Zedrally

Datsun 2nd, 3rd & 4th.......... Record Breaking Alpine Rally Win The 58th Alpine Rally finished in Lakes Entrance this weekend with a record breaking performance from winning co-driver Ross Runnalls. He now has a record seven wins in this classic Australian motorsport event, one clear of another 1970's Alpine legend Frank Kilfoyle and his 1980's sparring partner Greg Carr. The Australian Alpine Rally is the world's second oldest motorsport event having been run for the first time in 1921. Co-drivng for now three times Alpine Rally winner and two times Australian Rally Champion Geoff Portman, who was also Runnalls first and long time driver, drove their powerful, on loan, Holden Commodore V8 with great control and flare in the wet and tricky conditions in the Alpine high country to the north of Lakes Entrance and Orbost. This was a fitting result for Portman and Runnalls as this rally win came on the 30th anniversary of their first Alpine Rally start in 1975. They were at the time also Holden mounted in a rugged looking fawn coloured 1956 Holden FE Sedan. The win in this year's event was also Geoff's first Alpine start since his last win in 1982. This years Holden, a 1984 Commodore, was borrowed from another previous Australian Rally Champion Barry Lowe and son's Aaron and proved the perfect weapon for Geoff who even admitted, privately, at the finish that it had to much horsepower for him to handle! The final day of competition yesterday saw an epic battle for the lead between Portman/Runnalls and New South Wales driver Kari Dirickx and co-driver Tim Batten in a potent Datsun 1600. Dirickx started the day 4 seconds ahead of Portman who had decide to "push" on this final day having become more at home in the big unfamiliar V8 Commodore. Portman / Runnalls also had an advantage of "local knowledge" with both of them going thru Forestry school together in the 70's and then spending extended time in the Alpine forestry regions since. At the end of another fitting, tough Alpine Rally, Portman and Runnalls finished 30 seconds in front of Dirickx/Batten with Tim's father Mike Batten/Glen Murray, Datsun 1600 just piping teenager Jesse Robison co-driven by sister Sam in yet another Datsun, this time a 260Z coupe, proving this car makers dominance of club car rallying in Australia. At the presentation at the Lakes Entrance Kalimna Hotel last night, a crowd of more than 400 competitors and Alpine Rally enthusiast celebrated the end of this years Alpine and the presentation started with event Secretary Jodi Mann announcing that this would be her and, event boss, Stuart Listers' last Alpine Rally as key organisers. Immediately a round of three cheers for Stuart was called for from yet another Australian Rally legend on hand, Bob Watson which was rousing supported by the packed crowd. So another Alpine Rally is done; where too from here. There will be another Alpine, most likely in two years time, the HRA stalwarts have already started to put in place the steps to ensure that, so it is true …. Resistance IS Futile, even if your names are Stuart Lister and Jodi Mann. Final Results Geoff Portman/Ross Runnalls Holden Commodore 207:52 (Minutes:Seconds) Karl Dirickx/Tim Batten, Datsun 1600, 208:22 Mike Batten/Glenn Murray, Datsun 1600, 217:50 Jesse & Sam Robinson, Datsun 260Z, 219:53 Full results and photos will be on www.hra.org.au later today

There is no mis-information, mearly comments made by John Morton. Alan has only asked for Carls' comments. [i'd be interested as well]. MOM

If Alan would only write that book! MOM

Don't wait for Mike, cut and paste it or copy&paste! MOM

Hi all, The starting order for this great Historic event have been released. With 89 starters, 31 are pre 86 Datsun/Nissan vehicles, this is a great tribute to the Datsun designers that there are still so many RAlly prepared cars STILL competing in Australia, Yes, there are a few Zeds as well.... Check out. http://www.hra.org.au/comingEvents/documents/2005Alpine_Start-List.pdf for more details.. MOM

Oh yes they do....Swap out the bulbs and see.

Check the tailight globes, make sure that the brake light has twin filiment globes, not single. ie it has 3 connectors not 2.

Hi Carl/all Did Nissan US import L24 [or other engines] without stamped serials? The obvious answer to the blank serial would be to stamp the original numbers on the block, it does raise the question about any car's originality though! MOM

globes=bulbs

Bet you replaced the globes! Twin Filiment with Single. This is a common problem when you "accidentally" replace them with the incorrect ones. MOM

ahhh gawd. I'm having a seniors moment and can't remember which side it's on!

Engine Num on block=Engine Num on VIN plate

I wonder if a mass correction to all motoring writers in OZ could be arranged????? Perhaps with Alan T's help, a press release could be arranged. Thankfully the editor of ARN has a rally prepared zed and is aware of the history, one down and "x" to go... go Rick go..... MOM

draco8, There isn't much of a knowledge base on the ZX series on this board. Primarily, because we tend to discuss the classic zed series [240-260-280Z], however before I get flamed for this post, it may well be time for a ZX forum as certain similarities exist between models. Given that they are becoming a classic, purely because of age doesn't mean thay don't have there place here [iMHO]. Interesting history, please keep posting as you gain knowledge on this particular model. MOM

Gav, Pitstop Bookshop has them in stock. www.pitstop.net.au MOM

An earlier posts & previous threads....

Hey Rick, Are you actually saying that that German designed the zed! MOM

Ah....forgot about that thread. So the slimmer one must be off the 260..... MOM

The connection is the same [both knobs change over]. Physically they are both the same except for one side being slimmer.

Yes, it is from a scanner. [No Dig. Camera yet]! YOu've just managed to confuse the situation as the one on the left came from my 240!

Hi all, I'm in the process of tooling up for a production run of "choke" knobs. I do however have a dilema as both of my samples are different. Can anyone tell me from which model/year/market either of these came from? [sorry about the detail, it's the shape I'm concerned about]. Are there any other different knobs? Cheers MOM

IT's a well documented fact that the Zed's suspension for the US market was similar to a US Boulavard cruiser. Now why doesn't the quoted paragraph get up my nostral. Simply because it was people like Morton who saw the potential [or was it Datsun who saw the potential of having Morton evaulate the car] as a potential race car. Morton & Brock [if memory serves me correct] re-built these cars into race cars. It was the knowledge gained by this [& other racers]that enabled the zed to become the great car it is. Unfortunatly, this is only one paragraph, I don't have access to the book to see if there is any clarification or if it was just a poor choice of words given in a bad context. Don't loose any sleep over it, after all he hasn't credited Goertz with the design [i hope]. MOM

I should add, that that is one per club member........as long as stocks last......

Bump.... If anyone is interested, I have a box [don't ask how many] of Brand new Metal Hood badges. These originate from the late 70's, early 80's. They are not OEM, but are metal with 2 threaded posts. I don't believe in E-BAy and will sell for the market price to club members, if it can be that price can be established. I gave one to Z Kid in exchange for some parts, so if anyone is interested in the quality please contact him for an independant apprasial. Over to the club members...... Zedrally.....

Has anyone got a price of an brand new hood metal badge? MOM