[DeTomaso] Sacrificial Panteras / Moving Our Marque Forward

Sun Apr 11 00:37:12 EDT 2010

Panteras Northwest had a "fun run" today--visiting two cool classic car boutiques.  So at least we had a couple of Panteras seeing the light of day!

Chris Kimball

PNW Pres.  

> From: wdemelo at cogeco.ca
> To: detomaso at realbig.com
> Date: Sat, 10 Apr 2010 22:46:50 -0400
> Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Sacrificial Panteras / Moving Our Marque Forward
> 
> I don't agree with destroying  Pantera's to get 15 minutes of fame. But it 
> would be nice to get some exposure. God knows we don't do it. Most Pantera's 
> sit in garages and get spoken about on forums.
> Will
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Christopher Kimball" <chrisvkimball at msn.com>
> To: <dfcex at excaliburre.com>; "Pantera List Serve" <detomaso at realbig.com>
> Sent: Saturday, April 10, 2010 9:17 PM
> Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Sacrificial Panteras / Moving Our Marque Forward
> 
> 
> >
> > Very well-said!
> >
> > Sincerely,
> >
> > Chris
> > #3846
> >
> >> From: dfcex at pacbell.net
> >> To: detomaso at realbig.com
> >> Date: Sat, 10 Apr 2010 13:31:09 -0700
> >> Subject: [DeTomaso] Sacrificial Panteras / Moving Our Marque Forward
> >>
> >> Personally I think it's very sad that any member of the Pantera community 
> >> would be so desperate for money as to allow their Pantera, which, in most 
> >> of our cases is an extension of our soul, to be damaged or destroyed for 
> >> consideration that is likely only slightly above market value, and 
> >> completely disgusting that any leader of our community would assist in 
> >> this effort.
> >> I can't see myself supporting any publication or organization which 
> >> facilitates in the destruction of our prizes.
> >> There must be better ways for Panteras to get their "fifteen minutes" 
> >> without being sacrificed to sell movie tickets.
> >> This is as low as it gets.
> >> If it's really so important for Pantera's to get "fifteen minutes" we 
> >> should be expending our energy and resouces towards the campainging of 
> >> Panteras in mainstream and public competitions.
> >> Unlike other marques, we don't have factory support. We need to support 
> >> and encourage any vendors and manufacturers with the resources, 
> >> capability and motivation to, in turn, support our owners and vehicles 
> >> with the time, oppurtunity and ability to campaign.
> >> The best examples which come to my mind, are, of course, Mad Dog who for 
> >> years has been forcing us to test our manhood (and womanhood - haven't 
> >> forgotten about you, Laurie, running SS). I think The Dawg's 
> >> "encouragement" has contirbuted incredibly, if unoficially,  to R&D and 
> >> real life testing of the modifications and improvements to "finish" the 
> >> Pantera into a real Supercar.
> >> Larry Stock, The Byers, Dennis Quella and others have helped considerably 
> >> through their supprt and participation in competitions.
> >> Gary Hall, in his day, did more than any one person to further the 
> >> Pantera. He raced for decades, developed and/or brought to market 
> >> hundreds of products and trained/mentored the majority of our current 
> >> generation of So Cal vendors and shops.
> >>
> >> Unfortunatly, when one of our owners is brave enough to compete and they 
> >> lose an engine or component the total replacement / repair cost has to 
> >> come exclusively out of their pocket, making it expensive and 
> >> discouraging their continued particiaption in competitions.
> >>
> >> Collectivlely we all spend substantial amounts on parts and service. 
> >> Probably in the millions.
> >> And not just with Pantera only shops, but with all kinds of parts 
> >> suppliers.
> >>
> >> WHAT IF we could pledge support to those shops and manufacturers who 
> >> support our fallen warriors?
> >>
> >> WHAT IF each local chapter could organize member assistance to help those 
> >> who compete with getting their cars back to the track or ORR?
> >>
> >> WHAT IF those members with connections worked towards gaining entry and 
> >> publicity for Panteras into mainstream and heavily viewed events?
> >>
> >> It does help the value and reputation of our vehicles when they are seen 
> >> going fast.
> >>
> >> Pantera participation in track and open road events has dropped over this 
> >> past ten years. Heck, when I first ran Silver State in '99 we had like 
> >> twleve Panteras.
> >> Over the same period Jim Saxton's TPOC track events at Wilow Springs has 
> >> dropped from like 20 Panteras to one or two.
> >> It's great we have a Pantera running Bonneville, which get's allot of 
> >> press.
> >> Having a Pantera particpate in that TV series last year was also 
> >> fantastic.
> >> Of course there will never be a Pantera running in NASCAR or other top 
> >> tier events, but there are plenty of other events which get significant 
> >> coverage these days.
> >>
> >> We need to have Panteras competing in the Historics, so we need cars that 
> >> can be sanctioned, either by their history or as "tribute" cars.
> >>
> >> We need Panteras competing, and moving up in Club racing, like SCCA.
> >>
> >> If the organizers of the ORR events don't pull in worthwhile publicity, 
> >> we can field a team and, thorugh our connections, use the occasion to 
> >> stir up our own publicity. Our cars are going on 40 years old now. A team 
> >> of 40 year old vintage exotics competing sucessfully at high speed is 
> >> indeed newsworthy.
> >>
> >> Let's move the Pantera name forward in a positive and supportive manner.
> >>
> >> For my small part I intend to continue competing The Beast in track 
> >> events and moving up through the club racing ranks.
> >>
> >> I'll also volunteer The Beast for the Super Sport bracket (160 mph avg.) 
> >> in the September Silver State Challenge, on the condition (challenge) I'm 
> >> joined by at least two rookies.
> >>
> >> It would help if we could come up with a sponsorship campaign to offset 
> >> the entry fees and other expenses, which are significant. Maybe we have 
> >> some business minded members who can think along the lines of developing 
> >> this campaign. What sponsors to approach and what to offer them in 
> >> return?
> >>
> >> We also need the chapters to support any of their members who have the 
> >> guts to step up, perhaps with a late August tech event specifically to 
> >> support the competing vehicles.
> >>
> >> It's not just track and ORR events though. Let's keep our thinking caps 
> >> on and our antennas out for other high exposure oppurtunities to show off 
> >> what great cars our Panteras really are (and not just by crashing them)!
> >>
> >> Dan
> >>
> >> Dan F Courtney
> >> Twenty One Years of Excellent Representation
> >> Excalibur Commercial Real Estate Services
> >> La Jolla, CA
> >> (858) 551-5455 P
> >> (858) 551-5456 F
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