[DeTomaso] FUN RALLY REPORT

[Larry Finch]

All,

Whether by choice or circumstance, those of you who did not attend  
this year's
Fun Rally missed out, BIG TIME!

 From the host hotel being just two short blocks off the Interstate to  
the great weather,
the entire event was a smashing success.

As PCNC Motorsports Director, my months of time spent arranging the  
PCNC Speed Trials
at a new track came to an amazing conclusion with two awesome days of  
track-time fun.
To a man, each driver said this was far superior to the N-S course we  
had been running at Pahrump.
The food vendor was a real "darling" with a pulled pork sandwich to  
die for and truly the best
french fries I have tasted in decades. The track-side spectator  
seating was numerous, with much of it situated
out of the sun under two large covered structures. The track personnel  
was professional, kind and
readily accessible; and the corner workers were a tight-knit team well  
equipped to keep things safe
and sane.  With the track about 45 minutes from your Circus Circus  
room to the paddock, it was much
closer than Spring Mountain had been. Whether the new event faces or  
new track were the cause, we had
about three dozen drivers purchase Noon-Time Tour stickers (versus 2  
last year); I heard from two who
said they had so much fun driving the track they plan on signing up  
for next year's event; one of them a
very long time owner who is now poised to experience yet another  
dimension of Pantera ownership.

Circus Circus is a fine base hotel.  Having an in-the-Hospitality  
Suite display for the first time in years was a
very nice revival. The area was all ours, with no problems of pushing  
through other convention groups as has
been the case at The Orleans. The barkeeps kept things flowing  
smoothly, and the Harris' seemed to never run
out of table snacks, even at 1:00 a.m. Saturday night. Hotel  
restaurant selections may have been a bit fewer than at the Orleans,  
but the two evening meals I had did not disappoint. Parking was MUCH  
closer and failing to have a water hose bib in our area, the hotel  
brought in a service truck equipped with huge water tanks and hoses for
in-the-garage washing chores.

With Th-F spent at the track,I missed most of the events but from what  
I heard, good times were had by all.

With our own little plaza set just off Virginia Street from 10-2 on  
Saturday, 66 of us did a Pantera display to be proud of. Lots of city/ 
tourist folks took in the sights, and the noon-time firing of the  
engines was an event to hear!

As expected, Jim and Mike, with the help of vendors and owners, came  
up with a great raffle selection. The evening's dinner had the usual  
chicken and fish, but with very tender/tasty ribs, too.  And I for one  
was amazed to have convention event chicken that was actually moist!

As with all Fun Rallys, it was over much too soon.  Too many faces and  
not enough time.  Too many conversations cut short when someone else  
walked up to say hi and the topics shifted to something else.  Not  
enough time to participate in each event and outing.

Whether it was the new faces of first time attendees, the new hotel,  
the new track, the Saturday display, or a combination of them and  
more, this was a wonderful five days.  I missed some of the regular  
faces that didn't attend, but enjoyed meeting the newbies.  I can  
think of no reason not to return to Reno for 2010, and urge those who  
think as I do to let your thoughts be heard.

Thanks to all the hard working members who made the event possible!   
It was GREAAAAT!!!

Larry (with 885 fresh miles on 2511)