“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 fuel, symphony of exhaust notes, and haze of burning rubber. Heading to the track for race day is among the most exciting emotions a car nut like me can experience. Continue reading
VINTAGE RACING JOURNAL: The Mitty, Part 03 — Race Day
Posted in Vintage Racing Journal
Tagged 240z, 510, b210, bre, datsun, fairlady roadster, john morton, nissan, road atlanta, s30 z
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SHOWA SNAP: A bullet train glides through Yurakucho crossing
Here is a random photo of the famed Yurakucho Crossing, one of Tokyo’s most famous intersections. It is considered a prime viewing spot for the Shinkansen, or bullet trains, as they pull out of Tokyo Station southbound heading towards Nagoya, Osaka, and points beyond. Judging from the cars in the photo — S40 Toyota Crowns, a Toyoace, and Daihatsu Midget — it was taken in the mid-1960s, probably not long after the Shinkansen began service in 1964. The round Toshiba building in the right foreground is no longer there, but the Shinkansen still uses those tracks.
QotW: What JNC would your mom actually enjoy driving in?
Last year, we asked what your mom thought of your own JNC and received both fanfare and eye rolls. Maybe dear ol’ mom isn’t big on worn seats and 30-plus-year-old bushings. The smell of fuel in the interior might be a bit off-putting, too. So, we ask:
What JNC would your mom actually enjoy driving in?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s your greatest tale of JNC acquisition?” Continue reading
Happy Mother’s Day from JNC
Be a Prince this Mother’s Day and do something special for her. Happy Mother’s Day from JNC!
VIDEO: Look at all the great driver’s cars you could get in 1991
At the height of the Bubble Era, every Japanese carmaker had a driver’s car. We’re not talking about high dollar sports cars like the NSX or Supra, either. In this Best Motoring video from 1991, a lineup of enthusiasts’ machines, sometimes multiples from the same manufacturer, compete for the title of “number one driver’s car.” Continue reading
MINICARS: Tomica Limited Vintage made an FD3S Mazda RX-7 and it looks amazing
We haven’t written about Tomica Limited Vintage in a while, but the collectors’ offshoot of Japan’s most popular diecast cars has been quietly churning out excellent 1:64-scale models of classics for a while. The latest, however, is sure to make waves, because their FD3S Mazda RX-7 is absolutely stunning. Continue reading
Happy 510 Day from JNC
Happy 510 Day from JNC! What’s your favorite 510 memory? Ours was probably the time we spotted a stupendous BRE tribute on the streets of Monterey, which was second only to the time we posed glamorously by an SSS Coupe on the beach.
Posted in Uncategorized
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MINICARS: Let’s not forget LS Collectibles’ Mitsubishi Starion
Last week we showed you LS Collectibles’ prototype A60 Toyota Supra model. But, if you remember from a post back in January, the company had a second Bubble Era Japanese icon in the works. And here it is: a 1:18-scale Mitsubishi Starion. Continue reading
VIDEO: Nissan GT-R generations in Hong Kong
Nissan has just released a new beautifully shot video for the launch of the 2018 GT-R in Hong Kong. It’s filled with shots of an R32, R33 NISMO 400R, R34 Vspec II Nür, and the R35 gliding through the urban streets. I will admit that I rolled my eyes at the cheesy opening scene, but by the end of the two-minute video I felt the pang of my heartstrings getting seriously yanked. Continue reading
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 hopes for a successful race day. Continue reading
Posted in Vintage Racing Journal
Tagged 240z, bre, datsun, john morton, nissan, s30 z, the mitty
3 Comments
TUNE UP: Instead of your typical rap video cars, “This is America” is filled with Toyotas and Hondas
In case you were under a rock all weekend, you probably know Childish Gambino’s video for “This Is America” debuted on Saturday and has already garnered over 18 million views. The work is fraught with commentary on violence and slavery, but JNCers will undoubtedly be most captivated by the garage full of old Japanese cars. Continue reading
Posted in Tune Up
Tagged accord, Accord 2G, corolla, e30, e70, honda, te51, Tercel 4WD, This is America, toyota, wagons
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QotW: What’s your greatest tale of JNC acquisition?
It’s getting harder and harder to buy a JNC for a song, but not impossible. Even as prices and general awareness about the value of old Japanese cars rise, once in a while you can still find a good deal. You just have to be quick, clever, or able to pull of miracles. It’s rare, but sometimes you still see an AE86 advertised as an old Corolla.
What’s your greatest tale of JNC acquisition?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “How safe do you feel on the road with your JNC?” Continue reading
May the Fourth: Darth Vader drove a 428-horsepower Mitsubishi GTO 3000GT
So you’re the ultimate Sith Lord, second in command of a galaxy-spanning Empire. You have the entire might of the imperial fleet at your disposal. Still, sometimes you need to travel across planetary surfaces at great speed. What mode of transportation does Darth Vader himself choose? Apparently, a Mitsubishi GTO twin-turbo. Continue reading
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 Day One of the Mitty was met with rain clouds in Braselton, Georgia, home of Road Atlanta. I was about to take my restored ex-SCCA Datsun 240Z race car to its first race here in 35 years. I caught a ride from the hotel with our friends at Z Car Garage, who had prepped the legendary No. 46 BRE 240Z. The legend himself, John Morton, was in the back seat next to me. 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
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MINICARS: LS Collectibles’ 1:18 Toyota Celica Supra is now available for pre-order
Back in January we wrote about an exciting new series of 1:18-scale models of iconic Japanese cars of the 1980s. Made by LS Collectibles, they were still in the prototype phase, and the first one was the long-awaited A60 Toyota Celica Supra. The cars are very close to completion, and are now available for pre-order. Continue reading
MOTORSPORT: John Morton’s 240Z lap at Road Atlanta
The Mitty was this weekend, and Nissan was the featured marque. We’ll have a full report on what it’s like to race at Road Atlanta in a Datsun 240Z coming soon, but for now check out this video of John Morton behind the wheel of his rebuilt BRE 240Z race car. Continue reading
Happy TE51 Day from JNC
The third-gen Corolla Sport is under appreciated. So let’s appreciate it today, May 1, otherwise known as TE51 Day. May the Corolla gods smile upon you.
VIDEO: 30 years of the Suzuki Sidekick
It’s hard to believe, but the Suzuki Sidekick is 30 years old. In some markets it was called the Vitara, or Escudo, or Geo Tracker, but we know what it really was — a nonstop barrel of monkeys. Continue reading
QotW: How safe do you feel on the road with your JNC?
No doubt, new cars are safer than our beloved JNCs. The latest vehicles have systems to make sure that you, and the car, are in a heightened state of awareness, from automatic braking to lane keeping Assistance. Heck, the highest level of safety on some JNCs are seatbelts, and ABS brakes if you’re lucky. That said, how do you feel driving around in your JNC? Do you wonder about a possible fender bender, damaging your prized possession, or an injury?
How safe do you feel on the road with your JNC?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What’s your argument for keeping a JNC in a relationship?” Continue reading
Posted in Question of the Week, Uncategorized
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Consider the Following: First-generation Acura Integra
With the prices of the most popular JNC models entering unattainable status for many younger enthusiasts, it’s time to highlight another painfully overlooked yet still affordable (for now) model. Welcome to another Consider the Following installment, in which we ponder the original DA1-4 Acura Integra. Continue reading
