DeTomaso Mailing List: January 2001, Message #176

Thanks Michael. . .very interesting interview. . .I like the comments about
going to the factory to see his horses!
MD, where gas prices just droped to 1.89 a gallon in San Francisco!!! :-)

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Michael Frazier [SMTP:fraziermichael@yahoo.com]
> Sent:	Thursday, January 04, 2001 6:45 PM
> To:	Multiple recipients of list
> Subject:	Interview with the old man
> 
>   Hope everyone had a good holiday.  San Antonio is
> FREEZING!!(40 degrees),and Exxon Supreme is almost
> $1.15 now.  My world is falling apart!  Seriously..I
> was given a copy of an Italian repoters' interview
> with Mr. DeTomaso. I think it was published in
> "Republicca" on 21 Dec. 00.  The translation is from a
> friend and not word for word, yet close.  It's very
> interesting.
> 
>    This is the 1st interview since his 1993 illness.
> The meeting was in his hotel in Modena.  His nurse and
> secretary attended to help with translation.  His
> speech is very difficult to understand, very rough
> from damaged vocal chords.  He used a small computer
> to write more detailed answers and instructions to
> those around him.  His vision is undamaged, and you
> can see in his eyes that he is still in command, still
> curious and energetic.  He has built a new factory in
> Calabria to produce a Russian based SUV. (Simba).
> 
> How do you feel?
> "I feel as you see me.  A man in a wheelchair,
> paralyzed legs and vocal chords"
> 
> Your mind is intact?
> "My thinking and talking are slower, but I do think
> and talk. I am making progress. My will is superior
> to any of my suffering".
> 
> (relating to the incident)
> "I was in my room and not feeling well.  I collapsed.
> There was a great deal of confusion around me.  I
> could hear Santiago saying "stroke".  I was not
> convinced.  I asked for a toothpick and poked my
> tongue. I had no feeling.  I said it was an Ictus(?)
> take me to the hospital. 3 doctors attended me. Cat
> scans confirmed an ictus. (still not sure of a
> translation, like a stroke.) I was in a coma for 4
> months.  I was taken to Insbruck for care.  It was
> 4 months more before I could speak".
> 
> (relating to time in the hospital)
> Do you know Federico Fellini?
> "I did not know him before this.  He is a genius.
> His room was next to mine.  He would stay up all
> night.
> He would bring me coffee with onion.  I was not sure
> if he really liked it or if it was a joke.  He did
> not have the will power I have".
> 
> Is your will the secret of your survival?
> "No, I've had much help.  I am exercising my legs and
> I will walk again".
> 
> The new factory and cars?
> "I go to the factory every day and see horses I keep
> there. I don't want to talk about the factory and
> those
> projects.  You can get information about those
> subjects
> from the factory administration".
> 
> What about your friendship with people like Peron and
> Guevara?
> "My father was Minister of War in Argentina.  Juan
> Peron was his secretary.  We saw him often.  Later I
> disagreed with his political views and avoided him.
> He attended one of my races and by that time I would
> refuse to shake his hand".
> 
> Che Guevara?
> "Our mothers were good friends.  We went to school
> together and shared a desk.  We lost contact later.
> I next saw Che in Havana when he walked into my hotel
> room carrying an automatic rifle.  He said they would
> send Fangio back to Miami.  I was the only person
> to resist the kidnapping of Juan Manuel Fangio. I
> picked up an object from a table but another guerilla
> said he would kill me like a dog and I stopped. Fangio
> said don't resist.  He was loaded into a Chevrolet
> full of armed men.  I started to follow but was
> distracted by a blonde woman who told me I would be
> killed.
> 
> You carried a gun in the 70s? Would'nt an escort be
> easier?
> "I don't trust escorts. I don't believe someone would
> allow himself to be killed for someone else.  I
> carried
> a pistol.  I did not use it but was ready.
> 
> You built beautiful automobiles, with the unions!
> "The union workers destroyed more that they built. The
> unions are the New Barbarians. They are responsible
> for the degredation of work and life". (He told of
> firing workers, which is almost impossible to do)
> 
> You are friends with Henry Ford II, President of Fiat,
> heads of government?
> "Yes Mr. Ford was like a country man, a peasant. Once
> in London, he was very drunk, very rude, touching all
> the women.  Everyone was afraid to tell him no.  I was
> the only one to tell him to his face that he was
> wrong.
> 
> Lee Iacocca? you have an almost symbiotic
> relationship?
> Iacocca is manufacturing electric bicycles.  He asked
> me to market them. I work for Detomaso, not Iacocca.
> 
> Your relations with the heads of governments?
> "I don't vote, as I am a foreigner.  Since I don't
> vote, I don't have an opinion".
> 
>   After 3 hours together, the repoter said Detomaso
> was more animated, the speech was clearer with no need
> for a translator.  He was very enthusiastic and
> theatrical in his answers.  He saw no reason to
> believe that he would not make a full recovery. 
> 
> There it is.  It was interesting to see something new.
> Hope you enjoyed it.  
> 
> Michael
> RED3644...Still going back together. 
> 
> 
> 
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