Lazeum Posted December 23, 2011 Share Posted December 23, 2011 (edited) We took the habit in France to celebrate the Monte Carlo Classic race with the French Datsun club. We found out that one US team is going to participate to the event, I'd like to get in touch with them asap. It starts from Glasgow in Scotland, from Warsaw in Poland, from Marrakesh in Morocco and also from Reims in France. Last year, we were able to meet the Japanese crew who was running the original Z car that ran Monte Carlo rally back in the seventies (the car sat 25 years in a garage prior to be bought for a ridiculous amount, less than 10k€) but also some Brits, some Dutch& Spanish people, French guys also. The whole French crew is going along the way in between starts and Monte Carlo where the race ends to see Z cars with other competitors. It has always been fun to meet other Z fanatics during this race. We usually have time to chat around, check the cars, discuss with people and give a Champagne bottle (some members here are involved into Champagne where Reims is the capital ) Maybe one of you would be able to give me some info. are they on HBZ or other forums? It would be cool to get in touch before the event so we can plan the meet Thanks! Edited December 23, 2011 by Lazeum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted December 23, 2011 Share Posted December 23, 2011 The car bought in the Barn was the car that placed 4th in 71 monte Carlo, it sits now at a Dutch pig barn. It was more than 10K€ when bought. The owner is on this forum. The 72 monte Carlo winner is in the Yokohama HQ building last year this time, I spent three hours outside the ropes photographing it. It went back to the Zama Museum. That would leave the 70 or 73 entrant as the one you talked with. Not sure what you're asking exactly... Is WHO on the forum.. The guy that bought the 71 4th place finisher out of the barn? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazeum Posted December 23, 2011 Author Share Posted December 23, 2011 The car I've seen last year did not finish the race back in the 70's hence the storage somewhere for a long time. I can try to get some pics from last year That was just a side comment to state we have seen some pretty cool Z's last year. Regarding my request, I'm looking for some info regarding the team who will be racing in one month here in Europe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazeum Posted December 24, 2011 Author Share Posted December 24, 2011 Toshimasa san was the driver of the car last year. It was coming from Japan, they have it shipped by boat some weeks before the race. That's kind of off topic there but hte last picture makes me wonder if it was the real deal since I've picked up a picture from Nissan showroom with the same plate as the one on the picture above (taken by a French/Swiss Z owner) For reference: => http://www.twinturbo.net/net/viewmsg.aspx?forum=general&msg_id=2079707 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted December 24, 2011 Share Posted December 24, 2011 Yes, that car was a replica, the real TKS4150 is either in Zama as you showed, or on Nissan's rotating "Heritage" Display somewhere in Japan. You can go to their homepage in Japan to see the schedule of which cars will be displayed where-and when! The TKS4150 #5 Monte Carlo Car was the one I mentioned photographing. If I could see larger images on this phone I could tell for sure if that was really a true Nissan Prepared car, but from the looks of it I don't think it's more than a lookalike. Not sure the entry this year... I can inquire, but I don't think it's anybody I know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted December 24, 2011 Share Posted December 24, 2011 That is a replica. Current registration car, the number plate is TKS 330 (not 33) and has NO as the prefix, instead of SA to the plate tag number 4150. If it was REALLY stored and registered in Japan, the plate would be unchanged in regards to the 330/33 Tax Class. Likely this is an unknown car tagged appropriately. The 330 was not incorporated until the 90's. Could be a rally car from another venue, the VIN would tell, all the competitors were registered with FIA and it's a simple matter of accessing the records online to determine if it was ever raced under FIA jurisdiction. And yeah, I'm the guy snapping VIN numbers on cars like this!!! If the hood is open, HELL YES!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazeum Posted December 26, 2011 Author Share Posted December 26, 2011 It's good to know. Unfortunately they won't be there this year. I was looking under the hood of the car and everything was looking as it was a old vintage car - Mikuni Carbs, square air box, etc. I will have to be more serious about taking pictures this year then it was 10°F last year, standing up in the cold for many hours made me lost my focus! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted December 26, 2011 Share Posted December 26, 2011 Now on my computer I can see the #46 car you had seems to have the external jacking points, while both of the others have unsullied rockers definitely meaning 'replica'! Never get too excited, always focus on getting photos. My prime sin is forgetting to turn the overall shots to 'high megapixel' when shooting stuff I will need to refer to later. I was literally laying on my back at the edge of the ropes straining to lay my camera on "10MP" under the car and snapping shots of the undercarrige and stuff like the bumper brackets from the backside. It was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO close to me reaching in, opening the unlocked door, and going to town on the interior until someone came up and "Escorted" me out of the HQ... It crossed my mind, and I was getting frustrated at the glare on the perspex when a Japanese guy walked up to me and kind of understatedly said "You Like Fairrady Z? I have a Bruebird Coupe..." Were it not for him interrupting my concentration...I was to the point of "When will I get this opportunity again?" Rationalizing! Of course having unfettered access to the real thing in the Pig Barn is different. This is one unchanged and unaltered... MAN I wanted those interior shots! For nothing else, to assist in the repositioning of the internals correctly in the secreted Pig Barn version! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazeum Posted December 26, 2011 Author Share Posted December 26, 2011 I feel for you The #46 is the car I'm trying to find the driver. I believe it is a replica also. Regarding the car #23 above, the pilot/owner was very nice, let us look at the interior, popped the hood, the trunk. Everything was at reach - no problem at all! I just did not take any pictures... My friend was taking pictures but his camera battery went down just before. That's amateur's work but we are learning from our mistakes! (I hope!!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted December 27, 2011 Share Posted December 27, 2011 Do you believe I carry two spare batteries in my backpack? Usually if I'm not with my backpack, there is at least one spare battery in my pocket! Nothing sucks more than running out of batteries! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazeum Posted December 27, 2011 Author Share Posted December 27, 2011 Do you believe I carry two spare batteries in my backpack? Usually if I'm not with my backpack, there is at least one spare battery in my pocket! Nothing sucks more than running out of batteries! We left it in the car parked away, time to pick it up, the Z was gone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HS30-H Posted December 27, 2011 Share Posted December 27, 2011 Lazeum, The American crew you are seeking is Brad Mottier and Bill Hoff. Sean Dezart of the Datsun-France forum already knows about this, so you should have the information by now anyway? Brad has entered his 240Z in the 2012 Monte Carlo Historique and will start from Glasgow. The car was built and prepared by GREENWOOD MOTORSPORTS here in the United Kingdom ( http://greenwoodmotorsport.co.uk/ ) and they will, as far as I am aware, be providing servicing and support for Brad along the way. I provided some parts for the car when it was being built so I know it well, and Brad has already competed in many events in the car. Brad is a great driver, and has a lot of experience in international events. The Japanese-crewed, Japanese-built car that took part in the 14th Monte Carlo Historique, given start number '23', and running on the appropriately-near Japanese 'carnet' license plate number of 'TKS 330 NO 4150' ( in tribute to the 3rd-overall finishing Works car from the 1972 event, start number '5', driven by Rauno Aaltonen, 'TKS 33 SA 4150' - which now lives in Nissan's 'DNA Garage' at Zama )was a replica. I don't know who told you the story that it was an original Works car that had been in storage, but it is nothing of the sort. Driver / owner Mr Toshimasa IKEUCHI is a friend of mine, has given me the full background story of the build ( it was actually based on a USA-sourced 'shell ) and I have ridden shotgun in the car in Japan. Here's a picture of IKEUCHI san's Japanese-built car on the 2009 event: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazeum Posted December 28, 2011 Author Share Posted December 28, 2011 (edited) thanks for the head's up Sean was also talking about them but he had no way to contact them. Are they on hybridz or any other Z forum? Good to see the clarification about Ikeushi san's car. Talking with some fellow members here, they say it was indeed a replica afterall... [edit]: he's actually on FB, we'll send him a msg thru it. Edited December 28, 2011 by Lazeum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted December 29, 2011 Share Posted December 29, 2011 "'TKS 33 SA 4150' - which now lives in Nissan's 'DNA Garage' at Zama )was a replica. " Thanks for that bit Alan, I was comparing some shots I had of the car and some historical stuff I had and was having a hell of a time reconciling amongst other things lack of damage in some areas, and what appeared to be a 'mobile' decal for the number! It makes a lot more sense now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazeum Posted January 16, 2012 Author Share Posted January 16, 2012 (edited) We've managed to contact all the Datsun teams including Brad We'll try to schedule a dinner within the Datsun group in Reims We might also have Nissan France part of the trip with us. Last year, they came with a GTR, we had a dinner also and they've enjoyed it. Edited January 16, 2012 by Lazeum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rally Posted January 16, 2012 Share Posted January 16, 2012 Mr Aaltonen won Monte Carlo -67 with Mini Cooper and in 1972 he was there with little man called Jean Todt..Now days Bigger man in Ferrari. Mr Aaltonen lives 2 miles from my house, a real old gentleman. Still drives for living, only Porsches now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kali Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Anybody know anybody that might be able to get me into the Nissan Heritage Garage? So far ive only seen the door Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazeum Posted January 31, 2012 Author Share Posted January 31, 2012 (edited) So I came back from Reims where I was yesterday during the whole day for cars inspection first & then the start of the rally. It was cold (28-30°F - it is even cold for the ones living up North?!) but it was well worth it. We had the opportunity to discuss with every team & crew. All were very friendly and very nice despite pressure some hours before the start. So we've seen 3 s30 & 1 fairlady. There's was also one Honda Civic RS & 1 Mazda RX2 regarding japanese cars. The remaining cars were mostly european cars: Ford Escord RS2000, Opel GT/E, Porsches, FIat's, MG, Austin Healey, Volvo with one with 2 stroke engine (!), BMW & Renault's. All teams left Reims with Datsun stickers and Z calendar made by the club. On the way to MC, they've meet the rest of the French club, some prepared some candies with Stikers are team names on the box. They were able also to sit inside Brad's car which is truly amazing. Quick discussion with him made me understood how far he went with the replica. He reproduced Magnesium wheels based on an original one (with new dies dedicated for his build), the whole chassis with proper reinforcement based on the original car he visited for documentation, original Works calipers, reproduction of "J" sign in alumanum on the hood, steering wheel, undercarriage, exhaust, hand brake relocation, jack points, motor with appropriate valve size, head work, comp ratio, carbs, airbox, etc. Only deviations were stuffs related to safety: buckets & cages. Edited January 31, 2012 by Lazeum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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