[DeTomaso] Silver State Challenge Experience

Tue Sep 23 11:16:39 EDT 2008

All:

Although I cringe at the thought that anything other then a Ford / BMW / or
Hemi can be placed in our cars I am curious what happened and caused him to
shut down. Aren't those Chevy 350s supposed to be Bulletproof?

John" I need a new project"Z

On 9/23/08 11:09 AM, "asajay at asajay.com" <asajay at asajay.com> wrote:

> 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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