Rod
Kunishige & Bill Wright leading a C05
The noon track event in Las Vegas offered an opportunity for us to run our street cars at speed without all the extra safety stuff normally demanded by the organizers. And so, I took Phyllis’ E320 on a $20 E ticket ride with Bill Wright as navigator. Her car performed outstandingly as we chased a yellow Pantera through the turns and watched as we both went WOT down the back straight. The E 4 door sedan weighs in at 3600 lbs and is motivated by a mere 217hp that does 0-60 in 6.7 sec. I caught him as the MBZ allowed late braking and made faster turns than the leading Pantera. Lap after lap was the same routine using 2nd and third gear to range the adaptive auto trans in the 3,600 to 6,800 rpm red line with the Pantera pulling quickly away down the straights only to be pushed throughout the 10 turns. I pulled into the pit lane to allow more track space after 4 laps and begin the game of catch up again. The old lady E bogs below 3,600 rpm but becomes a real tiger as the revs come up. Her rear can step out a bit but was easily set in place with a little throttle so pay attention to your tire squeak. It truly is a “Fun Rally” and I wish more of you would plan to join me next year. It’s not what you drive, it’s that you drive!
Each year I hear stories of how fellow Pantera owners helped disabled cars during the rally: this year is no exception. A new member as of Friday 29th at Las Vegas, Greg Berry, was plagued with electrical problems in his Maroon GTS centered around his battery terminals during the Charleston run. He was simply surprised by the dedication and support he found from strangers. Hands came from the likes of Mike Drew and others consuming over seven hours to find and fix. Another example this year is that of damaged right rear wheel studs at the Spring Mountain track event. Here a long 300 mile haul home on the back of a trailer was avoided through a loan of wheels and tires. A gang of four helped repair the spinning wheel studs to get the Pantera mobile again. I am certain that there are other examples that have gone unreported. Perhaps we should collect and publish this year’s stories for the entire membership to see.
President Dave Rudderow at May 11, 2005 meeting announced to the 15 members present {of 91) that we will hold the Swap meet again this year. This w/e is to have a Gasser event Saturday and Panteras in the Park Sunday by Foothill. Don Lee passed flyers to those present for May 14th Villa Park High School classic show to benefit his son’s class. These underscore the need to get as many events into the calendar as early as we can to allow scheduling. Ron & Gayle Huff agreed to host our annual BBQ with a “Hot August Nights” theme. The Saturday date is not yet set. Judy McCartney plans an October Palms Spring run. Be sure to commit to going to HB Concours this June 5th since I will not be able to attend. It’s one of the best ways to show youngsters the marque. Let’s have Panteras fill the lawns there.
Give Dave
your fund raising ideas by calling 714
969-1301.
PCNC reports that Jim Murch and Trick Flow have developed a std Ford EFI Windsor intake for 351C. Additionally, they’ll offer two aluminum heads with a choice of C or W water jackets and a choice of 2.150 or 2.08” intakes. The design relocates the plugs and offers a more efficient burn. The intake manifold ports are for the 2V but enough material allows mods to mate to the 4V heads.
Do
you have a Pantera project for a tech session?
Call Rod 714 374-8177 to schedule it.
The
Orleans proved to be an excellent site for the Fun Rally. The rooms proved superior to our old
hotel and the hospitality suite made each moment there memorable. It made it easy to be reacquainted with
old friends from prior years.
Naturally there were plenty of vendor offerings giving us another
opportunity to leave dollars, but as sure winners. Raffle was conducted well and was a huge
success in large measure by the generous support of the Pantera vendors and
chapters including ours. Future
changes include a commitment by the Hotel to host a parking lot display of
our cats. We all look forward to
having as much fun next year.
Small sample of the cats at Orleans photo by Bill Harris
Reminders: Check out our calendar on the
ocpanteras.com site too.
Thank your associate for the
support you enjoy each year.
June 5 HB Concours at HB Library - a longtime
TPOC tradition. Can we have a dozen
cars there?
June 8 TPOC Meeting 7PM Mimi’s 18225 Brookhurst & Ellis FV. Bring your/your
significant other’s car.
June 8 Reno/Tahoe Fun Rally contact Jim
Nowlin.
July 13 TPOC Meeting 7PM Mimi’s 18225 Brookhurst & Ellis FV. Bring a loved one or
two.
? Dyno Day at Adam Gilmer’s
shop. So far, only one person contacted
me for this. Shall I cancel?
August 10 TPOC Mtg 7PM
Mimi’s 18225 Brookhurst & Ellis FV. Bring your
significant other.
August TPOC BBQ at Ron & Gayle Huff home.
August 18-20 Concorso Italiano & Historic Races Join the Adlers & PCNC folks in Monterey
for a must event.
September 14 TPOC Mtg 7PM Mimi’s 18225 Brookhurst & Ellis FV. Bring your Pantera.
October 12 TPOC
Mtg 7PM Mimi’s 18225 Brookhurst & Ellis
FV. Bring your pictures.
October Palm Springs Run
Judy McCartney.
November 1-4 SEMA LV Show
http://www.sema.org/main/semaorghome.aspx?id=52905
November 5-6? Willow Springs Open Track
featuring Panteras and Ferraris.
November 9 TPOC Mtg 7PM Mimi’s 18225 Brookhurst & Ellis FV. Bring your stories.
December 14 TPOC Mtg 7PM Mimi’s 18225 Brookhurst & Ellis FV. Bring your significant
other.
December TPOC Christmas Party
Meadowlark Golf in Huntington Beach.
Try our club site at
www.ocpanteras.com. You need not be a TPOC member to enjoy most of the
site but special features are there for those who sign on with even more for
TPOC members who sign in. Contact
Roydon Hughes at GR8KAT@OCPanteras.com
for info.
Bill
Wright has a huge handful of TPOC badges.
Pick them up at the next meeting.
If you don’t have one, come to the meeting and sign up. It’s free!
May
12, 2005