DeTomaso Mailing List: December 2000, Message #98

So there I was thinking of what to wear, about to be picked up at 7 a.m. by 
my taxi... brother's blue and white stiped GTS...so I decided on my Silver 
State T-shirt, with the featured Viper across the chest (my attempt at 
practicing diplomacy for the upcoming POCA elections).  Evidently I was 
dressed appropriately as upon arrival at the Chrysler Dealer in Irvine... 
there were many other Silver Staters in theirs' as well. Also other friends I 
didn't even realize would be there.  A nice breakfast and goody bags for the 
V owners and lotssss of Vipers gathered for a nice caravan to CDI, near San 
Diego. Only one got caught in a CHP web but pleaded his case and was only 
given a warning tickey (now why don't I have luck like that in my P. car?)  
CDI (Caldwell Development Inc.) engine builders who built the Viper engine 
for team Oreca, winners of the 24 hours of Le Mans ('98 i think).  The R&D 
rooms were as sterile as operating rooms and friendly CDI personnel explained 
all the new developments, equipment, etc.  Quite amazing.  Then, low and 
behold, I saw a De Tomaso T-shirt twinkling in the crowd.. I moseyed over to 
check out who this P person was and introduced myself to Kevin Murphy, hubby 
of Claudia who was also there...they're Board Members and Web Site Creator of 
So. Bay Club, out for a cruise with their Sunday (Viper) Car.  What a nice 
surprise!  They will also be in attendance at next Sunday's SB/Orange Co. 
Holiday luncheon at the Ports o' Call Restaurant in San Pedro.--- So met some 
of the engineers, like Dino and Gary.. asked Dino why he didn't work for 
Ferrari (no.. i didn't!)  and asked my "girley" type questions : ) and here's 
what I found out.  If the guy, in the infamous Viper at Willow a couple weeks 
ago, (the who gave Greg Esakoff a run for his money) is by any chance named 
Erick Mesley (tall young blond fellow).. then his Viper is most definitely 
NOT STOCK cuz they did the engine there.  Also asked who'd be a good bet for 
fuel injecting a Pantera and was given a reference to TWM in Goleta, CA 
(Greg)... has anyone heard of them?  As described not cheap but do excellent 
work and fine quality well worth the price...
That's all for the moment...it's been a long hard grueling day  : )
xo FirSSt