11.24.12
Zdays
I jumped on the bus early to head to the Z festival. We show up to Z's lined up outside the gate of the Grand Drive. Nissan's Grand Drive is their private test track that they very rarely open up to the public. We were not really allowed to take pictures inside and one club that did got banned from going there again. If you ever see me at a meet or whatever and want to see some cool cars let me know I have them for private viewing. We saw as Z car groups rolled in from all over Japan and organized out to different rows of cars. There were 240zs, 260zs 280z and zx, 300zx, 200zr (300zx with an RB20 in it that didn't make it to the US), 350z and 370z's. Nissan was nice enough to provide us with a White 370z convertible for us to take on the track and through the gymkhana/autox course.
3 test drivers would also be available in 370's to take us at closer to full speed around the course. As I jumped in the car with my cute white half helmet with Nissan on it, I buckled in and we rocketed through the first curve with a bit of throttle oversteer throughout most of the turns. My driver was hamming it up a bit and we were having a blast. I think we hit about 200kph and I was glued to the seat through the turns. I was surprised how much I liked the 370z as I have only test driven them at low speeds. As I head back one of the stewards talks to some of the cars leaving to go on the track and grabs me in a ride in a 1988 LHD 300zx. As I get in we express hellos in broken english/japanese and talk a bit about the car as best as we can. We make our way around the course at a more normal pace behind a Nissan pace car but it was still a lot of fun.
As we mulled around the cars we managed to introduce ourselves and pantomime our way through conversations about peoples cars and their modification. I notice a lot of the older cars and their attention to detail is just astounding. I have never seen so many clean 280 and 80's 300zx in my life. Some had very clean RB26 swaps and others were versions like the 240z 432 that never made it to the United States. What made this car rare was it has the Skyline S20 motor in it which makes a bit more power. One owner took a couple of us for a ride and revved it for us. The sound of it was just amazing. I think the biggest thing I noticed across the board was that the attention to detail was just steps above what I have seen elsewhere. Swaps looked stock and not hacked in like what I have seen elsewhere. There is a midnight racing 280zx which I have seen online in red and other cars I have only seen online or in magazines.
We soon have lunch where Mr.K the father of the Z car (and the 510) is there at 103 years old to talk to us about the Z car. We get together after a group photo and then the rest of the day goes on. As we finish we are given a gift of a very nice plaque made of wood to all of us Z crazies on the trip. Speeches seem to dominate everything we go to so far as it seems everyone gets time to speak.
After cleaning up and grabbing a quick nap we managed to make our way to China town for the Z festa banquet. Our cabbie managed to snake his way through many tight streets with lots of people without ever really hitting his horn. We would split up into two tables at the Chinese restaurant with people who could translate at each table. Yet again the love for speeches is confirmed as I think each and every Z car club comes up and introduces themselves and their group. Soon we are called up and are put on the spot.
The food was surprisingly good array of sticky rice, egg rolls, wontons noodle soup, fried pork and a spicy curry dish with all sorts of stuff in it. As the night wore on and the chinese rice wine and beer flowed things got louder and louder until it was over. A lot of people would head out to continue the night. I would head home to catch up on sleep and see if my luggage was at the hotel. Lucky for me it was and it was also all in one piece. Tomorrow would be our tour of Tokyo which would be a rather long day.
TLDR Zfesta at Nissan Grand drive, Lots of clean Z's, crazy people, and then a fun Banquet of chinese food.
Most of these photos are froms friends/cellphone etc as I wasn't allowed to have my DSLR out.
Some cars before they left for the convention from Tetsu's shop. The 280zx had wheels that were stepped out and I believe an RB swap.
Japan2012-11 by
kram_neslo, on Flickr
Japan2012-11-2 by
kram_neslo, on Flickr
Japan2012-11-3 by
kram_neslo, on Flickr
Japan2012-11-4 by
kram_neslo, on Flickr
Japan2012-11-5 by
kram_neslo, on Flickr
Japan2012-11-6 by
kram_neslo, on Flickr
Mr. K pretty spry at 103 years old.
Japan2012-9582 by
kram_neslo, on Flickr
Japan2012-9584 by
kram_neslo, on Flickr
sweet 510 in the parking lot.
Japan2012-0030 by
kram_neslo, on Flickr
Japan2012-0031 by
kram_neslo, on Flickr
Our chariot for the day.
Japan2012-9596 by
kram_neslo, on Flickr
Japan2012-9599 by
kram_neslo, on Flickr
Z banquet
Japan2012-9604 by
kram_neslo, on Flickr
Japan2012-11-7 by
kram_neslo, on Flickr
Japan2012-11-8 by
kram_neslo, on Flickr
Japan2012-11-9 by
kram_neslo, on Flickr
Japan2012-11-10 by
kram_neslo, on Flickr
Our second family that helped take care of us throughout the week.
Japan2012-11-11 by
kram_neslo, on Flickr
Guy sitting next to me had a Sick Z and flew 777's for his day job.
Japan2012-11-13 by
kram_neslo, on Flickr
Group rock paper scissors for tires I believe.
Japan2012-11-14 by
kram_neslo, on Flickr
For some reason they had a boat/pirate ship built outside of our place.
Japan2012-9616 by
kram_neslo, on Flickr