Zenki's First Feature

[Dave] A big congratulation must go out to Nick for getting his first feature with Zenki on the web. Its on the Downshift website and went live last month. Click through for some great photography of a great car. Here

Happy Australia Day Long Weekend

(Nick)


As Dave will tell you I have been very slack with blog posts of late. So as QLD gets smashed by wild weather this Australia Day long weekend I thought it would be a good opportunity to let our small but growing group of readers what I will be trying to achieve for 2013.

As I have never really featured any of my cars on here before I thought I would do a small time line of the progress of my S14. I have owned this car since 2009 and it is slowly progressing into the vision I have had for the car for many years.

This how my S14 looked like when I picked it up. Virtually standard apart form the 'Sydney spec' wheels. As this car was to replace my 180SX, which was a bit of a beater, I really wanted a clean base on which I could modify to my taste. At the time I had my heart set on an S15, but these were far out of my price range, even series 2 S14's at the time were fetching decent coin. I settled with this series 1, at the time I was not a big fan of the series 1. Dave still reminds me of it's Camry like resemblance. But it has grown on me immensely and I would not trade it for any other S-Chassis.

It also had a factory black leather interior which is very rare in an S14.

It did not take long before I got rid of the chromies,

bought a set of standard wheels, lowered it slightly

on coilovers, fitted a full set of Cazman Industry adjustable arms and began to have some fun in it.

It also copped a Jim Berry clutch and a full CES exhaust system. I also changed to kouki tail lights.

As i was building this car on a apprentice mechanic wage, it was a slow process.

 

In 2010 I bought some Ray's TOM'S tune C7R's. These were 16x8 +30, the same spec as R32 Gtr wheels. It was a bit of an impulse buy as I had not seen any on another car.

They did not look bad on the car but I soon decided that they looked too small on the S14. The wheels on a car can really make or break it.
It took me a couple of go's to get it right ;)

Not long after this I crashed into the barriers on the QR skidpan. Damaged the front bumper so used it as a perfect excuse to search for the kit and look of the car I had always wanted. I had soon put together a Navan front bumper and skirts, S2 jap rear bar and pods. It is the same combo the team Zoom Up Zenki's use in japan and I believe is the perfect bumper combination for S14. I also did a clear headlight lense conversion which really transforms the look of the Series 1's Camry style headlights.

           

2011 was a fun time, racing my mates around Queensland Raceway for powerplay events.

This was also the year that I started to care less about the legality of the car, i had soon found some R33 GTR wheels powder coated in white, lowered it substantially more.

One of my mates found the number plates ZNK11 (zenki) for sale. I snapped them up quickly. Must have been a good combo as the car became very popular overnight. Every car meet/event I attended i would be tagged in photos for weeks after. JDMST @ Carseldine below.

Photo credit: J K Smith Photography

I did numerous track days with this set up including Powercruise, a couple of Friday night drift practises and a the first Hardtuned.net track day at the Holden Test Track at Norwell.

Late 2012 was the next transition for the car. I found a very good deal on a brand new set of Work Meister's, my all time favourite wheel which i could never afford. Leo at JDM Concept managed to turn my dream into reality. I put a deposit on the Work's and sold my GTR wheels to a mate. The car then lived in the shed for the last few months of 2012 as I did not want to take it out with stock wheels. In this time I lowered the front a little bit more and changed to Jap front guards.

A few weeks before Christmas my new wheels arrived =D and i had them wrapped in new Federal 595 rubber just in time for the end of the world December 2012.

So this is how my S14 currently sits in January 2013, I have been in contact with 2 photographers and will be having some shoots done in the coming month. 

The S14 will then take the backseat for a little while as I have purchased a 90 Mazda MX5.

I want to build something that i can take to the track and push my limits, learn how to control a car and not be worried if I prang it.

I have big plans for the MX5 and will feature it on the blog in the coming months.

Have a good wet long weekend!

Porsche At Bathurst 2012

[Dave] So im sure we all watched the Bathurst 1000 this past weekend. It was a great race and I trekked down to watch it. I have been a few times now and this was by far the biggest crowed yet and it was such a great race that didn't disappoint. I took this photo of the Porsche RS Spyder Prototype doing its demonstration laps coming onto the front straight. this thing sounded amazing and was noticeable louder then the V8's. Its the First time I have seen a prototype around the track and hopefully it wont be the last. Maybe they can add the category to the Bathurst 12hr race.

I have also added this picture I took of a cool truck I spotted in the camping grounds in the center of the track. Yes that is a car trailer hooked up to the back of it and it had some race slicks tied to the tray. Im guessing the owner raced in one of the support categories. Anyway its a neat tow car dont you think?

Stadium Drift @ Queensland Raceway

[Nick]

So last Saturday was Stadium Drift round 5 held at Queensland Raceway. A couple of mates and myself thought it would be a good idea to head out and watch some pro skids.

It was a great day out with Hardtuned.net (event sponser) putting on a Show and Shine with free track cruise sessions for the cars entered.

Naturally i entered my S14 into the Show and Shine, when it came time to have a 'cruise' around the track 1 of my female friends whom had never been in any sort of performance car before thought it would be a good idea to ride back seat. Grant (riding shotgun) managed to capture her terror on his go pro as i kept in the spirit of Stadium Drift and attempted some sliding.

Obviously i need more practise but i thought i would post this video for a laugh, make sure you have your speakers turned up ;)

All footage thanks to my mate Grant who wanted to practice with his new camera!

WTAC 2012

[Dave]. I headed down for the World Time Attack Challenge last weekend in Sydney. Their was a lot of hype leading up to the event and being my first time I didn't know what to expect. Once we arrived their on Friday as was really impressed by the cars/display and general feeling of the place. Im sure you have read coverage from various website on the event so ill will just post some videos I took from the grand stand for now. The RE Amemiya RX7 was defiantly a highlight for me personally.

 One thing I will say is WTAC is going on my yearly motorsport calendar.

Turn up your speakers and enjoy. 

RACQ MotorFest 2012

[Dave] The other weekend I headed down to check out the RACQ MotorFest with my wife and some mates. I have been going to this event for a few years now and it continues to grow in both spectators and participants. The Japanese section of the show is slowly growing with some nice cars making it out. Maybe SteeredLife will have to enter a car next year... cough Nick. Anyway here are a few that caught my eye.
 

This neat Skyline had a neat engine bay to match...

Featuring a detailed air box and polished rocker cover.

An unassuming Datsun.

With a blower and fuel injection on the side.

Were else but MotorFest can you see a near perfect Cosmo with a modified 3507 and Mrs Stig behind it.

This was an owner built 3 wheel car with disc brake front.

And what looks to be a Honda motor bike engine.

Bowdens brung their beautiful Mercedes out for the day.

This panel van got my interest for its looks.

And what appears to be a Toyota supercharger under the bonnet.

Old Mazda's at Downshift

[Dave] So its that time of the month again for the Downshift Monthly meet at Rocklea Show grounds. This time I thought I would snap some picks of the old Mazda's that made it out. They are slowly growing in numbers which is fine by me. I have a soft spot for the old girls both Rotary and Piston Powered. I thought I'd Chuck up a pick of Conar's recently sacked Lexus with its new wheels, quite the VIPper now.