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Nismo Festival - 2010
You are looking at what the Nismo Festival was all about this year, tantalizing selection
of race car, new Nissan models, tuner cars, collectables, parts and memorabilia what
kept visitors busy.
Nissan has never forgotten that enthusiasts want to see their favorite production cars
on the race track, something that helps build a strong image for the brand.
Where the event was officially starting on the main stage. Some of the most famous Nissan
and Nismo factory drivers were called in to the event to make an appearance for the fans
and take their cars out on track during the exhibition races.
The crowd that had gathered around the stage was incredible; all that could be seen was a
sea of tightly packed enthusiasts there to hear their favorite racers welcome them to
this year's event.
Including Masahiro Hasemi now team manager of Hasemi Motorsports, famous singer and ex
car driver Masahiko Kondo of Kondo Racing and of course Kazuyoshi Hoshino of Impul, one
of Japan's most famous drivers and team manager of the Calsonic/Impul Super GT team.
The concoction of GT-R race engines that were unleashed on the circuit throughout the
day was a true visual and aural experience, with crackling and backfiring VK45DEs,
VQ30DETTs....and of course the best of them all, the mighty RB26DETT.
...the legendary 1990 Impul Calsonic BNR32 that was driven by Hoshino...are the cars that
grab the most attention from enthusiasts as the sheer success these things had in Japan
and around the world is what the whole GT-R legend is built on.
Hearing the highly tuned RB26s of these beasts screaming out on track always gives people
goosebumps. These cars (let's not forget the Taisan R32 of Keiichi Tsuchiya!) are what the
GT-R is all about and they are far more emotionally connected to their road going base
cars than what we are used to seeing these days in Super GT.
For a lover of the Skyline this is a day you just cannot miss, seeing modern classics
like the 2003 Xanavi JGTC R34 Skyline GT-R... or older machinery like the Silhouette
Tomica DR30 Skyline RS that was driven by Masahiro Hasemi back in the 1980's.
And one of the most beautiful race cars Nissan has ever built, (KPGC 110 ) but unfortunately
at the time this Kenmery built the oil crisis hit and the Nissan pulled out of racing.
The widebody R33 were on display of course the GT-R LM that competed in the 1996 Le Mans
24 h race. To enter this car Nissan had to build a street going GT-R LM too.
Other legendary rides included this Nismo Z-tune on display at the Zele International
stand, by far one of the best BNR34 ever built.
An other line was formed around a small paddock display area, before the R391 and
right after the R33 GT-R LM we saw above came this car, the R390 that first competed in the
GT1 class at Le Mans in 1997. Nissan was still using turbocharging at this point on this
V8, the 3.5L VRH35L.
Disappointingly enough what really strange was the complete lack of classical Z generations,
without any emphasis put on classical Z sport cars this year, only two Z33 and Z34 tuner
versions were displayed and raced.
In spite of the fact Z Challenge allowed Fairlady Z owners and tuners to participate in
a series of races throughout the year, split into a series of different classes, those
however that have been to earlier Nismo Festivals will remember that the highlight of the
event was always the GT-R tuner battle and Nismo themselves raced highly modified
Skyline GT-Rs against each other.
It was what everyone came for but now, it seems Nissan and Nismo are still trying to give
as little focus as possible to the R35 tuning scene. Tuning shops are still not allowed
to bring their modified R35 GT-R demo cars to try and not advertise the fact that the
VR38DETT can easily be pushed to 800 HP and beyond.
But it doesn't end there for the R35. The R35 Club Track edition is built on the new
2011 R35, a slightly stripped out and more track oriented version of the new-gen GT-R.
The car runs the special lightweight Nismo wheels made by Rays Engineering, wrapped in
20-inch Dunlop slicks.
The 2011 specV was also on display, painted in the new metallic blue, "Aurora Flare
Blue Pearl," or Bayside Blue II to make it easier LOL.
The new GT-R gets lots of little tweaks to the chassis and suspension as well as more
power from the VR38DETT, now is cranking out 530 HP.
Next to it was the all-new "Egoist" version...the choice for those who not only
want the best possible quality but also like to choose interesting color combinations.
No further comments necessary here.
The event concluded with waving of the flags by the die-hard supporters right before
the sun disappeared behind the surrounding hills.
It's an almost emotional ending to one of the best events of the year.
Source: SpeedHunters
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