DeTomaso Mailing List: July 2001, Message #125

We're back. I think... No, really...
Zombies comes to mind after that drive up and back! Yesterday I was 
in a daze unloading vehicles and stuff, fixing flat tires, etc.

David Bell said he'd do a trip report for us as independent reporter 
and relief driver, so I leave it to him for the full report.

For the naysayers, a 2001 Lighting makes one hell of a tow vehicle! 
Trailer? What trailer? And another guy showed up on Friday night with 
his Pantera on a trailer towed by a 2001 silver Lightning! I 
congratulated him on his taste in vehicles! And can't remember his 
name now for the life of me....

Met lots of new people and list members who I can now put a face to 
name! Saw the other folks who we met before... Great to see y'all! 
Bob Reid, Forest Majors,  Lauri (nice to meet you for the first 
time!), Wayne Stevens, Mark Basile, Tony Digiovanna, Mark DeCasian, 
etc. I'm sure I've forgotten some. Apologies!
Missed Dave Aument... I sure wanted to check out those K58's again.....

John Taphorn said he had fun (some problems with rear wheel lockup on 
braking into a corner was his biggest complaint to me...) and his new 
Fikse wheels look fantastic! Look for pictures later when we get our 
act together.

So, from my side:

Oil coolers

(This is for you, Charlie!)
You may remember my comments on seeing 300+ oil temps at TWS last 
February. I got worried and ordered an Aeroquip water/oil coolant 
radiator from my favorite vendor, Pantera Performance Center.

Took some doing, but got it installed a couple of months ago when I 
commented on its effect during street driving. It did make a 10 
degree difference on the street. Didn't know what it'd do on the 
track.

Bottom line?  After Pocono, I can say 'It works.'

Shifting at 7000 the whole weekend with some short shifting at 6500 
when people were in front of me resulted in an oil temp max of 270! I 
like it. Water temp never went over 190 even on the fastest laps.

If you want more details on the oil cooler, let me know. Result may 
vary with a long sustained run like Silver State... I'm running 15/50 
Mobil 1.

Other things...

Tires:
I went for Avon slicks on my previously nominated 15" street Gottis, 
which are now my track wheels and tires. Love'em! 10.5's on the front 
and 13's on the back. They stick. And look none the worse for wear 
after the weekend. Well, OK... I did wear off the mold marks...

Problems:
Started in the zoo/circus they called White Group. Joe Moore was nice 
enough to move me up to Blue with no hassle. Sunday afternoon was 
rained out bigtime.

Didn't get to run the last two sessions on Monday due to my fan belt 
going again, bending the A/C compressor/alternator bracket and also 
bending the alternator fan blades. Straightened them, put on a new 
belt and managed two laps before a big bang indicated my 7000rpm 
shift to 3rd on the short chute in the infield. Didn't impress my 
sister-in-law who was passenger at the time...

Lost the alternator belt, A/C belt and the alternator fan broke in 
two with half of it trying to make its way into the passenger 
compartment... Nice big hole in my engine cover now...

I've got the bracket off now and will try to straighten or get a new 
one from Dennis Q.

The new .655 5th in the transaxle is nice on the street, but really 
took a lot to pull on the straight. I remember seeing the speedometer 
say 160 on the back straight in '98. This year I seemed to only 
manage 155... I guess I need more engine now!

Did I have fun? Loved it! I definitely found myself going faster than 
the last time we were there in '98. The ultimate complement as far as 
I was concerned was when a Ferrari guy in a modified Testarossa 
stopped his car in front of me in the pits and asked, 'What have you 
got in that thing? Every time I see you in my rear view mirror, you 
pass my ass! Nobody ever does that in a Pantera!'

Quote, unquote.

Big grin! I had fun.

Followed a champagne colored 360 for awhile and thought to myself, if 
he can go through turn 1 that fast, then so can I! So off we went. I 
followed him for two laps, but he was better than me... I got tired 
being on the edge that much. I guess those 30 year newer cars are 
easier to drive... or faster... or something.

Then Gray Gregory got me worried by saying that I should be 
careful... 360's have ground effects and should corner faster. Oh 
well... What you don't know doesn't hurt you. And the 360 driver was 
probably a wimp.   :-))))

Hell of a weekend! If it wasn't for that darned drive up and back, 
I'd go back in September!!!!

Uhhh... getting carried away now... 'nuff said.

Kirby