• An Image Slideshow
  • An Image Slideshow
  • An Image Slideshow
  • An Image Slideshow
  • An Image Slideshow
  • An Image Slideshow
  • An Image Slideshow
  • An Image Slideshow
  • An Image Slideshow
  • An Image Slideshow
  • An Image Slideshow
  • An Image Slideshow
  • An Image Slideshow
  • An Image Slideshow
  • An Image Slideshow
  • An Image Slideshow
  • An Image Slideshow
  • An Image Slideshow
  • An Image Slideshow

If your not on the edge, you're taking up space

If your not on the edge, you're taking up space

Upcoming ORR Events:

Big Bend Open Road Race
Past; next race TBA
We have 14 guests online
steer1.jpg

Favorite TPR Speed Class
 



NEWSFLASH

2018 TPR Sponsoship

katch environmental logo

We wish to thank Katch Environmental for sponsoring Team Pantera Racing in this year's Sandhills Open Road Challenge and Silver State Classic Challenge.  This marks their fourth year of sponsorship.

2014 SSCC Prep PDF Print E-mail
Written by Administrator   
Tuesday, 09 September 2014 07:13

Team Pantera Racing member Mark Skwarek was unable to bring his Pantera to the 2013 running of the SSCC but has pulled out all the stops to make sure he's there in 2014.  After a prolonged build to some serious race specifications, Mark has the new engine installed and roaring to life:

 

Wow, now doesn't that sound great?   The rest of the team can't wait to see Mark in Ely Nevada in just over a week.

Meanwhile, John "JB" Bentley is working furiously on fuel delivery in his Yellow Pantera, waiting for next Wednesday when Asa Jay "AJ" Laughton will be flying in to meet the team and assist.  Unfortunately AJ won't be driving this year.  It's also rumored that Team Pantera Racing Veteran Erik Belter may be accompanying the team as well, though he too may not be racing.


Dennis "Mad Dog" Antenucci will be returning again to lead the team, bringing with him the latest sponsors of Team Pantera Racing, "Katch Envoronmental."

Last Updated on Monday, 29 September 2014 20:46
 
2014 Primary Sponsor PDF Print E-mail
Written by Administrator   
Monday, 18 August 2014 05:50

Katch

Team Pantera Racing would like to welcome Katch Environmental as their premier sponsor for the 2014 Open Road Racing season.  Katch Environmental is a Disabled Veteran Owned business in Fresno specializing in Mold inspection and remediation, Lead inspection and abatement, and Asbestos abatement.  They are also licensed in General Contruction and Engineering.  Their sponsorship in 2014 will help Team Pantera Racing members attend the Sandhills Open Road Challenge in Arnold Nebraska, and the Silver State Classic Challenge in Ely Nevada.

Katch Environmental is owned by Paul Katchadourian, a man who introduced himself to classic fun-to-drive cars at the age of 16 when he purchased a Datsun 240Z with money he saved working on a grape farm.  Later, Paul joined the Army, spending four years in the Special Forces, earning a position as a combat diver, also serving as a Paratrooper and qualifying and serving with the Green Berets.

After his military service, Paul pursued a new plan, attending Fresno State while raising two daughters with his wife.  He went on to own Katch Trucking and over 15 years provided transport services for food grade juice products between locations in Mexico, the U.S.A. and Canada.  Looking for a change of pace, Paul decided to sell the business and do something new.

Prompted by a mold problem in his own house, Paul attended a school for mold inspection and remediation in the state of Washington eventually deciding to turn that knowledge into a business.  While building his new venture, Paul expanded into being a State of California Lead Inspector/Assessor and General Construction, Asbestos abatement.

Paul's company, Katch Environmental, was awarded the hazardous abatement contract on the first 29 mile segment from Madera to Fresno of the California High Speed Rail project; known as Contruction Package 1 (CP-1).  Eventually the High Speed Rail will travel more then 850 miles from San Fransisco to Los Angeles with additional extensions planned to Sacramento and San Diego.

Many of Team Pantera Racing's members have also served in the military; some serving during times of war.  Racing Panteras has become a passion for these men and it was with great pride they accepted the sponsorship from Katch Environmental.  They are even trying to get Paul Katchadourian re-interested in classic cars enough to come out and race with them.

Team Pantera Racing managed to draw four slots at this year's Sandhills Open Road Challenge and is working to field three or four Panteras at the Silver State Classic Challenge.  Sponsorship money helps offset some of the costs for travel and lodging for these various events.

With the Katch Environmental sponsorship Team Pantera Racing is looking forward to another good year.

Last Updated on Monday, 18 August 2014 17:58
 
2013 Year in Review PDF Print E-mail
Written by Administrator   
Saturday, 30 November 2013 13:55

Mark (The Professor) Skwarek took home the 2013 Iron Man Award for beginning the Open Road Race season with a trip to Ely for the running of the Nevada Open Road Challenge.  He then attended the Silver State Classic Challenge later in the year along with Dennis (Mad Dawg) Antenucci, and Asa Jay (AJ) Laughton.  To round out the year, Bob (Rowdy) Radefeld took on the Sandhills Open Road Challenge and Bob Benson took on the 2013 Optima Challenge.

The Gary Hall Memorial Award for 2013 went to Asa Laughton for his second Silver State race, similar to Gary, having driving the Pantera to and from the event as well as racing in it.  the SOBill award went to John Bentley, who supplied TPR headquarters in Ely even though his Pantera wasn't ready.  Both he and Peter (the German) Menyhart, attended as a support group in the September race.

Proving once again that a 40 year old vintage sports car is capable of dishing it out, each Pantera entered this year finished their race. 

The 2014 season is already heating up, with word from Bob Radefeld that three Panteras have made it through the selection process for the SORC.  This is the harderst race to get into since there are a limited number of entries allowed.  It's nearly a crap shoot every year when TPR members try to enter.  Next year should be a banner year for TPR at SORC.  The lineups for NORC and SSCC are still in flux.

The surprise this year was an invitation from Optima Batteries to Bob Benson and his killer Black Pantera.  Bob held his own against much newer cars that certainly outperformed the older Pantera, but Bob's driving skills showed it takes more than just hardware to make it all happen.  You can read more about his adventure on the Lateral-g Network.

Last Updated on Monday, 30 June 2014 14:01
 
2013 SSCC Mad Dawg Through Narrows PDF Print E-mail
Written by Administrator   
Thursday, 24 October 2013 18:08

One of our members at large from Japan managed to catch this video of Dennis (Mad Dawg) Antenucci coming out the Narrows at this year's Silver State Classic Challenge.  Enjoy.

 

Last Updated on Thursday, 24 October 2013 18:11
 
2013 SSCC Results PDF Print E-mail
Written by Administrator   
Saturday, 28 September 2013 13:14

The 2013 running of the Silver State Classic Challenge was ultimately attended by two Panteras and an overall team of six.  Team Pantera Racing president Dennis (Mad Dawg) Antenucci hauled in from southern California picking up Peter the German on the way, while Asa Jay (AJ) Laughton drove his Pantera to the event with his Dad, Bullet.  John (JB) Bentley drove the mobile TPR headquarters to Ely, while Mark (The Professor) Skwarek flew in and ended up navigating for a fellow competitor.

Although TPR had been planning and working to have five Panteras at the event, in the end tough decisions were made to leave some at home.  When a car isn't ready... it's not ready and there is no reason to push it, sacrificing safety or reliability just to race.  For various reasons this left the team with two competitors, Mad Dawg and AJ.  This didn't stop everyone's enthusiasm, despite record rains in Ely over the four days of the event.

Rain seemed to be the order of the day, every day.  From the time team members began showing up Wednesday night, all through Saturday, rain was an intermittent reminder that summer was on the way out.  The Pantera's were prepped and teched Friday.  Mad Dawg managed to beat AJ through tech and get his covered, while AJ ended up being at the front of the tech line when the next downpour arrived.  Several minutes later the tech team decided to come out and finish Asa's Pantera.

Saturday brought the car show and it began pleasant enough with breakfast provided by the Lion's club.  The weather cooperated for a long time, even though JB continued to check the forecast on his iPad.  Peter the German set up his film equipment and took shots of the Panteras coming and going, and even managed to catch the Ely Ghost Train.  We're still not sure it showed up on film, which might just -prove- it's a real ghost train.

The team of all six guys were nearly constantly together, prepping the cars, shooting the breeze, hanging out or having a meal.  Asa Jay's Dad, Bullet provided some great stories of his days in the military, flying various jet bombers in his career.  Between he and Dennis, there was no lack of conversation and the team really enjoyed having him there this year, and are hopeful he can make it back next year.

Sunday morning came and it was time to race.  Peter was going to drive Dennis' truck the long way around to the finish line.  Bullet had been set up to drive another competitors truck but at the last minute they had a mechanical failure of their race car and headed to Vegas in the hopes of fixing it.  So Bullet rode with Peter and helped set up the film equipment at the finish line.

Dennis and Asa met at TPR headquarters at about 0515 and after checking final items, headed out ahead of the caravan to Lane's Truck Stop.  From then on, it was race day.  The weather was beautiful; in the low 50's, clear, cool, and crisp; perfect for a race.  As the time came, each participant was directed out to stage at the start pits, where Mark Skwarek and Asa Jay were able to get a few more shots of the team just before the race.

 Mad Dawg just before the Start Line

AJ in the start grid

At the finish line, we found Dennis came in with the highest average speed in his class, proving once again it's hard to catch an old dog in a Pantera.  Meanwhile Asa Jay didn't do too badly, finishing below target this year (instead of way ahead).  Maybe next year he'll get it right.  Results can be found on the Silver State Classic Challenge web site.

Even though both Panteras finished the course, there was doubt along the way if it would happen.  In the last 10 miles or so of the course, Dennis began experiencing a fuel supply problem.  For some reason the High Volume Bosch fuel pump was losing pressure, and at a certain pressure drop the computer would shut down the engine.  There he was, like Bullet back in Vietnam, the engine is out, speed dropping quickly.  Would fuel pressure come back in time for a restart before he dropped below tech speed?

Yes!  As soon as Dennis saw the fuel pressure was back up, he'd fire the engine and get back up to speed and then some, making up for the average loss.  He would go through that same exercise a half dozen times before the finish line came into view.  Despite it all, the Dawg showed his perseverance in finishing the race, and did so with the highest average speed in his class.

While Dennis was getting the Pantera ready to roll onto his trailer past the finish pits, Asa Jay was having a concern of his own.  After driving some 800 miles in the Pantera to the event without any problems, as soon as he got above 100 MPH the car began to shake.  In those first few miles past the start line he had seriously considered shutting it down and pulling off to sit the rest of the race out by the side of the road.  He monitored oil pressure and temperature, and prayed.  Whatever it was, wasn't getting worse and there were no "bad" noises coming from the engine, so he pressed on.

AJ managed to keep it all together, including a 130 MPH run through the measured speed trap.  The last few miles were hairy with regards to timing.  When he finished, he figured he was off time by about five seconds.  When the preliminary results came out, it turned out he was spot on his estimate.... about 5 seconds too slow.  That evening, he and Bullet sat down at the Hotel Nevada for dinner and race results while Peter, Mad Dawg and Mark attended the banquet in Vegas.  AJ and Bullet then drove the Pantera back home without incident or vibration at all. He'll be troubleshooting that little problem this winter.

Many of the team members took photos, but only a few are posted so far.  You can view them here.


For more information on how you can join us next year, contact us.

Last Updated on Monday, 30 June 2014 14:06
 
<< Start < Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next > End >>

Page 6 of 10
 
Joomla 1.5 Templates by Joomlashack