[DeTomaso] Success at Le Mans!

[MikeLDrew at aol.com]

Hi guys,

I'm in Paris, heading for the airport, and Patrick Hals is on the road, on 
the way home after a great weekend at Le Mans Classic.

The De Tomaso marque was well-represented, with no less than FIVE 
Gr4-prepared Panteras entered in Plateau 6 (1972-1979) and one Gr3-prepared car in 
Plateau 5.

Le Mans is a tough place, and it's an especially tough place to bring a car 
if it's not ready to go.   Of the Panteras entered, several of them rolled off 
the trailer with mechanical issues, and they didn't get far.   In fact, only 
two of the six Panteras made it through the weekend.   But Patrick has been 
working like crazy to sort out the Candy Gr4 Pantera in the past few weeks, and 
his efforts were rewarded with smooth, consistant, and FAST runs to the finish!

As for me, I had media access and thus could go behind the fences, and 
literally stand touching the guardrails and leaning out over the track while 
shooting photos.   Thus I shot over 2000 photos (!) this weekend, and must have 
walked 20 miles or more.

Imagine standing on one of the Le Mans straights, as a Porsche 917 goes 
whistling past you going the better part of 200 mph, just ten feet away.   It's an 
experience I shall not soon forget!

Oh, and forget about sleeping--there are 362 other days in the year with 
plenty of time for silly things like that. :>)

Here's a sneak preview, a photo of Patrick being hounded by a 911 as he comes 
past the pits:

http://members.aol.com/mikeldrew/CandyFrontStraight.jpg

I'm off to the airport; I'm sure Patrick will weigh in with a full report 
soon!   And Charlie presumably drove the 12+ hours straight home, then jumped on 
an airplane this morning for work as well; he'll have a moment to describe his 
journey (and the success that was the Loire Valley tour) in a day or two as 
well.

Cheers!

Mike


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