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

[Ed Lyerly]

Thank you from a newbie owner who has experienced many of the benefits you have outlined below.  I hope to take what I learn and "Pay it Forward" to the future newbies that join the POCA.
All sources of information are of value to the newcomer.  The POCA website, PI Forum, the numerous vendors of Pantera parts, and this List have all been helpful to me.
Thank you to all who have contributed !!
--Ed

-----Original Message-----
From: Asa Jay Laughton [mailto:asajay at asajay.com] 
Sent: Monday, June 06, 2016 11:57 PM
To: detomaso at server.detomasolist.com
Subject: [DeTomaso] Thank you's to a lot of people (Was: POCA business on this forum)

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.
>