[DeTomaso] POCA's Lone Star Fun Rally

[John Taphorn]

Calling All De Tomasos!!!

The members of Space City Panteras and Dallas/Fort Worth Panteras whole 
heartedly invite you to join us for some Texas hospitality at POCA's 
2015 Lone Star Fun Rally, to be held in Houston, Friday, May 15th 
through Tuesday, May 19th, 2015.

WHY TEXAS?

There are a number of compelling reasons for you to attend the 34^th 
annual POCA Fun Rally that we have affectionately dubbed the POCA Lone 
Star Fun Rally.

First of all Texas, the Lone Star State, is a giant of a state. Texans 
are known for their large, welcoming hearts. "Friendship" is the state's 
motto, and the people of Texas live by that motto. Heck, we even have 
road signs that say "Drive Friendly!" You owe yourself a visit.

Next, enjoy some real Texas hospitality at a working Texas ranch by 
attending our world famous Pantera Pig Roast, held at our favorite 
Pantera Technical Center, Gray Gregory's Ranch. That's right, you're 
welcome to wrench on cars during the day or just hang around for the 
home cooked grub served that evening.

As a special once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Space City Pantera member 
and rocket scientist John Haas will lead a private tour of the NASA 
Neutral Buoyancy Lab at the Johnson Space Center. The Neutral Buoyancy 
Lab contains a full size, submerged mockup of the International Space 
Station (ISS), complete with a fully functional earth-bound ISS 
arm. This immense underwater facility is used to train astronauts for 
zero gravity space walks and outside repairs to the orbiting ISS.  The 
titanium ISS arm, designed and constructed by a NASA team that included 
John Haas, is an absolute engineering masterpiece that will inspire awe 
in any gear head.

While at the Johnson Space Center, we will also visit Rocket Park, which 
contains an amazing collection of vintage NASA launch and orbital 
vehicles.  Foremost among them is the restored 3-Stage Saturn V rocket, 
complete with Apollo capsule, escape tower, lunar lander module and 
lunar command module.  This 1960's technology monster is one of only 
three left in the world, stands over 36 stories tall and has rocket 
exhaust nozzles large enough to walk through.  Words cannot do it 
justice.  It truly must be seen to be appreciated.

For you racers and race spectators alike, Texas World Speedway (TWS) is 
on the agenda for two spectacular track days.  TWS is a challenging 2.9 
mile road course with screaming long straights, fast banked cornersand 
the occasional twisty bits in between.  Over the years, we have hosted a 
number of TWS race weekends, most recently with over 25 Panteras from 
California, Colorado, Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma in attendance. TWS is 
the perfect track for stretching your Cat's legs and it may even be the 
best track of any previous Fun Rally. While TWS is our home track, it is 
unfortunately going the way of Riverside Raceway in California. After 
our event, TWS will be bulldozed to make way for a housing development 
later in 2015. This will be our last goodbye to an old friend.

We have also planned a special group visit to a private automotive 
collection of over 215 cars and memorabilia ranging from the 1930's 
through present day. Indoor settings recreate an early gas 
station/garage and 1950's diner. Those who have been there remark that 
it is among the most fascinating displays they have seen,as it 
emphasizes automotive development and new factory cars that were 
relevant during their lifetime.

Last but definitely not least, Houston is centrally located within the 
Continental US, with multiple intersecting interstate highways and one 
of the largest, most accessible airports in the nation. Because of this, 
we're hoping to see members and their Panteras from all sections of the 
country. It's an especially good opportunity for those of you living in 
the central and eastern parts of the country to attend a Fun Rally. 
Besides the De Tomaso cars, the Fun Rally provides an excellent 
opportunity to build friendships by connecting a face to the voice on 
the phone or the forum conversation that we've all had over the 
years.The POCA Lone Star Fun Rally will be held for one year only, so 
whether you're a Fun Rally veteran or a first timer, this is the one to 
attend!

Take advantage of our Texas hospitality and join us next May at the 2015 
POCA Lone Star Fun Rally!!!

-------------- next part --------------
   Calling All De Tomasos!!!

   The members of Space City Panteras and Dallas/Fort Worth Panteras whole
   heartedly invite you to join us for some Texas hospitality at POCA's
   2015 Lone Star Fun Rally, to be held in Houston, Friday, May 15th
   through Tuesday, May 19th, 2015.

   WHY TEXAS?

   There are a number of compelling reasons for you to attend the 34^th
   annual POCA Fun Rally that we have affectionately dubbed the POCA Lone
   Star Fun Rally.

   First of all Texas, the Lone Star State, is a giant of a state.  Texans
   are known for their large, welcoming hearts.  "Friendship" is the
   state's motto, and the people of Texas live by that motto. Heck, we
   even have road signs that say "Drive Friendly!"  You owe yourself a
   visit.

   Next, enjoy some real Texas hospitality at a working Texas ranch by
   attending our world famous Pantera Pig Roast, held at our favorite
   Pantera Technical Center, Gray Gregory's Ranch.  That's right, you're
   welcome to wrench on cars during the day or just hang around for the
   home cooked grub served that evening.

   As a special once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Space City Pantera member
   and rocket scientist John Haas will lead a private tour of the NASA
   Neutral Buoyancy Lab at the Johnson Space Center. The Neutral Buoyancy
   Lab contains a full size, submerged mockup of the International Space
   Station (ISS), complete with a fully functional earth-bound ISS arm.
   This immense underwater facility is used to train astronauts for zero
   gravity space walks and outside repairs to the orbiting ISS.  The
   titanium ISS arm, designed and constructed by a NASA team that included
   John Haas, is an absolute engineering masterpiece that will inspire awe
   in any gear head.

   While at the Johnson Space Center, we will also visit Rocket Park,
   which contains an amazing collection of vintage NASA launch and orbital
   vehicles.  Foremost among them is the restored 3-Stage Saturn V rocket,
   complete with Apollo capsule, escape tower, lunar lander module and
   lunar command module.  This 1960's technology monster is one of only
   three left in the world, stands over 36 stories tall and has rocket
   exhaust nozzles large enough to walk through.  Words cannot do it
   justice.  It truly must be seen to be appreciated.

   For you racers and race spectators alike, Texas World Speedway (TWS) is
   on the agenda for two spectacular track days.  TWS is a challenging 2.9
   mile road course with screaming long straights, fast banked corners and
   the occasional twisty bits in between.  Over the years, we have hosted
   a number of TWS race weekends, most recently with over 25 Panteras from
   California, Colorado, Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma in attendance.  TWS is
   the perfect track for stretching your Cat's legs and it may even be the
   best track of any previous Fun Rally.  While TWS is our home track, it
   is unfortunately going the way of Riverside Raceway in California.
   After our event, TWS will be bulldozed to make way for a housing
   development later in 2015.  This will be our last goodbye to an old
   friend.

   We have also planned a special group visit to a private automotive
   collection of over 215 cars and memorabilia ranging from the 1930's
   through present day.  Indoor settings recreate an early gas
   station/garage and 1950's diner.  Those who have been there remark that
   it is among the most fascinating displays they have seen, as it
   emphasizes automotive development and new factory cars that were
   relevant during their lifetime.

   Last but definitely not least, Houston is centrally located within the
   Continental US, with multiple intersecting interstate highways and one
   of the largest, most accessible airports in the nation.  Because of
   this, we're hoping to see members and their Panteras from all sections
   of the country. It's an especially good opportunity for those of you
   living in the central and eastern parts of the country to attend a Fun
   Rally.  Besides the De Tomaso cars, the Fun Rally provides an excellent
   opportunity to build friendships by connecting a face to the voice on
   the phone or the forum conversation that we've all had over the years.
    The POCA Lone Star Fun Rally will be held for one year only, so
   whether you're a Fun Rally veteran or a first timer, this is the one to
   attend!

   Take advantage of our Texas hospitality and join us next May at the
   2015 POCA Lone Star Fun Rally!!!