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...I have been planning this Road-Test for Years.    August 1-4, 2019

Take the Pantera to Americas' Southwest Deserts and Photograph and Video, ALL. The Hottest Place On Earth, the Hottest Time of the Year. Take the Kat Beyond the 'Point of No Return' and Bring Her Back, Alive, Running Stronger.

First Destination: 'Emigrant Pass', on the 'Old Spanish Trail' (Highway), In the Northern Mojave Desert, California. This Runs between the North and South Nopah Range Wilderness.

A  video camera both 'In Cockpit' And One Mounted on the Rear Wing, right then left. There is some drone video. A Lot of 'in cockpit' video, Most of it showing Both Coolant Temp Gauges. Also showing the Time on My Wristwatch. Amazing! The Faster I Drive, The Slower the Watch Moves! Or, So It Appears.

The Cockpit Camera shows a View of, Most of the Dash, very little of the Driver, the Rearview TV Monitor...But Mostly the View is of a Passengers' Perspective Straight Out the Windshield and to Infinity, as far as one can see, Framed by the Windshield. The Distant, Always coming towards You, FAST.

Also, we were running a Rear-View/Blind-Spot, CCTV Camera with 11" Monitor, which was Very Handy, and shows up in Most of the Videos. Marlin was Crazy Enough to Pull This Off! Faith in the Pantera and his Maintenance of the 351 Cleveland, and the Cat.

The Desert was 'Only' 118F Degrees at Emigrant Pass Aug 2, 2019 2:30PM . AC? What, are You Kidding Me? NO! I Laughed at the HEAT and Ignored it! Except, I Never Ignored the (2) 'Coolant Gauges' (Analog and Digital), Or the Engine and Transaxle, Digital, 'Oil Temp Gauge' (switchable).

Equipment:

(1) Sony Camcorder

(2) Two GoPro Cameras

The Gopros could Handle the Heat, One Camera was always out in direct sunlight, Clamped to the Wing. The Inside Cam was Suction-Cupped, up-side-down, to the Sunroof. It was near impossible to Read the Touchscreen in Bright Direct Sunlight. The Only Shade was ME! I Couldn't see the RED LED indicating the Camera was ON. Turns-0ut...It Was On!

This Pantera Liked to just Cruise at 80 MPH. 82 would rise in Temp, 78 would Cool Back Down. Phenomenal. Digital Gauge would read 200F to 214F. The Veglia (Factory Gauge Marked as (90-160-230) F Degrees, (Sender in the Block) would Show 158F, Just under the '160'F Mark, being Straight-Up On The Gauge . When Hottest, would Read 162F = 190F, just to the Right of '160'F. The Hottest reading I saw on this gauge was 190F, that time when we pulled off to get gas and were crawling behind semis, on the off ramp. That was after 3 hrs, sustained at 90MPH. I-5 South. Allowing for slower traffic, ofcourse. Outside Temp 100F+. The R. Plate and 180F Thermostat, were Doing Their Jobs, Very Well. CONCLUSION: The Vaglia Gauge Showing at '160F' Equals a actual 190F Degrees. With a 180F RS Thermostat and Brass Restrictor.

The Pantera 'NEVER Missed a Beat'. She Fired-Up First Time, EVERY Time. When Shut-down, She Shuts-Off Right Now!! There was No Ticking, Hissing Cooling sounds...Nothing, Silence! With the Distributor-LESS Ignition, there was No Run-On, Dieseling.   

Last of the Cameras, 1 Video Drone. The Drone performed Perfectly. I have Never Flown A Drone Before. I have watched multiple 'Video Classes', such as ' Cinema with a Drone' and 'How to Drone Video Cars'. My Thanks to those Teachers!

THIS was My First Learning/Practice Session, and NOT Forgetting to Turn ON the Drone Video Camera, OR Forget to peel-off the Camera Lens protection Sticker, after mounting the 4 Props, connecting Batteries...HOT and Breezy, I thought it might Not Fly, IT Proved Me Wrong! NO Crashes. Just send Her STRAIGHT-UP Up to 200+ Feet, and Fly, Hover...Pan! Took-Off from the Roof of the Pantera (Sunroof), Twice, and Ended the Second Flight, Landing Back onto the Roof. Skilled! And in the Wind, it's All on Video. You do Not want to 'Take-Off' from the Ground, as this Kicks Up Dust into the Motors. The First flight, Ended by Snatching the Drone Out of a Hover, Hands full, I shut down the Motors using one elbow (Video to follow). Flying with the GPS On, I Did NOT use the 'Return to Home'. Thanks for the Breeze, by the Way! I Filmed about 40 Minutes worth (2 Drone Batteries, 2 Sessions). I finished up with the Drone, before the Wind became Strong Enough to make the 'Loose Gravel' Sign and Post, wave and Twist. Shown in a Last Videoed, Hand-Held Panorama, with the sound of rushing wind.  

I could Not get Drone Video of the Pantera Cruising, as I had No One Else with Me to Operate It. No One wanted to go with Me (Smart) and I did not want to 'Torture' a 'Innocent' Person, who did Not Know What to Expect! Turns out, There was No Room for a passenger, anyway. I don't Travel with the 'Trunk Tub', and, all of My Gear occupied the Passenger Seat. Tool Bag, Spare Parts and Oil, were in the Nose. My Drone has a 'Follow-Me' setting, but I did not have enough experience to use it.

NO spare Tire! But, had a 'Tubeless Tire Repair-Kit' and a 12 Volt Compressor. The Rear Tires were 'Brand-New', The fronts were Goodyears...19 Years Old. After getting Her back in the Garage, I Felt Lucky, I had Zero Problems with any of the 4 Tires. THAT was a very Lucky thing!! as I left in Haste, forgetting the Jack AND the 'KEY' to the Rear Lug Nuts. Didn't carry a spare anyway. Did have the Fire Ext. My Logistics called to Leave the Curb at 3:00 PM, I Left at 3:30. Expected to get to My Reservation, in Barstow by 9:00. Rolled in at 10.

Marlin



CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE

Last edited by marlinjack
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...I could have been Stranded at ANY Moment, We All Know What ALL can Go Wrong With these Panteras!. And NO Cell Phone Service to call AAA. Everytime I Shut Down the Engine, I was taking the Risk, the Engine would Never Start again! if I could, I would stop on an Incline, so I could 'Start On Compression', if I was Forced To. And try and find an Incline, in the Desert Lowlands. It ain't hap-nin. Dead Stopped...Shut-Down, will She Start??  The Cleveland Never failed to Turn-Over and Fire!

Thank You! To the Gods of "Internal Combustion and Wind in the Face!"

One more note....Having a (small) 'Igloo' Ice Chest Packed with Ice and Cold Drinks, made the Difference. In the 'Middle of Nowhere' with Cold Drinks, Water and Sodas, NO Alcohol.

I was Never 'Running On Empty'. Knowing where ALL the fuel stops were, I would refuel at 1/2 Tank. 21 gal. tank. Calculated, Total Odometer reading, Divided By Total number of Gallons needed to refill tank back up to Full, equals 17.658 Miles per Gallon. How? 358 Cubic Inches....the Smallest Holley 600 CFM Vac. Sec. Carb, On a Dual Plane Edelbrock 'Air-Gap'; and Being 'Light' on the Accelerator. She Still Roared and the Throttle Response was Incredible. When Most of Your Driving is at cruise speed and Idling, Do You really Need a 750-780 CFM? (Sure, if Your Street Racing for 'Pinks'!) I Built the 600 Carb. 600 Body with (750) Center Pivot Float Bowls. the main Jets Increased, for a  Modified Cleveland, and a couple of Other Tricks. It worked very well! NOT a Whiff of Raw Fuel, in all that Heat-Soak. I run a Modified and 'Closed', PCV System. I never liked Sitting at an Idle, Watching 'Blow-By' Rise from the Engine Breathers, In the Rear-View Mirror!! I fabricated a pair of 'Vapor Separators' (Transparent), the Engine doesn't burn Oil, through the PCV, it Burns Oil Vapor! The Proof is, in All of 1343 Miles, less than 1 Quart of Oil was lost, according to the Dipstick. That is Far Less than What Is 'Normal'! And Not a Hint of Smoke coming from the Exhaust!

Speaking of the Central Valley California, I came up Highway 99, Yesterday Aug. 4, Cruising 85 MPH, all the way. Temp Gauges at Normal, Veglia stayed at 158F*. Compared to the Desert...She Barely 'Warmed-Up'.  By the end of the Journey, as far as the Engine Coolant Temp, there wasn't Anything to worry about.

The Last Leg of this Sojourn, began Sunday Morning in Barstow and heading West on Hwy. 58, with the Video Recording. Especially interesting is the 'Downhill' Run Through the Tehachapi's, to the Bottom, headed for Bakersfield. Your View is In-Cockpit, 'Riding Shotgun'. The Video Camera does Not define how Steep This Downhill was. A 6% Grade.

In ALL of the 'Interstate' Driving we Passed a Lot of Semis...Fast!

85 MPH Sustained, and there were SUV's Passing Me, on the Straights!!  Estimate Them at 100+. Go Ahead! 'Pull' the CHP Off of Me! I'am In No Hurry, I'll Just Cruise-On By, EZ. At a $470.00 Min., Citation, I Was Not Laughing, I've Been There!

For those who are curious of the cost of Fuel, 91 Octane = 95...My Logistics were set at $5.00 per Gal. Between the low $3.37 to a High of $5.80, that is exactly what I paid, on Average.

Marlin

                                                                                                                                               PHOTOS: Click-On any Image to Enlarge.

For well over 50 miles, This was the Only safe spot to pull over, without hanging out into the Roadway. Just where I wanted to be, Emigrant Pass, Old Spanish Trail (Highway) California; Between Shoshone, Tecopa, and the 'T' Junction at Highway 160 in Nevada...Go Left to Pahrump, Go Right to Las Vegas.

Kingston Range...Kingston Peak (Highest Point on the Right). By My TOPO Maps, Kingston Peak is 14 Miles from Emigrant Pass (the Sign in the Photos).

The Cat was 118F+ In The Sun. In-Cockpit Parts I Touched would Burn My hands, Another Reason to Wear Leather Gloves.

Witness Shifting the Pantera ZF, Smoothly and Accurately, with No Gates!...Watch and Listen to THESE Videos! Your Riding Along IN the Passenger Seat. Also, Your ON the Rear Wing, Looking into the Cockpit and all surrounding Scenery; for 100's of In-Town and On-Highway, Miles.

First Photo: Taken while Driving. Approaching 'Emigrant Pass' From the West, Shoshone through Tacopa. Camera does not reveal, This was a Fairly Steep Uphill Climb. A 'Rear-View' is provided on the Monitor.  

MJGOPR0028GOPR0089dGOPR0032

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jfb05177 posted:

I am also waiting for the pics and hopefully vids

besides the cost of fuel, how did you find the quality.   I would be afraid of the lower octane ethonal blends out there

That's pretty much all we have in the People's Republik of California. When I drove my son's car out to Denver for him 2 months ago, I noticed improved performance and a definite 2-3 MPG increase in fuel economy once I was able to buy real un-diluted gas.

jfb05177 posted:

I am also waiting for the pics and hopefully vids

besides the cost of fuel, how did you find the quality.   I would be afraid of the lower octane ethonal blends out there

...I found Shell to be the best Gasoline, No pinging. Chevron was also a good Gas. ALL Others were a 'Coin Toss'.

marlinjack posted:
garth66 posted:
marlinjack posted:

...How? 158 Cubic Inches....the Smallest Holley 600 CFM Vac. Sec. Carb, and Being VERY 'Light' on the Accelerator.

 

 

So, did you swap out the Cleveland for an inline 6?  

Sounds like  a great weekend! 

...Wow, now I get it, this late! I must have been Very Tired, Exhausted, when I wrote That. Ofcorse it was a 351, .030" Over. Thanks for Pointing That Out! Actually Make that a 'Boss 351'.

Correction Made.

MJ

...Other than That, there will be NO Bragging Here!

 

No worries!  Just teasing you bro.  Sounds like a great adventure!

...It was 'Ramble Tamble' By CCR. Played on the CD Deck, and Recorded on the Cockpit Camera. It was So Hot! the Deck Played Most of the tune and then malfunctioned. And that was on the way to a fuel stop, in Barstow at 8:00 in the Morning. Only time on all these videos Music is heard, other than the Engine.

MJ 

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...90-100 MPH only in passing. Or that's all I will admit to here. 85-90 Cruising South I-5 Central Valley, California. Sustained temp on the Veglia, 165F.(195F actually) At My first gas Stop, 'Lost Hills', Cali. Interstate-5 South, we pulled off for fuel...ofcourse, All Cars are in Line, held up behind Slow and Stopped at a 'RedLight', Semi's.... The Digital Gauge is Now reading 226F Degrees! Pretty Close! Was I worried? Kind'a, that's when I started relying on the Stock Veglia Gauge, right at 185F (215F-226F)). NO, I was Not Going to Test, 'How Fast Can She Go', at This Time...Perhaps, on the Second Trip, I am Now Planning. After I arrived back Home, I reinstalled the 750 Holley.

This was Not a Speed Contest. That Is for the 'SS Challenge'. This Road Trip was a Endurance Challenge.

And besides "...The Highway's Lined with Broken Heroes on a Last Chance Power Try!"... Broke-Down. Or, those who passed Me were soon seen, on the Side of the Interstate, having a 'Meaningful Conversation' with a CHP Officer! I was Thinking, That Should Have Been ME, pulled-over! And besides That...I Appreciated some Beautiful Machinery! Like That Gorgeous BLUE Ferrari Roadster, that pulled-up beside me, at a Red Light, in Pahrump! But! I was Never Challenged! I was making a Left turn for the Gas Station. It's on Video. About that Ferrari...Both of us knowing we were 'On-Cameras', I 'Ignored' His Car, and He is Looking Over the Cat. NO 'Juvenile' Revving of this Engine! Hearing The 'Boss 351' at The Idle, gave him all the Information he needed to Know.

Everyone Behaved Themselves and were Polite and Very Respectful, On and Off the Road. 'We' All had a Great Time with a Lot of Fun, Cruising. We Shared the Road! Safe and Sane.

Actually, the Majority of On-lookers, acted as if They were Scared of the Pantera!? People were sure to 'Keep Their Distance', Very Few ever Spoke to Me!

Only the Pantera can Make a 'Fuel-Stop', an Event! A lot of Picture Taking. Kids hanging out of SUV Windows with their Smart-Phones. Groups of People, Standing, Waiting, Just to Hear the Kat 'Fire-Up'. And Fire-Up It Did! It's All On Video! NO Over-Revving...Just Fire Her Up! The 351 Cleveland Cam is All They Need to Hear.

We Represented Our Marque, Very Well to the Best of Our Ability.

Marlin

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But just remember...

 

On a rattlesnake speedway in the California desert
I pick up my money and head back into town
Driving cross the Armagosa county line
I got the radio on and I'm just killing time
Working all day in my daddy's garage
Driving all night, chasing some mirage
Pretty soon little girl I'm gonna take charge

The dogs on main street howl
'Cause they understand
If I could take one moment into my hands
Mister, I ain't a boy, no, I'm a man
And I believe in a promised land

I've done my best to live the right way
I get up every morning and go to work each day
But your eyes go blind and your blood runs cold
Sometimes I feel so weak I just want to explode
Explode and tear this old town apart
Take a knife and cut this pain from my heart
Find somebody itching for something to start

The dogs on main street howl
'Cause they understand
If I could reach one moment into my hands
Mister, I ain't a boy, no, I'm a man
And I believe in a promised land

Well there's a dark cloud rising from the desert floor
I packed my bags and I'm heading straight into the storm
Gonna be a twister to blow everything down
That ain't got the faith to stand its ground
Blow away the dreams that tear you apart
Blow away the dreams that break your heart
Blow away the lies that leave you nothing but lost and brokenhearted

The dogs on main street howl
'Cause they understand
If I could take one moment into my hands
Mister, I ain't a boy, no, I'm a man
And I believe in a promised land
And I believe in a promised land
And I believe in a promised land

 

 

That's you - MarlinJack!

(My favorite Bruce Springsteen Song)

...In the Shop, Experimenting with Gopro Camera Angles, Marlin Invents the 'Wing Cam'. A Unique Camera View. Another use for the Delta Wing, besides letting Gorgeous Women set Their Cocktail Glasses on It*. With a Coaster, ofcourse! More to come.

*The event was the 'Italia n Piazza', up in Stockton, CA. One Year, I was invited to bring the Italian Built Pantera, up and show it off. The Men were offended, mostly. But the Beautiful Young Women, with their Bright Questions...They were Highly Impressed with the Size of It!!...That Massively Beautiful Cleveland Boss 351, Custom Manifold with Twin 600 Holleys Dual Quads. An American Built Engine!

It was Night and Dark, when I fired her up, and opened the low Silhouette HID headlights, people had been waiting, to Hear the Engine. We pulled-out Slow and  Respectful...they all know who rules the road, anytime, any place. oh, ya...I was Never invited Back! Curious. MJ

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...Testing, Loading 'Shorts' within 100MB Limit, until I can figure out how to take 'Snippits' From 100's of GB's. Opps, didn't mean to post twice….This is Shoshone, Chevron Station, Aug. 2, 2019 1:00PM. 115F+ Degrees OUTSIDE. A little hard to breathe in the Cockpit, Much Hotter Inside, and after all, I am 67 Years Old, and this Pantera Has a 'Sunroof'. I'am Sure to Wear a Hat And a Bandanna IS A MUST!! I Did NOT need to fuel-up here. I just Stopped for Cold Drinks, One Added to the Ice Chest and One Downed Right Now. Tanked-Up at Baker, and Still have Over Half a Tank. Thanks for That! Supreme Here cost $5.85 Gal. We'll Gas-Up when We reach Pahrump, Nevada, where the Fuel is way cheaper...For Now, Next Stop Emigrant Pass. MJ

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...A Drone Short, Hand grabbed from a Hover, ending the First of Two Flights. Short enough to post, Each of 2 sessions of actual flight time, are Too Long, and are not accepted here. Working on it! This is a stop between sessions to Exchange Fresh Drone Battery. Emigrant Pass Aug. 2, 2019 2:40PM. 118F Degrees. Looking South-East, 'The Kingston Range', 'Kingston Peak' is on the Far Right. The Sign Reads...'LOOSE GRAVEL'. The Gravel was So HOT, it Melted the Rubber Sole off My left (narrow) 'Driving' Shoe. Hey Marlin! Driving Shoes are to Clear the Pedals, Only! NOT for Walking Around in The Desert! Get Real, Marlin! The Breeze started kicking-up as I just finished the Second Drone Flight. It was Difficult to Breathe in a Wind Like a Blast Furnace. KAT remained silent! As She also, Laughed at the Heat! I was thinking to myself...if I was ever going to 'Faint' from any kind of Heat Stroke...THIS would be the Time!! I just Chuckled to myself and continued on, with setting-up the drone, I took a Deep Breath. MJ  

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...Total of Trip by Odometer...Could be Higher because of Large Tires (P295)...1343 Miles. Fuel Mileage 17.658 MPG Minimum. Average Temperature 110F-118F. Total amount of Oil used off the Dipstick, Less than One (1) Quart. I Know...I would have Broken 20.0 MPG, if I didn't have the Wing. But, (I) Like the Style, and kept it On! Plus, it Proved to be a 'Trip-Maker' Camera Mount!!

MJ

Last edited by marlinjack
marlinjack posted:

...Total of Trip by Odometer...Could be Higher because of Large Tires (P295)...1343 Miles. Fuel Mileage 17.658 MPG Minimum. Average Temperature 110F-118F.

Just Curious, What are You Guys with EFI, getting?  Must be Higher!?

Hey Marlin...

Coming home from SoCal to Modesto Calif. though the Valley I got 18.4 MPG. at 70-80 MPH. I have 18 X 295s also, but to be fair some of that is coming down the Grape Vine! lol 

...Drone Photos. 1st, Looking East, showing The Kingston Range, and 'Old Spanish Trail' (Hwy). 2nd and 3rd, Photos are looking West. 1st Pic, Looking East at the Mountain Range in the FARTHEST Distance LEFT...Las Vegas is on the other side. We'll be crossing That mountain pass, tomorrow at Noon. hubsan_snap_19700101_081653 looking West from Emigrant Pass, Shoshone is Over the Next 6hubsan_snap_19700101_081637 Mountain Ranges Back, We're ON the 7th Range.hubsan_snap_19700101_081636

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...You may Notice here, Besides the Oil Cooler, NO Distributor, Distributor-Less Ignition! And the 'Low' Pressure Electric Pump, with a 40 Micron AN Filter. PUMP and ALL Fuel Lines are as Far From the Header, as Possible!

The Oil Lines are 6 Feet Out and 6 Feet Back, with the 'Laws of Hydraulics', there is No significant Drop in the Pressure. The Oil Pressure Reading is taken at the Port at the Rear of the Block, readings are 65 PSIG, HOT.



Before and After turning On the Cooling Fan (Blows towards the Rear/Outside) One will witness The Digital Gauge Reading, drop from 250F+ (highest the gauge can read, and starts Blinking), down to aprox. 225F-. and Even Lower. This works whenever I see the need to turn-on the Fan. This system works Very Well, Even When the Kat is Idling at a Stand-Still. To Stand behind the Grill, One will feel a 'Cloud' of Intense HOT Air, rush through the Hands! Heat the Radiator will Never See. A 'Dedicated' Fan on a Oil Cooler, just as In the Choppers*, Mostly for Cooling the Transmissions. I never installed the Cooler, Lines and Pump, I had set, for the Transaxle. The Temp Gauge for the Xaxle, Never Passed 190F Degrees! and that's after just coming Off the Interstate! I Decided the Xaxle Oil Cooler was Not Needed.  * One Digital Oil Temp Gauge, one switch, 2 senders. I keep Gauge set On the Engine Oil Temp, Mostly...but Check the Transaxle temp, from time to time.

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...Second Photo is 'Leaving Holiday Inn, Pahrump, NV', Saturday Morning. (No!, the Spot of Oil on the Ground was Left from a Previous Vehicle).

The Desert is Bright at 8:30am and already 89F. Pahrump to Vegas ('Terribles' at 'Blue Diamond') in 39 Minutes 32 Sec. I would like to make it clear, here...this was Not a Race for Time! It was a 'Sustained Cruise'. We just started the Timer after the Morning Re-Fueling-Stop. Refreshments at Terribles and then We're off to Cruise the Entire Length of the Las Vegas Strip, Northbound at 12:30 in the Afternoon. 5-Lanes in One Direction, Slow Moving, stop and go, actually, and We were Followed most of the way, by a Black Rolls Royce. In all of My View I estimated near 100,000 People on the Sidewalks and in Cars. Mostly Tourists looking for a Place to eat lunch, and others just trying to find a place to Park. In the Pantera, Yes! We 'Turned' a Few Heads, and Received a couple of Comments. In All, of over One Hour of Cruising the 'Strip'...I Did NOT See One Face Smiling! As In, "I Don't Want to be Here, Why did I Come?"

We Finished to the End of the Strip and took the Expressway Over to LAKE Las Vegas, to Make an Appearance there. The Kat Cruised Along With a All-Black Audi Sport Coupe with Blacked-Out Windows, Gorgeous!  IT was a 'Trip'!

Back to the Desert...

Every FOOT of Highway and Scenery Is Recorded On Video! BORING!! But! With Marvelous Panoramas, From Mountain Peaks, Cliffs, and Passes, to Wide Open Desert...for Hundreds of Miles...Continuous and Un-Cut! Farther than the Eye can See! From Breath-Taking Vistas, Right Down to the Guardrail with Long Straight-A-Ways and Vanishing Points, Blending into Beautiful Sweeping Curves, that Seem to Never End. Many Memorable Moments, all in the Desert, Ripe for Editing. Some would be Interested in the Videos, In Their Entirety, I have Hours of It, And It's a CLEVELAND! And...it 'Ain't IN 'NO'' SUV, Babi !!

YOUR View, is 'Riding' on This Panteras' Wing, Observing a Sustained Cruise Speed of 85mph, Up, Over and Down, Mountain Passes. Also, Many Other Desert Highways and Interstates. The Audio? The Cleveland Speaks, Indescribable....and including Wind Noise. And, there is the In Cockpit 'Passengers' View'.  I Captured All of the Original Sound Recording of the Engine, but the GoPro Mics are Wanting! In All the Videos...NOT a Single Word is ever Spoken. This was Not a Documentary, and My Voice would have Spoiled the Scenes. AND, The Driver would Never Attempt to 'Talk-Over' the 'Exhaust Note' of a 'Boss 351' Cleveland...It would just Ruin the Vibe!

The 'Wing Cam' shows Into the Cockpit, as well as ALL of the Surrounding Scenery, with that GoPro Wide-Angle Lens. The Definitive 'Pantera ON The Road'. Yes, it shows Marlin at the wheel, but this was never about Him! This Sojourn is about The Desert, The Road, and The Machine In the Heat...Marlin was Just the Driver!! With Solitude and Tranquility(that is, Until We Arrived), and Nothing in The Way! Speaking of which...Notice NOT One Single 'Bug-Splatter' on the Windshield, in the Entire Trip!! I do Not Recall Seeing a Single Insect the whole time, Strange. I Never Once, Had to Clean the Windshield...In All Those Miles, Unheard Of!

Next Photos...Just coming down from Emigrant Pass, into the Lowlands. Looking North-East from In-Cockpit, A 'Vanishing Point'!

See what I mean about Hanging Out in the Roadway. 100's of miles, with the Shoulder Less Than 3-Feet Wide!

Next Stop...spend the Night in Pahrump.

MJ

...Go to 'Google Maps'. You can Search and Find all of These Roads There. Then switch over to the Satellite Imagery and Zoom-In, as I did many times. When planning this Trip, I Viewed every Mile of each Road, Highway and Interstate that I would use...by Satellite. What is really Cool...If You Max ZOOM Down onto ANY Road, that was surveyed by the Camera Team, At Maximum Zoom, the Aerial View, flips to the 'Street View', when You click on the Road and then, click on the Small Image that appears in a box, Below. And You can Pan 360 Degrees, AND Zoom-In Even More.

This is Very Helpful when Deciding on a Place to Spend the Night, Booking Hotels. Searching Fast Food or Restaurant Cuisine. You can Locate Gas Stations, zoom in on their Marquee, or get 'Info', and Compare Fuel Prices. Some Prices are Posted with-in 24 hours). Most important to Pantera Owners...You can View their Gas Pump to see if a certain Station even carries 'High Octane'* Fuel! And Most Telephone #'s are Posted. Last...find the Best Spots, and Angles, to set up Camera Shots.

Then, if You Zoom Back-Out, just One or Two Clicks, the Street View flips into a 'Birds-Eye' View...NOT Straight-down-Over-head, But, at a 45 Degree Angle to the Ground. Useful when 'Following' along a Road or Other, and All Objects are Defined with Greater Details. You can even make-out 'Pot-Holes' and Damaged Highway, Repaired, Or Not!

*In The Desert, A Few Gas Stations will carry , 'Super', Premium Grade Fuel! 91=95

I had pulled into a few Gas Stations "Out in the Middle of Nowhere", that Only Carried 87 Regular Fuel!! This would Be a Great Problem for Most Pantera Owners, with Built-Up Engines! And in the Heated Air! I Moved on up the road, to the Next Station...I always look to Fill-up, when the needle starts to cross '1/2 Tank'. I can remember the last time I was searching for Fuel, 2am In the Morning..."Running on Empty". 'Mid-America' saved My Life, and help from others.

Before You take the Excursion Into the 'Middle of Nowhere'...Do Your Homework, and Prepare Well. All Stations I refueled at, Did carry Premium Fuel. Some would Not. Could have gone the other way. MJ

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