[DeTomaso] Silver State Challenge Experience

[asajay at asajay.com]

Dan,

An excellent recap!  After all the work and determination you put into  
the challenge this time, I'm sorry you broke down.  I think your story  
really show how you did things right, by slowing down at first to  
determine if there would really be a problem, then getting The Beast  
up to speed to catch the Dawg.  Had you not had whatever problem it  
is, I think you had a good chance to catch him.  Though I have to  
admit, I think if started to see you in his rear view mirror, he might  
have made it harder on you.  As it was, he exceeded 150 average (but  
not by much).

You do realize if it was a Ford engine, it would have made it to the end.
:)

I think we'll all be interested in what you find, and hopefully seeing  
you again at an ORR soon.  It was great to have you.

Watch for the next TPR Challenge coming in the next few months.

Asa Jay

Quoting Dan Courtney <dfcex at pacbell.net>:

> I just checked the Forum's for the past two days and the reports are  
>  fairly accurate.
> Myself and Alicia arrived in Ely in time for tech Saturday morning   
> after driving all day from San Diego to pick up tires / wheels at a   
> couple of locations around LA and to retrieve "The Beast" from   
> Willow Springs, then driving all night through Death Valley. It's a   
> LONG way to Ely from Willow.
> It was kinda cool going through Death Valley in the middle of the   
> night, big moon, vast desolation and not another vehicle seen for   
> several hours.
> I almost passed tech for Super Sport (160 mph average), with moral   
> support and lobbying from MD. They sent me to find a metal fire   
> extinguisher bracket and newer harnesses (mine were four years old).  
>  I had ordered these items from Summit with a Saturday delivery to   
> the hotel but learned UPS does not deliver to Ely on Saturdays (too   
> bad the sales rep didn't know this).
> I borrowed a bracket but could not find a five point harness   
> anywhere in town, so they bumped me down to the 150 mph bracket,   
> which turned out to be cool as I was gridded directly behind The Dawg.
> After the drivers meeting Saturday evening we crashed a parking lot   
> BBQ with a group from Texas running "Hot Rod Lincoln" in the 150.   
> This was a Jesse James Monster Garage project (2nd to last episode)   
> which the Texan had bought at Barrett Jackson. It was a 6 day build   
> with the body shortened 17 inches and converted to a two-door, in   
> flat black primer with flames, NASCAR chassis and a Donovan crate   
> motor.
> Dave was an incredible chef with tons of Texas style steaks, fish,   
> sausages and his specialty, "Chicken Almighty", which actually   
> warranted the hefty title, and then some!
> Sunday morning at the start line was eerie, as it was so quiet. Mad   
> Dog was already in helmet inside The Phoenix 1/2 hour before the   
> start.
> After final safety they lined me up next to Mad Dog and we waited at  
>  the start, strapped in, until the spotter plane did a fly-by,   
> seventeen minutes behind schedule.
> The Team Pantera Japan contingent (they had 32 Panteras at their   
> last meeting in Tokyo!) had a field day taking photos of The Phoenix  
>  and The Beast side by side to start this year's Silver State   
> Challenge.
> It was pretty awesome that the first two cars to start the race were  
>  both Panteras, rumbling side by side at the start line.
> At the flag MD took off revving heavy, to heavy cheers, and I was   
> given the green flag exactly one minute later.
> I got up to about 155 pretty quick and felt the 27" rear tires doing  
>  their job to keep the rpm's down. I was cruising along, getting   
> ready to hunt down The Dawg, when I noticed my oil pressure was   
> dropping and oil mist was fogging the rear window.
> I thought about pulling over immediately but I had been really   
> looking forward to blowing past The Dawg, so I slowed to about 140   
> and kept my eye on the gauges. PSI held steady at about 40 psi, and   
> I gambled that the twelve quarts of Royal Purple in the dry sump,   
> Fluidyne and Accusump would keep the bearings lubed.
> I slowly increased speed, to get a feel for these new tires and to   
> enjoy the course. (It was an awesome morning, no wind and a cool sun).
> At 165 mph The Beast was holding the ground just fine, despite the   
> absence of a front air dam. Despite the noise and the speed, it was   
> an amazingly calm drive.
> When I realized I was already 1/3 through the 90 miles I decided to   
> try and make it. I slowed somewhat and was hoping to just finish.
> About 2/3rds through the course The Beast started dying out as the   
> right fuel cell ran dry and I switched to the left cell, but slowed   
> while waiting for the fuel lines to re-fill. I saw the 3rd car to   
> grid, Silver State Chairman (and former Pantera owner) Steve   
> Waldman, finally appearing in my rear view mirror, in his red Viper.
> I waved him by but then we got right to The Narrows and I wished I   
> hadn't allowed him to pass as he proceeded to slow and cautiously   
> navigate the turns. Passing in The Narrows will get you 86'd   
> automatically, especially if you pass the Chairman, so I settled for  
>  a scenic tour of The Narrows at about 100 mph.
> Once we got through to the next straight I prepared to pass Steve   
> but he accelerated right up to 165, which is the "tech speed" for   
> this bracket and an automatic DQ if you exceed the tech speed   
> (especially if it's to pass The Boss).
> I stayed on his tail for another five or so miles when I noticed the  
>  oil pressure dropping below 30 psi and the car losing power. I   
> killed it and coasted to a stop across from a small hill, which I   
> figured would offer some shade.
> After a few minutes I realized I was not alone, there were three   
> course workers on the hill.
> I scaled it and joined them, and a new Silver State experience   
> commenced for me.
> We watched all the cars go by and I gained a whole new perspective.   
> It's pretty cool to be sitting in the desert straining your eyes and  
>  ears to detect the approach of the next car (typically a Vette)  
> down  the five or so miles of straightaway coming towards us.
> I saw Hot Rod Lincoln go past and it sounded like he was just idling  
>  at 160 mph.
> What was really cool was to watch the older cars fly by in the 170   
> mph and Unlimited bracket, including a '37 Ford pickup running about  
>  180 mph, a '66 Chevelle at 175, a Corvair at 165 and a 71 Camero at  
>  210 mph!
> Despite my concern about what damage I may have done to The Beast in  
>  my obsession to finish the race and collect $5 mil US from MD, I  
> was  soon thoroughly enjoying being a spectator.
> After the race Alicia showed and we winched The Beast onto the   
> trailer, with help from 14 year veteran course worker extradinare   
> Owen, and headed for the awards banquet in Vegas, resigned to   
> absorbing a mountain of humility from Mad Dawg.
> To my amazement he and AJ were quite gracious. I got a bear hug from  
>  The Dawg and they (kinda) paid up on the bet (guess I out-sped him   
> through the radar trap, wherever it was).
> After a good night sleep (finally) we left Vegas.
> I just finished hosing oil off The Beast at a self wash in Mojave (I  
>  love having a car I can just pull the seats out of and hose down  
> the  cockpit) and will do some disassembly at my garage in Willow  
> Springs  in the morning.
> Keep your fingers crossed for The Beast!
>
> Dan
>
>
> Dan F. Courtney
>
>
> Excalibur Commercial Real Estate Services
> La Jolla, CA
>
> Phone (858) 551-5455
> Fax (858) 551-5456
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