DeTomaso Mailing List: September 97, Message #229
     



From: DtomasoCat@aol.com

Subject: just Pantera stuff

Date: Sun, 7 Sep 1997 00:44:06 -0400 (EDT)



Hey there eveybody,



Since we got back from Monterey, life has been a blur.  Have been to tired to

type!  Thought I'd get you all caught up on some interesting stuff.



While we were at the races at Laguna Seca, Jerry Sacket had some neat carbon

fiber stuff and other goodies from PI Motorsports.  The 17" wheels had my

attention immediatley, but I'll be honest with you, I didn't like the looks.

 I did like the price!  $2299 for 17" polished aluminum wheels with yokahama

tires is an absolute steal in comparision to other vendors prices.  What I

really wondered is what they would look like on MY car, not anyone elses.  I

asked Jerry if it would be possible to just set the wheels on my car at the

hotel that evening just to see if I liked them or not.  He said "sure" and

that evening, out in the street in front of PI headquarter's hotel, I was

swappin' wheels.  I took off the left rear tire on my car and put the new 17"

on.  I then rolled the front 17" wheel to cover my existing front wheel.  I

walked across the street and turned around to look at the car.  I pee'd in my

pants.  It was awesome!  How could I not like the wheels just sittting there

and then suddenly they look so great on my car?  Well, to make a long story

short, I bolted all the new wheels on right there and then and never looked

back!  Jerry even took my old wheels to LA for me and my parents picked them

up and took them back to New Mexico for me.  What a deal!  I loved seeing

345/35/17's worth of meat fitting under my stock fenders.  It looks like a

steamroller!  I was late for the dinner that evening because of all this

behind the scene stuff, but what a drive I had to dinner!  I hit 120mph on

Highway One and I could take my hands off the wheel.  No vibration, no

pavement "tracking", no nuthin!  Just unbelievably smooth!  



I was told that I would not believe the difference between my Euro T/A's and

old wheels and this setup.  I really though it was all a bunch of bull.

 Nothing could make that much a difference, I thought.  I was absolutley,

dead wrong.  I could not be happier with the difference.  I had heard that a

wider, lower profile tire would make the ride much harsher and much noisier.

 All I can say is that those people didn't know what harsh and noisy was if

they hadn't had a ride in my car with the old wheels and tires on it.  The

ride is so much better it is incredible!  And beyond that, the car corners

like it is stuck directly to the pavement!  I drove 1200 miles with the

Yokahamas on the car to get home and I could hardly tell they had been used.

 I was concerned that the tire wear would be something I would not be pleased

with.  So far, no reason to complain.



I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a great set of 17" wheels and

tires to check out what PI Motorsports has to offer.  By the way, I wasn't

the only one who liked how the wheels looked on my car.  I am sure that at

least 6 other people ordered the same wheels from PI Motorsports after they

saw my car!  Believe it or not, I don't have stock in PI Motorsports.  I have

nothing to gain by telling you this.  I would answer any and all questions

regarding the setup also.



We averaged 100mph for almost 1500 miles on this trip and we drive the snot

out of the Pantera for almost 12,000 miles a year, so you will definitely

hear more about them from me.



Jim Demick

'71 UFO

#1792

Blew by a F40 at 120+ heading from Monterey to LA on 101!  He never even

tried to catch us (and we had 4 people in our Pantera!!!!!!)



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