Reply to "Million Dollar Cars"

Thanks Kevin. There's lots of unsung heroes in our two Pantera clubs. Jack DeRyke has been writing technical articles for many years, answering questions on this BB, and explaining almost everything Pantera to us. Mark, Loyd Butfoy, Dave Adler, Jerry, these guys moderate and sponsor this BB, spending time and money. There's also the POCA people, who put out terrific monthly issues and quarterly magazines, and they never get enough recognition, they too are volunteering time and effort. I'd like to thank John Taphorn POCA President and Bob Benson, PCNC (POCA) President, because these guys never get enough mention and they have volunteered hundreds of times more hours for us than I have. Gary Hall, Steve Wilkinson, Jerry at PI Motorsports, the Byars brothers, these guys and all their staff are always there to answer questions and help us obtain parts, they go through the ups and downs of business cycles, and still maintain inventories of parts year after year so when we need them, they are ready to help. Many of these people were the originators of the two Pantera clubs, that really keep our Pantera's viable as vehicles that can be driven, maintained, serviced and even bought or sold when the time comes. Without this concerted effort by all these folks and many others I neglected to include, it would be nearly impossible for me to own and drive my Pantera, and for us to share our common interest. Am I right when I say that it's fun to talk with each other on this BB about our cars, and that we enjoy each others company when we get together? It's only because of everybody's efforts, and I just wanted to volunteer some effort in a way that I felt comfortable doing and it was just something I was able to do, nothing very complicated about it. Special thanks also go to Does200 and Charlie McCall for sticking around long enough to remember Matt Stone was a POCA reporter, and mention it. Very special thanks also go to Mike L. Drew for contacting me with Matt Stone's e-mail contact info and to Matt Stone for relaying the 'pitch' to Bud Brutsman. We don't know what's going to happen, but we know that we're all making efforts, forming friendships, and having some fun, don't we. Many of us have wanted Pantera's for 34 years, or have had Pantera's for that long. So, we know we will all be around for a while. And that's good to know too. So, like it's always been, when one of us needs some help, and another of us sees he can help, the two just come together naturally and get it done. Lot's of people pitched in to help me deliver a proposal to the folks at "Rides" TV program on TLC, a subsidiary of the Discovery Channel.

There were lots of reasons to do this too. It motivates us to get our Pantera's up to the next level for this event and and other events nationwide, and worldwide, or just for spring and summer cruising around. It delivers a message that there is a place you can go to really hang it all out there with your Italian supercar, hot rod, or whatever you drive, that's sanctioned and legal. It promotes the idea of forming or joining car clubs, and there's lots of reasons to do that, including socializing and learning. There's lots of reasons I decided to go through with the effort, and just do it. And one of the reasons was to just say thanks to all the unsung heroes in our clubs.

I'd like to influence events such that your efforts were finally recognized, and surprise you in a fun way. It's not all up to me, I just made an effort to accomplish a project I had in mind. And Mark Charlton encouraged me, so I though you other guys were being shy, but probably agreed with him, so, thus encouraged, a 'pitch' was delivered. Maybe the 'pitch' was a little more than "suggesting it to them" as Mark mentioned.

Thanks right back to you all, guys. Let's keep doing this and showing others how we do it, and good things will happen. And I think we will all get a big kick out of seeing ourselves on the tube at night, on our couch, and only we will know what really went into it, and it was not just me, by a long shot. It's sort of a mystery to me why it hasn't happened already. Why does everybody always ask: "What kind of car is that?" It's time to tell them, I think!

It's worth it, all the effort of owning and maintaining a Pantera. Get you cars ready for Vegas 2005, and I'll see you there! VFI