In reflection;
I got to drive my P car on it's first real outing after many late nights of slog (right up to Wednesday night) to get it ready. The drive was made more heartfelt and meaningful by the company of my 12 yr old son as we headed down from Reno with local P car owners Neil and Carol Detorri, who are old hands at that drive.
I felt the event had a good mix of track (spectator only this year), cruises and a good balance between informality and formality. The opportunity to mingle, chat and BS with other Pantera owners face to face was great. I put faces to many of the names from this board and met 'old friends' for the very first time.
I hadn't considered the raffle as anything other than excellently handled and MC'd by Coz, and his Cozettes (AKA George, Dennis & Bobbi). The work Coz had done behind the scenes all year should have been apparent to all in the number and quality of the prizes on offer. A couple of which came home with us, I'm glad to say
The quality and mix of the prizes (i.e. catering for the women too!) is what attracts ticket sales, which = funds for POCA. And the quality was beyond compare, if one added up the $$ amount that Coz managed to pull together he should get a bucket load of 'thanks' and an honarary lifetime membership to POCA.
At the end of the raffle Matt Lipski of San Diego Panteras came up to my son Nathan and handed him a Hot Wheels Pantera he had won in the raffle. That single gesture sent home the message about the camaraderie of P car owners and made an unforgettable event for my son. Thanks Matt, the Pantera has pride of place on my son’s shelf (the model that is...although I think he's now got his eye on the one in garage too!)
Alas, the event closed and we headed home, but that in itself brought home to me the true character of P car owners, when I blew a front tire outside Tonopah. The guys in our convoy all pitched in and we ran the wheel into town and got fixed up with a used tire. Quite a stroke of luck in itself to find a tire shop open and get given a used 245/45-17 in a desert town on a Sunday!
It is a shame that all that could be marred by some unthoughtful and negative comments that were totally uncalled for and unfitting for open forum discussion. The tone of the note from PREZ, Dave Rudderow to Coz was totally inept. It smacks of insecurity and self protectionism by....dare I say it the 'us and them' (PI & POCA) factions. For me there is enough room for everyone and each brings their own particular brand to the table and forums.
Putting all that aside I can honestly say that you are all a great bunch of guys and gals (THE GREATEST) and I'm proud to be associated with you. Thanks to you all for making mine and my Son's highlight of the year, here's looking to many more years of Pantera Drivin' to come.
Julian