Tag Archives: motorsports

Yamaha Racing Heritage Club launches to unite owners of historic bikes

We’ve seen many Japanese manufacturers launch heritage programs in recent years, but Yamaha is taking the idea to a new level. The motorcycle maker has just launched an official heritage club for collectors of their vintage racing machines. The Yamaha … Continue reading

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KIDNEY, ANYONE? 1968 Honda S800 Racing

Honda’s most famous early international motorsports exploits center around its Grand Prix victories in the 1960s. However, Honda also campaigned its S-series roadster in Europe, earning it a devoted following in certain countries on the Old Continent, particularly France and … Continue reading

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VINTAGE RACING JOURNAL: Five forgotten heroes of Datsun racing

As we prepare for Datsun race cars to flood Raceway Laguna Seca for the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion in August, let’s take a moment to remember the forgotten heroes of Datsun racing. You’re probably already familiar with names like Brock Racing … Continue reading

Posted in Vintage Racing Journal | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 39 Comments

MOTORSPORT: TS Cup Sunnys and Bluebirds race at the NISMO Festival

We’ve written a lot here at JNC about TS Cup Nissan Sunnys over the years. They always have a habit of showing up, no matter which classic car event in Japan you’re at. That makes sense, as it’s one of the most active … Continue reading

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VIDEO: Toyota GT86s in retro livery go for a drive

Toyota UK has been straight up killing it, unafraid to go all-out in promoting the marque’s vast motorsports history. They’ve decked six GT86s in the liveries of the most significant Toyota racing machines, brought an Initial D-inspired GT86 to life, and … Continue reading

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EVENTS: 2016 Japanese Classic Car Show, Part 01 — Movin’ On Up

We’ve been going to the Japanese Classic Car Show for over a decade, but this year was undoubtedly the best one yet. In its twelfth year, the JCCS, which took place this weekend at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California, has grown … Continue reading

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KIDNEY, ANYONE? Mazda RX-7 rally car with Group B power

It’s been said a thousand times: Group B race cars are among the most iconic, exciting, and outrageous in motorsport history, tearing through dirt or tarmac in outlandish style and manner. However, fans of Japanese sports cars may feel a … Continue reading

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JNC THEATER: Paul Newman Nissan Documentary Winning

The producers of Adam Carolla’s upcoming documentary Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman has extended a special invitation to JNC readers. If you will be in the Los Angeles on April 16, you will definitely want to come to the film’s premiere. The charity … Continue reading

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VIDEO: Identify these nostalgic Nissan race cars by sound

Pop quiz, hotshot. Five nostalgic Nissan race machines tear down a straight. You have only the glorious sounds of their motors to identify whether they are the 1971 Safari 240Z, a touring spec B110 Sunny Excellent, the turbocharged 240RS, the OG Prince Skyline GT … Continue reading

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MINICARS: Red Line Club Carroll Shelby Toyota 2000GT

Um, you might want to join the Hot Wheels Red Line Club this year. It was announced today that one of the club exclusives this year will be none other than the SCCA Toyota 2000GT campaigned by Carroll Shelby. Last … Continue reading

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NEWS: Nissan 360, Part 01 – Racing Heritage

For the Nissan faithful, the name Zama needs no introduction. The sleepy little town outside of Yokohama is home to Japan’s largest and most wondrous collection of classic and race cars, wholly owned by the Nissan Motor Company. For decades … Continue reading

Posted in motorsports, museums, News, nissan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

MOTORSPORT: Remembering Funabashi Circuit

If you’ve ever taken the JR Keiyo train from downtown Tokyo to Makuhari Messe for the Auto Salon or Tokyo Motor Show, you’ve passed over the former grounds of Funabashi Circuit. Like much of Japan in 1965 Funabashi city was … Continue reading

Posted in motorsport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

MOTORSPORT: Mazda 787B Named Le Mans car of the 1990s by Automobile Club de l’Ouest Jury

France’s Automobile Club de l’Ouest, the organizing body behind the 24 Hours of Le Mans, recently announced the 10 race cars they believe to be most emblematic of the legendary race. One car was chosen to represent each decade of … Continue reading

Posted in mazda, motorsport, motorsports | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

VIDEO: 1972 Fuji Masters Super Touring Race

One of the greatest rivalries from the heyday of Japanese motorsports was that of Nissan versus Mazda. After the Savanna RX-3 snatched Nissan’s much anticipated 50th victory from the Skyline GT-R in December 1971, a blood feud was born. The … Continue reading

Posted in mazda, motorsports, nissan, toyota, Video | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

John Morton tribute at the Riverside International Auto Museum

The Riverside International Auto Museum recently threw a gala to honor the contributions of famed Datsun driver John Morton to the racing world. If you’re not familiar with the saga of the BRE team that Morton raced for, first go watch the Friday Video Against All … Continue reading

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Friday Video: Against All Odds, the story of the BRE Datsun 510s

Today’s video is required viewing for any Datsun enthusiast. If you don’t yet know why every vintage Japanese car show in the US is packed with 510s sporting twin stripes down their fenders, this movie will answer all questions. Against All … Continue reading

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Motorsports: The Honda S800-based Macransa Tojiro-III

Whilst roaming around the Speedway paddocks for our 2012 Fuji Jamboree coverage we spotted this FRP creation stamped with a vintage Mark of Soichiro below a Honda Twin Cam Club decal. What could this contraption be? Why it’s the 1966 … Continue reading

Posted in honda, motorsports | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

EVENTS: 2012 Fuji Jamboree, Part 02

In Part 01 of our 2012 Fuji Jamboree coverage we focused on machines that took to the Speedway. Blood red hakosuka with Okamoto logos? You know those black Wats are ready to cut loose on Fuji’s tarmac. However, as every … Continue reading

Posted in events, honda, isuzu, nissan, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

EVENTS: 2012 Fuji Jamboree, Part 01

If the sight of a Skyline and Savanna in nostalgic warpaint doesn’t stir your soul, we’ll go ahead and notify your next of kin. Add to that a sprinkling of Starlet, Sunny, and a snazzy Japanese-colors retro racing helmet perched just so, … Continue reading

Posted in events, honda, isuzu, mazda, motorsports, nissan, toyota | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Question of the Week: What nostalgic race car would you have driven?

Okay, so you’ve invented that time machine. Oddly, it can only serve one purpose — to put you in the cockpit of any classic Japanese motorsports machine. What nostalgic race car would you have driven? The JNC staff (except Kev) … Continue reading

Posted in motorsports, nissan, Question of the Week | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 52 Comments