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

[Will Kooiman]

Congrats!  Even if you get the hard luck trophy, it's still a lot of fun.

It's more fun when you don't break - especially when the Panteras rule the
awards ceremony (like at BBORR 2006).  I haven't had that much fun since the
pigs ate grandpa.

I'd have to say that 160+ mph sideways takes iron testicles.  You need to
make a trophy for Jason - maybe with neuticles, but with one side flattened.

Now get that CF decklid and get the Phoenix back on the grid.

Will (waiting on 307 short block)

-----Original Message-----
From: detomaso-bounces at realbig.com [mailto:detomaso-bounces at realbig.com] On
Behalf Of Mad Dog Antenucci
Sent: Monday, May 19, 2008 7:32 PM
To: detomaso at realbig.com
Cc: miketrusty at msn.com; ddrenske at murraycompany.com
Subject: [DeTomaso] Silver State - NORC Report. The Decklid Hinge PIN

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
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