The middle child

One thing about the early Datsun Zs, was that you either loved the 280 and wanted a 240, or was it the other way around.  But the dirty laundry that was a 260 was left out to hang.  So picking one of these up is pretty reasonable and since it probably won’t be missed, modifying them isn’t much of an issue.   Behold the new adventure.   

It begins with L

Santa san dropped off a package for the next adventure.  The dark side is strong with this one.

JCCS 2015 Fo' Sho'

Visiting car shows is not a yearly pilgrimage, for me, unlike others in this automotive game.  Just seems boring see same cars and people year after year.  So when I can't remember when the last time I went to a JCCS show it's about time.

Classical Z

A classical video for a classic Z

Motivation

Doesn't it get you all excited to drive?

Related articles

• Impossible driving (themantraatsmm.wordpress.com)

The Varietta

I'm a big fan of Knight Rider. The music seems fitting for the video.

Related articles

• Knight Rider Theme Battle (battlegrip.com)

East Meets East Coast

 

 

A fox body Ford Mustang, fitted with an R32 Skyline body kit.  If you're in the east coast and really, really  interested, it's for sale on ebay.  Better hurry it's closing soon.

Related articles

• 2013 Ford Mustang: More Power, Sharper Styling (ridelust.com)

RWD Meet

I don't know who may even remember this meet, since it was small.  A few years back, it was all about Honda, drag racing, and shows.  A small number of rwd enthusiasts decided to make a meet dedicated to import rwd cars.  It was mainly Toyotas with a sprinkle of Nissan.  I found a couple pics I took at the event.

Let the rumble begin.

Being the motorsports spectator that I claim to be. The season of motorsports is in it's early blossom and I must head out to the smell of race gas and burning rubber.  I love the rumble of the V8 with cars tidy paint jobs.  But thanks to Steve C. for the ticket, I am able to fulfill my motoring passion.

Drift Day prequel

Mark H. from Slide Squad

Before the drift days, there was Club4ag and Speetrial USA. Back then it was the diehard Corolla drivers from Club4AG making out to Speedtrial USA events. Back then it was all about Hondas, car shows and drag racing.  The little known technique of drifting was only known to the circuit racers and underground canyon runners. On cool day at Buttonwillow raceway in 2000 or was it 2001, north and south corolla drivers, with a few 240SX sprinkled in, met for drift action.  Back then none of the local track officials, nor the traditional grip drivers had no clue of what drifting was about or the firestorm that it was about to create in the industry.

I found some old photos of the event and scanned them in.

2 Skylines and a Starlet

JDM Legends from Josh Clason on Vimeo.

With a Celica in a cameo appearance. Really well done video I found at JDM legends blog. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Z, vroom, & sakuras

 

Classic S30 Fairlady Z.  Revving it's 6 cylinder engine and driving through the cherry blossom trees.  I like this video

Related articles

• Cherry Blossom Cocktail (bettyconfidential.com)

Before ASB

Back before ASB was an idea. Many of us use to run SpeedTrial USA events. Being they were track enthusiasts they knew about drift and were really cool about it. Found some old fotos some of the old events.


Benson H. with his Sileighty. He's a family man now and has lots of resposibilities. So doesn't have much time for cars and stuff. Really cool to see him at the track so many years later.


Charlie O. with his old coupe. His license plate was DRFTHVN. When I first saw it, I was thinking Dr. Foot Heaven. Next to him is Taka A., in his Corolla,taking the inside line for the pass. I think Charlie had a KA24DE back then.


Moto M. and his very nice Corolla with a Levin front end. Now he's big pimpin the Lexus.

Before Cressida, Hiro S. used to rock the Corolla. Then he was kidnapped and brainwashed by aliens and realized drift cars needed to have 4 doors.

Related articles by Zemanta

• ASB investigates Lynx Dry ads featuring women who 'look hot wet' (mumbrella.com.au)

The color purple

No I didn't watch the movie, but I did observe many things purple.


Subaru Legacy. At a glance I thought the driver looked like Jesus.


Mazda RX7. Looks like a pick up.


Nissan 240sx. Tough call, it could pass for pink.


Naoki's phone. He finally got paid and got himself a working blackberry.


Purple wheels, cute.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Black to Love (on-purpose.blogspot.com)

All Star Bash 2010

Streets of Willow Springs, one of my favorite local tracks, a place when drifting was in it's infancy, it was frowned upon and black flags were thrown out like bras at a Tom Jones concert. Years later it's become main stream and now drifting is back at streets. I missed last year, but this year I definitely didn't want to miss.

Benson H. going out on track.

It was true bliss when I returned, kinda like returning to my roots of drifting. I felt like i was in a time warp, so many o.g. cats were in stopped by, though not all were drifting. Benson H., Charlie O., Alex P., Andy Y., Marc M., Sean L., Naoki K., Taka A., Antonio A., and Hiro S. if I forgotten sorry.

Some token Corollas

Back then it was all Corollas and the token 240's of Charlie and Benson. Now it's like bizarro world, where 240's are the majority and a few token corollas.

But no matter I was there to drive.

Do you remember the movie Mad Max. I wish I thought of that paint scheme.


Though I couldn't get my eyes off of this. 8 cylinders, 2 turbos, and 1 carburetor, in a 2000 lb. chassis. According to the owner it's about 400 hp.


Yeah this says it all.


Here's the rest of the pics

Related articles by Zemanta

• SAMMY HAGAR's Cabo Wabo Birthday Bash Dates Announced (bravewords.com)

Slide Squad

How many still remember these O.G. cats.


Mark H. Nissan 240sx coupe.


Dave S. Honda Civic.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Right Now on Horror Squad (cinematical.com)

Hella drift willow springs

When you don't wanna travel to the east coast to hang by the wall, or chill at a parking lot in venice beach california. What else is there to do. Well if have no life but lots of tires, then you'll find yourself at willow springs california. Where flush and drift join forces, schmoozing track officials with barely legals and a water bottle full of vodka.


The event was small numbered but full of corollas, with one token 240 guy.




The most Levins (and 1 faux) i've seen since in one event.


Even a TE72 reppin. And that is a girl showing off her skills.


It looked kinda pissed don't you think?


This duo was impressive the whole day. I hear their home course is Adams kart track, and it was their first time at the balcony. But they were driving like they owned the place. Keep it up!

Definitely alot of fun, even though it was a 100 deg. that day.

To enjoy the rest of the pics here.

Related articles by Zemanta

• So This Is How Shopping Carts Wind Up All Over The Parking Lot (ridelust.com)

Stopping by for a visit

Just Drift kingpin Charlie O. decides to crash on my weekend cause he likes breaking his Nissan. Traveling an hour just to see the master (me) for a fix. Or I was the only sucker who was willing to help him that weekend. He was in a bit of pickle since he had some sort of demo to do the following day.
Thinking it was a straight transmission swap, I was cool with it. And since it's been quite sometime since we chatted it was good to see him again. But then again I think the master was turned the fool since the transmission he got was for KA and he's rocking SR. So an extra step of swapping the bellhousing was in order.

But in the end the transmission install wasn't going as planned and totally kicked my ass. I felt more like a noob by the end of the day. And the body will aching by the next day. I'm getting too old for this 5h!7.



Yet the next day another cat I haven't chatted with in a while decides to call the master for a fix.



Do you remember these vehicles. If you don't it's o.k. Anyways this is good friend Andrew L. Typical hardworking chinese guy who claims he don't have money, he just stuffs it under the mattress. But he isn't like some who likes to front with their baller BMW and Mercedes trying hard to look like somebody. He still owns AE86 in fact he owns two of them.


Unfortunately one of them broke a timing belt. Take note, this is what happens when stretching the almighty dollar goes wrong. Luckily owners 4AGE are immune to interference engines. No bent valves or busted up pistons to worry about. Thanks Mr. Toyoda for looking out.


After about an hour, it used to take me 1/2, it was all fixed. Anyways here's a bit of drift history lesson here. Does anyone know the history of the red car on the left? Answer: The car used to be owned by Geoff W. (thedingo8mybaby). He won one of the early drift day comps against cars that had 2-3 times the power, the typical 240sx with SR power. It was a complete stock engine with probably 108 hp, if the conditions were right. It had a well sorted suspension and drivetrain, and a talented driver behind the wheel. Remember power is nothing without control.


I hope you're weekend was more relaxed than mine.

Related articles by Zemanta

• More on Malaria in a Warming World (dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com)