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Larry Chen from Hoonigan Autofocus is back in Alpharetta, Georgia visiting Randy Jaffe’s Nissan/Datsun collection. In this episode they discuss several historically significant Datsun 510 race cars. Enjoy!
On May 1-2, Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) hosted the Trans Am Speedfest at Laguna Seca. Z Car Garage was fortunate to participate and support several client’s Datsun 510 race cars running in B-Sedan Group 8. It was a great weekend filled with competition, camaraderie and plenty of Alfas, BMWs and Datsuns sharing the track. Enjoy our report with photos and exclusive in-car footage!
It is our pleasure to bring more enthusiasts into the world of vintage racing. Our services do include full race support and car-preparation to help make client’s race days seamless and worry-free so they can focus on driving. One of our specialties is dyno tuning. Before a race weekend we confirm that your car is running well and make necessary adjustments while on the chassis dyno. Below is a video of two Datsun 510 B-Sedans (Rob and Tom) and Kelvin in the second video on the dyno prior to the Speedfest weekend. Enjoy the sweet L-series music!
With ten Datsun 510s in Group 8 it was a Dime-lover’s dream to be in the paddock and watch the races. Although the event did not allow spectators, we’ve got you covered!
Let’s take a look at the Datsun 510s that we supported, beginning with our clients. All of our cars ran flawlessly:
Here is Kelvin’s re-telling of his race weekend with us:
“Driving Laguna Seca during the spring time is a wonderful experience in itself. Racing Laguna with other B Sedans in a well prepped 510 is a racers high on another level. Track conditions were perfect with sunshine and daytime highs in the mid 70’s. The weekend was uneventful as far as mechanical problems were concerned a fact that has not always been the case for me. 5 years and far too many let downs.
I have really never had a 510 that I felt like I could just drive at the limit with a fair degree of control. Z car garage has given me a proper race car. MOTOR, TRANSMISSION AND SUSPENSION have been sorted out and now the car could be driven at the limit. I finally was able to trust the car to steer correctly after full compression of the shocks and springs. The car was very predictable . I have also been working on getting use to the new dogleg transmission installed recently and finally have learned how to properly downshift thru the gears.
Saturday Race I started in position 8 and had a battle for every corner with David Murray in his BMW 2002. We pretty much changed positions for every lap. I was excited to have a car that I felt comfortable enough to go door to door racing with. David said that this is the best race he has had in years and I have to agree with him as we were duking it out. On the last lap, he left the door slightly open entering the Wayne Rainey curve and I took it. After passing him I knew that he would try to set me up for turn 11. Well, he did put his nose in there, and we both got thru 11 with me having a slight advantage. Drag racing down the straight bumper to bumper … Yep , the 510 came out ahead. Position #7
Sunday morning … a mix up with SVRA tech paperwork DQed me and put me at the back of the grid. I was listed as a 2L and need more weight to qualified as a 2L.Problem… My car has a 1800cc. In fact I could still loose a 100lbs. hey Rob and Josh next project….
Starting at the back of the grid was not where I wanted to be. So my start was going to have to be something else. Years of racing cars and karts have helped me on my starts. Well , I did get a good jump when the starter started to move his hands up. I dived all the way to the right of the track in turn one kicked up a little dirt and put the car exactly where I wanted on the outside of turn two (SEE VIDEO BELOW). Full power on the inside of turn 3 made me go from the last position to position #6 behind Tom Dockery. Whew…that was fun…We only got in 2 laps before the race was red flagged because of an Alfa who’s driver got out of his vehicle in turn 5. A big no no… Position #6
Overall, Rob was the winner, Tom finished #5 and little old me got a #6. I am still developing and learning how to drive this wonderful car. But what strikes me as a successful weekend is when everything just seems to go your way, the sun is shining and you are out with some great friends having FUN!!! This was accomplished only with the help and support of everyone at Z Car garage. The racing gods were smiling at me this weekend.”
Tom Dockery drove his Ex-Norm Balzer/Koobation 510. This car made its debut in May 2019 and we are excited to share its full story and profile Tom’s journey into racing.
“The SVRA TA Speedfest was so much better than I expected. Coming in I set myself up for disappointment, mostly because my last experience on Toyo 888Rs was so disappointing, almost scary. But my first practice flushed those fears away. In the first practice I beat my previous PR, breaking the 1:50 mark which I did earlier in the year on fresh R7s. Over the course of the weekend, I continued to set new PR’s finishing up on Sunday with a mid 1:48. I think the trick was me continuing to get comfortable with the new engine and the idea of sliding though a corner. There might have been some additional benefit of the small diameter Toyo tire giving me a final drive the fit really well with my speeds at Seca.
The run group was large with a strong mix of 510’s and 2002s. GTV accounted for just 2 of the 35 cars. Strangely the field set up with all the 510’s qualifying ahead of the 2002s for the most part. My experience with Steve Walker and John Murray suggests this was probably just drivers and not cars. Although I was able to keep reasonably attached to the top five cars (though Troy and Rob were pulling away at a steady rate) I really enjoyed watching my rear view in car video as Kelvin and I pulled away at a pretty good rate from the rest of the field ….. that was fun.My car was perfect, no issues and ran in top form all weekend long thanks to Josh and Rob.”
With the assistance of ZCG crew Josh and Keith we also supported ZCG owner Rob Fuller in the Bay Area Datsun Dealers tribute car:
Rob performed admirably with a fastest time of 1:44.068, here is his experience:
“SVRA is mostly an East coast association, coming out West a few times a year so we were happy to be a part of their events. This year they did back-to-back events with a weekend at Sonoma (unable to attend ) and Laguna Seca April 30-May 2. We supported three cars with Josh as crew and myself as driver/crew. All had a great weekend with each car running really well. SVRA rules require us to run a Toyo R888 tire, not as sticky as Hoosier R7s we typically use. Dockery and Kelvin finished in the top 10 with personal best lap times, I am really proud of them. On Saturday I finished right behind Troy Ermish.
“To be close to Troy was fun, because he can drive like hell. In Sunday’s race both of us were out in front, a good 3 seconds ahead of the 3rd place car when suddenly an Alfa oiled down the track outside of Turn 4. I saw Troy’s car move around, and then my car got loose. As he moved into turn 3 I a saw strip of shiny oil across the whole tack and as I changed my line to avoid oil I watched Troy go off outside of Turn 4. Most drivers would have tried to correct this and probably hurt their car…not Troy! He drove right through it, foot to the floor dirt-track style. For the next laps I didn’t look in my mirror, just drove the defensive line and hoped I could stay in front…as we approached Turn 11 I could see Troy throw his car into the turn but overcook it…we finished under yellow flag.”
Rob got the checkered flag finishing in front of Troy and took First place on the podium, though not under ideal circumstances…
“I don’t take it as a real win, even though I placed ahead of him. Troy is an amazing driver and I love the challenge he brings. I hope to enjoy many more races with him, under green flag conditions.”
You can see in-car footage of Rob below:
Rear view, same race from Rob. Catch more of Rob’s sessions on his Youtube Channel
Here’s is Troy’s in-car video from Sunday’s Race 2:
The Race 2 Results:
We hope you have enjoyed our report from the 2021 Trans Am Speedfest! SVRA did an amazing job with the event running like clockwork considering the sheer number of race groups. Kudos to them for excellent safety and organization. We hope October’s event with CSRG will be open to spectators!
Rob Fuller’s 1971 Datsun 510 is featured on the latest episode of Hoonigan Autofocus with Larry Chen. Take a glimpse of how Rob got his very first 510, the SR20DET swap and watch it in action. Enjoy!
Datsun 510s For The Win!
The vintage race season begins this weekend with the HMSA Spring Club Event at Laguna Seca. Z Car Garage is racing and providing support for three Datsun 510s; all having participated in previous events like the HMSA Driver Appreciation, John Morton Cup and David Love Memorial at Sonoma Raceway.
Full race preparation (dyno tuning/alignment+more) and trackside support are services we offer our clients. Let’s take a look at the Datsun 510s that we prepared.
Kelvin had a really successful race weekend at the CSRG David Love Vintqge Races in Sonoma back in July. Unfortunately at ‘Seca his engine failed after a short time on track. We installed a fresh Rebello engine with dyno tuning so Kelvin is ready to rock this weekend. Stay tuned for a full report!
Tom Dockery is running the Ex-Norm Balzer/Koobation 510. This car made its debut in May 2019 and Tom continues to improve his craft with each event. His 510 is running a refreshed Rebello L18 with dyno tuning:
Tom is also running our Z Car Garage CV Axles in his 510:
Rob Fuller will be in the Bay Area Datsun Dealers tribute car with a fresh Rebello L18 and dyno tuning:
Enjoy the sweet dual-Mikuni music on the dyno:
Z Car Garage is really excited to be racing this season and share the experience not only with clients but our audience as well. This weekend’s HMSA event is closed to spectators but you can count on ZCG to bring you sights and sounds through our social media outlets. We look forward to seeing you in the paddock when the restrictions are lifted. #DoItInADatsun
If you are a fan of Datsuns and John Morton, The Stainless Steel Carrot is required reading. The essential nonfiction book by motorsports journalist Sylvia Wilkinson follows the true story of up and coming racer John Morton during his 1971-72 championships that turned Datsun and Brock Racing Enterprises (BRE) into household names. For the first time since publishing in 1973, the book will be released digitally on April 5th. If you want to pre-order your own e-book copy, visit Carrara Media now.
This is great news especially if you were not lucky to grab a hard copy of the book. We don’t blame you, as prices of the print versions are fetching almost $300 now. Who knows, maybe Sylvia and John can electronically sign your E-book edition! While you are getting your copy, check out these autographed bookmarks and commemorative postcards:
We have been fortunate to gain their friendship over the years:
At 79 years of age John Morton is still formidable behind the wheel.
Here is an extended video with in-car footage of John dicing it up with Porsche RSRs and BMW CSLs…Long Live The Z!
Enjoy these photos of John and Sylvia we snapped at various racing events. Sylvia amazingly is still immersed in racing.
Without spoiling the behind-the-scenes level of detail Sylvia reveals in The Stainless Steel Carrot, she can still be seen clocking lap times for John:
Official press release from Carrara below:
LONG BEACH, Calif., March 8, 2021—Carrara Media will publish the classic motorsports book The Stainless Steel Carrot, by motorsports journalist and author Sylvia Wilkinson, in digital eBook format for the first time.
Releasing in eBook exclusively on April 5, 2021, The Stainless Steel Carrot provides unparalleled access behind the curtain of a championship-winning race team and its star driver, John Morton, chronicling their adventures during the 1971-72 SCCA seasons in iconic vehicles such as the BRE Datsun 510, Datsun 240Z and others.
The eBook is open for preorder now at CarraraBooks.com. In the near future it will also be available wherever eBooks are sold. Excerpts are available for publication by request.
Wilkinson, a longtime advocate and care-provider for animals of all kinds, is donating proceeds from the sale of The Stainless Steel Carrot to animal welfare organizations.
“I never pass up a chance to provide financial aid for food, shelter and care for the wild and tame critters of the earth,” Wilkinson said.
The Stainless Steel Carrot was originally published in 1973, with an expanded version publishing in 2012. However, both of these print editions are now extremely rare and difficult to find. They frequently command prices up to $300 in online marketplaces. This will mark the first time that The Stainless Steel Carrot has been published as an eBook, at its most affordable price ever, with hopes to inspire a new generation of automotive enthusiasts.
“Nearly 50 years later, The Stainless Steel Carrot is as relevant as ever due to Wilkinson’s tireless on-scene reporting,” said Ryan K. ZumMallen, president and founder of Carrara Media.
“There is still nothing like The Stainless Steel Carrot, and now it will be available to modern audiences at its most affordable price ever. We are honored to play a role in preserving this classic tale.”
The Stainless Steel Carrot was written over the course of two years, during the 1971 and 1972 racing seasons. Wilkinson embedded herself with the Brock Racing Enterprises team, an upstart band of characters with big dreams and motor oil in their veins. Their leader – Pete Brock, a hard-charging former designer who penned such automobiles as the Shelby Daytona Coupe, and the man in charge. Their star – John Morton, a young driver with glasses and a mop-cut who captured consecutive SCCA championships in the pursuit of motorsports stardom.
Against this backdrop the BRE team hustles to achieve greatness, fend off hungry rivals and establish themselves and the Datsun 510 as forces to be reckoned with. Wilkinson deftly captures their feverish work, all while painting these real-life personalities with depth and compassion, relating their hopes, their fears, their celebrations and frustrations with the craft and care of a premier storyteller.
Racing fans the world over have enjoyed The Stainless Steel Carrot for decades.
The Stainless Steel Carrot is available for preorder now at CarraraBooks.com
