DeTomaso Mailing List: August 97, Message #82
     



From: DtomasoCat@aol.com

Subject: This is what yer missin'

Date: Sun, 3 Aug 1997 01:04:28 -0400 (EDT)



To everyone who doesn't drive their Pantera,



This past thursday was Cynthia and I's 15th wedding anniversary (thank you)

and as always we like to plan trips (OK, I like to plan trips) especially on

special ocassions.  We always take the Pantera and this was no exception.  We

headed south about 160 miles to the small resort town of Ruidoso, New Mexico.

 It is really beautiful, high up in the mountains and lots of trees (not many

trees in NM so you pay attention to them when you see 'em) and LOTS of people

from Texas.  You Texans on the forum probably know all about Ruidoso or if

you don't your neighbor does, as them.  You really should see it.



Anyway, Cynthia, Joshua (our 2 year old) and I headed out in the Pantera on

Wednesday afternoon and arived in Ruidoso in no time at all.  It was a blast

of a trip, literally.  We passed through the White Sands Missle range and I'm

sure the radar spotted a low flying yellow missle around 2pm!  The Pantera

ran great.



After washing the car (we hit torrential rain) we set out from our hotel to

see the sights and sounds of the town.  We were getting hungry and stopped at

a place to get a bite to eat.  Now I don't know about you, but when I drive

the Pantera, I like to park it outside an establishment so that when I'm

inside I can keep an eye on it (but mostly to see peoples reaction to it).

 Well we sat down at our seat and less than a minute later the Pantera hooked

someone!  A father and young son walked up to the car and knelt down to look

at it.  Then the little boy disappeard a moment and when he came back he had

the latest issue of Road and Track.  I laughed!  I knew what he was thinking.

"Detomaso.  Where have I seen that name before?  Oh, I know!  I'ts that new

yellow car in Road and Track!  This must be one!"  They pointed to the

lettering on the bottom of the car (I have the euro -decal that says Detomaso

Pantera GTS) and then to the article on the Guara in the magazine.  They then

read the beginning of the article which talked about the origins of Detomaso

and the importation of the Pantera and then I saw them both mouth the word

"Pantera" and they smiled big grins. All this took approximately 10 minutes

or so and then they walked off.



That evening we all headed to the Racetrack (they have horseracing in

Ruidoso, but I'm not interested in that kind of racing) where they have two,

count 'em, two different race courses for go-karts.  Joshua already likes to

go fast and he wanted on the go-karts right away.  We did several laps and he

was laughing and smiling so hard his face hurt.  Another fun time.  Every so

often, people would walk up to us and as us if that was our Pantera in the

parking lot!  Wow! Talk about being watched!  I answered lots of questions

and even had to escort one enthusiastic family of 6 out to it so they could

get a in-depth look at it.  



After the go-Karts Cynthia wanted ice cream so we headed up the street to

TCBY's for yogurt and ice cream.  The place was very busy.  The car was being

swarmed with lookers including people who would just drive through the lot

and stop behind the car to gaze at it.  Again, lots of smiles.  When we left,

it's seemed as if the entire place gravitated to the window and spilled

outside so they could see it take off.  I obliged them and gave them

something to remember.



We had had so much fun at the go-kart track that the next evening we went

back to play miniature golf.  The golf course is set up literally on the side

of a mountain and to wind your way up through the course.  It is really neat.

 You could see the whole parking lot and the Pantera.  I watched as a

Suburban pulled up to it and parked across from it.  Two men go out and

proceeded for the next 30 minutes to take pictures, point, and walk around

the car.  They took shots from every concievable angle.  Then they leaned

against the Sububan for quite a while almost as if they were hoping the owner

would show up.  I was going to go talk with them, but I was enjoying the

company I was with immensly.



We decided to go hiking along the river and parked at a restaurant that was

only open for breakfast so the lot was empty.  We hiked around for quite a

while and decided to walk up the road past the restaurant.  As we did, a

white pickup stopped across the street from the Pantera and yelled up to us,

"Is this your car?"  I said yes.  "Can I take some pictures of it?  I own the

restaurant and I'd like a picture of the car parked here.  I've seen you in

town and was hoping I'd have my camera handy if I saw it again!"  I said

their was no problem, and i'd hoped it was ok for me to park there.  He

assured me it was.



After our hike it was time for Joshua's nap so we headed back to the hotel.

 While Cynthia and Joshua slept I thought it would be a good time for me to

get a anniversary gift for Cynthia.  I headed into town and parked on main

street in front of a clothing store.  Before I had time to close the door, I

heard a voice from the door way say, "Hey, what year is it?"  I looked and

saw a gentleman leaning against the door frame, smiling.  I said "1971".  He

said, "I had a '73. Best car I ever had.  Never should have sold it.  I say

you coming into town yesterday.  Sure brought back a lot of good memories!".



I assure you that in the 2 days we were in Ruidoso, that there were many more

fun instances of us inflicting "Pantera Fever" on the town. I loved it!  



This kind of thing happens nearly every place we go.  It is a great way to

show the people out there what a great car we have.  They love to hear about

it and see it run.  If you don't like this type of exposure, it's best to

keep it in the garage.



Oh, by the way, I did find Cynthia a really nice pull over sweatshirt with

pockets and a hood that said "Ruidoso" across the front with a mountain

scene.  It was really nice. But it wasn't nearly as nice as what Cynthia gave

me for a present.  I opened our card and found out Joshua is gonna have a

little brother or sister to boss around!  Cynthia is pregnant!

 YAAAAHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOO!  What a great present! All I got her was a sweater.



Drive 'em, drive 'em, drive 'em, keep those cats a' runnin'!



Jim Demick



Gonna need a Longchamp like Kirby's soon!









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