TomoHawk

Stephen, I respect the "advice" people will offer here, because most of it is from first-hand experience, but some people tend to think that their advice is the ONLY good one, so you'd better take that it, and that's that. Dave suggests, "Take the advice and move on." Which advice? There were a number of them! Some people don't want to accept any reasonable discussion, called it a "debate," even if somebody has an idea that might work, or some related experience to involve. This is a sad thing from a people ("Americans") who consider themselves so much better than others. Closed minds. There's ALWAYS another way, but some people are afraid to try. I will try those things if I can. Now, if You don't mind, I'm going out to the car to get whatever is left on there, off. I will get some new ones. thx

Reminder: Buy a pint of black shoe polish... :paranoid:

No worries. I'm trying to keep it as stock as possible, but with my finances, I will have to settle for DD class. Occasionally, I might try another class if there don't seem to be many cars entered.

Gary, Using dish soap or anything else that will wash out with water is not the thing thing you want for your wiper shaft boots. I can't imgine hy it was suggested. It's not the right thing.Everybody has their own thing they like. I will be using the correct thing, when I find it.

I have a box with recipes for a bunch of skin lotions, soaps, greases, and other stuff. Many have the same basic ingredients.

Skin lotions have the mostly the same stuff that dishwashing soaps have, but in different amounts.

Actually Will, According to the juging rules, my car fits better in the DD class, because it allows most customizations you would want, within limits (because it's supposed to be a street car.) Not all mods will get you penalties. thx

Doesn't it wash off eventually? You'd have to re- apply the stuff depending on the weather.I read that lanolin is good for preserving rubber parts, so I think a skin lotion with lanolin in it work about as well. thx

I was using a G.P. wheel bearing gease with teflon. I could switch to a lithium grease, and I even have a special grease made from Olive oil (Italian stuff used on very nice racing bikes, like mine ) thx

That must be messy thing, unless you clean out all the old grease first ( You need to coat them inside with grease before putting them on, so they will slide.

I don't need to do any sanding, just the polishing to get the stuff of the surface that's making it look dirty

I tried Brasso on my 10-year old Polycarbonate headlight lenses, and it seems to have helped, but only a little. Walmart has a kit with some polish & a tool you use with the drill to polish newer headlamps. Brasso is hard to find, so IMO, you should buy two if you find some.

Back on the topic, if you are at a car show and you don't understand the rules, what can you do? Or if you really think the judge did or judged something wrong, what should you do? (I can give an example.) I've been to a Z show or two where the judges were just guys that seemed like they were pulled right off the sidewalk! thx

The clear plastic faces on a couple of my gauges look a little fogged; I get hit with a penalty at a show. Maybe somebody used some cleaner with a little too much solvent or something, but can I get them nice & clear again? Brasso maybe? thx

I got a couple sets of replacement wiper boots through eBay, and both sets dried out & crumbled after a few months. Is that correct, or did I get some junk? I think it wuld be nice to get a set in silicone. thx

The paint should be one, and you'll get one for the console mod ( only one hit for several holes, for example. Those things go in groups, like console, radio, heater, gauges. Wheel have two or three parts like wheel/rim, nuts/bolts and tires. Check your last judging sheet or get the one from the ZCCA website. It's only when you are even with somebody else in points, when the judges get nitpicky, to see which car will edge out the other. Anything you don't think should be in the car for judging, take it out after you park. I throw all the travelling junk ( towels, hand wipes, coins, maps, cassette tapes & CDs, umbrella, niknaks, etc.) into a tub first thing, and empty the glovebox (except the owner's manual), then grab the spray bottles to clean things. The only stuff that should be in the car after you park & get out, is the owner's manual, judging # sign, and sunsheild. Even remove the sunsheild just before judging. thx

I don't understand what you mean about the glovebox light. Checking the domelight is a no-brainer, but you need to now something about the 280Z to check the glovebox light. I think what happened to me is that one guy ( not knowledgable in Z) was with a couple Z guys, and the one guy was the one that happened to check the glovebox light. thx

I would be satisfied with the rules if you could get a dispensation if you had legally-required equipment on-board. You'd simply show the judges the paper, and they'll have to overlook that one thing. I'd need some help to do the arm-twisting. Someone with pull or favourable contacts. thx

There was a good example of group decuctions in the rules document. If you change from the 240Z stock steel wheels to ZX aluminum ones, you'd get two deductions: 1 for the wheels, and one for the lug nuts. Too bad you can't keep the acorn nuts with the aliminum wheels. A coyuple years I was hit for "non-working glovebox lamp. It did work, but the judge didn'tknow about turning the lights on first. I also once got a decuction for the 'non-stock radio?' And I was in DD class! It was professionally installed. You weren't allowed to ask for specifics. that's the other thing I would like to change ( add a specific note about what the decuction was for.) thx

No, it's not required for regular people, but if you have a visual disability, yuo may have that or other requirements. If you were an arm amputee, youd be restricted to an automatic trans, or if a leg amputee, some hand controls.

Did you follow the link at the bottom to the discussion? They have a discussion forum. Some fool actually said, "so I wonder if this Speed Racer will be a drift racer and use bullet time stop motion effects" :mad: Since when does Gran Prix racing involve drifting!?? :mad: :mad: I will have to register there just to put the fool right. Personally, I hope that it won't be like the fast & furious junk. Maybe some drama & really great filmed action (they filmed real racing) like in the movie Gran Prix. thx

My 280Z now has power steering, and a right-handed turn signal switch. Looking at the restrictions that are on the back of your driver's license, you could also be required to have: --- Left outside & inside mirrors (i.e. side & rearview mirrow which new cars have, stock) -- Automatic trans (new cars have this, stock) -- cruise control (some new cars have this, stock) -- air conditioning ?? ( EVERY! newer car has this!) I kind of use an old judging sheet when I clean the car starting about a week before a show, but By cleaning tips, I think it would help to learn how to clean or prepare some of those special areas on the S30, like the back light panel, 280Z bumper ends, or inside the wheel wells. Not just the usual vacuum & paint stuff, that you see on any car website. thx

On a different note (since we've touch on cleanliness,) maybe some people who have much experience with getting their S30 C-L-E-A-N clean, can share some of their tips, or maybe a 'checklist?' these cars have too many place that dirt can get into, and can be fun to clean. Personally, I clean the dust out with my 2-80 technique. New topic? thx

What I was saying is that for those people who have this "non- stock" equipment, which is requred BY LAW (current/modern laws), then you get penalized for it because Nissan wasn't thinking 30-40 years ahead to predict these new laws, and build the stuff into the car (back in 1970, or whever.) That means you either have to drive around "illegally" or you can't be in a class and get 300 points, even if you had a 300- point car! You might as well not go...

One very important thing I noticed about the rules deals with equipment required by the DOT or BMW for certain drivers to drive legally. This equipment MUST be in or on the car and you can lose your license if you are caught without it! Most things you can't take out of the car after you park the car at a show, because it's permanently built in to the car, but a very few things might come off if you have enough time & tools. Judges will just tell you it's not stock ( if you're in that class), and you get hit for being a legal driver?? The bottom line is that since there are the A.D.A. laws in this country to guarantee people fair treatment in the workplace and in pulic areas, but then there are the ZCCA judging rules basically tell you that you can't have a Z in a ZCCA show because you aren't physically or visually as good as others? These judging rules need to catch up with the times.