[DeTomaso] Paradise Panteras closing

[msm at portata.com]

Hawaii has had a special relationship with Panteras since a pair of Panteras starred alongside Ricardo Montalban in the "Death Wish on Tantalus Mountain" episode of Hawaii Five-0 in 1972.  I have taped that episode and edited the key scenes together with the familiar theme song by The Ventures.  The scenes of Montalban running through the gears and wrenching on a ZF are priceless.

http://www.banzairunnerpantera.com/movie_hawaii50.htm

Hawaii has twisty roads going up the side of the volcanic mountains for exciting drives and deep, lush foliage for beautiful backdrops.

A few years ago, the Pantera owners in Hawaii banded together to form Paradise Panteras which became POCA's 20th chapter.  Despite the state's small population and the separation into several islands, the members were able to meet for some good times and good drives.

What makes Hawaii such as great destination also makes it vulnerable to economic downturns.  As the US and worldwide economy continues to struggle, Hawaii has been especially hard hit.  Some Pantera owners have sold their cars, and some have moved to the mainland for work.

It is with sadness that I must announce the closing of the Paradise Panteras chapter.  Certainly, our hope is that the remaining Pantera owners in the islands can continue to get together informally for more adventures.  When the economy picks back up and the Panteras return, I hope we can restart the chapter.

In the mean time, the existing POCA members in Hawaii are welcome to transfer their membership to any of the other 19 chapters.  See the Club section of the POCA website, www.poca.com, for the list of chapters and their contact information.  To update your chapter affiliation, send a note to the POCA Membership Coordinator, Judy McCartney, at jpoca2 at hotmail.com.

The latest news from Hawaii can be found at http://www.paradisepanteras.com/news.html

Mahalo for the great memories.

Aloha,

Mark



The following is Bayani Panis's letter formally closing the chapter.



Mark McWhinney
President - POCA

February 25, 2011


Mark,

This letter is to inform you that as of March 1, 2011, Paradise Panteras will be dissolving as a chapter of POCA.  All remaining POCA members of the chapter should be absorbed into the appropriate chapter that will include Hawaii in their territorial boundary.  

This was a decision made by the remaining officers - Ed Kemper, Robert Stuhr, and myself early last year.  I put off actually going forward with this, hoping that membership numbers would improve but, for various reasons, our numbers have continually dwindled and the organization is no longer viable as a whole especially with the logistics of having members on different islands.

I believe this action is truly in the best interest of the members. We will continue to have our website to post local car-related events/announcements and continue to maintain the comradery that we built during our short tenure as an official chapter of POCA.


Best Regards and Warm Alohas,

Bayani Panis 
Chapter President - Paradise Panteras