Just returning from the five day Z party and wondering if anyone has started a thread yet? Had a total blast. Drank a lot of rum. Did some seriously fun things and met a WHOLE BUNCH of people. Three gold medallions - a 300ZX twin turbo, a 450 mile original 280ZX anniversary edition and a modified 240 that you had to wear sunglasses to look at. Top score was 297 and the low was a 291 ? I think. Ed took honors with his car.

A bunch of us did the poker run in the rental car and got lost, but we did manage to find three junk yards, five z-cars and a running car for sale that had a vinyl top kit on it. Track day at Watkins Glen was a cool concept of combining it with professional driving instruction. I checked out Steve Millen and Bob Bondurant. "gnosez" gave me a couple of laps in the club car - thanks John. Two vintage Bob Sharp cars were there.

Both Mr. and Mrs. K went for hot laps in a 350Z with Bob Bodurant driving, I think? We slapped a Toyo Tire sticker on the windshield of the rental car and did three rather quick "warm laps" as part of the track tour group. I got a chance to chat with Mr. K for a bit and we exchanged gifts. The NISMO guys brought a 2006 350Z track edition to show us and we got to see the new ad campaign that will hit Monday Night Football this fall.

Next convention is in Dallas, June 1, 2006 and the 2007 convention is in Florida some time in October. My artsy - fartsy pictures will be up soon. I see that the overhead group shot posed from the track day event has not hit this site and I want to ask that it not be posted. Technically, Nissan owns that photograph and has copyright to it. I was up there with the Nissan film crew and was asked...kind of after the fact. It was a great time. Came home with a ton of stuff. Great to see everyone. And as I said, I drank a gallon of rum!

The inside show allows a prone position beneath the car. One of my favorite positions. Enjoy the ride.

Ooooh, good rumor. Mid Ohio? Ooooh, I'm for that. Its Dallas, May 29, 2006 - Florida, tba, 2007 for now.

I was only able to make it to the show day on Wednesday, but an outstanding day it was! I only wish I had paid up to get in the peoples choice show, I tried to on the day of and they didn't want my money... because they already had the spots marked for the people who followed the rules, that's only fair. I did notice that someone took a pic of my 240 in the parking lot though... awesome!

I'm going to start planning to come to the Dallas/Ft. Worth show... my grandparents live in the area (Hurst). I can't wait... and i'm going to put in for leave now! Probably won't be able to drive the Z though... maybe I could trailer it...hmmmmm.

It was great meeting all the people different people and especially you fellas from here! Hope to see y'all in the Lone Star State.

Here's what I brought back with me. And yes the 510 is signed by Mr. K . Unfortunately I left the items I wasnted to have signed by him at the house... maybe next year. For those who haven't met him, he is surprisingly upbeat for a man his age, very postive and still has a wonderful sense of humor... what an amazing fellow he truly is!

Nate

Hi all. I'm sorry I didnt get to meet the guys from this forum that were there. On Wed. I was helping with the car show parking and the day went by too fast! I did get to meet ED on keg-n-klean nite. Still wondering how I made out in 240 street mod. See you guys at the next convention.

The convention was a great time. Thanks to all three NY clubs that organized it! To pull off an event of this magnitude takes a lot of work and dedication (I know, our club hosted the 2003 convention in NH).

Next year is Irving TX (Dallas), and after looking at the convention presentation and brochure, it looks to be an incredible event. Two track days, an autocross, show, ralley, etc.

2007 is the Florida clubs. Either Daytona area (if they get Datytona International). Otherwise it will be Tampa with Sebring being the track. They also have Gainsville speed way setup for drag racing and an autocross (mini road course).

Hear is Bob Bondurant sitting in the race car our club built. Many of you saw it at the show, and on the track at WG. It did at least 8 sessions during the track day, one with Bob at the wheel!

So did Ed win in his catagory? Give us the details!

What about the other Gold Medalion cars? I would love to see pictures and read details of all the show winners.

Marty

Marty,

I am 99% sure Ed won his class. He was one of the 23 finalists with a raw score over 280. I am begining to see summary information about the convention but have yet to see the results of the car show. Roughly 460 people registered for the convention. 81 entries in the judged car show - 10 no-shows, 70+ entries in the peoples choice show. I don't know the name of the Ohio car - the silver / chrome modified 240Z that took the Gold Cup. I don't have a picture of Charlie Osborne's Gold Medallion winning 280ZX 25th anniversary. (Original, about 460 miles on it. He drove the car to Syracuse and drove it home!) The other Gold Medallion car was a yellow 300ZX twin turbo that I think belongs to Roger Casanova. That car can be seen in a couple of my overhead shots of the mall where there are two yellow 300ZXs displayed. Both the blue 280Zs I photographed made it to the final round. There were a pair of Black Pearls at the show. Lots of really nice cars. The poor pictures just don't do justice!

Chris

Chris,

Thanks for the additonal info. What class was Ed in? Modified? I know he has somes mods on the car, so it probably would not have been in the stock class.

Ed, you out there? Speak up man! Don't be so humble. You should be very proud of all your hard work! It certainly has paid off.

Did you see the winning 240Z in stock class?

I didn't know that ZX was Charlie's. He must have put on most of those 460 miles on the trip there! I don't think I would have the guts to drive a car like that so far.

Man I wish I could have gone to the show. I looked like a great event. I wish they would have one in the mid-west. These shows are always so far away.

Marty

Here you go, Marty. Nate's picture (coastguardZ). First in class stock 240Z. July 1970 build date, 23,000 miles. The battery, tires and muffler have been replaced. Everything else is original. It has a blue/green distributor cap and I am a little unsure about it, however the spark plug wires are still original.

Ed's car is tastefully modified and restored to a very high standard. I was delighted to meet Ed and see his car. An inspiration to me.

23K Miles! Wow, would I love to see that car up close. I really like cars with low, low miles.

Speaking of low miles, was Burt with the 14K '71 at the show? I think he is from New York. Wonder if he ever got a buyer for that car?

I HAVE to make one of these conventions soon.

Thanks Chris.

Marty

Hey that looks like Ol' Yeller! 'Cept she has a black distributor cap. Anyway...

The Florida Zvention in '07 will be the 20th anniversay show!! Everyone must make plans now and get the Z finished. Bring the family and send them off to Disney World. No excuses not to come down here. You've got 2 years notice. If you don't want to drive the Z down here, you can rent a car hauler, open or closed.

Vicky

so you like low miles eh marty, how's this

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Datsun-Z-Series-1980-DATSUN-280Z-10TH-ANNIVERSARY-EDITION-ONLY-35-MILES_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6187QQitemZ4570551890QQrdZ1

i wonder what the story is behind this one. notice odometer miles and the trip miles.

Nope! Bart didn't make it. Bart, Burt, Butt, whatever. Rumor has it he painted the car again. Talk about taking a nice car and ruining it!!!

The 919 yellow 240Z was a time piece, Marty. The guy even had a can of original touch-up paint. You could easily see the quality of the original paint job. The original orange peel and the thin spray coating underneath. I spent a great deal of time below the car, checking out the build marks. Just incredible.