Alan Thomas . . . is that you?

[sakijo]

Just picked up the latest issue of Nostalgic Hero and there`s an article about an S30ZG. It says that the owner is Alan Thomas of London, England. Nice article. So, Alan Thomas . . . is that you and your car?

[Alfadog]

I think the Japanese guys would go crazy over that article huh!

I posted this a while ago but no one responded so not surprised you missed it.

[HS30-H]

Hi Miles and Lachlan,

Yes, I admit it. It is me. Although I must say that they must have done some kind of Photoshop jiggerypokery to make me as ugly as I look in that photo. That's certainly not the handsome, fit, intelligent-looking adonis with a full head of hair and his own teeth that I see in the bathroom mirror every morning. They got my age wrong two issues running too ( I'm 44 not 41! ) so now people will be thinking I've been telling little white lies about my age too. :nervous:

Actually, the four page coverage in issue no.119 is a kind of over-run from issue no.118 - which was the main course, if you like. Issue no.118 was Sixteen pages of UK-based feature, covering two genuine ex-Works 240Z rally cars ( Kevin's and Gary's ), plus Kevin's current MSA British Championship historic rally car, and my 432R replica project, my Fairlady 240ZG and the KPGC10 that Dr Shimizu has given to me. The guys from Nostalgic Hero spent three nights in London and then flew back to Japan, so it was quite a punishing schedule really. We were blessed with some fairly nice weather luckily.

I must say I think the article on the ex-Works cars in issue no.118 is very impressive, and I'm really pleased that it all worked out so well.

I might need to make some scans and put them up here for those that can't usually get hold of the mag. Might fill in the surrounding story of how it all came about too.

Lachlan, I didn't see your original post about 118 ( I'm slacking ) - otherwise I would have replied to it. Sorry.

Cheers,

Alan T.

[Alfadog]

Sorry Miles - I thought you were talking about Issue 118. I forgot that the February Issue might be out since it is already the 5th of January :: !

I have not seen #119 yet but I'm glad it has more about Alan's cars. I have to admit I was a bit saddened to see the KPGC10 not get much limelight in #118. I guess it has already had a big feature so there is not much point...

I wait by the mail box.

[HS30-H]

I have to admit I was a bit saddened to see the KPGC10 not get much limelight in #118. I guess it has already had a big feature so there is not much point...

Lachlan,

The KPGC10's arrival in the UK ( and the story surrounding it ) was one of the original reasons for the guys from Nostalgic Hero coming over to the UK this time.

As you know, the car got a dedicated feature in issue no.113 ( with Mount Asama as the backdrop ) and it was discussed at the time that they would do a follow-up article with Dr Shimizu handing the car over to me after it arrived in the UK.

At least five or six years ago I had introduced Kevin's ex-Works car to the previous editor of the mag, and we discussed Nos Hero getting a 'scoop' feature on the car when it had completed its restoration. Kevin's resto took years longer than first expected, and this was half forgotten about. However, with the Nos Hero guys thinking about coming over anyway for the KPGC10 it was good timing to kill more than two birds with one stone and the whole thing took on a new dimension. They became very excited about the chance to scoop Kevin's car at a very interesting point in its restoration ( body finished, but engine still in pieces ) and also be allowed to look at a couple of other ex-Works cars too.

My good friend Matsui san ( who rebuilt the KPGC10 ) coordinated the Japanese side of the arrangements from the very beginning, and I coordinated the UK side. Unfortunately, at the last minute Dr Shimizu was forced to cancel his trip due to work commitments, so the KPGC10 hand-over coverage was put on the backburner and more pages were given over to Kevin and Gary's cars - which certainly deserve them. The whole shebang ended up at sixteen pages, which is quite unusually large. We also covered Gary's ex-Works Nissan 240RS ( chassis no.1 no less ) for Nos Hero's sister magazine for what they call 'neo historics'.

They did put a little box into the article showing Matsui san with the KPGC10 in London, and a few comments on its arrival. Its a real pity that Dr Shimizu could not make it. It would have been nice to tie up the loose ends on that. They had planned a fairly cheesy 'KPGC10 in London' article with some famous landmarks in the background, so I might have to do that myself at some point in the future.....

I didn't really want them to make too much fuss over the ZG, as I had been switching wheels and tyres around in something of a panic in the days preceding their visit and had actually ended up with two of the wheels from the KPGC10 ( wearing their big new Avon ZZR tyres ) on the back of the ZG - which are much too big! - and the rear wheels of the ZG on the front of the GT-R just so it would wheel around properly without tyres touching the overfenders ( it needs the ride height reset to suit the new road-legal tyres after switching over from modern slicks ). The ZG consequently looks a bit silly with the wrong rear wheels and tyres on it for the photos. I didn't even really get a chance to clean and polish it. My own fault.

Here are some scans of issue no.118:

[HS30-H]

Hmmm, problems attaching images in bulk. Try this:

[HS30-H]

Some more of issue 118:

[HS30-H]

And the four pages from no.119:

[veritech-z]

Alan, looks like you're going drag racing with the wheels set up like that! I wish I'd paid more attention when I tried to take Japanese in college...I bet that's a very interesting magazine, I just don't seem to have knack for languages.

[theianmonster]

Looks great; love that garage!

[geezer]

Very, very impressive. I think you should take that age discrepency and run with it.

Dr. Shimizu can rest assured the KPGC10 is in the proper hands.

[Mike]

Nice !! Congrats on the fame !