Hot Import Nights (HIN) is amazing.  That is obviously my opinion but if you are into tuner cars or the ‘import’ lifestyle how could you disagree?  The cars featured at the HIN events are straight off the covers of today’s hottest magazines and the energy in the cars and surrounding crowd rival that of a Slayer concert.  To up the ante even more is the blaring music of all genres, gorgeous women dancing to said music, AND top drift stars from all over the world destroying tires and whatever else gets in their way!!

We have known the HIN crew for quite some time and even traveled with them on the “Follow the Nissan Z” tour from our shop in San Jose, CA all the way to Las Vegas, NV.  They never disappoint…. good times indeed.

At this event in San Mateo I was caught off guard from the moment that I walked in because there were Zs and Gs everywhere.  It seems that we (ZCG) cater to the most popular cars in the import scene for the time being, good for us!  Modifications ranged from wild to mild as the old saying goes, everything from simple lowering springs and an intake to full-on one-off wide body kits with turbos and nitrous equipped to every possible orifice!  Oh my.

The other half of the show cars included Supras, Audis, Evos (VIII-X), Scions, S2000s, and even the occasional Mustang(?).  Engine swaps abounded throughout the show with the all-conquering 2JZGTE engine (Supra) being swapped into everything under the sun (FD RX-7, 350z, IS300, etc).  There was also a really clean Mazda RX-7 with an LS-x engine swapped under the hood.  Many of you know that we have performed one of these swaps and they are simply a blast to drive.  Do yourself a favor and get a ride in one.

The drifting competition was great, but with it comes my only beef with the entire event, no grandstands of any sort.  I had a tough time seeing on my tip-toes and I’m 6’1″ without shoes.  The skill these drivers possess is something not of this Earth, car control to the Nth degree.

When it was time to head home the ZCG crew was more than impressed with the entire event.  So impressed in fact that we have been in contact with the event organizers and we will be making our presence known at the next bay area stop in Pleasanton.  We have a few crazy ideas that we hope to pull off between now and then so make sure to mark your calenders for the HIN event on July 18th.

Please support HIN and ZCG by visiting their website and events, and make sure to tell them that ZCarBlog.com sent you!

Now onto the photos!!!  There are almost a hundred pictures after the “read more” so make sure to click at the end of this post to continue!!  (you can also click on the main post title at the top to take you to the full post)  ENJOY!!!!!

Post script:  a few of the shots look dirty and hazy due to all the tire smoke and burning chunks of rubber in the air from the drifting, wicked.

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We are working are a few updates this week for all of you Z-car fans:

Behemoth RB28 240z: I went to William’s Autobody on Monday and saw the progress on this car and i was amazed.  The entire interior of the car has been painted gloss black to match the under hood and exterior.  As of yesterday the exterior paintwork has begun and I will be headed up there to check out the progress.  I will have photos up by tomorrow evening.

Cosworth Plenums: I’m still gathering more information for this post to make it as accurate as possible.  We will be installing one on another customer’s car today and I should have some dyno numbers and graphs by tomorrow.

240z Upgrades: We are doing work on a 240z here that is currently equipped with an odd dual down-draft Weber carburetor setup and will be swapped over to triple 44mm Mikuni carbs.  We are also installing a Motorsport Auto 6-into-1 ceramic coated header.  These modifications will remove all of the performance robbing SMOG equipment and will also enhance the engine appearance greatly.  The baseline dyno showed that this car has a really strong torque curve and we will be hoping to keep that intact while bringing the horsepower up to match it.  I should have the final numbers and photos by the end of the week.

Hot Import Nights in San Mateo: There is an import and tuner show in the bay area this Saturday night from 5pm-11pm at the San Mateo County Event Center.  We were going to be showing off a couple of our cars but the show has sold out and we couldn’t pull any strings to get us in the event this time.  Come meet us at the show and check out what the aftermarket scene has to offer.

HIN San Mateo website

There are a few other things on our plate this week so check back soon.  Happy April FoolZZZZZZ.

With the release of the 370z just a couple of weeks away at the LA International Auto Show everyone is out to get the first hands on experience with the new Z.  Z Car Garage will have your fix on the 21st of November with the coming of Nissan’s official “Follow the Z” tour!

There will be TWO pre-production 370Zs on show at Z Car Garage on November 21st from 3-7pm.  Other attractions include gaming stations staring the newest installment of EA Games’ feature “Need For Speed: Undercover” which stars the 370z!  Sponsors will be supplying the show with a DJ, giveaways, free food, and other attractions.  There will also be a chance to win a trip to the next Tokyo Auto Salon!  Who wouldn’t love to be in Japan for that?

SPEED tv is also rumored to be following the tour across the country to make some sort of a show out of the whole deal.  There will also be celebrity appearances such as race car driver Tanner Foust to add to the entire driving experience.

Of the 15 stops on the tour, Z Car Garage is the only Z ONLY shop to be included!   We will be going all our to prepare the shop and all of our best cars for this very important event;  AND YOU BETTER BELIEVE THAT THE ZCG R35 GT-R WILL BE HERE!!

If you live near the shop make sure you take the time to check this event out.  It is going to be amazing!  More info to come as soon as I get it.

Check the link below for the official tour site.  I will be adding more links to sponsors as I receive the information.

Official site of the tour:    www.followthenissanz.com