[DeTomaso] Pandora's Perils part one (some Pantera content...)

[Christopher Kimball]

My son, Donny, is in Europe for two weeks and has been blogging; describing all his experiences and the incredible, historic sites he's been visiting.  I thought it might be fun to do the same thing via email, documenting my trip from University Place, WA to the POCA Fun Rally in Phoenix.  I won't be able to impress anyone with my visits to Winston Churchill's house, or Normandy, or the Tower of London, or Scotland, or any other amazing places since I won't be going there.  I must say, however, that it's quite nice here at the Comfort Inn at Hermiston, Oregon.  I think President Lincoln might have stayed here during the 1800s, but I can't be sure...
After spending most of Saturday evening and Sunday morning packing, I left U.P. about 1:30 PM heading South.  I planned on meeting my mom and younger sister at a Starbucks in Centralia which is about an hour down the freeway from University Place.  I took the scenic, back road to DuPont, planning on joining I-5 after gassing up and adding some air to my tires (they were all at 20 psi, so I increased the fronts to 45--50 is max--and the rears to 40--45 is max).
While adding air to the tires, I noticed something strange.  A large pool of green liquid was slowly spreading from under my Pantera.  I reasoned it could be the result of one of three things; my paint could be gradually dissolving and dripping off the car, I may have accidentally run over a martian while pulling into the gas station (and for all I knew, part of him might still have been wedged between the cooling pipes), or I had a coolant leak.
I had conflicting emotions--on the one hand I was very frustrated that I had only made it 20 miles before Pandora was up to her old tricks, and on the other, I was glad I had only traveled 20 miles before Pandora was up to her old tricks.
I have a mechanic friend, Larry, who I've gotten to know quite well over the last few years.  This bonding has occurred not only because he and Pandora have been on a first-name basis since shortly after she came into my life, but also because both my sons' first cars are classics ('81 Camaro & '90 Rover Mini; Larry is getting to know them, too).  I called Larry and asked if he would mind taking a look at "Piddling Pandora."  Fortunately he said he had time to do so, and I figured the leak was small enough I could make it to his shop without going dry and ruining my engine (which finally--thanks to the self-same Larry, no longer burns oil).  I turned around and headed North.
I arrived at his shop, and after close inspection while utilizing a handy pump device which created pressure in the cooling system, the location of the leak was discovered.  It's interesting that Pandora is now involved in Seattle's latest social debate, that being whether or not it is a fine-able offense to ask a woman not to breastfeed in public.  You see, Pandora had a nipple problem.  On one of the steel pipes running from the top of the radiator to the cooling tubes there was a small nipple that had been closed off by a rubber cap and a hose clamp.  Embarrassing as it is to admit, I confess that the last time I replaced the radiator, I over-tightened the nipple-stopper's hose clamp, causing it to slice into the cap.  The slice was just big enough so that during a spirited drive on a warm day, the coolant would leak from the faulty cap.  Larry thought that the nipple may have originally been hooked to a valve and used as an air bleeder.  I just assumed anything from Italy would have as many nipples as possible...
Larry repaired the problem (or as he put it, "MacGyvered" the problem) and I departed South once again.  Since the cause of the leak was diagnosed and fixed so quickly, I called my mom and sister and ended up having that Starbucks meeting we had planned, including a venti peppermint mocha frappuccino, made with breve, extra-sweet, double-pumps, two packs of white sugar, double-blended, with whip.
Driving to Hermiston was great.  The scenery is fabulous and the weather was perfect--for a while.  As I approached Hermiston, I noticed some bright flashes coming from over the horizon.  I wasn't sure if they were caused by lightning or spotlights, but a few moments later I saw the flashes were, indeed, lightning.  Huge sheet lightning, threatening clouds, and giant lightning bolts suddenly seemed only a mile or so ahead--dead-ahead, in fact.  In a moment it was pouring rain, and then less than three minutes later, dry again (although the air felt like air feels right before a storm).
Nevertheless, I arrived at the Comfort in with no more precipitation issues.  As I got out of the car in front of the hotel I heard a voice calling my name from above.  I thought maybe it was God letting me know it was a miracle I had made the first leg of the journey without any serious mechanical malady, or without getting a ticket (I did hit 120 very briefly during my drive here, but only because the last time Larry looked at my spark plugs he said I was taking it "too easy" on the motor and needed to punch it once and awhile).  I wasn't God, however.  It was Clarke Hamm, who along with his wife, Wilma, are trailering their Pantera to the Fun Rally.  The idea was, I was supposed to get here first and they would catch up...
Three more days of travel to go before reaching Phoenix, and then after four days of fun, another four-day trip back.  If Pandora runs as well as she did after the nipple incident was resolved, this will be a very fun trip.
Maybe I could write a song about my experiences;  "By the time I get to Phoenix, she'll be dribbling..."
Sincerely,
Chris