[DeTomaso] Tom Tjaarda Trip

[David in Durango]

Pantera boys & girls, 
 
Our (Pantera) history is important, right?  One never knows when "the situation" may change.

Get Mr. Tjaarda over here.  As a condition he should agree to sit down (for however long it takes) and recount his recollections of how all this came about and all relevant stories on video tape.  Perhaps a nice video production could be made for sale through one of the club stores.  I can't believe Mr. Tjaarda would NOT be happy to document the history and facts.

Whoever does the interview should have some questions ready that might direct the conversation and jog memories.  Some good editing could make a nice presentation.

I have done this with my ex-father in law/mother in law (multi generation family farm and seed store) and it uncovered some great stories from the past. (Frank traded the family car for a small tractor and a jeep one fall - Marian drove that jeep through at least one Minnesota winter back when the creature comforts in a surplus jeep consisted of your gloves and coat)  You get the idea, right?

This is IMPORTANT.
Asa (club store guy)?  registry wanker (show us you dedication to history)?, ice driving school instructor and media giant from Atlanta?  Mike Drew?  Someone step up and "be the guy" that saves our history first hand!  This is IMPORTANT.  (Yes, I could do it. Yes I would do it if asked. Let's get the appropriate person on this, ok?)

Or we can just sit back and argue about spare tires, which car had what tail light lens or why those wheels don't look cool.

Has this been done?  Maybe I should sit down and shut up . . . .

David in Durango
just another Icky Old Man


Hello de Tomaso owners,

  I write to you as a group to see if there is a real interest in having Tom Tjaarda be present at Concorso Italiano for the 40th anniversary of your marque next month? We all enjoy and speak to everyone about how we love our de Tomasos and Tom was the designer as you all know. Tom and I exchanged emails last week on his 76th birthday, he seemed rather disappointed about not being treated as a guest to C I for the get together of the great cars he created. Here is a part of his letter to me this past week.

"Unfortunately Jeff, I will not be able to come this summer to Pebble Beach. This year the Pantera club will be celebrating the 40th year of the Pantera and in fact Concorso Italiano asked me to come over for the event.  But for me it is just too expensive considering air fare, hotels and rent car for the four day weekend.  The organizer of the Concorso Italiano event tried to get a sponsor but was unable to work that out. The Pantera club had the same problem so this year I am staying in Torino. It is rather ironic that in September in Japan they will be having a big Pantera event and have invited me to attend with all expenses paid. I even told them that tourist class was fine but they insisted on business class. 
Have a nice summer Jeff and sorry to have to miss the event in Monterey. I always looked forward to the Pebble Beach weekend but this year I will just have to plan other things. 
 All the best to you and always keep in touch. 
 Tom "

  Well group of de Tomaso owners, I and I hope you all would like to see Tom at C I and Pebble where he belongs. So I wrote him back Sunday and offered him a room in a beautiful home on four acres   www.casaborondamonterey.com/    that I rent each summer in Monterey and a rent car. I would pay for both. He was grand enough to fly in from Italy twice to be present in my car show/cancer fundraiser  www.liveoakconcours.org/index.html  and I owe him this gratitude. He never accepted payment and I just paid all his cost and treated him like a king. Tom, Piero Rivolta with my family and friends had dinner together the night of Live Oak Concours show, truly amazing stories came out about deTomaso, Enzo, Bizzarrini, Lamborghini and Italian car designing and fighting in the 60's and 70's and their experiences. True stories from men who were there. My wife and I had dinner last Pebble show with Peter and Gayle Brock. I was astounded and happy during dinner when Peter stated that Tom wa
 s his mentor of design and that he was grateful for the cars Tom created. Whow!

  This is a hopeful letter to the de Tomaso owners for them to sponsor Tom's flight to the Pebble Beach weekend. We would feel honored to have him there so we could thank him for our fine cars designs. The plane may cost $1500. so if 50 members each put up $30., Tom would fly over. Now that is cool and I think the right thing to do. I spent $84. on dinner two hours ago and I can tell you that there are no fond memories or Italian car history or design lessons. You guys get him here and I will take care of his car and home, very simple.

  So all, please think about and hopefully act upon this as soon as possible. On the de Tomaso's 50th anniversary, Tom will be 86 years old. 

 Thanks to you all for reading this and call or mail me if a question comes up, 

Jeff Cobb



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