[DeTomaso] Autocrossing a Pantera - was RFR

Wed Oct 13 14:25:08 EDT 2010

As a former SCCA semi serious autoXer before I could afford to race on track
with dedicated race cars,
 I'd have to offer some clarification to take a side on this one.

There are several kinds of AutoX tracks,

1)There are the short course, very low speeds types ( under 35 mph ) that
use traffic cones with tennis balls tethered and balanced on top for a half
of a Walmart parking lot.
2) There are larger courses that are faster low speed ( less than 45mph )
but more suited to an airport or a large mall parking lot, still uses
plyons, but forget the tennis balls. ( Solo2)
3) Basically, you on a racetrack with nobody else sharing the track, doing a
hot lap ( Solo1).

Personally, depending upon the driver, the car set up and everything else
being equal, we would as a group, suck at #1.
whereas a 914, Miata, MR2, Honda S2000 would be ideal.

#2, I see no reason why we couldn't be competitive, esp if there were a few
straights involved and some pedal induced oversteer would make
180's a breeze.

#3, We should be awesome!

In AutoX, it ain't about speed and power, it's about being smoothest, most
often the slow looking cars are fast and the loud, tire squealing, sliding,
spinning dudes are slow.
Women are really good at this, in fact, the best AutoX driver I ever saw
drive in person was a woman in a 914-2.0 with webers, she looked like sugar,
drove like what looked like honey being poured
and had times that knocked the boys out cold.

Michael Shortt
On Wed, Oct 13, 2010 at 2:05 PM, Larry Finch <fresnofinches at aol.com> wrote:

>
> I've had several owners, much more in tune with Autocross than me, tell me
> what I wrote - Most of our cars are NOT really set-up for optimal Autocross
> results.
>
> I do imagine Jack had your car  dialed in much better than most Panteras
> for what you did back-in-the-day.
>
> That you can make a Pantera into a competitive Autocross car is true.
>
> I still say most, as they sit in their garages, are not so optimized.
>
> Larry
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: fastgrandma at aol.com
> To: fresnofinches at aol.com; detomaso at realbig.com
> Sent: Wed, Oct 13, 2010 10:34 am
> Subject: Re: [DeTomaso]  NPC - Reno Fernley Raceway in Car & Driver
>
>
> My answer to your remark that our cars are not set up for Autocrossing is
> that you apparently don't know how to drive it that well.  Jack and I
> autocrossed first another club member's Pantera and then ours for several
> years with winning results against much lighter weight cars.  I also proved
> that one does not need power steering to do so!
>
>
> Wanna see my trophies??
>
>
> Judy
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Larry Finch <fresnofinches at aol.com>
> To: detomaso at realbig.com
> Sent: Wed, Oct 13, 2010 8:44 am
> Subject: [DeTomaso]  NPC - Reno Fernley Raceway in Car & Driver
>
>
>
>  All,
>
> Yes, RFR is up and running. I spoke with the General Manager some weeks ago
> and
> things do indeed look positive for their continued operation.
>
> Likewise, I spoke with the GM at Spring Mountain and they too are in fine
> shape,
> and would love to have us return. They added additional track to the bottom
> of
> the N/S layout we have used that lengthened the back straight quite a bit.
>
> As for a move to San Diego for the Fun Rally, that is NOT yet decided. The
> SD
> folks were to gather prices and pertinent info and present it to the POCA
> Board
> and Fun Rally Committee at the end of September. I have not heard of any
> decision yet being made.
>
> If it does indeed move to SD, there is NO track that is close enough for
> our
> Speed Trials, and the closest is WAAAAY too expensive anyways. The best
> that SD
> could offer would be a parking lot Autocross, for which most of our cars
> are not
> really set-up for optimal results.
>
> My vote is to return to Reno and stage a two day event at RFR.
>
> Larry
> PCNC Motorsports Coordinator
>
>
>
>
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-- 

Michael L. Shortt
Savannah, Georgia
www.michaelshortt.com
michael at michaelshortt.com
912-232-9390

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