Author Archives: Glenn Chiou
Happy 610 Day from JNC
Rob McFarlin of FAR Performance raced a number of different popular Datsun models. While he took his 240Z, 510, and Fairlady roadsters all to the SCCA Runoffs, it wwas perhaps his 610 that was the most unexpected finalist. Happy 610 … Continue reading
Happy 510 Day from JNC
On May 31, 1971, it was the dawn of the SCCA Trans-Am 2.5 Challenge, a series which would turn the Datsun 510 into the Goliath-slaying David of the motorsports world. At the race held at Bryar Motorsports Park in New … Continue reading
MOTORSPORT: How the Datsun 510 revolutionized sedan racing in America
The Datsun 240Z is rightfully remembered as Nissan’s most competitive sports car, for sweeping 10 out of 10 National SCCA C-Production Championships between 1970 and 1979. However, the humble Datsun 510, initially expected to be nothing more than an econobox … Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged 510, Bob Sharp Racing, brock racing enterprises, datsun, imsa, john morton, nissan, scca, Walt Maas, yutaka katayama
13 Comments
KIDNEY, ANYONE? Zexel Group N R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R
The Zexel livery should be a familiar one for any GT-R fan. Whether you saw it race in the 90s or encountered it in Gran Turismo, the cars are part of the BNR32’s racing lore. Now, one of them is … Continue reading
MOTORSPORT: A new historic racing group for Datsun 510s and other compact sedans of the 60s and 70s to race this Saturday
This weekend, October 4-6 2019, Classic Sport Racing Group (CSRG)’s Charity Challenge will feature an exhibition of historic sedan racing through its John Morton Cup Series, named after Datsun racing legend John Morton himself. Joining the cars of the John … Continue reading
EVENTS: Radwood NorCal 2019
Just a week after my colleagues were at SpoCom in SoCal, Radwood returned to its ancestral home in NorCal. The traveling show of 80s and 90s nostalgia started in the Bay Area in 2017, and has been expanding rapidly. There … Continue reading
Posted in events
Tagged 240sx, 300zx, 4runner, acura, ae86, aw11, cappuccino, celica, corolla, crx, CRX EF, fc3s, fd3s, fj60, honda, impulse, isuzu, kei, land cruiser, lexus, lexus sc, mazda, mr2, N60, nissan, nsx, piazza, rx-7, s13, s14, sa22, silvia, soarer, st185, suzuki, sw20, T180, toyota, z31
9 Comments
MOTORSPORT: Sonoma Festival of Speed
Sonoma Raceway, or more widely known as Sears Point Raceway and Infineon Raceway, is one of Northern California’s “old-time” tracks with rich racing history that stretches back to 1968. Often overshadowed by Laguna Seca Raceway, it has long been the … Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged 240Z/260Z/280Z, 510, datsun, imsa, nissan, s30 z, scca, Sonoma Festival of Speed, Sonoma Raceway
5 Comments
Happy 510 Day from JNC!
Happy 510 day! Forty-eight years ago John Morton and Brock Racing Enterprises took their first of two consecutive SCCA Trans-Am Two-Five Challenge titles. Other worthy competitors included Mike Downs, Bobby Allison, Bob Sharp, Walt Maas, Jim Fitzgerald, Sam Posey, Peter … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
1 Comment
MOTORSPORT: When Nissan and Mazda ruled IMSA GTU
There was a time, not too long ago, when the US truly cared about road racing. On Saturdays and Sundays, Americans would tune into the International Motor Sports Association’s contests of speed, broadcast not on some obscure cable channel catering … Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged 240Z/260Z/280Z, 280zx, Bob Leitzinger, bob sharp, brad frisselle, datsun, imsa, Jim Downing, john knepp, john morton, mazda, nissan, Roger Mandeville, rx-7, s130, s30 z, sa22, Takashi Yorino, Walt Bohren, Walt Maas, yojiro terada, Yoshimi Katayama
12 Comments
Tokyo Auto Salon: Behold this Japanese wave pattern carbon fiber
Carbon fiber came out of the racing and tuning world, but has grown stale over the years. The epitome of this has to be the faux carbon fiber appliqués stickered onto the so-called “sport” trims of new cars. At this … Continue reading
VINTAGE RACING JOURNAL: Why Monterey was so important for Nissan
For one week this summer, Monterey became the playground of Nissan and Datsun fans from all over the globe. For us Datsun racers, it was our opportunity to tell a story, a story of a manufacturer long overlooked in automotive … Continue reading
Posted in Vintage Racing Journal
Tagged 240z, 280zx, 510, datsun, GT-R50, imsa, Monterey Car Week, nissan, Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, s130, s30 z, z31, z32
5 Comments
MOTORSPORT: The most epic gathering of historic racing Datsuns we’ll see in our lifetimes
We cannot overstate the importance of this year’s Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. It the first time a Japanese carmaker was celebrated as the featured marque since the event’s inception in 1974, and Nissan’s brought a tremendous display of racing heritage, … Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged 240sx, 240z, 280zx, 411, 510, 610, 710, bluebird, Bob Sharp Racing, bre, c10, ct70, datsun, fairlady roadster, Frank Leary, Hakosuka, honda, imsa, john morton, Laguna Seca, nissan, paul newman, S13 S14, s130, s30 z, skyline, trans-am, Troy Ermish, z31, z32
14 Comments
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 240z, 260z, 280z, 510, 610, 710, datsun, Dave Frellsen, Frank Leary, Logan Blackburn, motorsports, nissan, Rob McFarlin, s30 z, scca, Walt Maas
39 Comments
VINTAGE RACING JOURNAL: The Mitty, Part 04 — The Final Race
It was only in 2010 that I attended my first vintage race as a spectator. Eight years later, I was reliving racing history at the famed Road Atlanta circuit in an authentic C-Production 240Z I had spent a year restoring. We can only … Continue reading
VINTAGE RACING JOURNAL: The Mitty, Part 03 — Race Day
“Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting.” Steve McQueen could not have summed it up any better. All the stresses of a day job, outstanding bills, hardships of life, are easily remedied by the smell of race … Continue reading
Posted in Vintage Racing Journal
Tagged 240z, 510, b210, bre, datsun, fairlady roadster, john morton, nissan, road atlanta, s30 z
3 Comments
VINTAGE RACING JOURNAL: The Mitty, Part 02 — Qualifying
Road Atlanta is truly a sight to see. Its rich history and beautiful rolling hills make it the perfect venue for vintage racing. After spending most of the prior afternoon and evening swapping differentials, we entered Day Two with high … Continue reading
Posted in Vintage Racing Journal
Tagged 240z, bre, datsun, john morton, nissan, s30 z, the mitty
3 Comments
VINTAGE RACING JOURNAL: The Mitty, Part 01 — Test Day
There’s nothing like the early morning start to a race weekend. Your mind becomes clear. Any lingering stress from your day job is replaced with the smell of a coffee and race gas mixture. Nothing else comes close. An early rise to … Continue reading
Posted in Vintage Racing Journal
Tagged 240z, 510, bluebird, bre, c10, datsun, Hakosuka, john morton, motorsport, nissan, road atlanta, s30 z, scca, skyline, the mitty
11 Comments
VINTAGE RACING JOURNAL: Road to The Mitty, Part 02
The decision to make the trek out to Road Atlanta for the Mitty after hearing Nissan was going to be the featured marque was an easy one. The preparation that the car would require to drive at the Road Atlanta? … Continue reading
Posted in Vintage Racing Journal
Tagged 240z, datsun, nissan, road atlanta, the mitty, Z Car garage
4 Comments
VINTAGE RACING JOURNAL: Road to The Mitty, Part 01
Editor’s note: Vintage Racing Journal is a new segment on JNC following the exploits of Glenn Chiou, owner, restorer, and vintage racer of two historic Datsun race cars. Glenn is based in California and actively participates in vintage motorsports, and his series will … Continue reading
Posted in Vintage Racing Journal
Tagged 240z, datsun, Glenn Chiou, nissan, road atlanta, s30 z, the mitty
6 Comments
