[DeTomaso] My last day of 2008 Silver State Adventure

asajay at asajay.com asajay at asajay.com
Wed Sep 24 13:28:23 EDT 2008


Well, this is it, my last day.  I'm in the airport waiting for my plane home.

For those that didn't read all the way between the lines, I flew into  
Sacramento where Mad Dog is currently slaving away on an airport  
project.  Since he couldn't take too much time off, he needed someone  
to drive his truck from Sacramento to southern California while he  
worked.  Then after the event, to drive it back to Sacramento, after  
he flew back the previous day.  Since my Pantera is still waiting for  
parts, I volunteered and was really glad I did.

The hospitality of the Brazilian girls and Team Pantera Racing spirit  
was overwhelming.  I really had a good trip and a really great time.   
Mad Dog is a great party animal and he's a real fixture at the Silver  
State events.  He is known by many people, and people are always  
looking for him.

With Dan Courtney showing up after Scott Couchman had to drop out, you  
couldn't have asked for a better season (except maybe if Dan hadn't  
had to shut down on course).  They both got to start off this years  
race and that alone must have been quite a sight.  I hope our Japan  
team members send us some photos.  I think we'll keep pressing Dan to  
show up again next year.  He's got a good Pantera to run and he damn  
near made it this year.  We'd really like to see him add some ground  
affect, and push the 160 or even 170 limit on the way to doing  
unlimited.  I think Dan can probably do it after a couple more times  
down the course, some simple mods to his already race-ready Pantera,  
and his determination.  Dan has a good shot at it.

I had a great time playing "pit boy" for the Dog too; helping clean  
the Pantera, get decals applied, help with the air dam and side  
skirts, running to the hardware store and taking care of his truck for  
him.

There is a lot of spirit in Mad Dog and he is passionate about racing,  
and to a greater extent, doing it safely.  His Pantera is a street  
legal car and he drives for pleasure when he can on weekends.  Racing  
the care is an exhilarating distraction for him, one he's come to know  
after many years of track events.  Overall, I think he's lived his  
racing life the right way.  While younger, he tracked his car, and now  
a little less younger, he races in open road races; less hard twists  
and turns, and longer stretches to really get up to speed.

Open Road Racing in the Silver State or Nevada Open Road, is probably  
the easiest and safest track event around.  You aren't racing against  
others, just the clock.  You might have an opportunity to pass one car  
or be passed by one car, but that's about it.  There is a lot of run  
off room with wide shoulders.  With classes starting at 90 mph and  
going up to Unlimited, there is a speed comfortable for anyone.  And  
it doesn't matter what speed class you run in, there is a lot of  
respect from pretty much everyone at the race.

So my hats off to Dennis (Mad Dog) Antenucci for an outstanding close  
to the 2008 ORR season, and for being a leader who continues to push  
folks into enjoying their Panteras in this sport.

Watch for a redesign of the Team Pantera Racing website in the near  
future, and some new insights to the man, his machines, his passions,  
and more details about tracking Panteras in Open Road Racing.

Thanks for a good time Mad Dog.

Asa Jay



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