[DeTomaso] Reflections of my photo shoot(s) with Mike Drew (kind of long)
LaurieFerrari at aol.com
LaurieFerrari at aol.com
Fri Feb 4 16:49:03 EST 2011
Our first attempt was a couple weeks ago. Mike came over after the
memorial luncheon for Grant Stockwell that was held at the Ports o' Call
Restaurant in San Pedro, CA. Grant had chosen that spot and given Susan and his
family explicit details as to how he wanted his friends to celebrate his life
and for all to have a great time. With sour tears, we did! Grant even
gave each of us a letter covered with pictures from his lifetime, apologizing
for not being able to make the event with us as he had another obligation.
Grant was just a sweet, delightful, thoughtful, brilliant and obviously a
very funny man. Hearing all his friends and family members speak of
heartwarming events from his life was a precious tribute. Many mentioned all the
times he called to check on people he knew were ill or had troubles.
Everyone's sentiments showed him to be the remarkable man he was. I don't
understand why anyone should have to suffer with that dread disease and maybe
someday, with the help of great scientists and the will of God, there will
be a cure.
So, later that day, Mike came over with the intent of shooting my car to
be "Profiles Pantera of the Quarter." His aim was to start very early the
next morning, before dawn, so that he could get good shots of the pearl
paint without the interference of the sun. We checked out the car the evening
before and I wanted to go fill her up with new gas (actually some gas)
after reading how bad old gas is, but in going to start her up, we found that
my Odyssey battery needed to be charged up, and so had to plug the battery
in the charger for a night's regenerating. Then we decided to go get a gas
carrier and bring gas home by hand. We headed off to Target and found a 5
gallon plastic container for about $11; filled it up with Super Shell, and
Mike put the gas in as he griped about all the new safety contraptions on
the unit that are made for CA regulations, and made it difficult to use.
Next we had a bite and I put Mike to bed on the couch with lots of blankets
and turned my heat up for him, as I generally like it colder than most
people.
Alarm rang at 5:00 am and I snuck into the kitchen without waking him
and made him some steel cut oatmeal w/ a dash of bran, and sides of
currants, bananas, almonds and blueberries. He told me not to mention this as he
didn't want anyone to know that he ate anything so healthy. Then off to the
car to set off for our journey of the day. My idea was to go drive to the
top of the hill in Burbank, above Universal Studios, as reference, and
where the Castaways Restaurant is located. There one can see the entire view
of the Valley all the way to the Pacific Ocean on a clear day. We arrived
and Mike was having me turn the car in different directions to get the best
view without interference from the sun. Ooops.. one turn and I must have
dislodged one of the tires as at next look, the driver's front was entirely
flat. Mike knew it had just happened as his last shot showed the tire
full. So he said there was no way to drive the car and I had to call the Auto
Club. Yes, surely, as any prudent Pantera owner, I have the Premier AAA
Membership, but alas I had not yet sent in my payment for renewal, which
was due start of Jan. I thought, no problem, I'll just use a credit card by
phone to renew. Murphy's law, my phone battery was also dying out, so I
had to use Mike's phone but it was no go for that attempt as they don't
accept American Express. Thus had to call back and do a check by phone renewal
and then back in business again; the flatbed was ordered and we had about
an hour wait. We sat and chatted a bit about life in general, then Mike
sped off in search of a restroom. As the restaurant had not yet opened, I was
praying there were no serious side effects from the bran I had laced the
cereal with.
When the flat bed arrived, Mike was very helpful instructing the nice
driver, named "India" in how to place the tie downs as at first he had
placed one where it could have rubbed on my new and beautiful paint. We jumped
in and headed back to my house. En route, Mike's radar eyes noticed a red
Pantera sitting in a parking lot of a car repair shop on Magnolia Blvd.
Thus, of course we had to go back to check it out. Mike wanted to try out my
Vette and we headed back to check out this unknown Pantera. Mike, with
camera in hand, started to take a few shots when a man rushed out and said,
"Hey, I don't think you should take photos without the owner's consent." Oh
well.... owner was not there but Mike had already gotten his shots and one
of the vin #. I figured we were very close to Mike Mayberry's and since
Mike's never been there, that might be a good stop. Sure enough Mike met
Mike and on their lift was a bright red Pantera that Mayberry had just bought
and was in process of restoring. They had a nice chat and Mayberry offered
to lend me one of the spares from his Lincoln in case I needed it for my
Pantera. The thought occurred to the Drewaster that perhaps my Gotti wheel
had failed and thus caused this instant flat. The tires gave no clue that
they were as low in air as they were. I shuddered at the wheel thought
and decided to wait for my brother Arlan to come evaluate the situation
later that day.
We left the car out in my driveway. Mike had to leave but felt the day
had not been a total loss as he was able to meet Mike Mayberry and also
discovered another species of the Pantera clan. He waved as he authoritively
grumbled, "I'll be back sometime in Feb,... get some gas, charge up your
battery and please check the air in your tires next time!!!!"
Arlan came over to review the tire situation. He brought his jack but my
car is quite low and the jack wouldn't fit underneath. He had to carefully
use some 2x4's to prop the car up just enough to get the jack underneath.
Next day I took the Yokohama to Western Tire and the guys checked it out.
There were no nails, no tears, nothing wrong with the tire and nothing wrong
with the wheel either. It had just gotten so low and when turning such a
wide tire, had popped off the rim. I was so happy with that news that I
brought the guys a 6 pack as a thank you. It has kept the air fine and
naturally we went and aired up all the others to the right poundage as well.
So here we were Feb. 2nd. Mike flew down again and was to be heading
my way. He decided to stay at the airport for a while to avoid the horrid
rush hour traffic on the 405. He called to say he'd be a bit delayed and
that he found the nice USO with food etc. so he would have had dinner.
Shame, as I wanted him to try the Newtown All U Can Eat Asian Buffet in Burbank
where they have incredible quality king crab legs, sushi, sashimi, all
sorts shrimps, veggies, stuffed mussels, steak and ribs, a Korean BBQ, noodles,
soups, and desserts galore and all for $13. My next call was from Mike
saying he got on the 101 from the 405 fine but didn't find the connection to
the 170 from the 101 and that he was somewhere around Normandy in L.A.,
that's about an hour more added to his trip. Not his fault though as there
is no clear marking on the Freeway to tell that you have to exit on a
street, Tujunga, get off the freeway and on again onto the 170. No one would
know such a thing unless you lived here, so whoever designed the freeway signs
is definitely a "Pinhead," I was really sorry for that, but in a ribbing
way, as he always does to me, said, "Oh, hmmm, a pilot without a GPS???"
At last, he arrived. Since he had already eaten I figured I'd take him
for a visit to my brother's house. There he could see our Mom's '31
Cabriolet that is now Arlan's and my '52 English Ford Consul that I have stored
there. My Sister 'n Law, Sandra, nearly sleeping and watching TV, got up to
say hello. He told me that he'd always seen her in Monterey with me but
never realized she was my Sis 'n Law.
Then back home; we watched a little of the shocking news of the uprising
protests in Egypt, set alarms and once again put Mike to bed on the couch.
Next morning we started earlier than last. This time I only gave him a
banana muffin I had baked! Arlan had suggested going up to Mullholland
Drive where one is quite high and there are turn-offs and beautiful views of
the city. Battery was charged, gas tank full, tires all filled up, but
car didn't want to start at first. I was beating my head on the steering
wheel. I said I was going to kill myself but Mike said, I didn't have to,
he'd do it for me. I know it was the weather because it was darn cold here
and colder in my garage. Okay, not like the rest of the freezing country
with all the current snow storms, but very very cold for here. So cold my ears
froze and I think I have a cold today. Mike tried and bingo, she started
up, knowing better than to mess around with him. So we were off on our
journey. We found a nice spot and Mike pulled out his tripods, special flashing
device, all cameras and starting taking shots. It was still dark out so
his first shots look like night time with twinkling lights in the
background. One of the first shots, in the dark, is my favorite and I've made it my
screen-saver. At first he tried to move a trash can to stand on but found
it was chained to the fence, so he was trying all different views and
nimbly jumped over the guard fence and was hanging off the side of a steep
hill. Then he went to the other side of Mulholland Hwy and climbed the mountain
across the street. I was quite impressed with his professionalism but was
crossing my frozen fingers and praying he didn't fall off the mountain or
down into the valley below. All worked out, he was pleased that the shots
came out so beautifully. I was so happy that I got the scenes I wanted with
views of the entire city in the background. We took the car home and put
her away. Mike said he was starving, so we jumped in the '96 Eldorado
this time and off to Dupars for breakfast, famous for pancakes and a movie
star sighting from time to time. Mike enjoyed the Cadillac's cozy heated
seats and said it was a very nice car with a great Bose stereo and suggested I
drive it daily instead of my Trailblazer. He has a point there. He
packed up all his belongings, loaded up the Scirocco... was in process of
getting a very big box ready to ship to Europe. Then he made me a USB memory
stick with all my car pictures and was ready for departure.
You may wonder why there was no Drewaster curse placed upon me this
time around. Well no need to fret, as there was a standing pool of 4 inches
of water in my newly refurbished and tiled shower. This time as he waved
goodbye.. he said, "I'll be in touch soon and go buy a bottle of Drano!"
p.s. Standby for my car story and lovely shots of my Pantera in an
upcoming "Profiles."
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