[DeTomaso] Our upcoming drive to Italy...

[MikeLDrew at aol.com]

Hi guys,

Gray Gregory and I are now established at Geoff Peters' house just outside 
London.   A few weeks ago, Geoff kindly bought a second car for us to drive 
to the International De Tomaso meeting--a 2006 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder!

However, a few days ago Geoff broke his back (!), so there was considerable 
doubt as to whether he'd be able to make the trip.   But he has 
demonstrated that he can get into and out of the Lambo if the top is down, and the 
seats are more comfortable, so Gray and I will probably wind up driving his 
Pantera and he'll take the Lamborghini, although we may trade off from time to 
time.

Geoff reports that the Lamborghini is a nice car and plenty fast, but that 
his Pantera will absolutely destroy it.   It's got a 550 hp all-aluminum 
stroker Windsor, and thanks to extensive use of carbon fiber, lightening holes 
drilled everywhere etc. it only weighs about 2600 lbs.

Here's a photo of it taken at Brookands a few days ago:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/furlined/3523190912/

I shall do my best to keep the thing in between the guardrails!!!!

Tomorrow we replace the all-out Michelin TB5 race tires with new Yokohama 
285/40 fronts and Pirelli PZero 345/35 rears, give the car a bit of a 
spiff-up, and then Johnny Woods arrives in his Pantera, and his friend Lewis Evans 
in a Maserati 4200.   Then Tuesday morning we cross the channel, passing 
through the old Reims Grand Prix circuit:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/79267312@N00/sets/72157606227438141/

before continuing on to an overnight stop in Strasbourg.   The next day 
it's a gentle drive to Ellmau, Austria, where we'll link up with all the other 
Eurodudes for the start of the event, and from there we head down to Modena.

Tonight we had dinner with Phil Stebbings, the founder/president of the UK 
De Tomaso club.   His old smoker is a very nice 1980 Rolls Royce, and we all 
went to the Royal Auto Club clubhouse (basically an automotive country 
club) for a fine meal.

Phil told us that he has arranged private tours on Friday afternoon for 
just a handful of us of the Pagani factory, and the Lamborghini factory, so 
that should be a lot of fun too. :>)

Mike


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