SteveJ

Les, if you manage to stay awake and come to the Mitty, be sure to visit us by the Suzuki Bridge. Steve

Did you try emailing Mike Bell? His address is on the website. Most likely he will be participating in it.

From the press release it sounds like they think Adam will be attending.

An impressive roster of famous drivers and automotive legends will be attending the 34th annual Classic Motorsports Mitty at Road Atlanta, April 29-May 2. They'll be reunited with many of the famous historic cars from their past. Headlining the list of celebrities will be Peter Brock, designer of the World Championship Shelby Daytona Cobra and founder of the legendary BRE team. His team dominated SCCA racing for several years, giving Datsun its first C Production National Championship and Trans-Am 2.5 championships. The BRE Datsuns won four national championships and wore a unique livery that is revered by race fans everywhere. BRE’s racing success helped make Datsun well-known in the U.S. as Brock’s fleet of Datsuns 2000s, 510s and 240Zs won races and fans throughout the United States. Brock will be honored at a special dinner Thursday, April 29. He will be joined by several of his former BRE drivers John Morton and John McComb and BRE crew members Kirk Allegro, Mac Tilton, John Caldwell and John Knepp. Also attending the festivities will be former NASCAR champion Bobby Allison, who drove briefly for BRE. Named one of NASCAR’s all-time Top 50 drivers, Allison won 84 NASCAR races, including three Daytona 500 victories and the 1983 championship. Tony Adamowicz will compete in the 20-lap Formula 5000 race at the Mitty. He will be driving the Eagle Mk4 he drove to the F5000 championship in 1969. “Fans will not only be treated to a full weekend of fantastic racing by some of the most historic race cars, they will have the opportunity to meet some of the top drivers from the past in the paddock and special autograph signing areas,” said Ken Fengler, HSR Vice President of Race Operations. Several of the celebrities will be competing in some of the races while others will be mingling in the pits and meeting fans at the car corrals throughout the weekend. John Morton gained his greatest racing fame behind the wheel of BRE Datsuns from 1969 through 1972. Morton has raced Formula 5000, IMSA, Can-Am and sports cars, winning his class at several endurance events at Le Mans, Sebring and Daytona. He also competed in several CART events. John McComb drove for BRE in 1970, winning eight straight races en route to a divisional championship in a BRE Datsun 2000. He also campaigned a BRE 240Z later that year. Kirk Allegro, who campaigned his own Datsun 2000 in 1972, was a key member of the BRE team. Mac Tilton served as crew chief and engineer for BRE and later developed several racing innovations, including the first carbon-fiber clutch and carbon brake pads and rotors. These are now common in Formula 1, NASCAR and sports cars. John Caldwell was the engine chief for BRE and also built championship-winning engines for Bob Sharp and Paul Newman, plus factory teams including Triumph, Saab, Mazda, Toyota and Nissan. Engine builder, gear and electronics specialist John Knepp formed the Electramotive racing team after BRE ceased operation in 1972. With driver Don Devendorf, his cars won several championships in the IMSA GTP and Group C classes. Radio and TV personality Adam Carolla also is expected to attend. A noted auto enthusiast, he is a frequent guest of auto collector Jay Leno on his “Tonight Show” program. The Mitty is the oldest historic race on the East Coast and the second of eight Historic Sportscar Races in 2010. For more information about the exciting vintage race, go to themitty.com. themitty.comAbout Classic Motorsports: Classic Motorsports was established in 1986 as a go-to guide for classic and collector automobile enthusiasts. Currently, it is the largest publication dedicated to preserving, racing and restoring classic sports cars in the nation. The magazine’s editorial includes everything from classic car road tests and driving impressions to collector car profiles and historical features, as well as technical how-to articles for those who maintain and restore their own cars. Each issue also includes car show and vintage racing and event coverage. To receive a free trial copy of Classic Motorsports, request one online at www.classicmotorsports.net or call the magazine’s offices at (800) 520-8292. # # #

Well, I finally got my tickets on Saturday. Now I just have to make sure I take care of details on my cars to have them ready. I think the 73 might have to go to the Concour de LeMons.

First, check the dwell on the points. As Mike wrote, 300 miles is too short of time for points to wear out. Second, consider using Rockauto for parts when possible. I have been very satisfied with them.

The recession was the final straw. The benefits to GM & Toyota had essentially been used up. NUMMI was originally producing Corollas & Prizms. GM was putting a California plant back into use. Toyota was getting a foothold in US production, and GM wanted to learn from the Toyota way. GM from what I read was never able to put the quality & production practices of Toyota in place at its other facilities. (Isn't that a big surprise?) The Prizm faded away in the 90s, so the only "GM" product made at the plant was the Pontiac Vibe. Since GM wasn't planning on moving any of the Pontiac lines into its "surviving" brands, it wasn't using the production capacity of the Fremont plant. Toyota has alternate facilities for its Corolla & Tundra lines, including what I think is an underutilized production facility in the South. What is the value in keeping a California plant open when you have spare capacity in a more industry-friendly region. IMHO, the recession only helped to drive the final nail into the coffin.

Does that mean I won't get a cookie after my 1,000th post? No fair!

I passed on re-webbing my 73 for two reasons. 1. I wanted the comfort of the upper part of the belt retracting. 2. I didn't trust the other components of the seatbelts due to age. For the 74, I just thought it would be easier to repeat what I had done before.

Have any of you received your Mitty tickets, yet? I ordered mine quite a while back, and I was told they would mail them out the end of last week.

That is part of why I decided to try the WESCO roadster style belts. They fit my definition of what you said better than the type belt MSA sells. The buckle strap is in a sleeve. The big reason why it works with the sleeve is because I opted for the hardware kit that WESCO sells that includes a floor bracket to facilitate mounting. The retractor mounts on the ceiling, and I can deal with that. It's not too different from the 260Z design in that respect.

Please do not take my comment as criticism of your prices. It's more of a lament of my lack of money to buy nice reproductions. I want to support your efforts. Meanwhile, I'll keep playing the lottery.

I love what you're coming up with. I just wish I could afford the prices.

On the other hand, while the VW van is iconic, the Chrysler minivans all but killed the station wagon as a product. They also drove the market and form factor. GM & Ford tried more of a truck version at first with their efforts. Both paled in sales comparison (and to most in performance & functionality). Toyota tried the mid engine approach for a while, but it didn't really make much of a mark in the marketplace. Today, all of the significant choices for minivans copy Chrysler's two box form factor. I think that's what sets it apart.

Am I mistaken, or is the 240Z in the picture the Franklin Mint Z (as in die cast model)? It just doesn't quite look right for a real car to me.

I had a chance to do some research after I got home, and that research says Arne is right about the blue & yellow not reflecting.

I seem to recall from something I read 20 or 30 years ago in the LA Times Auto section that it was possibly the numbers on the plates that reflected. The police would look for a lack of reflection as possible evidence of altered plates. If my memory is right, then the article advised against touching up the license plates. Of course, you could go by the adage, "It's not illegal if you don't get caught."

Oops, I just read the FAQ on Tag Dr. They don't do reflectorized paint. I think California Blue is reflectorized, isn't it?

This website may be of interest to you. Of course, it's not DIY.

Did you try contacting Courtesy Nissan? They keep a lot of parts around that nobody else does.

Pat, did you try to test the relay out of the car? You would do this by putting 12 volts across the coil to see if the contact closes. Also, what is the voltage at the terminals for the coil. If it is too low, the coil won't have enough pull to close the contact. However, it might be enough to sustain closure of the contact if you push the contact closed. A short would not likely harm the relay, unless the short is inside the coil. If you need more help, send me a PM with your phone number. Steve

Those are more likely. They both come up at Courtesy Nissan Parts. Neither are expensive, and Courtesy is usually reasonable on S&H charges.

Are you sure that is the correct part number? Courtesy Nissan and Nissanparts4u.com list that number as a gasket.

Just a minor alteration: "It looked sad, dirty and out of tune, so I think the poor little thing needs to come live with us." There, I think that makes it complete.

First, don't put higher rated fuses in just because you blew a fuse. You're feeding a fault. Second, check your bulb sockets for corrosion. Third carefully examine the wires in the steering column. You could be missing the insulation from one or more wires, or you could have a wire loose. For tracking down a short, disconnect the battery. Use an ohmmeter to look for low resistance between the positive side of the circuit and ground. The positive side of the circuit is between the positive terminal and the load. (In this case, all of the loads are lights.) It would help to take the bulbs out, too, so you're not reading continuity through the filament.