Comments on: Another brand bites the dust

By: Anthony (@PTaruffi)

Anthony (@PTaruffi) — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 15:31:10 +0000

http://www.forix.com/8w/questor.html
1-sentence mention of the JYS-AJF test there; from that and the grid times one can confirm the 7-second gap. I remember the quote as “If your bloke can’t do a ’42, he should get the sack!” A top U.S. road racer (probably George Follmer, judging from the language used), was then quoted as saying “A.J. oughta slug the little bastard in the mouth for making a crack like that!” Fun days to be a race fan!
No connection to illustrious Piero, just a whim, and I’d surrender the tag to the lady if asked to. Salutes from Boston.

By: Colin

Colin — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 09:34:08 +0000

Thanks for the confirmation Anthony.

I recall reading it at the time in MN, MS, or Autosport (actually, it must’ve been AS, Jenks would not have included it in MS!)

Was it really as much as seven seconds, how embarrassing for the illustrious AJF?

I think it was the Questor GP, as reported here…

http://counter-x.net/f1/questor/index.html

Whilst trying to work out your connection to PTaruffi I came across Prisca’s site here:

http://priscataruffi.it/prisca/museo.html

Be warned Gentlemen, it has red cars driven by a pretty Italian Lady!

By: RickeeBoy

RickeeBoy — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 02:02:16 +0000

Mate bought a cheap Panterra for 13K (Sterling) and although a bit agricultural, as I was into Sports Cars I just loved ( and drooled) the way the whole rear end body work tilted up and revealed a back end just like a CanAm car, and as per others here the car died at a Petrol station and after an hour of hunting for the battery we gave up. ( inside bulkhead behind seat) Sold immediately after for 20k making instant 7k – Ahhhh the power of buying cheap and reselling.

By: Anthony (@PTaruffi)

Anthony (@PTaruffi) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 23:22:48 +0000

LOL you remember that too! Actually, poor by-then-potbellied A.J. Foyt was the victim of that 7-second humiliation in 1971.
As to Piers Courage’s Zandvoort death in the deTomaso, that fiery calamity was a huge trauma for Sir Frank, and unknowingly a rehearsal for the even-worse horror of Roger Williamson’s death there 3 years later.

By: Keith

Keith — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 22:00:52 +0000

Ah memories…. (Back to the mid 70’s). I was living in the South of France, working, and my first car was a Renault 8, very cheap, boring, and ugly. My next car was an Innocenti de Tomaso. Red, with black trim. Brand new. It was the Italian version of the UK Mini Cooper. It went like a rocket, and as for pulling, or encouraging the opposite sex, it was like a magnet. Wish I never sold it. Looked great, but yes, it did fall apart a few times, but then again that was also a nice talking point for the opposite sex, easy chat up lines. Been Italian, been Red, and of course breaking down, and my Italian been crap, it did lead to some interesting times.

Off subject, but I do believe that Joe has a birthday coming up soon. So is one staying in and saving up for all that extra tax you are required to pay now, or pushing the boat out?

By: FuelGreener.com

FuelGreener.com — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 17:01:48 +0000

@FastNick The 928 nearly bankrupted Porsche? Really? I have one and have read loads about their development etc and have never once heard that.

Given how many manufacturers are gradually migrating towards developing electric cars, and given how there’s been a healthy injection of sex appeal in the offerings of the electric car industry of late (Tesla, Rimac, Fisker etc) a smart move may have been to reposition Pantera among the vanguard of sleek but silent supercars. After all, unlike all the others, it would have had a singular advantage – heritage…

By: John (other John)

John (other John) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 12:59:58 +0000

No, no! If Dani Behr had been running Lotus, it might have stood a chance:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dani_Behr

By: Colin

Colin — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 12:41:34 +0000

I’m old enough to recall the impact the Formula 2 De Tomaso made, giving Rindt, Regazzoni, and Cevert a vigorous wake up.

I don’t recall JYS trying the F1 version, but I do remember he would jump into any car offered him in the pits, and give it a whirl.

On one occasion, in the US, he was casually asked his opinion of the McLaren M10B, and after a quick spin in his opponents car, set a very fast time, and this verdict;

“If your man can’t get within a second of that time, give him the sack!”

Imagine, Horner asking Lewis to try out the current RB, at last week’s GP?

Were those THE days?

Perhaps…

By: John C.

John C. — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 12:07:30 +0000

Same car, different market, different name.

By: TokyoSpark (@TokyoSpark)

TokyoSpark (@TokyoSpark) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 09:30:25 +0000

I saw that Geneva prototype… no wonder they failed. What they should have done (and everyone who heard about it chimed in) was to revive the Pantera styling in a modern chassis, as was tried with the Stratos.