die.
You are taking on the role of a Mexican Cartel Boss in an action packed international gangster film. How did that come about?
My private elite partners in Mexico basically promoted me for this part. The timing was perfect and when the producer told me that I would be working with real gangsters like Dave Courtney, who has starred in a movie in Mexico, I felt I could not pass up on the opportunity. Plus the producer really liked the whole concept of a bilingual Mexican who lived in Norway would play the Mexican Cartel Boss who came to the UK to take over. So she decided to create my character and include it for the 9 film project.
There are some action driving scenes in the film. What is your role in that?
Sally Clack, the producer, really loves drifting and cars. So when we met she knew she had invested in someone that could not only act, but also help out with some driving scenes. The Gatwick Gangsters films will have it all from a limo drifting, car chases on both and off road, speed boat runs, and a unique underground vehicle scene.
What I really love about the Gatwick Gangsters is that there are all kinds of actors (some real gangsters) from the UK, Russia, Jamaica, Mexico and just recently I was in Russia and they drive very similar to Mexico where anything goes! So the driving action will be intense, I can't wait for the adrenaline rush!
Bongo!
Meeting you both in the off road trial in Southern Norway as well as at the King of the Hammers race in US, you don't strike me as a violent man. How did you prepare yourself for the role?
I like to study my characters role and prepare myself both mentally and physically. I really got into this role and even helped out to come out with the name of my role and the Mexican crew. Plus growing up in a really tough neighborhood as a kid - where if someone stole your bike you would have to go get back yourself and living in Mexico where you always have to be street smart - really helped me out to play this role.
I have always liked gangster flicks and when I travel especially in Europe and Scandinavia the first thing everyone asks if I am mafia because its rare to see Mexicans living and traveling over here.
I recall when I flew to Venezuela in 2009 for an off road race with my buddies Team Roberti, and I got detained in customs while passing thru Bolivia because they thought I was there to make a large buy of cocaine, their excuse was that I fit the profile!
Crossing into the US Borders in race vehicles and old classic cars is a classic X-ray ordeal every time, they never buy the story that I reside in Norway. But I am used to it and find it entertaining to see how these officials work, it is the best type of rehearsing. In Mexico, it is the same with police and military, but when I actually do stop and talk with them I end up making a new contact.
Honestly, my life has been like one big movie. I can tell you more, but then I would rather chat with you face to face.
Yes - I really hope we'll get a chance to chat some more 🙂
Anything else you would like to mention before we finish our chat today?
Well - I grew up in a really tough world as a kid and always had to bust some balls to get what I wanted, nothing was easy. Let's just say that I have been in many sticky situations in Mexico that came out straight out of some gangster film, but I prefer not to talk about it, but what I can say is that this role is something that I can relate to very well.
Thank you Sally and Dave and the rest of the crew for this opportunity, having a Mexican on your production is a smart investment and will open new markets especially to Hispanics who are the fastest growing population in the USA.
I would also like to thank KC HiLites, PRP Seats, FOA Shocks, Raceline Wheels, Master Pull, Dynomax, Tom Woods Drive Shafts, InVisid Motorsports, Gulf Coast Crawl Shop, Brave Motorsports, Team WERK1, BBQ Kings, My Lucas Oil, Veho Muvi Cameras, IRC Tracking, Moods Of Norway, Quatermile Graphics, Guayacan Ranch, Asash Pest Control, Pronto Mufflers, Come Up Winches, Latination Tv, JAB Tuning of Norway, PEP Auto Shop, Tecate Beer, Scorpion Mezcal, Casanova Trans, friends and family y toda la raza de Mexico.
Its showtime! Bongo!
Thanks Ponce for giving our off roading friends a view of this exciting upcoming film series. I look forward to seeing it 🙂
Follow more adventures of the Minority Racer.
Film has been released in the UK and also available to see on https://vimeo.com/ondemand/gatwickgangsters2/245811873
