[DeTomaso] Thank you's to a lot of people (Was: POCA business on this forum)

[Asa Jay Laughton]

I'd like to take a moment to give thanks you's to a whole lot of people, 
too numerous to name actually, who have contributed to the overall 
Pantera ownership experience.  It all starts with real people, the kind 
who actually know things about the cars; and more importantly know the 
-right- things about the cars, and other people.  Perhaps even more 
important in a forum like this is the breadth of knowledge and the 
choices of potential fixes or solutions one can choose from, all most 
certainly from learned people.

I'd also like to a put a thank you out to George Pence of the PI forum.  
Yes, I too really miss the awesome magazine coming to my inbox.  I 
really started missing it after the really awesome last couple of 
issues.  I miss a bit more interaction with PI too, but I will say say 
this, the PI forum is another awesome car forum on the Internet.  No, I 
don't frequent it, but it's easy to see it gets attention, and from a 
large group of people who don't frequent this email list.  The PI forum 
has filled that niche for several years and has a good amount of great 
information on the Pantera and other DeTomaso automobiles in addition to 
other banter.  Yes, it's moderated and some folks have found themselves 
banned from the forum... well, that's his call, but my thanks are still 
in place for continuing to provide an alternative for Pantera owners.

The Pantera Vendors.  A Big thank you to those business owners who have 
stuck with the Pantera for decades.  I recently heard that if you have a 
broken down 80's Countach, that there is only ONE guy in the entire US 
that can repair the on-board electronic computer to make it run again.  
Really?  In the Pantera world we have several vendors who can get you 
just about anything and talk you through just about any repair over the 
phone.  These people are fantastic.  Could we spend more?  Maybe, but 
sending them a little money now and then for good parts and service will 
help ensure they stay in business.

POCA, the one Pantera club that's outlasted them all.  A yearly Fun 
Rally where you'll see more Panteras than a dealer ever did.  Reprinted 
publications that you can buy and refer to in your garage, a monthly 
newsletter and quarterly magazine to remind you once a month and once a 
quarter that you've got something special parked in your garage.

The one point I'd like to make here is that behind all of this are the 
people who make it all happen.  There are some names in the Pantera 
world that many will recognize, and not because they sought any sort of 
fame but because they have contributed time, energy, personal experience 
and a "passion" for building relationships centered around the Pantera:

Gary Hall
Dennis Quella
Steve Wilkinson
Larry Stock
Jack DeRyke (what doesn't he know?)
Ted Mitchell (who knew everything before Jack did, I think)
Judy McCartney (membership lady!)
Rod Kunishige (database man!)
Dan Jones (more than I could ever hope to know about 351C engines)
Mike Drew (left Jay Leno speechless)
Les Gray (past president of POCA multiple times)
Kent and Sandi Snyder (I've affectionately referred to them as Mr and 
Mrs. Fun Rally :)
Bob Reid
Bill Van Ess (first published Pantera registry)
George Pence
Marino Perna
Tony Harvey  (Drive-it)
Mark McWhinney
Curt Toumanian
Dennis Antenucci

... and I'm sure a whole lot more.  These are the kind of people who 
built relationships to expand the passion of Pantera ownership.  These 
are the kind of people who want to continue in that regard as well.

Are there, and will there be differing opinions and personalities?  Yes, 
there always will be, but it's how we interact with others that measures 
our true integrity.  How do we treat people in private as well as public?

I myself have had some heated words in the past that were made in haste, 
and I've had to come back around and apologize for them.  I think each 
"bad" interaction helps teach me more about the person I'm supposed to 
be, rather than the nasty person I know I could be.  I think that is the 
measure of our integrity, do we learn from our mistakes, have we told 
the truth, can we stand behind what we've said?  Can we muster the 
necessary humility when needed?

Some can, some can't.

Without the kind relationships I built through many if not most if not 
actually ALL the people I listed above, I would not have enjoyed owning 
my Pantera and having as much fun with it as I could.  It truly is the 
owner-community that makes it all worth while (for me anyway), not just 
some web site, not just some email forum, not just a fun rally, or 
newsletters, or quarterly magazine.  All those things contribute to the 
experience, but without the people.....  I might as well own a Yugo.

I think at this point, most folks have formed an opinion of current POCA 
leadership, good or bad.  I think those who care have probably said 
their peace.  To that end, I think we've exhausted the illustration of 
what's happening and I'd like to perhaps give a gentle reminder that in 
the words of Michael Shortt himself something like only 2% of actual 
POCA members frequent this list.

I can respect those who have wanted to air their grievances and I think 
some have done so in far better fashion than others.  I'd like to 
encourage us all to find our Pantera voices again and stimulate some 
good old fashion bench racing or problem solving.  Oh.... and note that 
I do not share in any moderation duties of this list anymore.  Kurt has 
a good handle on it and knows where to go if he ever needs help.

Get to it!
Asa   Jay


Asa Jay Laughton - W7TSC, MSgt, USAFR, Retired
&  Shelley Marie
Spokane, WA
******************************
http://w7tsc.org
http://www.teampanteraracing.com


On 6/6/2016 5:53 PM, msm at portata.com wrote:
> Rod -- you are always welcome here.  Thank you for your many years of
> contributions to POCA and the greater DeTomaso community.
>