Combine a public viewing of the new 350Z, some of the biggest names in auto racing, and many of the wildest cars from the last 30 years, with a slew of Japan Grand Touring cars and 45,000 rabid Nissan motorsports fans and what do you get? You get the NISMO Festival, a full day of Nissan, motorsports and passion.
Built near the base of perhaps the most beautiful volcanic mountain in the world, Mount Fuji, Fuji International Speedway is one of the most scenic tracks in the world. And on this day it was packed with everything Nissan. From the first GT-R to the latest GT-R, Bluebirds, Silvias, Fairlady Roadsters, and all years of Z; you name it.
Dozens of clubs hooked up in distant cities, traveled and then parked together. A row full of super-trick Z32s parked next to a row of 1970s-era Skylines is really a sight to behold. Just when you think it can't get any better, you hear the multiple rumbles of tuned RB26DETTs.
Beginning in the mid-'60s, Nissan got serious about motorsports. Cars from this era, including the first Skyline GT-R and Z, were represented. In these early examples, you glimpse Nissan's innovation in engine design. The 2.0-liter, inline 6 twin-cam engines, which came in the first GT-Rs were on display. However, you could also hear them screaming their high-pitched and high-revving Nissan war cries.
Another super-rare beast was the crossflow L-series heads in a 240ZG (a 240Z with the factory "G-nose"). Many consider this head more valuable than a restored Z; most Nissan fans have never heard of it, let alone seen one. To witness one on a working engine, flying around the track-very cool.
The banshee wail of the 3.5-liter R390GT1 LeMans racer and three legendary 1972 KPGC10 Skyline GT-Rs wearing requisite period colors drowned out the roar of the crowd. The white and red Skyline was set up as a replica of the 1972 Japan GP champion. The Japan GP was a race which pitted most of the Japanese manufacturers against each other in a knock-down, drag-out war every year. It was a war of pride, dominated by the Skyline GT-R.
Another unfamiliar car was the 1972 Sunny (B110). One size smaller than the 510, it was the workhorse for many Japanese at the time. With the help of tuners, its 1.3-liter A12 engine was made powerful and reliable; for 11 seasons, it was a competitive machine. Tomei, an aftermaket tuner, made its name in the early '70s with this car.
Of course, U.S. racing history was very well represented. John Morton drove his legendary Brock Racing Enterprises 1971 2.5 Trans-Am champion No. 46 Datsun 510. You'd think what happened 30 years ago in the United States wouldn't mean much in Japan, but instead, there's genuine respect for both the car and driver (See "Return to the Scene of the Crime," SCC, January 2002 for the full story). The fans lined up to get his autograph and a glimpse of history.
If you prefer Z cars, there was the Z Parade. The father of Nissan in America, Mr. K, was on hand to ride shotgun in the first public showing of the new Z. The new Z rode in front of a sea of Z cars from every generation, ranging from full-race to bone stock. Briefly, the Fuji speedway belonged to Mr. K and the Zs.