[DeTomaso] Close encounters of a too close kind

[LaurieFerrari at aol.com]

So...... here I was yesterday morning taking out my newly  finished P. for 
the first time in nearly two years and heading for the  major end of the 
month show in Calabasas.  Brother Leon had driven his up  from San Diego Friday 
night as this was a big Southern CA car show weekend: Sat  and Sunday the 
Mopar Spring Fling at Woodley Park, Sunday the Calabasas  gathering and the 
annual show at Johnny Carson Park in Burbank. So here it was  about 6:30 a.m. 
Sun. morning.  I had the freeway all to myself  (so I thought).   The car 
felt wonderful.. it's been so long I forgot  how amazing it is.  I was doing 
what I thought was a conservative and  comfortable speed.  I leaned down to 
dial the brothers to see if  they had gotten to the place yet (w/ a blue 
tooth, thank goodness).  Then much to my surprise I gazed to my right and there 
 immediately by my side was a CA Highway Patrol car with the lights on. I  
generally have good visual and instinctive radar for such but he had  
surreptitiously snuck up upon me.  My gut felt much like it did on  my recent 
Buccaneer Ride at Magic Mountain (but  significantly worse.)   I saw my whole 
excellent driving record  flash before my eyes.  Then to my super amazement, 
the officer was  smiling and waving and looking with admiration and pointed 
his finger  forward as if to order me to go faster.  I smiled back and in 
that split  second decided that it might be best to politely decline his offer. 
He laughed  and sped away.  
The comments at the show were great. Bruce Meyers and his daughter  were 
there and we had a nice chat.  (Check him out on Google if you  aren't 
familiar with him).  I had great fun standing there in the  midst of the people 
talking about Panteras, analyzing my set-up and taking  pictures of my car. No 
one realized it was mine unless I said something.   The comments were most 
amusing.  Two Maserati guys walked by saying  what a miserable car the 
Pantera is to drive. That did it.   I chased after them and asked if they wished 
to go for a test  drive.  Needless to say, I have new friends  and another 
phone number to add to the pile.  : )
Pantera Laurie.... back in business!
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