I want to start off by thanking everyone who showed up for the ZONC Z Car Corral on Saturday.  It was a pleasure to see all of you!!

The weather was perfect early on Saturday and I was pleased to see that we had 8 cars a the shop ready to join us on our caravan down to Laguna Seca to meat up with the rest of the group.   Unfortunately the most of the drive to the track takes place on Highway 101 so there isn’t much room for spirited driving, we still managed to get to the track in under an hour and a half.

Once arriving it seems like the rest of the car clubs enjoy getting up much earlier than ours did because all of the other corrals from Porsche, BMW, Ferrari, and others were already nearly at capacity.  Porsche had the most cars by far, easily understandable because they were the featured marque this year.  When will it be Nissan/Datsun’s time!?!?  Are you gonna show up when it happens?  I sure am.

While the practice sessions were underway in the morning hours we walked the paddock area in search for automotive gold.  There are amazing cars at every turn at this event, and you don’t even need your sense of sight to appreciate them.   I can’t even count the times that our group stopped by a running car just to listen to the engine note and to smell the burning race fuel.

After lunch we settled into our seats just outside of turn four to enjoy the racing.  While we appreciate the older racing cars that were up for the first few races, we were simply patiently waiting for the last two races of the day which were the 1964-1971 FIA Mfg. Championship cars (mainly Porsche 917s) and the 1981 -1990 FIA Mfg. Championship cars and the IMSA GTP cars.

You can imagine that when seriously priceless cars are raced that the track time is little more than glorified pace laps,  NOT TRUE!!!!  The cars were wheel to wheel in every sense and there was certainly rubbin and bumpin going on.  The drivers wanted to win, after all when would all of these cars ever be on track again together?  It was truly a sight to behold.

I have found a video of the winner of the IMSA GTP race and it can be viewed after the “read more”.  The video is taken from inside the pilot’s driver’s helmet.  I want one of these cars.  There is also a gallery of the photos that I took on Saturday (the only day I attended unfortuantely.)  I will try to find photos from Sunday from someone who attended.  Hopefully we can get our group numbers a little bit higher next year to show how much support is out there for Nissan/Datsun products.  See you there.

(the photo below was of a really clean 240z that was just sitting by itself in the vendor’s area, we had to check it out.  haha)

Complete gallery and video after the ‘read more’

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We love adding goodies to the ZCG 370z but it is tough to keep up with it because business is as busy as ever!!  This last week though we were finally able to install the Hotchkis swaybars that have been waiting in the wings.

The new bars are of a tubular design (hollow, to save weight) in 35mm and 27mm front and rear receptively.  They came with all the bushings and parts to make the install as easy as can be.  As you can see from the comparison photos below they are certainly beefier that the outgoing stock units and they now have a durable anthracite powder coat finish.

The car feels a bit more planted with noticeably less body roll which is always nice, but we really need to get the car out on track or at least to a local autocross to give some serious feedback.

If you are interested in ordering any suspension parts for your Z or G send Rob an email at Rob@zcargarage.com

I have updated a few things that you might want to know about:

New Email Address!!  ZCarBlog@gmail.com

I just added this so that you could email me directly without going through Rob if you so wish.  Feel free to send me any of your thoughts or harassing emails.  I appreciate them all.

I have updated the “For Sale” page a little bit as well.

• The ZCG G35 Twin Turbo now has a new price of $26,000 (practically a steal for what was invested)

It has also received new Michelin PS2 tires in the rear, new brakes on all four corners, undergone the full 60K mile service, and been upgraded with an iPhone/iPod integration system in anticipation of a new owner.

• The White 1973 240z has gone on to a new home.  Congrats to the new owner.

• The Wide-body G35 Twin Turbo has been taken off the market, the owner was just too attached to let it go.

That’s all for now.  More updates later today and over the weekend.

Taken from Nissan Press Release:

Following the total redesign of the iconic Z® for the 2009 model year, changes for 2010 are minimal – an enhanced Nissan Navigation Package with XM NavTraffic® Real-Time Traffic Information (XM® subscription required, sold separately), Bluetooth® Streaming Audio and automatic phonebook download (select phones), 9.3GB Music Box Hard Drive and a Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System.  The 2010 370Z Coupe also receives standard heated mirrors and in-cabin microfilter, along with one new exterior color.

Revisions for 2010 include:

• Standard heated outside mirrors
• Standard in-cabin microfilter
• Navigation Package adds Bluetooth® Streaming Audio and automatic phonebook download (select phones)
• iPod® connectivity is changed to USB connectivity
• Black Cherry exterior color replaces Chicane Yellow

The most interesting part of this for some of you is the color change.  The Chicane Yellow was never a very popular color for most of the people that I have spoken to since the car was released.  It seems that now Nissan agrees.  Even better is that they have replaced it with Black Cherry.  Everyone loves the look of the Anniversary 350Zs with a similar color.  Now is your chance to get the 370z in the color of your dreams!!

On to the Roaster info and pricing.

Nissan Press Release:

The 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster is offered in four models.  The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices* (MSRP) start at $36,970 USD for the 370Z Roadster 6MT and $38,270 USD for the 370Z Roadster 7AT.  Also offered are two Touring models, which add a 6CD Bose^® audio system, XM^® Satellite Radio (XM^®Bluetooth^® Hands-free Phone System, HomeLink^® Universal Transceiver, aluminum-trimmed pedals and power leather-appointed heated and cooled ventilated net seats.  The 370Z Touring Roadster 6MT is priced at $40,520 USD and the $370Z Touring Roadster 7AT is $41,820 USD.

Two option packages are offered (Touring model only): the Sport Package, with 19-inch RAYS forged wheels and Bridgestone Potenza tires, Nissan Sport Brakes, SynchroRev Match (6-speed manual transmission only) and Viscous Limited Slip Differential; and the Navigation Package, with Hard Drive-based Nissan Navigation System, 9.3GB Music Box Hard Drive and USB connectivity. subscription required, sold separately),

So it looks like a Touring Roaster is going to cost just about the price of a NISMO?!?  is that crazy to anyone else?  Do you remember why the Z went away in 1996 for the USDM?  Outrageous pricing.  I know the new Z is a HUGE improvement over just about anything else on the market today but I would hate to see such a great car disappear again because no one can afford it.

What do you think?   Am I overly critical of the pricing?  We’ll have to wait and see how many they sell I guess.  (Let me know if you want to see the sales numbers, I have access to them)

Source: NissanNews

Here is the next set of photos from last year’s Historics weekend.  These are most of the ’50s and newer cars.  I have two more sets coming of Trans-Am/Can-Am cars as well as some really cool vintage open-wheel cars.  I hope that a few more of you have signed up through the ZONC website.  We really want to represent the Z as much as possible so please get your tickets and meet us here!

We will also be planning some sort or cruise down to the track on Saturday for the corral.  I’ll have some more info on this soon.  Have a great weekend and make sure you see all of the photos after the ‘read more’.

Link:  Z Owners of Northern California (ZONC)

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