Pantera's Northwest Fall Cruise 2015

We met at a Starbucks in south Tacoma with a gas station next door where we all fueled up on high octane for our cars and bodies and headed out to meet more members down the road.

Just outside of town and past morning traffic we re-grouped for our first leg.

First stop Paradise on Mt. Rainier- elevation 6,400 FT.

Them on to Paradise Lodge for a photo shoot.

Being Blue Friday this one is for the 12's "Go Hawks"

We departed Paradise and headed east and into the sun. After 100+ miles of twisty mountian roads; smooth highways along mountain lakes and ragging rivers; one engine failure; and over 5,00 feet of elevation change; we enjoyed much needed burgers and beer at Bob's Burgers in Yakima.

Sorry no more pictures the rest of Friday. I was busy trying to find parts to breathe one more life out of my cat. Not!

Saturday we awoke to sunshine and very warm temps. After a short drive to the small town of Connell, Wa. we hung out at their Fall Festival and Car show until midafternoon and brought home a trophy for the largest (and coolest) car club in attendance. This car show had everything from Low-riders to Helicopters. The Panteras where a big hit.

There was a good mix of power plants from twin turbos.

To almost stock.

With a little fuel injection thrown in for good measure.

Time for a group picture.

Several of the group offered to give much apprecited rides to members still working on their cats.

One more

It was a long and stressful day in Connell.

Time to pack and head back to Pasco.

For a fabulous dinner at the Tagaris Winery.

Looks like a great trip. Thanks for the pictures.

Good luck with the Pantera efforts

Rocky

Sunday morning we headed out to Mary Hill Museum along the Columbia River Gourge leaving the caualties of mechanical failure behind. Not an easy task for the Brennan's and their '71 Pantera and the Braun's and their 70 Mach 1 in our "Jedi Master Cruiser" aka Volkwagen Jetta.

We arrived at Mary Hill to clear skies and a light breeze soon followed by thick smoke from a nearby grass fire being pushed by howling winds east up the Columbia River Gourge.

Some of us cut our stay short and headed to our final stop of Hood River, Oregon. Shortly after our departure, It was decided that wine and food was needed; so we made a much needed pit stop in The Dalles, Or. at Sunshine Mill Winery(once an operational flour mill that was facinating inside). We were soon followed by the rest of the group. It was a long pit stop!

Finally Hood River.

For Dinner and the annual awards.

Monday morning we let morning traffic clear with a stop at the Air & Auto Museum in Hood River before heading home.

It was a great trip and thanks to everyone who was there to make it great. If you missed it you can try again next year and maybe you can get one of these.

Thanks for the pictures. It looks like a great time other than the unfortunate casualties.

Very cool, thank you!

Great pics! Thanks Tim. Nice to see you and Doug and our favorite western girls out on the road again. We miss you guys!

So what happened to #1755 and what did you do to fix it? I see your car in all the pics so you must have figured out a solution real fast.

Hi David, good to hear from you. The car you see in the pictures is another black 71 owned by one of the other PNW members. Mine was bad so I sent it home on a tow truck. First time it ever beat me home and we finished the cruise in a rental with the couple that have the 70 Mach 1 that lost their transmission.
I pulled the engine this weekend and tore it down, spun a baring, broke a rod and powdered the oil pump. But the good news is it didn't take the block, heads or the 10 qt. oil pan. I have another 4 bolt block all machined just waiting for a couple more parts to show up and I will put it back together better than new.
Hi David from Sharon...wish we could drive together again some day. Say hi to Joanne!!

Ouch! No biggie though. We've all been there and done that. A perfect time to stroke some more HP into the rebuild.

It must have been Sharon behind the wheel. We love her hi revving style!

Hugs from Joanne and I. We'll be on your coast later this year. I'm sure you'll be up and running by then.

I really enjoyed the pictures Tim, and I appreciate the effort it takes to put a post like this together. Good job! Thanks!

Sorry David, I can't blame this one on Sharon I did it myself. But after seeing the tires on her Benz this weekend I thick she has some explaining to do!

Thanks George, and thank you for this forum. It has been an un-replaceable resource for advice, new ideals and information. But most importantly the friends I've met and a way to stay in touch with them as well as meet new ones.

The Fall Cruise started as a one day get together at Birch Bay, a state park about 150 miles north of Seattle and has grown to a 4 day tour to new locations all over the northwest. We've been across Washington from top to bottom and side to side and next year we are looking at going to British Columbia. PNW has an awesome group of fun, supportive and a little bit wild people that makes this weekend something My wife and I look forward to every year. It's always on the weekend after Labor Day and if early response is any indication next year's cruise will be even more fun.
Thanks again to everyone that was part of this year's cruise.

tour Major bummer for both of you! Glad to hear you both finished the tour and were still able to enjoy yourselves. Sounds like you have it all under control now.

Very Cool. Great pics.

One of the things I like about the Panteras is they show no signs or needs for any politics or national boundaries.

It seems that no matter where anyone is with the Panteras, it's just like home?

Very cool.