[DeTomaso] Call from Tom Di Iulio - Re: Big Bend ORR

[John Taphorn]

We just got back from BBORR and had a terrific time.  It is beautiful 
country and my brother and I took the opportunity the day before the race to 
go into Big Bend National Park and hike the Santa Elena Canyon 
http://www.americansouthwest.net/texas/big_bend/santaelena1_l.html  through 
which the Rio Grand River flows through.  Spectacular topography with 1000 
foot cliffs on each side.

The race went well for us and we added the complexity of different drivers 
in each direction.  I say it is more complex because your initial run is 
learning and getting comfortable with your role as either driver or 
navigator. By flipping roles, you don't get the benefit of applying the 
lessons learned. My brother nailed his time as driver on the first leg into 
Sanderson.  His performance put the pressure on me to get it correct on the 
return run back to Fort Stockton.  With Mike Frazier's help, we know at our 
target speed of 110 MPH, how much time should have elapsed at different 
points along the course.  We adjust our speed accordingly along the way.

I was a second slow about 1/2 mile out and accelerated to 120mph to try to 
close the time gap by the finish. Based on our own stop watch calculation, 
we thought we were close, but with 25 other competitors in our class, one 
can't be sure.

At the banquet awards ceremony the announcer stated that 1st and 2nd place 
were represented by two of the oldest cars in the entire event.  We were 
optimistic when we heard that comment.  Unfortunately, we were announced in 
second place and seasoned participants who drive a Cobra, earned first.  As 
Mike Drew pointed out, they were .003 MPH off the 110 target speed; however, 
we were only .007 MPH off the target speed.  We lost by .004 MPH!!!  These 
events are very competitive.

Dan Mixon mentioned that my car ran well and it did; but not perfect.  I was 
thrilled that efforts I had taken to elevate my PCV valve out of my valve 
cover with a new riser. It worked at eliminating the suction of oil into the 
base of my carb.  I had plumped in an oil/water separator into the hose 
between the PCV valve and the base of the carb to confirm this was the case. 
Although the best evidence was that my spark plugs were very clean and not 
oil fouled as they generally were previously.  On the negative side, my 
engine developed a vibration at the higher RPMs.  This vibration feels as if 
the motor is not balanced properly - although, I do not believe that this is 
the case.  After dropping my trailer off at Grays today, I drove the car 
home and it had the vibration at lower RPMs as well.  I have had these exact 
same symptoms before and it was due to a misfire caused by a failing MSD 
Coil.  I had sent this very coil back to MSD for repair and they returned it 
to me repaired - or so I thought.  At this moment, I am confident it was the 
coil and will swap it out for another to confirm.  Despite the 
misfire/vibration, the car had plenty of pep.

Team Pantera had a great time and I am certain the others will chime in with 
their experience.

JT
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <MikeLDrew at aol.com>
To: <teampantera at yahoo.com>; <tipo874 at comcast.net>; <detomaso at realbig.com>
Sent: Saturday, April 25, 2009 11:20 PM
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Call from Tom Di Iulio  - Re:  Big Bend ORR


>
> In a message dated 4/25/09 16 45 45, teampantera at yahoo.com writes:
>
>
>>
>> I just got a call from Tom Di Iulio. He said he had a blast at the Big
>> Bend and that he and JT both finished....he thought JT may have nailed 
>> his
>> goal speed.....They'll get results at Awards dinner tonight.
>>
>
> I just got a call from JT.   He and his brother finished 2nd (out of 25) 
> in
> the 110 mph class, with an overall time of 110.77 mph.   He said the class
> winning team is a repeat winner, with a time this year of 110.003!   JT 
> and
> his brother didn't bother with all that newfangled GPS stuff, instead
> relying on old-school pace notes and a stopwatch.
>
> But he said the lion's share of the credit goes to Michael Frazier, who
> pre-runs the course and sets out course markers in specific locations. 
> Their
> pace notes then delineate an exact time that the car is supposed to pass
> each marker based upon each speed class, allowing the teams to compare 
> their
> desired timing with their performance and alter their speed accordingly.
>
> Well-done to the whole crew!
>
> Mike
>
>
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