POCA's 2012 Fun Rally Update

We are closing in on the 31st annual POCA Fun Rally! As you may know by now, the 2012 POCA Fun Rally will be hosted at the Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino in Chandler, Arizona. Chandler is just south of Phoenix; perhaps, 20 minutes from the Phoenix airport.

The Fun Rally is scheduled six weeks earlier this year to beat the heat and remove a few conflicts that the later dates caused. Our 2012 dates are Wednesday, April 25th through noon on Sunday the 29th.

For over 20 years at a location known as the Pavilions, residents of Phoenix and the adjacent communities have informally met on Saturdays at what is now recognized as one of the longest consistently run car shows. Now sponsored by an adjacent McDonalds, the event is called "Rock 'n' Roll McDonald's" in Scottsdale and is an ideal destination to see classic cars and motorcycles in a free open air event complete with 50's era music provided by "Party Time DJ's. An average event showcases anywhere from 250 to 500 cars and up to 150 motorcycles. In April, the Car Show starts early afternoon and we have arranged for our De Tomaso Car Show to be included at the event. This should be a special opportunity to display our machines before an extraordinary audience.

The Arizona Chapter is pulling all the stops to make this a standout event. Led by Arizona Chapter President, Gil Mares, a group of volunteers are working diligently to arrange an agenda that will optimize the fun factor. Jim Cozzolino has also been a champion for the Chandler location and is organizing the track events at Firebird Raceway. This track event may appeal to a wider audience as it not only includes a day on Firebird Raceway’s Main Road Course that includes a half-mile front straight; but, it also has scheduled an evening of drag racing at the Firebird strip, located at the same facility. The track event will be in conjunction with NASA using experienced corner workers and the requisite safety equipment. While we generally see a relatively small portion of our owners take to the track, I suspect many more will feel comfortable taking a pass or two on the drag strip. Whether or not you choose to participate in either event, spectating will be convenient as Firebird Raceway is literally just across the street from WHP.

The new Wild Horse Pass (WHP) facility offers a different Fun Rally dynamic than we have experienced in the past. First, the facility is new – only 2 years old. The Hospitality Suite opens to an outside patio that is adjacent to the pool area. Guests can take their drinks out poolside. We will have tables in the patio area and De Tomasos will be displayed and made available for public viewing. WHP also has a Casino, and is both close to the airport and local shopping.

We will provide secure parking for cars in an outside parking lot. However, covered parking is available without security should you prefer.

The Arizona Chapter continues to refine the agenda as the date approaches. A preliminary Agenda that outlines the timing of the proposed activities is available through this link at the POCA website. We will update this agenda as items come into focus:

http://www.poca.com/media/2012POCAFunRallyAgenda.pdf

New experiences currently on the Fun Rally agenda include:

• Drive to the Franklin Museum, Tucson, www.franklinmuseum.org
• Drive to Tortilla Flats, Goldfield Ghost Town, www.tortillaflataz.com
• Rustler’s Rooste, Dinner & Line Dancing, www.rustlersrooste.com
• Drive to Globe, an old mining town – Museum visit and lunch
• Drive to Penske Racing Museum, Scottsdale, www.penskeracingmuseum.
• Shopping in Old Town Scottsdale and Fashion Square, www.insider-scottsdale.com/old_town.htm
• De Tomaso Car Show at Wild Horse Pass or Other Venue
• Track Day Event on the road course - A Firebird Raceway
• Pantera Drag Race Event – Firebird Raceway firebirdraceway.com/web/streetdrags.html

Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino has set aside a block of rooms for us until April 2nd. Our single / double occupancy rate is $99 per night plus 12% occupancy tax. WHP does not impose a resort fee that we have paid in Reno. This discounted room rate is the same for weekdays and weekend evenings.

Make your reservations early. This is a smaller complex with only 242 rooms available. WHP sells out most weekends. You can always cancel with a full refund up to 48 hours before your confirmed arrival time.

You must contact the hotel directly at 1-800-946-4452 ext 4900 to make your reservations. Be sure to mention group code “POCA Fun Rally” for the group discount. Please be certain that the hotel registrar knows you are with the group as POCA is entitled to discounts based on the number of rooms filled and these discounts have been factored into our registration pricing.

This year’s event registration with arrival on Wednesday is $225 per adult. If your registration is postmarked on or prior to February 10th, 2012, the fee is discounted to $210 per adult. For registrations postmarked after April 2nd, a late fee of $15 will apply for a $240 total per adult. POCA members receive an additional $25 discount.

If you are arriving at the Event on Thursday, the registration fee is $190 per adult and for Friday it is $155 per adult. If there are minors in your party, please contact a coordinator for pricing.

Event information, updates, registration forms and payment through PayPal is available through the POCA website at www.POCA.com Please use the form at this site as the version that arrived in your POCA January Newsletter is incorrect.

Please plan early for an enjoyable week. Your early commitment makes it easier for the organizers and helps us plan a superior event. I recognize many do not have the flexibility at work to know whether they can escape until the last moment. I appreciate that as well and will have my fingers crossed that you will be able to join us at the 2012 POCA Fun Rally. I and the other De Tomaso enthusiasts, look forward to seeing you there. The more the merrier!

The Fun Rally is always a work in progress. If you have an opinion or suggestion, please let Judy McCartney or I know.

I look forward to seeing you this Spring. - John Taphorn

Fun Rally Update

We are proud to have Matt Stone Joining us at the 2012 Fun Rally and serving as our Keynote Speaker at the Banquet. Matt Stone is a freelance journalist, author, broadcaster and former Editor of Motor Trend Classic magazine. He has been a professional automotive journalist / photographer since 1990. He has served as Chief Class Judge at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, a judge at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, a member of the Le May America’s Car Museum Steering Committee, and officiates at other shows and events. Matt was formerly President of POCA and editor of Profiles. He has become one of the world's foremost automotive writers and has serves as a commentator at Barrett Jackson. It is a pleasure to welcome back one of our own!

Cordially

John Taphorn

Fun Rally Co-Chair

Progress continues on shaping the agenda for the 31st annual POCA Fun Rally in Phoenix Arizona at the Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino! Event registrations are well ahead of the previous five years and we have expanded the our block of rooms available at the resort to meet demand. The Resort will sell out all rooms for that weekend. Please reserve your room ASAP; you can cancel later should your plans change.

The Arizona Chapter has been busy modifying the planned drives during the Fun Rally to keep them a little shorter in view of the distance people drove to arrive in the first place. The tours to Tortilla Flats, the Penske Race Museum, and the private collection at the Scottsdale’s Automotive Museum sound like fun. Steve Ram and Joe Stockett from Arizona have reached out to the POCA Chapter Presidents to see which of their members would like to display their DeTomasos on the Hospitality Patio. If you haven’t heard from your Chapter Prez and would like to display, please contact them: Steve Ram’s Cell # is 602.432.2222 & Joe Sockett’s Cell # is 602.206.1809.

The stars are truly aligning as we will hold our Saturday car show in concert with one of the biggest informal car shows in the country, at the Pavilions in Scottsdale. When Phoenix was first announced as a destination, I received several e-mail regarding how cool it would be if this could be part of the Fun Rally. Fortunately, since it will be Spring, the Pavilion Cars Show happens mid afternoon; a time that would be untenable in the Summer. We are talking 100s of cars lined up for show and the opportunity for attendees to see Panteras in force!

Our new President, Les Grey is working on hosts for two tech sessions this year. Thursday’s tech session will be led by Baer Brakes and Friday’s tech session by Ron Davis Radiators. Perhaps, all you need to learn about stopping and cooling.

The Casino has organized our first POCA Poker Tournament for Men and Women. In addition, during Friday’s Tech Session, the Casino is sponsoring a free slot event for the ladies.

Judy McCartney has set up Karaoke for both Friday and Saturday nights in the Hospitality Suites. One evening may be held at the adjacent patio by the pool. I know that I would require a few glasses of courage to perform. Should be fun to watch.

Less than a mile down the road from Wild Horse pass is Rawhide. Rawhide Western Town and Steakhouse has been around for 39 years providing 1880's style family entertainment. This authentic frontier town is Arizona's largest western-themed attraction and has moved from Scottsdale to Wild Horse Pass on the Gila River Indian Community. It features gunfights, stunt shows, shootin' gallery, rock climbing, stagecoach rides, desert train ride, burro rides, live country music, Sundown Cookouts, a real blacksmith, and much more. The Resort runs a shuttle back and forth to the complex. If you are not eating at the Drag Strip on Friday night, you may choose to dine at the Rawhide Steakhouse.

Actually on Thursday or Friday, you may wish to dine either at Rustlers Rooste or Rawhide. Rustlers offer quality food and an exceptional view over the city.

Jim Cozzolino is organizing the track events at Firebird Raceway. This track event may appeal to a wider audience as it not only includes a day on Firebird Raceway’s Main Road Course that includes a half-mile front straight; but, it also has scheduled an evening of drag racing at the Firebird strip, located at the same facility. The track event will be in conjunction with NASA using experienced corner workers and the requisite safety equipment. While we generally see a relatively small portion of our owners take to the track, I suspect many more will feel comfortable taking a pass or two on the drag strip. Whether or not you choose to participate in either event, spectating will be convenient as Firebird Raceway is literally just across the street from WHP. Help Coz out by registering ASAP. He will need to balance space not taken by De Tomaso with NASA regulars. He needs the numbers to make this work financially; so, please register ASAP. Go to www.poca.com for all required forms.

Wild Horse Pass (WHP) is a new facility, and they have no problem selling out their rooms on the weekend, even when we are not present. Therefore, claim your room early or you risk not having a space at this facility and may need to stay elsewhere.

We will provide secure parking for cars in an outside parking lot which we will call the Pantera Corral. However, covered parking is available without security should you prefer.

The Arizona Chapter continues to refine the agenda as the date approaches. A preliminary Agenda that outlines the timing of the proposed activities is available through this link at the POCA website. We will update this agenda as items come into focus: http://www.poca.com/media/2012POCAFunRallyAgenda.pdf

Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino has set aside a block of rooms for us until April 2nd. Our single / double occupancy rate is $99 per night plus 12% occupancy tax. WHP does not impose a resort fee that we have paid in Reno. This discounted room rate is the same for weekdays and weekend evenings.

Make your reservations early. This is a smaller complex with only 242 rooms available. WHP sells out most weekends. You can always cancel with a full refund up to 48 hours before your confirmed arrival time.

You must contact the hotel directly at 1-800-946-4452 ext 4900 to make your reservations. Be sure to mention group code “POCA Fun Rally” for the group discount. Please be certain that the hotel registrar knows you are with the group as POCA is entitled to discounts based on the number of rooms filled and these discounts have been factored into our registration pricing.

This year’s event registration with arrival on Wednesday is $225 per adult. For registrations postmarked after April 2nd, a late fee of $15 will apply for a $240 total per adult. POCA members receive an additional $25 discount.

If you are arriving at the Event on Thursday, the registration fee is $190 per adult and for Friday it is $155 per adult. If there are minors in your party, please contact a coordinator for pricing.

Event information, updates, registration forms and payment through PayPal is available through the POCA website at www.POCA.com

Please plan early for an enjoyable week. Your early commitment makes it easier for the organizers and helps us plan a superior event. I recognize many do not have the flexibility at work to know whether they can escape until the last moment. I appreciate that as well and will have my fingers crossed that you will be able to join us at the 2012 POCA Fun Rally. I and the other De Tomaso enthusiasts, look forward to seeing you there. The more the merrier!

The Fun Rally is always a work in progress. If you have an opinion or suggestion, please let Judy McCartney or I know.