Honda has released a video called “Why we Race.” The title is taken from an impassioned speech founder Soichiro Honda himself back in the day. Honda’s actual words is played over archival footage of Honda’s racing successes (and failures) from bikes at the Isle of Man to F1 cars at Monza, making for an inspiring picture of Honda’s racing history. Continue reading
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? Not so much. Continue reading
Posted in Vintage Racing Journal
Tagged 240z, datsun, nissan, road atlanta, the mitty, Z Car garage
4 Comments
Happy DNA Day from JNC
Today is National DNA Day, which celebrates the discovery, 65 years ago, of the double helix structure comprising life’s building blocks by James Watson, Francis Crick, Maurice Wilkins, and Rosalind Franklin. And while DNA usually applies to, you know, biological organisms, cars can have DNA as well. What’s your favorite example of classic DNA found in a newer car?
JNC THEATER: A review of Velocity’s JDM Legends
The premiere of JDM Legends on Velocity Channel premiere is old news by this point, but as a watcher of many automotive-themed TV shows I wanted to sit down and actually think about how I feel about the program. As the first TV series centering around classic Japanese cars, it is a watershed moment for our community. Other programs have included bits about Japanese cars and classic car YouTube channels review them, but often it’s in a condescending tone. Statements like, “The 2000GT is really good, it’s like a Japanese E-Type,” get thrown around, as if Japanese cars needed the comparison. Continue reading
Posted in media, Video Games
Tagged 240z, ae86, corolla levin, datsun, jdm legends, nissan, s30 z
17 Comments
KIDNEY, ANYONE? 12k-mile EM1 Honda Civic Si sells for $24,000
It was only a few weeks ago that a near-new EM1 Honda Civic Si sold for $22,750. As far as we know, that was a record price for the much lauded 1999-2000 Civic Si, but in less than a month it has already been broken. Continue reading
NEWS: Mitsubishi may bring back the Lancer as a crossover
Rumor on the street has it that Mitsubishi is bringing back the Lancer, a name used on its compact sedan for over 40 years, as a crossover. The idea is perhaps not as egregious as the Eclipse Cross, as the Lancer did famously have some dirt throwing AWD versions, but still. Continue reading
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 document what it’s like to own, drive, and campaign a Japanese nostalgic race car.
For over 30 years, the Mitty has been vintage racing’s diamond event of the South. Road Atlanta offers the ideal racing venue with its perfect formula of long straights and challenging bends. Before the Sports Car Club of America started rotating track venues for their championship finale, the SCCA Runoffs, Road Atlanta was the track that crowned SCCA National Champions for 23 years. Continue reading
Posted in Vintage Racing Journal
Tagged 240z, datsun, Glenn Chiou, nissan, road atlanta, s30 z, the mitty
6 Comments
QotW: What’s your argument for keeping a JNC in a relationship?
JNCs have some tough love when only half of a couple is enjoying it. Sometimes a relationship between two people feels like three if you include a JNC that smells of oil and gasoline. It can get harder to justify that 2-door sedan with bucket seats and no aircon when you want to get away for the weekend, too. In that case, an ultimatum is cast: me or the car. Tell us, what’s your argument for keeping your JNC when your significant other is not feelin’ the love?
What’s your argument for keeping a JNC in a relationship?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “What part on your JNC just refuses to stay fixed?” Continue reading
KIDNEY, ANYONE? Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 Rallye Côte d’Ivoire winner
Before the Lancer Evolution, Mitsubishi’s AWD turbo rally warrior was the Galant VR-4. Starting in 1988 and until the launch of the Lancer Evo, Mitsubishi campaigned the Galant VR-4 in World Rally Championship races across Europe, earning the triple-diamond marque an early reputation for ruggedness and advanced technology. Now, an example with actual racing provenance can be yours, as the winner of the 1990 Rallye Côte d’Ivoire Bandama goes up for auction. Continue reading
Posted in for sale
Tagged Côte d’Ivoire, galant, Galant VR-4, kidney anyone, mitsubishi, rally
4 Comments
MINICARS: Charge your phone with a Fairlady Z
There are few phone accessories a boring as a portable charger battery, usually no more than a rectangular box with an LED light and a USB port. In Japan, however, you can now charge your phone with something a little more stylish — a Nissan Fairlady Z. Continue reading
VIDEO: A cartoon history of the Suzuki Alto and motorcycle business
After a brief hiatus, Suzuki is back with two new cartoon videos explaining how the company got where it is today. The first outlines the genesis of the Alto, a revered name in kei cars, and the second explains how a Hamamatsu loom company became one of the world’s top motorcycle companies. Both follow the odd minimalist animation style we’ve seen from other Suzuki history videos in the series. So, if you like your car history in a format suggesting a Saturday morning cartoon with Soviet propaganda-style overtones, these are the videos for you. Continue reading
This Kenmeri Skyline does not look o-kei
Japan is a place where space to park for your car is at a premium. Compared to most driving populations, Japan is full of visible feats of Jedi parking, where cars are squeezed with millimetric precision into the smallest parking spaces. So people usually know how to park their cars. But, there are exceptions, as this Kenmeri found out to its cost. Continue reading
MOTORSPORT: Mitsubishi rally cars showcased at Megaweb
Though owned by Toyota, the Megaweb showcase in Odaiba, Tokyo and the adjacent History Garage offer much more than Aichi steel. Since last year, there has been a rotating exhibit of famous rally cars, often on loan from other automakers. Currently, it is Mitsubishi’s turn, and Tokyoites can see three of its legendary dirt throwers in person. Continue reading
Posted in motorsport
Tagged lancer, Lancer Evolution III, Megaweb, mitsubishi, rally, safari rally, wrc
8 Comments
OPEN THREAD: What did you think of JDM Legends episode 01?
The premiere episode of JDM Legends is airing on Velocity Channel on the west coast right now and has aired in most of the country. What did you think? Leave your comments in the open thread below.
VIDEO: Subaru releases dueling heritage spots
This year is Subaru’s 60th anniversary as a carmaker, its 50th anniversary in the US, and also the 30th anniversary of STI, so it makes sense that the company is going HAM on the heritage spots. In a span of a few days, Subaru Japan has released two completely different videos celebrating their history, but one is a bit more entertaining than the other. Continue reading
Kidney, Anyone?: Hardtop convertible Suzuki Sidekick
The Suzuki Sidekick hails from the waning days of the SUV golden age, before they all devolved into the rolling unibody mayonnaise jars we call crossovers. As a more civilized version of the Samurai, it was a truck admired by both off-road enthusiasts and mini-truckers alike. To the four-wheeling enthusiast, it was a cheap, small-bodied 4×4 that could punch far above it’s weight on a trail, and mini-truckers admired it for its simple, crisp lines and top-down aesthetic. Continue reading
JNC THEATER: Behind the scenes with JDM Legends on the eve of their Velocity Channel premiere
Until now, the world of automotive-themed television shows has been pretty lackluster when it comes to Japanese cars. That’s all about to change with the Velocity Channel’s JDM Legends, titled after the Utah shop of the same name and premiering tomorrow, April 17. We interviewed shop co-founder Eric Bizek to get his insights on classic Japanese cars, what it takes to make a TV program, and what to expect on the show. Continue reading
Posted in JNC Theater, Video Games
Tagged 240z, datsun, Eric Bizek, fairlady z, jdm legends, mazda, nissan, rx-7, S30Z, sa22, skyline, toyota
25 Comments
QotW: What part on your JNC just refuses to stay fixed?
We all love our cars, but sometimes they fight tooth and nail against being a good li’l JNC by refusing to stay fixed. Brakes just not wanting to seat correctly, electrical gremlins in the taillamp circuit, even trim that breaks if you looking at it the wrong way. No matter what you do, those issues just don’t stay away for very long. Tell us,
What part of your JNC just refuses to stay fixed?
The most entertaining comment by next Monday will receive a prize. Scroll down to see the winner of last week’s QotW, “Does the current state of a marque affect how you feel about its classics?” Continue reading
Original-bodied Mazda RX-2 wrecked on Netflix’s Fastest Car
As interest in Japanese cars grow, more and more automotive TV producers are trying to cash in. Top Gear did an episode in Japan, and Fast N’ Loud broke away from their muscle car staples to build a Datsun 280Z. Netflix’s Fastest Car, a show self-described as “Drivers of exotic supercars put their street cred on the line against deceptively fast sleeper cars built and modified by true gearheads,” is the latest, but the results would make any enthusiast cringe. Continue reading
MINICARS: Datsun 240Z wins the Hot Wheels RedLine Club Selections bracket
Each year Hot Wheels allows collectors to choose one casting that will be made into a premium collectible. Eight cars are nominated, and then voted on by the Hot Wheel Collectors community in a March Madness-style bracket elimination. This year, the Datsun 240Z won the championship against a Shelby Cobra 427 S/C, making it the first Japanese car to do so. Continue reading
