DeTomaso Mailing List: June 97, Message #29
     



From: firanzi@erols.com (Jim Firanzi)

Subject: Pocono Preparations

Date: Tue, 03 Jun 97 14:55:14 GMT



Hi all,



Ok... here's the deal.  I am taking my car to Pocono this year to drive in the 

White Group.  I have never driven any Pantera on a track, nor have I prepped 

one for some track time.  My intent is to get a good feel for the car on street 

tires (new Yoko AVSi's) without pushing the envelope to the point of losing the 

back end.  (Yes, power oversteer is fun, but it's a nice looking car and I'd 

like to keep it that way!)



What should I do in the next four weeks to prep my car for this track?  I have 

a very stock early '72 in good mechanical condition (with 50k miles on the 

engine and ZF), but new suspension bushings, shocks, wheel bearings, fuel lines 

etc.  I am adding the second heater shutoff to comply with this year's rules, 

and the car will be tech inspectable (can't get it done before the event.)



Planned prep already includes new tires on the stock wheels (in great shape), 

new fluids all around, a four wheel alignment.  I guess I should remove the 

stock suspension spacers front and rear (or would I be better off removing the 

fronts and replacing the rears with a thinner spacer to keep the front end 

slightly lower?)  The tires are (relatively narrow) 215/60 and 235/60's, so I 

did manage to keep some of the tire diameter induced bias toward a lower front 

end.



Some owners reportedly use duct tape on the nose and rocker panels to prevent 

paint chips while on the track... is this necessary?  Anyone have experience 

with waxing, taping and then removing the tape?



Are numbers for the car provided at the track by the organizers, or should I be 

looking for a set myself?  If I should bring my own, what type should I look 

for?



Driving instruction is reportedly available, and on day one I would be 

interested.  Has anyone on the list done this at Pocono?



I know...  lots of questions, but it's my first experience driving the car on a 

track, and I don't want to leave anything out.





Jim Firanzi





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