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<DIV>2011 POCA FUN RALLY<BR><BR><BR><BR>Planning and preparation for the 2011
Fun Rally celebrating the Pantera's <BR>40th birthday is well under way.
While I am writing this the first week of <BR>January and the Rally is scheduled
six months out, June 8th through the <BR>12th, the folks who make it all happen
are busy working away.<BR><BR><BR><BR>Bob Reid has worked with Circus Circus,
the host hotel in Reno Nevada, to <BR>finalize contracts, the Saturday evening
banquet menu, event pricing, <BR>registration forms and other
details.<BR><BR><BR><BR>Mark McWhinney has updated the POCA website to capture
the latest <BR>announcements and establish the capability to access forms
on-line.<BR><BR><BR><BR>Judy McCartney is preparing the registration packets,
badge colors and <BR>organizing a Thursday evening visit to "Catch a Rising
Star" comedy club.<BR><BR><BR><BR>Jack DeRyke is brainstorming ideas for the
Saturday Tech session and keeping <BR>Mark McWhinney's and my feet to the fire
on timely announcements, like this <BR>one, for the POCA
Newsletter.<BR><BR><BR><BR>Larry Finch with others at PCNC is busy spearheading
the orchestration of <BR>the PCNC Reno Fernley Track Event. The track is
under new management, and <BR>as many already know, this is simply one of the
best road courses available <BR>that is suited to the Pantera. If you are
a road course enthusiast, this is <BR>hands down better than the Vegas
alternatives. The Road Course is long and <BR>straight enough to let a
Pantera stretch its legs. It is a terrific track <BR>for both drivers and
spectators.<BR><BR><BR><BR>Jim Nowlin, our local go-to guy, is working with the
city of Reno to secure <BR>permits for the Plaza in Downtown Reno for our Car
Show. Rob Pink and <BR>Orville Burg of Space City Panteras will host and
coordinate the Car Show. <BR>This includes properly staging the cars; selecting
personnel to direct and <BR>position the cars, orchestrating the top of the hour
synchronized engine <BR>rev, providing dash placards for the participants and
directing cars off the <BR>Plaza at it conclusion. The Plaza has proven a
worthy setting for the <BR>display of De Tomasos for the community. Our
"top of the hour" engine rev <BR>was a delight to all in attendance and an
audible announcement that the big <BR>cats can roar.<BR><BR><BR><BR>Jim is also
working with the National Automobile Museum to plan a private <BR>dinner affair
on Friday evening. We are returning to the museum after a two <BR>year
hiatus. This Museum houses the best of the Harrah auto collection and
<BR>its inventory of cars changes periodically. Frankly, the portfolio is
so <BR>vast that few had an opportunity to take it all in on our last
visit. This <BR>will be among the highlights of the Fun
Rally.<BR><BR><BR><BR>We are enhancing our effort this year to better
communicate the availability <BR>of activities for spouses at the Fun Rally who
prefer non-automotive themed <BR>entertainment. This was suggested as an
opportunity for improvement to <BR>event organizers. Jim is assisting with the
discovery process in this <BR>exercise.<BR><BR><BR><BR>Keeping him busy, Jim
will again be leading a spirited drive through the <BR>Sierra Nevada hills to
Sierra Butte that will allow you to drive your car <BR>the way it was meant to
be enjoyed. It's about 71 miles and 90 minutes each <BR>way. This is the
activity last year that saw one of De Tomaso's new <BR>marketing consultants
hanging out of their van in a harness filming Panteras <BR>at triple
digits. It was wild. You'll do lunch at a folksy local's <BR>restaurant in
the town of Bassetts. The roads are fun and the scenery is
<BR>spectacular!<BR><BR><BR><BR>Bill and Montse Hohnhorst have been an
inspiration and we are putting <BR>together a drive around Lake Tahoe that will
stop at impressive historic <BR>homes with incredible vistas over the
Lake. The homes are open to the <BR>public, offer tours and may provide an
awesome setting for a De Tomaso group <BR>photo op.<BR><BR><BR><BR>For the more
adventurous, we are looking into a Truckee to Tahoe river <BR>rafting
adventure. Is there a better way to get intimate with the <BR>environment
and enjoy the spectacular local scenery? OK, don't answer
that.<BR><BR><BR><BR>John Schirmer, Bill Harris and Kent Snyder have already
been working for a <BR>couple of months to find historically significant De
Tomasos to feature in <BR>the Hospitality Suite. I believe that they have
more to say either in this <BR>Newsletter or a forthcoming Profiles; I do not
wish to steal their thunder. <BR>However, I am confident that they would welcome
your insight as to suitable <BR>candidates to complement their effort. If
you know of a fine example, it <BR>may even be yours, please let one of them
know the owner's name and the <BR>model. They will sort through the
nominees and ultimately present <BR>invitations to the owners. It will be
quite an honor to be featured in the <BR>Hospitality Suite. They do not know of
the whereabouts of all the cars <BR>however, and would benefit from your
help.<BR><BR><BR><BR>Chris Kimball of NW Panteras is working with a boat company
that operates <BR>Catamaran Tours on Lake Tahoe. Despite less than perfect
weather last year, <BR>it was a satisfying experience. The late morning
cruise on beautiful Lake <BR>Tahoe will be followed by lunch on land. The
drive to the Lake is lovely <BR>and the view from the Lake is
extraordinary.<BR><BR><BR><BR>Jim Cozzolino and Mike Thomas are hard at work
reaching out to vendors <BR>soliciting donations for the wonderful Raffle that
concludes our Saturday <BR>Evening Banquet. The Raffle has become a
tradition at the Fun Rally and has <BR>been POCA's best fund raiser. Last year
was over the top as generous <BR>contributions from Steve Wilkinson, Larry
Stock, Dennis Quella and many <BR>others contributed to a record level of ticket
sales. Steve Wilkinson, who <BR>also sponsored the surprise appearance of
Santiago De Tomaso, donated over <BR>$9000 of parts and accessories. His
generosity was exceptional and served <BR>as the catalyst for a record level of
ticket sales and funds raised.<BR><BR><BR><BR>George Pence of Pantera
International and Jim Cozzolino, are organizing the <BR>spectacularly fun
Go-Cart Competition for Thursday evening. What can I say; <BR>everyone who
participates has a blast on the slick track. Participation <BR>grows every
year that this competition has been on the calendar. POCA's <BR>thanks to our
comrades at PI for hosting this event.<BR><BR><BR><BR>This is the 30th time that
Fun Rally enthusiasts of the De Tomaso marque <BR>have gathered together to
celebrate one another's camaraderie while enjoying <BR>their De Tomaso.
Yes, it is the 30th Anniversary of the Fun Rally. The Fun <BR>Rally was
conceived by Kent and Sandy Snyder in 1981 as a Chapter drive to <BR>Las
Vegas. It grew quickly in popularity and through their leadership with
<BR>the support and assistance of others expanded to become one heck of a party
<BR>and quite a legacy.<BR><BR><BR><BR>So, with all this effort being expended,
I realize that you are wondering, <BR>"What can I contribute?" You are the
most important ingredient in this mix. <BR>We need you to participate in the
Celebration. Please register early!<BR><BR><BR><BR>Circus Circus Hotel has
set aside a block of rooms for us until May 11th. <BR>Our single / double
occupancy rates are $57/per night in the North Tower <BR>Thursday, $87 North
Tower per night Friday and Saturday, with a $10 per <BR>person per night charge
for the third and fourth person in the room. The <BR>rates do not include a
13.5% room tax and a Resort Fee of 4.99 per night. <BR>The Resort Fee is new and
includes wireless internet in your room, unlimited <BR>local calls, Valet
Parking, in-room coffee, access to fitness center, $55 in <BR>Circuc Circus Reno
Funbucks Coupons and more.<BR><BR><BR><BR>These room rates expire Saturday, May
8th, so make your reservations early. <BR>You can always cancel with a full
refund up to 48 hours prior to your <BR>confirmed arrival time. You must contact
the hotel directly at <BR>1-800-648-5010 to make your reservations. Be
sure to mention group code <BR>"Pantera Owners Club of America". Do not
say "POCA" as that has been <BR>misconstrued (i.e. Polka) in the past and we
have not gotten full credit. <BR>The cost of our Hospitality Suite rental is a
function of how many rooms our <BR>group reserves. Please be certain that
the hotel registrar knows you are <BR>with the "Pantera Owners Club of
America".<BR><BR><BR><BR>This year's event registration will remain $200 per
person. If you make <BR>your plans now or register prior to March 25th,
2011, the cost is discounted <BR>to only $175 per adult.<BR><BR><BR><BR>Event
information, updates, registration forms and payment through Cedit <BR>Card or
PayPal is available through the new POCA website at <A
href="http://www.poca.com/">www.POCA.com</A><BR><BR><BR><BR>Please plan early
for an enjoyable week. Your early commitment makes it <BR>easier for the
organizers and helps us plan a superior event. I recognize <BR>many do not have
the flexibility at work to know whether they can escape <BR>until the last
moment. I appreciate that as well and will have my fingers <BR>crossed
that you will be able to join us at the 2011 POCA Fun Rally. I and <BR>the other
enthusiasts, look forward to seeing you there. The more the
<BR>merrier!<BR><BR><BR><BR>We hope that you will join us in celebrating the
Pantera's 40th anniversary, <BR>the Fun Rally's 30th anniversary and each other
for our role in keeping the <BR>cars worthy of road and competition through the
years.<BR><BR><BR><BR>The Fun Rally is always a work in progress. If you
have an opinion or <BR>suggestion, please let Judy McCartney or I
know.<BR><BR><BR><BR>I look forward to seeing you there.<BR><BR><BR><BR>John
Taphorn<BR><BR>Event Co-Chairperson<BR><BR></DIV><BR>
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