[DeTomaso] F1 Experience

Thu Dec 12 08:31:22 EST 2013

I haven’t ever sat in one of his cars either so I’m only assuming as well. Also remember that any race car he drove would have had no padding in the seat and also don’t assume he was comfortable in there. The only requirement would have been that they were physically able to get the door closed. :>)

Unfortunately a lot of exotic sports cars are too small for us tall guys; although I had a 308 and don’t remember it being that bad. In fact my recollection is that it was roomier than my Pantera, but it’s been a long time ago so my memory could be questionable…

Gray

From: Kirby Schrader [mailto:kirby.schrader at gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, December 12, 2013 7:14 AM
To: Gray Gregory
Cc: michael at michaelshortt.com; Jack Donahue; Panteras
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] F1 Experience

They were other cars... Not ones he drove, but from all the pictures, the bubble on the GT40s is always pretty much mounted in the same place on the door.
Just eyeballing it, of course....

Like I said... lots of assumptions! :-)

Years ago, a friend offered to let me drive his 308. I couldn't even get into the damned thing, let alone drive it.
The same was true of an early Esprit Turbo...
In both cars, the seat was all the way back, but my knees were literally pushing on the dash and I couldn't push the pedals.

Kirby

On Thu, Dec 12, 2013 at 6:04 AM, Gray Gregory <rgg at gregorycook.com<mailto:rgg at gregorycook.com>> wrote:
You’re assumption is right. I’m 6’3” and built like you with long legs. Dan Gurney  is at least as tall as me but with shorter legs and a longer torso, but not short enough to not need to be as far back in a GT40 as possible. Were the cars you sat in cars he actually drove? Or were the bubbles for someone else?

Gray

From: Kirby Schrader [mailto:kirby.schrader at gmail.com<mailto:kirby.schrader at gmail.com>]
Sent: Wednesday, December 11, 2013 7:37 AM
To: michael at michaelshortt.com<mailto:michael at michaelshortt.com>
Cc: Jack Donahue; Panteras; Gray Gregory

Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] F1 Experience

Wandering off into the weeds slightly here...
I've never met Dan nor have I even seen him in person, but if I make a lot of assumptions (probably a dumb thing to do), he must be of the long torso, short legs make up.

Every GT40 (original and SPF) I've sat in with a Gurney bubble always had the bubble too far forward for my head to fit 'in it'.

I'm the opposite.. 6' 2", 215lbs (yes, I need to lose some weight!) but with long legs and a short torso.
Hence, I have no Gurney bubble in my car. Instead, I have next to no padding in my seat behind my back so that I can get back as far as possible to get my legs in the car. Oh, and I don't like the looks of the bubble either. Kinda' detracts from the lines of the car, but that's just my opinion.

Dunno why... just thought I'd say that... back to our originally scheduled programming.
But yeah, in general, losing weight is a 'good idea'. You are healthier and the car goes faster!
:-)

Kirby

On Tue, Dec 10, 2013 at 9:40 PM, michael at michaelshortt.com<mailto:michael at michaelshortt.com> <michael at michaelshortt.com<mailto:michael at michaelshortt.com>> wrote:

Dan Gurney was 6'3" tall and about 210 lbs.
On Dec 10, 2013 10:32 PM, "Jack Donahue" <demongusta at me.com<mailto:demongusta at me.com>> wrote:
The GT40 that Gurney drove had a bubble in the roof so he could fit into it.

On Dec 10, 2013, at 4:38 PM, Gray Gregory wrote:

From: Gray Gregory
Sent: Tuesday, December 10, 2013 6:27 PM
To: 'michael at michaelshortt.com<mailto:michael at michaelshortt.com>'
Subject: RE: [DeTomaso] F1 Experience

All the old time drivers I’ve met (except Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt) have been pretty small so I think they would probably fit fine. I’ve also tried to get into a lot of old F1 cars and I haven’t found one yet I can fit into very well, so the cars weren’t very big either. :>)

As for the power steering, yes the modern cars do but they also make a lot more down force and have much more grip, so “man handling” one through a fast sweeper is still probably pretty much the same or maybe even harder today…

Gray

From: DeTomaso [mailto:detomaso-bounces at poca.com<mailto:detomaso-bounces at poca.com>] On Behalf Of michael at michaelshortt.com<mailto:michael at michaelshortt.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 10, 2013 12:30 PM
To: LS

Cc: detomaso at poca.com<mailto:detomaso at poca.com>; jderyke at aol.com<mailto:jderyke at aol.com>; pantera at austin.rr.com<mailto:pantera at austin.rr.com>
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] F1 Experience

Most certainly do not have the balls the way they whine, in the glory years of F1, there was 10% chance you would die
during a race, Thank goodness Jackie Stewart and others implements safety measures that have evolved to the
current streak of deathless seasons ( Since Senna)
Modern F1 cars have power steering ( for a car that weighs 1,600ish lbs ) in a time limited race with a shorter courses.
I'd bet that none of the  50's,60 era drivers that could manhandle those cars could fit in a modern car.

Michael

On Tue, Dec 10, 2013 at 1:10 PM, LS <lashdeep at yahoo.com<mailto:lashdeep at yahoo.com>> wrote:

It is difficult to compare regular people like us with professionals.

New drivers are world class athletes. NASCAR drivers are sometimes world class athletes with baby bumps.

Do the new, super fit and strong drivers have the skill and style to drive the old cars?

Some do, some don't...

LS

central
wines-spirits   est 1934

625 e street nw
washington, dc 20004

centralwines.com<http://centralwines.com/>

facebook.com/CentralLiquors<http://facebook.com/CentralLiquors>

202-737-2800<tel:202-737-2800>

________________________________
From: "michael at michaelshortt.com<mailto:michael at michaelshortt.com>" <michael at michaelshortt.com<mailto:michael at michaelshortt.com>>
To: mark skwarek <ehpantera at yahoo.com<mailto:ehpantera at yahoo.com>>
Cc: "jderyke at aol.com<mailto:jderyke at aol.com>" <jderyke at aol.com<mailto:jderyke at aol.com>>; "lashdeep at yahoo.com<mailto:lashdeep at yahoo.com>" <lashdeep at yahoo.com<mailto:lashdeep at yahoo.com>>; "pantera at austin.rr.com<mailto:pantera at austin.rr.com>" <pantera at austin.rr.com<mailto:pantera at austin.rr.com>>; "detomaso at poca.com<mailto:detomaso at poca.com>" <detomaso at poca.com<mailto:detomaso at poca.com>>
Sent: Monday, December 9, 2013 8:48 PM

Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] F1 Experience

The modern F1 driver is about 5'5" - 5'9" and 135 - 160 lbs.
Weber was the last tall one and if you remember, Kubica looked almost dead when he went from 165 to 150 by team orders.

The old guard would never be able to get into the these new  cars and I doubt the new drivers would have the strength to manhandle the older cars.

Michael

On Mon, Dec 9, 2013 at 7:04 PM, mark skwarek <ehpantera at yahoo.com<mailto:ehpantera at yahoo.com>> wrote:
There are track day events at most of the NASCAR tracks. Go take your
Pantera out for a ride. You will be even more impressed as to what it can do. I love the Daytona road course.
Mark

On Monday, December 9, 2013 6:15 PM, "jderyke at aol.com<mailto:jderyke at aol.com>" <jderyke at aol.com<mailto:jderyke at aol.com>> wrote:
Hi Richard. When a couple of hundred POCA members visited the Minardi factory during the DeTomaso Factory Tour in '96, only little skinny drivers could fit in their display car- all women. Things must have changed.... Wish I'd been there, but at 6"2 and 190 lbs I have no illusions I'd fit today, either!  Cheers to you in S. TX- J Deryke

-----Original Message-----
From: LS <lashdeep at yahoo.com<mailto:lashdeep at yahoo.com>>
To: Richard Greenblum <pantera at austin.rr.com<mailto:pantera at austin.rr.com>>; deTomaso Forum <detomaso at poca.com<mailto:detomaso at poca.com>>
Sent: Mon, Dec 9, 2013 2:42 pm
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] F1 Experience
Sounds amazing...any pics or video?

Thanks,
LS

central
wines-spirits   est 1934

625 e street nw
washington, dc 20004

centralwines.com<http://centralwines.com/>

facebook.com/CentralLiquors<http://facebook.com/CentralLiquors>

202-737-2800<tel:202-737-2800>

From: Richard Greenblum <pantera at austin.rr.com<mailto:pantera at austin.rr.com>>
To: deTomaso Forum <detomaso at poca.com<mailto:detomaso at poca.com>>
Sent: Monday, December 9, 2013 4:30 PM
Subject: [DeTomaso] F1 Experience

All,

I was very surprised that no one from Houston, or anywhere else in Texas, was signed up to ride in the F1 cars on Friday at COTA (the Austin F1 track).  Of if you were, I just didn't recognize you.

We weren't sure it would even go in the weather, but I was in the afternoon session which was dry, and we rode on slicks.  The morning was wet, but they still ran the cars, only on full wets.

I can't tell you how incredible the experience was.  I strongly recommend signing up.  I understand they're coming back to COTA tentatively on 22 March and 20 October.  I originally thought it was a bit expensive—I don't anymore.  It was worth every penny.

Richard
Austin, TX
#7080

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