DeTomaso Mailing List: April 2000, Message #311

> Dear Mr. Wyss,
>  
> Your, "De Tomaso Racers, The Gang That Can't Shoot Straight?", editorial
> is an affront to De Tomaso owners and racers, the SSCC road race event, De
> Tomaso Modena S.p.A., Vietnam Veterans and AutoWeek. 
>  
> While many have come to expect some misinformation from the automotive
> media regarding De Tomaso automobiles and De Tomaso racing, I have not. 
> And I definitely have not come to expect a editorial from PI which was at
> best inaccurate and at worst insulting to many De Tomaso racers.  You
> obviously are not a De Tomaso racer and you sir, obviously do not
> understand what it means to be a  De Tomaso racer.  I can not speak to the
> articles in Briton's Thoroughbred & Classic Car or the Mangusta that ended
> up on its roof but I can speak to the AutoWeek article with first hand
> knowledge because I was that Californian you referred to in your
> editorial.  
>  
> As a automotive journalist you obviously understand that any race car that
> crosses a finish line on fire or ends up on its roof is  going to be
> considered by many to be breaking  news.  But, here's where I begin to
> have some problem with the spin and smoke and mirrors of your editorial. 
> In the same paragraph that you mention the AutoWeek article you also spin
> the fact that PI mentioned that the same California driver was a Vietnam
> veteran and then you write about a helicopter full of bullet holes and
> dering-do all of which was totally inaccurate and at worst insulting to
> this reader and other Vietnam veterans.  I, was that California driver.
>  
> You go on to suggest, no, you actually go on to state and I quote,  "the
> AutoWeek readers got the impression that the people who race Pantera's
> will try anything" end of quote. What AutoWeek readers are you referring
> to sir?   When AutoWeek and other automotive publications publish a story
> that shows a Corvette, a Viper, or a Porsche on fire or upside down do you
> actually believe the readers get the impression that the owner's of those
> same cars will in your words, "try anything"? Please!
>  
> And your so called "recovery" from the articles as you so inaccurately
> reported totally ignores the fact that the De Tomaso marque and vintage
> Pantera's have got more favorable media attention (long overdue) in the
> last year then in the last 25 years.  Your comments about the De Tomaso
> marque lacking pedigree or regarding Mr. De Tomaso or, as you refered to
> him as the "mad inventor lacking a engineering degree", also insults Mr.
> De Tomaso and many designers who have made significant contributions to
> design throughout automotive history.   
>  
> In the Silver State Classic (SSCC) road race series which is part of a
> sanctioned international road race event, safety is and has always been
> rule number one.  And safety among Team Pantera Racing members has always
> been and always will continue to be "rule number one".  These sanctioned
> road race events have an incredible safety record and the safety record of
> Team Pantera Racing is excellent.  As in any racing there is a element of
> danger in road racing and as I mentioned in the PI article last summer
> that same danger is also the attraction.  In the SSCC road race series the
> only two accidents in 11 years that De Tomaso Pantera's have had are those
> that were in the fastest or Unlimited Division speeds and they are very
> rare indeed when compared to both Team Pantera Racing and the SSCC events
> safety record. 
>  
> I know and consider Pete Lyons, the senior editor of AutoWeek a
> professional automotive writer, a friend of De Tomaso automobiles and of
> Team Pantera Racing.  The only "spin" (your words) that came out of Pete
> Lyons article is the "spin" in your very vivid imagination.  As I sit here
> today, If I did not consider your editorial to be of your own personal
> opinion I would cancel my subscription to PI today.  However, it is out of
> respect for the excellent even handed job that David and Linda Adler have
> performed as the publishers and editors that I not cancal my PI
> subscrption and write this editorial response. 
>  
> Sincerely,
>  
> Dennis Antenucci, National President
> Pantera Owner's Club of America and Team Pantera Racing
>  
> cc:    David Adler, PI
>          A. De Tomaso, De Tomaso Modena, S.p.A.  
>         Pete Lyons, AutoWeek
>         Mike Drew, POCA
>         Steve Waldman, SSCC
>          
>  
>     
>  
>