Dear Zcarblog readers, it’s been a busy year and we are catching up on blog posts. Please enjoy our belated race report from November 2023.
WE LOVE RACING! On November 10-12 we attended the Velocity Invitational at Sonoma Raceway. Z Car Garage had a blast racing and supporting clients in Group 6 (1968 – 1978 IMSA GT Cars), Group 9 (ALMS) and Group 10 (Mini vs Mustang Enduro). This vintage racing event was just as fun for spectators with a friendly, immersive vibe. Enjoy our report from the weekend with photos and in-car video of the action.
This very special Porsche is the 2006 FIA European GT3 Championship winning car that was driven by Sean Edwards. It is a 997 GT3 Cup S Prototype and our client Kenny Tse raced it in Group 9 (ALMS). Listen to this car on the Z Car Garage dyno below!
#78 IMSA Porsche 911
Z Car Garage prepared and provided trackside race support for our client Kelvin Tse and his IMSA Porsche 911, running with the Z cars in Group 6.
Mini Vs Mustang Enduro
Rob Fuller and Greg Hoff raced a Mini Cooper against Mustangs in the Group 10: 1960’s Mini Vs Mustang Enduro, this was an action-packed group!
Race car driver, restorer and Datsun Historian Glenn Chiou raced his FAR Performance 240Z. This Z has a very rich racing history, driven in the 70’s by Loren St. Lawrence in VIPS Restaurant livery.
Racing With Group 6 IMSA
Photo by Chris Constantine
Group 6’s IMSA cars were dominated by big-power Porsche 911 RSRs with a few BMS CSLs and four S30 Datsuns. Rob Fuller ran the #49 Joel Anderson IMSA GTU Datsun 240Z joining Dave Stone’s 260Z, Gary Cook’s CP 240Z and Glenn Chiou’s’ 240Z:
#49 IMSA Joel Anderson GTU Z
This was Z Car Garage’s third time running the Velocity Invitational event. Enjoy Rob Fuller’s race report with video below…
ROB: “The IMSA GTU Z made a switch this season from Avon to Goodyear tires, and it’s really been quite amazing. You have to remember that all of the suspension on this 240Z is what Joel ran in 1981, and it still rocks. Group 6 was fun and I was in the mix with legends…spent the last 20 years attending the Historics watching Bruce Canepa in his Porsche 935, Ken Epsman in his DeKon Monza, the Greenwood Corvette…just unreal to be actually racing with them!”
ROB: “My personal best lap time was 1:46 and I think that is the highest finishing Datsun 240z ever in that group. Shoutout to Glenn Chiou in the BADD Z he kicked some ass, Gary Cook brought out an old CP car and Dave Stone was in his GTU 260Z.”
Enjoy these shots of the #49 car in action by photographers Kris Poulin, Chris Constantine and Charles Frerking:
Video!
We have in-car video from Rob in the Joel Anderson IMSA GTU 240Z and Group 6 racing action below, volume up and enjoy!
Sunday Race:
Catch some Turn 2 action HERE and watch more of Rob’s racing adventures on his YouTube Channel.
Z Car Garage Trackside Race Support Services
ROB: “ZCG provided trackside support for 4 cars. Kelvin in IMSA 911 and myself in G6, Kenny in G9 ALMS with a bunch of 996/997 Porsche Cup cars, Ford GT’s and really cool metal. They all had a blast. We changed up a few things on the IMSA 911 and solve some issues that came up at Rennsport so he was able to have a good time at Velocity.”
Kenny with his 997 GT3 Cup car and first time on track since 2018. Z Car Garage prepped the car with fluids and dyno tuning, and wow what a car:
ZCG is always willing to lend a hand to fellow racers, like Dave Stone:
Mini Vs Mustang Enduro
ROB: “We also ran a Mini with Greg Hoff in the Enduro. The Mini kicked our ass all weekend and we had to do an engine swap (thanks to Nick for the assist!)…we had electrical woes. British Steel really challenged us and thanks to the ZCG crew we were able to catch the last Enduro race and take the checkered flag.”
Paddock Action
Enjoy this video highlighting the Sonoma Raceway paddock with race group walk-throughs, engine sounds and more:
Exotic cars
There was no shortage of rare and exotic cars from well-known and upcoming supercar marques. Guntherwerks had their 911 Speedster and McLaren showed off an incredible display of F1s mixed with newer models:
Privateer Spirit
Our friend and Datsun Historian Glenn Chiou raced his FAR Performance 240Z. It’s worth noting that not unlike privateers of the period, Glenn builds his race cars, maintains and manages racing efforts himself. Not an easy task so we applaud his work ethic. Glenn builds some beautiful Datsuns and we will highlight his B-Sedan 510 soon!
A Fan-Friendly Race Event
Formerly known as the Sonoma Speed Festival (2019), the Velocity Invitational re-imagined the vintage race experience with a Goodwood-inspired vibe that we enjoyed at the 2022 Velocity Invitational. One of the best experiences for spectators is the paddock and organizers made access to drivers and their machines seamless. Fans could get up close and personal with race cars without the typical ropes or 45-foot RVs in the way:
ROB: “First time running at Sonoma for us with VI, since we missed the inaugural event in 2019. Jeff O’Neill ‘s event is first class and reminds us of what the Rolex MMR used to be. So much excitement in the air…when you drive in people would be everywhere. Thanks to Jeff, Ryan Turri and Ardelle Lind for accommodating our needs.”
“They have done an incredible job making the guests and fans welcome. Organizers created a memorable experience, down to the driver’s meeting and we really enjoyed the paddock design, signage, F1 energy. All three days there were lines to get into the event! More driver amenities like the lounge, food and drink…ZCG’s first shop helper Jeff Garcia and his company was in charge of coffee/drink services at the event, small world!”
The hot pit area where all run groups stage before heading out to the track is an amazing place to be. Typically, access is only granted to pit crews and media. At the Velocity Invitational however, organizers staged a “false grid” where any spectator could walk amongst the race cars.
If you want to see action from the event in its entirety, check out Goodwood’s live streaming coverage of Day one and Day Two. Huge thanks to Meghan Fuller for capturing photos/videos for ZCG. More photos in the gallery below!
ZCG Race Crew
Huge shoutout to the Z Car Garage race crew including Josh, Meghan, Nick and Cooper. We are grateful for your support, keeping us safe and on the track!
Racing into 2024!
Thank you Velocity Invitational for an incredible event. We look forward to running with you again. Join us for the 2024 race season starting March 1 with SVRA at Thunderhill. See the ull race schedule below and LONG LIVE THE Z!
At Z Car Garage we love keeping Z’s on the road. From concours-level restorations to light refurbishments, making a client’s goals reality is our passion. Gary Roser brought his 1978 Datsun 280Z from Monterey, Ca for a full restoration, ZCG-style. Our Z Car Garage Big-Brakes, Z Car Garage CV Axles along with a new drivetrain, full suspension and body restoration transformed this S30.
Our journey with Gary began 15 years ago and blossomed into a strong friendship. Gary and Rob recall their first meeting:
Gary: “In Oct/Nov 2007, after selling my ’99 Corvette I went online looking for Z Car restoration shops. I called Rob and introduced myself and discussed what he could do for me. Obviously he was very cautious in his response and made no promises. He also stated that he would have to see the car before he would consider taking on the job. My next move was to drive to San Jose and meet him in person. Needless to say I was immediately impressed with his shop cleanliness and the scope of his business. He also impressed me with his no-nonsense approach to our discussions and pulled no punches. Also, as a retired Marine, I noted with some degree of amusement his individual shop uniform. Fortunately for me he gave me a thumbs up, had it towed to his shop and off we went!”
Rob: “Gary came to ZCG when I was very young in my business ownership and asked me to restore his ‘78 280z. We were going to restore it as if Nissan didn’t have a budget. At the time we were really into the C8 Panasport wheels, doing 3L engines, KA24 5-speeds, and suspension work etc. I wanted to build Colonel Roser a car that we could both be proud of.”
He bought this Z brand new 1978 and absolutely adores it, being an integral part of his life for decades! Before going into the restoration work let’s take a look at the story behind Gary’s Z and his airborne career…
Fighter Pilot, Z Pilot
Gary: “I bought the car on June 4, 1978 at Terry Allen Autos in El Cajon, CA (just east of San Diego). The original window sticker, faded, but still readable: $9543.00. While shopping to replace my wife’s Ford station wagon with a Datsun 510 wagon I saw my black 280Z in the showroom. I needed that car like a hole in the head, as I already had a 1968 GTO convertible, stick shift, with air conditioning, that I had ordered just prior to leaving Vietnam in June, 1968. Anyway, I made an offer to buy both the Z and the 510. It took a lot of sweet talking to convince my wife that it was a good deal! I drove the Z regularly the first couple of years, putting 13,000 miles on in the first year”
“In February 1980, I received orders to move up the I 5 to MCAS El Toro, and back into a flying billet, flying A-4 Skyhawks. We bought a nice home in Mission Viejo and life was good. Then the winter rains came. We had a two car garage and the Z and the GTO occupied both stalls. It was a hard decision, but I put the GTO up for sale. I took command of Marine Attack Squadron 311 (Call sign Tomcats) in May of 1981. For my birthday, my wife got me the California License Plate: 311 TCATS which remains on the car today!”
“In the spring of 1982 I was approached by Jim Lau, the owner of The Foreign Works auto shop in Lake Forest, CA where I had been getting the Z serviced, about installing a turbo on the car. With 48,500 on the odometer, it was turbocharged with about 10 PSI of boost. I finished up my tour in 311, and then received overseas orders to Japan in July 1983. In July 1984 I returned stateside with orders to Washington, DC. I flew the family and pets to Virginia and then drove the Z across by myself. In 1986, after being promoted to Colonel, I fell in love with the new C4 corvettes, and just had to have one.” Below, Gary with his 280Z and C4 ‘Vette:
“After 4 years in DC, we headed back out to California for my final tour as Commanding Officer of Marine Air Group-42, located in Alameda. The Z Car had about 90,000 miles on her and the trip west was a hilarious adventure. As an aviator I was very used to radio communications, so I equipped all three cars with CB radios: I drove the corvette, my 18 year old son drove the Z, and my wife, daughter, and animals were in the OLDS. Needless to say, radio discipline broke down numerous times on the trip. I tried to keep everyone on a discreet channel, but the ladies liked talking to all the truckers. We safely made it to Alameda, and I spent the last two years(1988-90) flying my ass off. I had several squadrons in the air group, including a helo squadron. Not having any helo time prior to then, as Group Commanding Officer, I was able to get a little over 100 hours of helo flight time and I grew to have great respect and appreciation for their type of flying-it was a great way to finish my aviation career.”
“I retired from the USMC and moved to Monterey, Ca in the fall of 1990 to take a staff position at the Naval Postgraduate School as the assistant Dean of Students for International Affairs. I bought a 1999 C5 Corvette convertible which became my primary driver and while I maintained the Z with regular checks, she sat most of the time. I needed to get rid of one of them and agonized over that decision. The Z car was in bad shape, rust and engine issues, and tired after 113,000+ miles, but my 27 year attachment kept tugging at me, and I just couldn’t let her go. I made the decision to sell the ‘Vette, and started looking into restoring the Z car. And that is how I met Rob Fuller…”
Above: The 280Z prior to restoration in 2007. Let’s dive in to the work…
Body/Chassis
We began the restoration process with body and chassis. Gary’s 1978 Datsun 280Z had severe rust issues. Many would have written this car off due to the extensive repair it needed but Z Car Garage and Williams’ Auto Body were tasked with the job of saving it. Photos below show multiple problem areas including frame rails on both sides, lower and upper radiator support, the quarter panel just under the rear quarter windows, door jams and rocker panels on both sides. More photos of the rust repair can be seen HERE.
Gary wanted the Z painted black and William worked his magic in 2009. The result was stunning, and remains just as slick to this day:
The front/rear bumpers were re-chromed. Following the body repair and paint, PQR-15 was applied to the interior and underside. We bagged/tagged every nut/bolt for plating along with fresh hydraulic lines:
Newly plated parts and suspension being mocked up. We love the gold (hydraulic) and silver (fuel) lines against the gorgeous black paint in the engine bay:
All front and rear suspension parts were powdercoated with struts/coil overs mocked up. Note additional plated hardware:
Drivetrain
Replacing the L28 in Gary’s 280Z is a 3.1L Rebello engine using factory fuel injection. Below you can see how the unsightly stock intake manifold was transformed into a thing of beauty…
Engine bay completed. See more in-progress photos in the gallery below:
To handle the power from the 3.1L engine we replaced the stock transmission with a Nissan KA24 (FS5W71C) transmission. This was a common swap (before the CD009a came to market) performed by modifying a 280Z L-series bell housing. The KA24 unit is significantly stronger than early S30 transmissions.
When we upgraded the transmission we also installed a JWT HD clutch with aluminum flywheel. Helping put the power down efficiently is a Quaife LSD. The R200 houses a 4.11 R&P assembled in-house (by our very own Joshua Corwin). Rounding out the drivetrain upgrades are a set of Z Car Garage CV Axles (shown below)
The factory EFI was updated with a fuel pressure change and custom tuning of the MAF. Gary’s car ripped, with the 3.1L making 190hp/205tq at the wheels… fantastic for a factory EFI car back in 2007. After driving and initial break-in we performed a valve adjustment and it just shined. It was awesome to see the Colonel driving and enjoying it again!
Interior
Following the body/paint restoration Gary visited Z Car Garage and he would find interior upgrades on other client/project cars for his 280Z:
“Over the next 5 years more work was done and “upgrades” became a common occurrence. I was like a kid in a candy store-let’s do Recaro Leather seats, power windows, power door locks, and hey let’s do power steering (absolutely love it). And a whole host of other things, including Autometer gauges recessed into the dash which I saw on another Z in Rob’s parking lot of Z’s.”
A complete dash restoration was performed with full HVAC/ducting and A/C refurbishment:
Autometer gauges, fresh wiring and re-furbished center console:
The power window and door lock conversion with more plated hardware:
Recaro Specialist seats in leather are our favorite upgrade to the S30 interior. Gary enjoys modern creature comforts like Bluetooth, back-up camera, power steering and full sound system:
The A/C compressor was upgraded to a Toyota unit that we like to use. All weatherstripping was replaced:
Suspension
The chassis was treated to a full suspension rebuild with new parts, bushings, Ground Control coil-overs (Koni struts with our spring rates) and ST sway bars front and rear:
Z Car Garage Big-Brakes
Gary has our ZCG Big-Brake kit. Not to be confused with our current Z Car Garage Big-Brakes (for small wheels), this Big-Brake kit was our initial setup from over a decade ago. This 328mm sized kit requires 17″ diameter wheels and the massive ST-42 calipers are finished in bright red. We actually did all the R&D in-house for this setup…using a 280ZX master cylinder and our own mounting brackets.
A few more detail shots of the Big-Brakes, they really pop behind the black Panasport wheels:
Gary also got a set of our custom Panasport Racing C8 wheels. These 3 piece, 17×8 wheels allowed fitment of a 255/40/17 tire under stock fender flares:
When ZCG was starting to build a series of RB-powered S30s, Rob brought in a pallet of C8 wheels destined for the builds. Gary wanted a set so we hooked him up and his desired black spokes with black anodized lip and hardware. They look great on his Z:
Our Z Car Garage CV Axles help transmit power to the ground and ensure smoother operation compared to your standard half shafts. We have over 200 CV axle kits on customer cars and we are stoked with all of the positive feedback.
We built Gary a set of CV Axles, shown below:
Details
The little things are what we excel at. All window trim including quarter windows was powdercoated black at Gary’s request. This general “blacked-out” look was a point of contention:
Rob: “We had so many arguments over it…he wanted everything ‘murdered out’ and I suggested keeping the chrome/stainless, We fought tooth and nail and he always won…Gary outranks me since he’s a Colonel and I’m a civilian.”
The blacked-out theme carried on to many exterior parts like tail light bezels, side marker housings and the Z Car Garage license plate frame…even the white lettering changed to black:
The 280Z’s front/rear bumps did remain chrome after re-finishing. Below: More plating and hardware details:
HID headlights. Please check the gallery below for more detail shots, there are too many to list in this blog post!
Enjoying The Ride
With the restoration completed, we drove down to Monterey and delivered the 280Z to Colonel Gary:
Gary enjoyed driving the Z for a few years. It was hard not to grab attention with this s30…people were intrigued with the wheels, stance and of course that blacked-out look:
Gary: “Let me mention here that I get compliments on the car practically every day, many from thumbs up or yelling from cars and motorcycles in moving traffic. Quite often folks want to see the engine, and when I raise the hood, people remark that it looks like a factory install and are absolutely amazed at how beautiful it is. William’s paint job still looks amazing as well. I constantly get quotes like ” I used to have one of those, I am so sorry I ever got rid of it”; “what a beautiful Z, I just don’t see them on the road anymore”. Best one though, was “Yes, I had one until one night I wrapped it around a tree and almost killed myself, but it was my favorite car”. And when I tell them I am the original owner they are blown away.”
In ~2015 a persistent electrical issue was traced to the wiring harness which led to an unorthodox (but exciting) solution:
Gary: “I was frustrated after the electrical problems. Rob explained to me we had to use a 1978 wiring harness to make everything work. As I recall we changed out 3 wiring harnesses and even sent the computer module to San Diego to be reworked. Rob actually went to the Central Valley and purchased a 280Z for parts, so as to get another wiring harness. At that point I was thinking of other options and approached Rob about doing an engine swap, but that is a story for another day! “
Rob: “We located an unmolested harness and still couldn’t get it sorted. Colonel said ‘I love this car, but since we can’t solve this gremlin I want to do something different with it’. Years ago we were not into V8 Z cars until the LS-based engines came around. Perfect power delivery and balance…it just works in Japanese (and other) platforms. We had done Ben Sutton’s LS-powered FD RX-7 and it worked really well with incredible torque. The Colonel talked us into it… ‘There’s two loves in my life: I love my corvette and I love my Z car.’ We had to bridge the two together for him.”
LS3 V8 Power
Gary: “Well, after three tries I just didn’t see a way forward with the Nissan motor, and asked Rob about doing a V-8 conversion. He had not done an engine swap, so he was cautiously optimistic about trying one. In his typical attention to detail fashion, he did a lot of research, found a way forward, and off we went. Lots of growing pains, and a few curve balls, but the end result has been spectacular!”
Rob: “We did an LS3 swap, our first V8 S30 conversion ZCG performed start to finish. Super proud of it. There were some initial teething issues: a larger twin-fan radiator eliminated cooling problems and our upgraded ZCG CV Axles solved axle issues. We de-tuned the LS3 to give the Colonel a Z car that is fast but but also reliable.”
The LS3-crate motor came with a warranty from GM and weighs less than the L-Series engine it replaced. Engine and 6-speed transmission were installed using the Hoke Performance kit:
The larger, twin-fan radiator and A/C plumbing and wiring:
Ovalized exhaust from headers to catalytic converter help with ground clearance:
Dyno Tuning
The LS3/6-speed T56 drivetrain was dyno tuned after installation, making 405hp/410tq at the wheels, a significant increase of 115hp/206tq compared to the L-Series:
Enjoy this video with dyno run, in-car driving, cruising and fly-by action with Gary’s LS3-powered 280Z:
We love how happy Gary is with his V8-powered Z:
Gary: “The car is an absolute gas to drive. I will tell you up front that it is not a refined ride. The suspension is tight and pretty stiff, but gives you great road feel. The T-56 6 speed transmission, mated to the LS-3, required some getting used to, but is solid and efficient. The turning and maneuvering capability of the car in its two dimensional environment is terrific. It reminds me of when I did aerobatic maneuvering in the A-4 SkyHawk! What can I say about the power and torque the engine puts out-405 HP at the wheels!”
“I have had my way with a lot of other fast cars, and even a motorcycle who tried to take me on, who have no idea what is under the hood of my little Z Car. (Sometimes the wide tires give me away!) Best acceleration is in 2nd and 3rd gear. I don’t like to take it much over 90 mph, because the front end gets a little lifty. (I have over 4000 hours in fighter and attack aircraft, and I know what lift off feels like, so I don’t need to get airborne again!)”
Thank You Colonel Roser
Rob:“We have so many great stories with Colonel Gary. He’s more than a client, somebody we really admire and look up to. Such a fan of his. My father was so proud to be a Marine and Colonel understood this with his Military background.”
Gary: “I will be 81 in May and I don’t see another adventure like this one in my future so let me comment about Rob Fuller and his Z Car Garage. We have been friends now for 15 years. We have been on this journey together, through all the ups and downs and twists and turns. He has been there for me every single time, night or day. I just can’t imagine there is another car guy out there who would have had the compassion and understanding to shepherd me and my Z Car through this adventure.”
Below: Colonel Gary Roser and Rob on May 23, 2023
“Over these 15 years I have watched his business expand and grow, and am amazed at the breadth and width of his knowledge and his reputation in the auto industry. His leadership skills and the way he runs his shop is suitably impressive, and he has good people working for him. And, by the way, he is a pretty topnotch driver as well. With him at the wheel and aggressively putting my Z Car through its paces, I am reminded of my fighter pilot days when I could fly an airplane like he drives my car. In another time and place I would have been honored to have him fly on my wing.”
Jack Atkinson, friend, extraordinary designer, fabricator and creator of the Primadonna Z, left this world on July 15, 2022. He was 68. Jack and his wife Yolanda have been a part of our lives since the beginning of Z Car Garage. We send our deepest condolences to Yolanda and their family.
Being lifetime members of The Z Owners of Northern California (ZONC) and supporting our shop along the way, we are forever grateful to them. This is our tribute to you, Jack. We miss you and know you are out there Enjoying The Ride!
Design and Fabrication
In the automotive space, Jack was a visionary designer and self-taught fabricator. Many enthusiasts in the Nissan/Datsun community to this day are still impressed with his iconic “Primadonna Z” based on the 1970’s Datsun 240Z sportscars. This is a very special Z car with a history that will be shared in a (deservedly) separate blog post. Briefly, Jack Atkinson built three totally custom 240z cars in the early 80’s. In 2021, Z Car Garage helped reunite Jack and Yolanda with his first Primadonna Z build:
Heavily influenced by the wild IMSA Z ‘s and Porsche 935 bodywork, Jack hand-fabricated the body pieces and affectionately named the cars “Primadonna Z’s”. Only three Primadonna Zs were made. This red car is the first one Jack built, here is a period photo of it:
Jack would go on to build and eventually sell the Primadonna kit, spawning black and white versions:
The whereabouts of the black and white cars have been fairly well-documented over the years, eventually landing (and thankfully) in the hands of caring owners. The white car (known as Jettlag) and red car (known as Z Bait) are currently with Eric and Allison Knutsen of Southern Florida Z. We have so much to tell you about this car’s history, from its current whereabouts back to inception in the skillful hands of Jack. For now, a nice primer can be seen HERE.
Datsun Destiny
Thirty-six years later Jack was reunited with his first creation, Primadonna Z #1. The Z arrived at Z Car Garage and we were able to get it started and take both Jack and Yolanda for a spin. It was incredible to see this Z in person and even sweeter to witness the reunion. This would be Jack’s last ride in the car he built by hand before he passed.
Here is short video of Rob and crew getting the Z started and rolling on the street:
Back in Z Game
After a 20 year hiatus, Jack’s creative mind and passion urged him to get back into modifying Z cars. This time he chose the Nissan 300ZX (Z32) as his canvas, building two “Primadonna Z32” sportscars.
The first Z32 was a 1993 convertible (above) that was transformed into a widebody with several iterations of livery, wheels and color schemes. That was Jack: always seeking to improve his designs:
“I wanted to take an already nice looking Z and make it look like a super car. Even though this car is a one off, my insurance is the complete set of molds, from which the components you see were made. I made the fiberglass molds from the hand-sculpted prototype body of wood, aluminum, styrofoam, fiberglass and bondo. Body components were constructed using hand laid S-Fiberglass, Carbon Fiber and Kevlar and rolled out with a high temperature resin.”
The build started in July of 2005 under a canopy in his backyard and took 6-months to complete-including paint. Below, build documentation and the Primadonna Z32 in all-black:
The second Z32 was a 1996 Twin-Turbo with only 13,400 miles on it. This stunning ZX was one of the last Z32s to roll off the line (#247 of the last 300) and Jack’s hand-made body-work highlighted the car’s lines, while leaving the ‘looks-new’ interior in full view through the windows and t-top. Jack garnered many awards for both Primadonna Z’s including Best of Show and First Place at ZDay in Pismo Beach:
Jack’s LS3-Powered Z32
Jack developed a love for Corvettes and we helped him bridge his passion for the Z by performing an LS3 engine swap into his Primadonna Z32 Convertible. This was a dream come true for Jack, earning him a prize in the Z32 Ultra Modified category at ZCON 2021. Here are a few photos of us wrapping up the LS3 swap with road-testing and dyno tuning. Full report soon!
It even sports full A/C and OEM shifter for the automatic transmission. The Z was loaded up with the OMS pace car and heading to ZCON 2021! You can hear Rob discuss Jack’s LS-powered Z on this episode of Hoonigan Autofocus with Larry Chen from the 34th Annual Z Car Convention (ZCON) hosted by ZCCA in Colorado Springs.
Fellow Z car enthusiast and ZONC board member Ann Devor on Jack’s creative work. Jack inspired many Z-car enthusiasts, including younger folks:
“Jack, with Yolanda’s assistance with fiberglass molding, designed and fabricated all manner of auto body parts – fenders, noses, tails, splitters, wings, all to accommodate the bigger wheels that were necessary for his aerodynamic designs. And the wheels were big! Wheels for Jack’s cars were custom made and it was always one of his favorite jobs to put his new wheels on for the first time. And to his last days, he wanted a set of new wheels for one of his cars. Jack was always thinking about the next big thing he wanted to do, whether it was a road trip or a new design for a car.”
“When Jack started working with vinyl applications and graphics, a whole new world opened up and added to Jack’s already respectable number of design innovations. Jack’s cars visually popped with their huge wheels covered by muscular fenders, big wings, splitters just barely clearing the asphalt, and car paint clothed in colorful spears, stripes, arrows, and emblems. There is nothing else like Jack’s cars.”
Roadtrip Leader
Some of our greatest memories of Jack are the numerous roadtrips he led (with Yolanda’s help, of course) with ZONC. These memorable drives would kick-off at Z Car Garage, with Jack briefing a large group of enthusiasts. You could also count on seeing Jack’s car equipped with a CB radio antenna, whether it was a Z car or NSX. This desire to share the road and its adventures carried with him later in life to the Santa Clara Corvette club where he would lead them on epic cross-country drives.
Datsun Family
Jack and Yolanda have supported Z Car Garage since we opened our doors in 2004. They helped us design and produce special t-shirts and swag (more on the way!) that you may have seen at various race events and gatherings. We are forever grateful for their friendship.
Love. Jack and Yolanda were in love for 43 years. Their partnership was inspirational, doing everything together including working side by side as business partners and enjoying automotive hobbies. Indeed, it was tough to get a picture of them apart, so most of my photos are of them together 🙂 Here are Jack and Yolanda in 2008 at a Z Car Garage dyno day, in their NSX:
We Miss You Jack
On October 22, Z Car Garage attended a Celebration of Jack’s Life in Bakersfield, Ca. There was an incredible outpouring of love from friends and family at the event. Jack’s passion and love for sharing spanned across different marques, eventually reaching NSX and Corvette clubs.
The celebration of life also brought people together. We met Eric and Allison Knutsen, current caretakers of the Primadonna Z cars all the way from Florida. The parking lot was a mini car show with Jack and Yolanda’s cars as well as friend’s rides. We think Jack would be right at home seeing the gathering of cars and people. Enjoy the photo gallery below:
Jack is at peace, and his story will continue to be told. We were fortunate to be in his presence and cherish the time we spent Enjoying The Ride. He truly embodied the words Mr. K said best, “Love cars. Love people. Love life.” Our sincerest condolences go out to Yolanda and Jack’s family. We will miss you Jack!
Every 2nd Saturday of the month there is a Cars & Coffee gathering in San Jose, only 1-mile from our house! My neighbor invited me to this event held at the Starbucks on Hillsdale Ave yesterday. We left together with the roadster and his Barracuda:
I was surprised at the turnout and sheer number of Hot Rods and Muscle cars from every era. Here are a few of my favorites with more in the gallery below.
Mopar or No Car
1st, 2nd and 3rd gen ‘Cudas and Belvederes:
Modified Formula S Barracuda:
Killer paint colors and graphics from Plymouth and on this 2nd gen Roadrunner:
J-Tin!
Always happy to see Japanese classics:
Triple tail lights Check:
GM
Impalas, Camaro, ‘Vette, Chevelle, Nova and more:
Wild Riviera:
Ford
’32 Hot Rods, Thunderbirds, Mustangs and more
Ford Firetruck with a late-model diesel drivetain:
Two of my favorites, a 70’s Disco-themed GM Van (see video below) and track-prepped Pantera:
I spotted a few British cars as well including a Triumph Herald, Spitfire, Silver Cloud Rolls and Mini
We had a blast and my family even got to enjoy the show. If you are in the area and love Classic American cars this is the spot. Free donuts and coffee is also a plus!
