Zedrally

Not might, he is.... MN

All, Bob Watson mailed this to me:... MN Mike, Jeff Beaumont and I were part of the official factory "Datsun" team (before they changed to "Nissan") in the 1973 Southern Cross Rally. The other team members were the late Tony Fall / Steve Halloran, Shekhar Mehta / Roger Bonhomme, all in 240Zs, and Frank Kilfoyle/ Mike Osborne (I think) in a 180BSSS. Mehta had won the East African Safari that year. Bruce Wilkinson ran the team . My car had been previously run in the Monte Carlo Rally that year. It was left hand drive, had heaps of power and a lot of traction at the rear, so it was very prone to understeer, which made it very hard to drive. Tony Fall took me for a drive during a testing session in the Kinglake forest, and his technique was to constantly weave the car so that it was always in a slight oversteer attritude, even on the straights. His comment was "if the bastard understeers, your'e dead". The rally was one of the wettest Southern Crosses ever - only nine or ten cars finished the course. Tony Fall hated driving the Z in the wet, and more or less indicted that the sooner he retired the better. Sure enough he rolled near the end of the first night, and was last seen disappearing into a caravan with an attractive girl. The rest of the team soldiered on, but Andrew Cowan inevitably won in a Mitsubishi Lancer (one of his 5 Sothern Cross wins). . Kilfoyle finished seventh, I think we were ninth and only one other car finished behind us. Conditions were atrocious, and I must say it was one of the scariest and most difficult drives of my career, wrestling with a very powerful left hand drive factory car in pouring rain and slippery mud. I have some photos of the car, but there was so much mud around that the number plates were probably unreadable. I will check. I know the plates had Japanese registration. Nissan finally won the Southern Cross in 1977, Rauno Aaltonen was first, Harry Kallstrom was second (both in twin cam 710s) and I finished third with Peter Godden in a Gerry Ball single cam 710. Bob.

Guys, All is at hand and we are working on the solution. Luckly, I know Bob Watson and will be able to supply more details after I contact him. Mike

The wheel cover was pointed not circular as the pic, it is simialr to the steering wheel cushion but wrong colour, they where black not red. I can't put my hand to it presently but I would bet that it's the bonnet badge off a 260 or 280. Mike

What different types do you guys compete in? I'm using the 240 in the forest on Navigational trial type events and a 260 on Tarmac/Touring events. Mike

What is it what you're trying to find out about this? Mike

Full setup details as such: Sealed Beam lights converted to H4, running 100/130w globes, each filiment is separetly relayed. When I used only this setup all was OK. Added DL (Hella spot 100w ea) and sep. relay, upgraded altenator to 85amp internal regulated. That's when all my problems began. On other point. I had originally wired the relays directly from the alternator, have now changed to starter motor, but very hesitant to try out the new arrangement just in case I have another double failure at speed amoungst the tree! Mike

At last, a dedicated forum to Rally(s)& 240z's! Thanks Mike! I'll open the discussion up for others that may be interested in different types of rally(s)see which is going to be most popular [Forest Racing ala WRC, Tarmac Rally or those Navigational Nightmares] or is it going to be Rally Prep? Currently I have been campaigning a 240z in all 3 types with moderate results. I have been experiancing intermitant problems with Headlight & Driving Light failure and am wondering if there are any others on the list who have experianced a similar problem? So far the problem only occurs when the DL's are switched on. ie all lights on High. The failure usually occurs at the end of stage when Low beam is selected and pow! no lights!!!! Any ideas!!!! Mike