[DeTomaso] Silver State - NORC Report. The Decklid Hinge PIN

[Mad Dog Antenucci]

I just got home from Nevada. There were 143 entry's, most of them Corvettes, Vipers and GT's. You could count the vintage entry's on one hand. A 427 Cobra , a '69 Olds 442 and a couple early Camaro's.

Jason "the Kid" Eaton & Nick (his bro) averaged 140 Mph over the course from Lund to Hiko Nevada in Jason's 406ci stroked Cleveland...in the 90-mile run from Lund to Hiko their muffler broke off at some point at 160+ mph, slamming up under the Pantera and then under a tire where upon the Pantera started an immediate  sideways skid but the Kid was amazingly able to regain control and keep the Pantera on the road. 

In the meantime, I was off the road but a 2nd Viper had mechanical problems and then Jerry Mall of K&N Filters had a bigger problem.  It was definately hot and the event started late. By the time Jason and Nick started it was105F and soon his engine coolant temps went to 230F and  then the fuel pump started malfunctioning from heat....

While Jason's  water temps rose at speed, their cylinder head temps did stay cool so they powered on.....
As I remember it about the time all this was happening Jason mentioned that some suspension pieces and wires and undercoating up under Jasons Pantera  also took a beating by the errant muffler (no  I am not kidding)  and were also damaged. They were still able to make it into the FINISH line okay in their 145 Mph  Grand Sport Division Class with a 140 Mph average over the 90-mile course!!!   

What I love about both these guys is  before we even left the awards banquet in Vegas last night they were already planning their September RETURN. That is hard core! 

As I mentioned earlier, Jerry Mall who owns K&N Filters had a big problem. He was again driving his twin turbo charged Dodge Viper but this time his engine grenaded about 60 miles out.  When his engine grenaded, oil gushering from the engine got under his tires where upon he skidded off the 2-lane road course, slammed into an embankment and rolled up the enbankment and then rolled over and caught fire just before the canyon/narrows area. 

Jerry was able to safely exit the vehicle and actually joined us at the awards banquet in Vegas last night...He looked battered but not beaten. He made it a point to mention how glad he was that he had a roll cage and other safety gear on board.  One other Viper was also a DNF for mechanical reasons but this time all the Vettes made it.

As I mentioned before Chuck Brown even brought his Vette to run so obviously we had to adopt him. It helps that we all love the guy.  He ran a 110 Average but had allot of undignosed drive train vibration and obviously we all reminded him he should have been piloting a Pantera but we hung out together all weekend and had a good time in Ely.   John "JB" Bentely was one of many who didn't finish their Pantera this month in time for the NORC but he still flew his Cessna 206 all the way up to Ely to fly 'race control' and hang out with us this weekend. Thanks JB.

Then there was my run. 29 miles into my run at about 165 mph the rear steel deck lid suddenly pulled up on the passenger side next to the decklid hinge and immeditely caught some air at speed and then  twisted around backwards SLAMMED down hard on the roof and both fenders before tearing off and  flying off the road.....yea it was ugly but nothing that can't be fixed before September. Yea, check your decklid hinges and pins! They don't come off if PROPERLY installed.
  
After inspecting the Panteran it was obvious that the right side decklid hinge "PIN" worked its way 'out' or wasn't re-installed properly before I left for Ely. Bottom line is its just one more area that needs to be checked before any of you run. And no, I didn't bring the decklid home. I buried it before I left the side of the road. 

The good news is the engine is a  monster and it pulled hard through the entire rpm range... the ir-efi worked great so no complaints there.  Although before I left we had to re-machine the intake manifold due to a vacuum leak that couldn't be fixed. Larry Stock's new CF decklid will replace my stock decklid.   As I said before "properly installed" decklids do not come off.   For the 3rd time in 42 open road races I got the "Hard Luck Trophy"! ;-]>

I want to also thank Art "Firefighter" Stephens and his bud "Roger" for driving my Truck and Trailer down to Hiko after the road re-opened late Sunday. I was able to drive the Pantera down to the finish line with no problems...just had 'no decklid'! ;-]>

About 40 or so participants in the slower speed groups (95 to 110 Mph ) as well as the fastest speed groups (160-170 & Unlimited) were NOT able to complete their runs due to the delays in clearing the road debris and oil from Jerry's Viper and obtaining a clearance okay from NDOT to re-start the race.

Definately we will all be back again in September. I hope some of you can join us. 

"If you're not on the edge you're taking up space"




 

Mad Dawg Antenucci 
Team Pantera Racing 
  The 1st & still the only vintage race team in open road racing 
www.teampanteraracing.com