DeTomaso Mailing List: March 2000, Message #141

>> Quick question: I talked to a local Porsche service center (which also is
 heavy into racing Porsches) and the owner said something to the effect of
 "whenever one of their 3 liter 914's hit the track, they "cleaned clock"
 against the Panteras. Needless to say I was taken aback (but I'm curious),
 what is the truth? Thanks. Cal. #2428r.<<

It is possible they clean the clock of some of the stock Panteras as we would 
be comparing apples to oranges. There was a fast 914 at Willows yesterday. 
But that's to be expected as there is there is a big difference among the 
drivers intent.

Generally speaking the guys who run stock don't push their too hard cars and 
do little or nothing to prepare to go fast except put on their helmets and 
driving suits. They belong to the group that is there to just unwind their 
cars and get a feel for driving fast in a safe environment. They are easy to 
identify because they have to pick the bugs out of their teeth because they 
are grinning all the way around the track. Having just a hell of a good ole 
time. These guys were almost jumping up in down with excitement as their 
groups were called. Can't say as I blame them as I almost wanted jump up and 
down with them. It was catchy.<g> When their sessions where over they just 
couldn't wait to tell someone about it. Needless to say they had the best 
time of all. I am talking about lifetime memories here. Smiling ear to ear as 
someone would snap their picture. I am sure that some of those smiles are 
still there today! 

There is another group of drivers (Panteras) who show up who take their 
driving skills seriously and come with cars that are prepared to go fast. 
Some serious horse power and racing tires mark these guys. Surprising to say 
that a number of these cars where street legal and had current plate and tags 
on their cars. Keep that pink slip in your pocket around these guys!

I will state for the record that a 914 isn't going to clean these guys 
clocks. In fact I watched these Panteras run away and hide form almost 
everything on the track except the true $$$$ race cars. Three of the Panteras 
were flat out flying. They were so fast that a number of the drivers from the 
Porsche and Ferrari group drifted over to the stands and climbed to the top 
to see them run. The only other cars that had this effect was the 917 which 
was a million+ dollar operation and when the Ford GT40 was on the track. The 
917 came with a pit crew and semi truck with trailer. They brought three cars 
and all kinds of equipment. I noticed a couple of guys acting as track 
spotters with radios when it was on the track. The GT40 was fast but in all 
honesty I truly believe two if not three of the Panteras were faster. 

One of the Panteras was a black one from Huntington Beach, current plate, and 
driven by a gentleman named Kerry I believe. He can flat out drive and he was 
extremely fast. The Porsche 914 was fast and the driver was real good but the 
three Panteras were considerably faster. In fact if memory serves it was 
lapped once and about to be lapped a second time when the session ended. 

An Orange and Black Pantera was real fast and it was teamed up with Kerri's 
black one but I didn't get to see them run against each other as traffic 
always got in the way. About fifteen people drifted to the stands when these 
two cars got within a straightway from each other. A lot of people were 
looking to see these cars go head to head. That says a lot about the cars and 
the drivers of these Panteras that drivers of other thourobreds were able to 
acknowledge their skill and automobiles. 

Another fast Pantera was a multi colored one driven by a gentleman named 
Dick. He has a very nice wife also. I think her name was Karen? I spoke with 
them for a couple of minutes and I really got a kick out of their banter. It 
was obvious that this was a team effort and that she was having as much fun 
as he was. Lucky man to have such an enthusiastic wife. Hmm that reminds me. 
Got to introduce her to my wife.

His car was real fast too and he could really drive. The only Porsches he had 
to worry about were the ones he passed. Excluding the 917 of course. 

I am a big SCCA fan and these three drivers are fast. I stood atop the stands 
at turn one which is the first turn after the long front straightway. What I 
was watching for was straightway speed and then at what point they hit their 
brakes before going into a tight left hand corner. These guys went in real 
fast and braked well past the point where most of the cars braked and came 
out a lot faster than most other cars.

 There is no replacement for horsepower and the straightway speed of these 
cars was really something to behold. I worried more about something happening 
on the straight then any where else because these three Panteras were so much 
faster than most of the other cars that it caused me to hold my breadth as I 
was scared someone would pull out from their line and have one of these cars 
crawl up it's back. 

Some of the Porsches were quicker thru the back curves and I think the 
turbochargers had a lot to do with that as in the sweeping curves the 
Panteras seemed the equal if not a bit faster. 

Overall the Porsche club seemed to have the best drivers and that is to be 
expected as the Porsche has to be the most common sports car raced in the 
world and given credit where it is due they are an active bunch with a great 
system that allows for many different levels of competition. Saying that the 
three Pantera drivers could drive with the best of them but there are so many 
of those Porsche guys. Sigh...

The Ferrari guys were a different group too. As a group they are not very 
aggressive and most don't really push their cars. I guess the expense of the 
cars and the fact that it takes someone with a Ph.D. to work on them has 
something to do with that. The guys driving the vintage Ferraris had some 
real fun though they were the only guys from the Ferrari group that brought 
toolboxes with them and they hung out with the Porsche guys. Hmmmm.

The Lotus guys were the most interesting of the bunch though. These were some 
nice cars and right up there in price with the Ferraris but these guys would 
push their cars. They defended their turf on the track and just hated to be 
passed. When you heard tires squealing as someone braked real hard going into 
a corner it was almost always one of these guys driving a Lotus. Like I 
mentioned earlier it was a Lotus that lost it too. But I can respect that. 

The Ford Mustang group raced real hard among themselves. In fact the Porsche 
and Mustang guys were just brutal in their respective groups. You would have 
thought there was a lot of prize money or championship on the line when these 
guys hooked up. The ribbing that most go on when these guys get together at 
their club events must be just horrendous. 

Viper guys were kind of quiet but those are some cars that could be quite 
good on the track because the few times the drivers put the foot to the metal 
they accelerated like rockets. 

I was surprised at the lack of Chevies. I would have thought to see more 
Vettes and more Camaros. There were a few but I would have thought to see 
more. 

The biggest surprise was how fast the fast Panteras really were. I was able 
to overhear the Ferrari guys talking and as one veteran driver explained to 
another Ferrari driver "Those Panteras are not only real fast but they will 
often go around you in the corners so if you see one behind you don't relax 
in the corner as they will just pop up on your shoulder, so be careful."

One of my suggestions as a first timer to Willow and new to the Pantera 
culture would be that maybe a POCA and Pantera International event all be 
combined together at Willow. There was more than enough parking and the 
atmosphere was one where I would recommend bringing the family. It would be a 
drive for some but then the track offers a unique opportunity to view some 
cars at speed and also see some other cars that are normally only seen on 
magazine covers and calendars. Also a safe place to take your Pantera out and 
stretch it's legs in a safe environment and just get a feel for what it is to 
drive on a track. And sometimes it is nice to just get away. 

And to top off the day I bought a T-shirt to remember the day. Ha!  Would 
have got one for my youngest son but no children's sizes. The only bummer of 
the day.

I honestly feel I got more entertainment for my money than I can ever recall. 
Has to be the best entertainment value of my life. Next year I plan on 
bringing my whole family and as many friends as I can persuade and I do plan 
on being persuasive. Even if it is just for a day it is a tremendous value. 
And for the record, I don't even own a Pantera yet and so I am still on the 
outside looking in and still I feel this way. Heavens be if I owned one and 
was at this event. It would rate up their with my marriage and my sons 
births. Great time to be had folks!!!!

Kim Hunter