2018 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion 8/23-26

[SLOroadster]

Its been said its more fun to drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow. Its absolutely infuriating when you are stuck with the slowest car that should be faster, but no matter how hard you try, or how many people look at the car, you can't make it rev beyond 5500 rpm. I replaced every part of the ignition system, a large section of the exhaust (that helped some, and made it sound far better.) but I never did get the car to run correctly. The consensus is its a harmonics issue that causes the fuel not to flow through the carbs between 5000 and 6000 rpm. I'm looking for the very early rubber carb isolators to try and fix this.

Here is what its like to be the slowest car in the field...


Will

[RCMike]

Its been said its more fun to drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow.

Funny, I spent the weekend thinking I was driving the slow car fast. Pretty sure I was slowest in a straight line in the top 20 or so.. But the car handles amazing, I was able to make stuff happen by bringing momentum off corners..

[bakerjf]

I’ll freely admit I don’t know anything about vintage Datsun racing, but I was surprised the 510’s were so much faster. Why is that? I would think a U20 would beat an L18 or whatever??

[RCMike]

It would be interesting to see what the "Nationals" motor would do against these giant Rebello bullets... And the giant Porsches, and the twinspark Alfas and the twin cam Loti..

Rock said the Nationals motor had a LOT more power, but we have not run it..

[Gregs672000]

I forgot to mention how great Datseen's video was! Man, I want you to do one for me!

Also, just got on yahoo and saw the Road and Track article on the meet. Both RCMike and Alvin got their cars pictured a couple times. Are we surprised Alvin's car gets pics?

[troyt]

I’ll freely admit I don’t know anything about vintage Datsun racing, but I was surprised the 510’s were so much faster. Why is that? I would think a U20 would beat an L18 or whatever??

JB,
Lots of different factors at play in vintage racing.
First and foremost is driver's ability. Fast/experienced drivers in slower cars, that know how to use their momentum, often "appear" to have faster cars. That momentum begins at the previous corner entry and builds down the next straightaway.
Second, power-to-weight ratios (i.e. money-to-speed ratio) - a L18 or L20 can easily be built to outpower a U20. Top level L18s make over 200hp for less money than it takes to build a U20 of comparable power. And a lightweight 510 can weigh under 1800#, while a heavy Roady can weigh that.
Troy

[bakerjf]

I’ll freely admit I don’t know anything about vintage Datsun racing, but I was surprised the 510’s were so much faster. Why is that? I would think a U20 would beat an L18 or whatever??

JB,
Lots of different factors at play in vintage racing.
First and foremost is driver's ability. Fast/experienced drivers in slower cars, that know how to use their momentum, often "appear" to have faster cars. That momentum begins at the previous corner entry and builds down the next straightaway.
Second, power-to-weight ratios (i.e. money-to-speed ratio) - a L18 or L20 can easily be built to outpower a U20. Top level L18s make over 200hp for less money than it takes to build a U20 of comparable power. And a lightweight 510 can weigh under 1800#, while a heavy Roady can weigh that.
Troy

Thanks Troy!

[RCMike]

JB, I will tell you what was REALLY hard.. Passing the 240z.. He was dead slow in the corners, but screaming down the straights. I had to figure out the exact distance to drop back so I could exit at speed on the cam on his bumper without ever having to back off in the corner.. It was seriously hard. Took a while, and eventually he got moved off line by the Bluebird stealing a corner and I was able to follow through. But he was so fast in a straight line if I did not have it done by turn 6 then he was going to get me on the front straight..

[bakerjf]

The whole thing was a first for me and very cool. Amazing cars, cool vibe. Couldn’t believe that they let spectators just walk around the paddock amongst the cars buzzing in and out. I’ll definately be going back.

[MicVelo]

The whole thing was a first for me and very cool. Amazing cars, cool vibe. Couldn’t believe that they let spectators just walk around the paddock amongst the cars buzzing in and out. I’ll definately be going back.

^^^ John's been bitten by the bug. Sorry, it's not curable. Laff...

Although I haven't turned a wheel in anger on track in nearly 40 years, THIS is why Laguna Seca is my favorite place in the world. Still get to be up close and personal with the owners/drivers/crew people, some of whom I knew years ago in my role as "the Datsun guy with the truck full of the right bolts, gaskets, and gear sets for the track." (Datsun Comp Race Support)

I mean, where else can you walk up and strike up a conversation with the owner of one of these?


Not just a 300SL Gullwing but a race prepped one! That actually ran on the track! Whew! Forget Pebble Beach, this is where this car belongs!

Or this pair of Bugatti Type 35s... more wins (at roughly 1,000) with this car than Nissan, Mercedes, Porsche single type cars combined! Nearly a hundred years ago at that!


And the car that started the "supercars for the street" generation of Porsche GT2s, GT3s, RS', this gem sitting alone getting no love until I walked up salivating and babbling.... "Oh my..... <babble blub> it's a <nnnnnnngggggg>, no it can't be <blub blub> a Porsche 959!!"

Seriously, to be able to see these amazing cars in person and basking in their provenance is something non-car people would probably categorize as an "obsessive disorder".

Tis OK by me.

[Alvin]

Our coverage of the most EPIC Datsun racing event at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion is posted!
Take a lap with John Morton and enjoy our exclusive in-car video footage from Z Car Garage racers, paddock highlights and a mega-picture gallery.



Lots of in-car videos and paddock footage of roadsters and 510s here, please enjoy!
Thanks to all the Datsun fans that participated, YOU made this weekend amazing!

http://www.zcarblog.com/2018/09/07/even ... union.html

I will follow up with roadster-specific fun later!

[spriso]

Outstanding report Alvin! We had a great time at the event!

Michael

[MicVelo]

Alvin and ZCG FTW! Great coverage showing just how much I missed only being there on Corral day. Psh. Oh well, other events in Monterey were cool too.

[Alvin]

Here are few memorable roadster pics.


On Friday I dropped my kids off at school, hopped in the roadster and blitzed for Laguna Seca. A few miles south of the main entrance I saw a silver roadster... it was bikermike!


Big thanks to Tim Arnett. He gave me a pass to park right next to his '67 2000 race car (an important one!) in the paddock.


Tim's '67 2000 lost the gas tank cap somewhere en route to The Quail, I lent him mine so he could race!


John Baker's '69 2000 (front) in the Nissan Corral:


Rob Fuller's '67 2000:


Michael (spriso) snapped this one as I left for the Nissan Corral


Jon (datseen) and Simon(2mAn) staging for the Parade Lap:



Ted Heaton trying to close his trunk:


Roadster pillars Steve Pettersen and Mike Young


Alex S. from Texas had a rough trip to RMMR. The RV towing his race car broke down. Luckily our very own Shannon (sfdaugherty) came to the rescue! Alex was able to participate in the races, his very first time:


Still can't get enough of mike's SRL!


The Frank Monise car:


Nice coverage by JNC:
http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/rolex-m ... /#comments

More great pics:
https://eori.smugmug.com/Cars/n-6SgR5/M ... sun-Album/

[Gregs672000]

Great pics, thank you!