If you are a Nissan fan like me you might be just a little annoyed with the success of the new Scion/Subaru sportscars. Nissan should have been the automaker to bring back the pure sportscar, reminiscent of its own 240z: light, RWD, affordable and ultimately fun to drive. Word on the street is that Nissan wants “its segment” back and may possibly release a small sportscar bearing the 240sx name.
Check out more speculation over at GtChannel.

This is both exciting and troubling news…how will Nissan pull it off? Can a cheaper, youthful and more entertaining sportscar be added to a lineup that already includes the 370z? Will a 240sx make 370z sales even more dismal? What existing platform and drivetrains would the 240sx use or does Nissan have the money and guts to start from scratch like the FR/BR?

What’s on your wishlist for the 240sx?

Just a friendly reminder that the shop  will be closed this Thursday and Friday for the holiday.  Don’t forget to Enjoy the Ride!

Here are a few more shots of Scott G and his twin-turbo, AWD G37 Sedan at Laguna Seca!

Vortech had an incredible presence at the 2012 SEMA show in Las Vegas. They have great coverage of the display and supercharged cars on their blog at VortechSuperchargers.com. In addition to modern and vintage cars sporting Vortech blowers our very own Chris B. and his stunning G35 were spotted at the show:

 

Look for a full story of our Vortech install and other goodies on Chris’ G on ZCarblog soon, and big thanks to Vortech for the shout-out!

Jonah R is a chef at an East Bay restaurant during the week and an avid road racer on weekends. He met fellow track junky Scott Smith at SCCA school and Scott recommended ZCG to help with braking issues. Jonah was overheating his brakes so he visited us to have the calipers rebuilt along with other track preparation items.

The AP Racing calipers were extremely heat discolored from track abuse. The calipers were refreshed with new seals and dust boots:

The major Achilles heel of the Z34 for track use is engine cooling. When oil temps rise the car will go into IC or “limp” mode which is a complete bummer when one is trying to race against the clock….or other cars!  We addressed this issue by installing both engine oil and rear differential coolers. We also improved fuel pick-up to avoid starvation under high-g corners and transitions. You are probably wondering if all these modifications are necessary…for a guy like Jonah who is an absolute genius behind the wheel… of course!

Earlier in March we installed engine and differential coolers:

With improved cooling and fresh brakes Jonah was turned loose on the track to remain competitive in the SCCA’s Super Touring Over(STO) race class.

More track prep including windows, gauges, switch-panel, OS Giken Super-Lock limited slip differential:

Jonah simply needed more braking capacity.  We chose the Stoptech Trophy(RACE) Kit. This is Stoptech’s latest design with mil-spec coated calipers/hats and improved rigidity. They even offer the Trophy kit in a street-friendly package. *Spoiler Alert* Stoptech’s Trophy kit may have helped Jonah win the trophy!
Behold these burly binders in all their glory:
14″ 6-piston fronts

13″ 2-piston rears

With brakes that could withstand Jonah’s incessant need for speed he started serving up dishes of “I am faster than you Porsche” with a little “take that Viper!” on the side…

…Jonah’s superior driving earned him the trophy and championship in the 2012 San Francisco Region Super Touring Over series! He had eight 1st place finishes, one 2nd place and a DNS at Thunderhill. Congratulations Jonah!

More pictures in the gallery!
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