The NewZ for 02, 2012

T I D E WAT E R Z C A R C L U B
February 2012
The NewZ
NISSAN
DATSUN
240Z, 260Z, 280Z, 280ZX, 300ZX 31, 300ZX 32, 350Z, 370Z & G Series
Are you Donk or are you Slammed?
Inside this issue:
The PresZ SayZ
2
Events/Activities
2
Meeting Minutes
3
Financial Report
3
Auto-X/Racing
4
Stuff
5-9
Preferred Venders
10
Next Meeting
Club Officers
12
Donk: Another term is ―Hi-Riser‖, ―Sky-Scrapers‖, ―Box‖ or
―Bubble‖, that has large enough wheels installed until it resembles
(and rides and handles like) a Conestoga wagon. Vehicles customized
in the hi-riser style are distinguished by their oversized (even
disproportionate) wheels, ranging from 22 inches to 30 inches or
more in diameter.
Slammed: To have your car very low to the ground. Tucking tires,
and minimal clearance between the ground and frame are a must.
Lips, body kits, etc, don't count. Having your car lowered to the
extreme for looks and handling. The car is so slammed, needs to
creep over speed bumps.
Result: It is all about the wheels/rims vs. suspension vs. looks!
Hey Gang,
Welcome to February and the ground hog did see his shadow! We all know
what that means … 6 more weeks of winter weather. Well the way I see it,
Hampton Roads hasn’t had much bad winter yet, but I’m not holding my
breath! The 14th of the month brings around Valentine Day, so don’t forget
your sweetie. Another thing about this month … it has 29 days. Yep, it is leap
year!
The
PreZ SayZ
Todd Wagner
In looking ahead on our car show, Z Odyssey, coming May 5th so get that Z
ready. We’ll need folks to help with getting goodie bag donations, obtaining
door prizes and passing out flyers to every Z car to see! Get the word out about
our TZCC car show by posting on the Z web sites for Datsun Z/Nissan Z/
Infinity G35/G37. Pass the flyers out at parts stores and inform your friends,
all will help. The club will be talking more about the event at the meetings, so
come out and put in your “2 cents.” Keep in mind out new meeting place. The
address can be found in this newsletter.
Don't forget to bring your ideas for coming events and activities to the meeting or send it to Mark
(Vice Pres.)! Also, if you are working on a project car, please bring in some pictures or
information that you can share with the club via the newsletter.
The new TZCC membership teaser cards are done. The club web site was added on the cards. So look
for your membership cards in the mail soon. And always, we encourage everyone to come out to as
many of the TZCC events as possible this year. More the merrier!
Looking to see all at the next meeting and your input on the new meeting place.
Z ya there!
ZCON 2012 will be in Phoenix, Arizona
The dates are September 18-23, 2012
http://www.zccazconvention.com/conventions/2012/index.htm
The host hotel will be the Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino
1-800-946-4452 Ext. 4900
When making reservations, use Group Code- ZCON 2012
TZCC Coming Events/Activities
February 5, 2012
Super Bowl Party at “Big Z” home (Matt Zentz) Bring a covered dish to
share. From 5:00pm. to ? Be there for the kick off! Contact 338-2157 or [email protected]
February 13, 2012
Club meeting at Big Woody’s at the main entrance by JC Penney’s
inside Chesapeake Square Mall 4200 Portsmouth Blvd. Chesapeake, VA
May 5, 2012
Annual Z Odyssey Car Show … Flyer inside
For more information on future events or activities not listed here or to submit ideas contact:
Mark Garrenton 757.620.0934 [email protected] or Wendy Smith 757.483.5026
TZCC January 9, 2012 Meeting Minutes
Due to the unexpected closure of our meeting place Montgomery Grill in Portsmouth, this meeting was held at
Big Woody’s Bar and Grill at Chesapeake Square Mall in Chesapeake. President Todd Wagner called the
meeting to order and introduced the club’s officers. Matt Zentz, newly elected as treasurer in December, is
taking over the books from Tim Edmondson. Many thanks to Tim for his service as treasurer since December
2007. For the treasurer’s report, see elsewhere in this newsletter.
Membership chair Mandi Wagner reported that membership packages will be coming out at the end of
January. The teaser cards were already printed with Montgomery Grill as our meeting place, so they won’t be
included. (A number of members volunteered to take the old cards and write in the new location.) For the next
printing, we’ll leave off the location. People can look up date and location on our website or call the contact
phone numbers listed on the cards.
Old business: Members expressed their appreciation for the holiday party at Steve and Wendy Smith’s house
and for the New Year’s Eve party at Todd and Mandi Wagner’s.
New business: The long lead-time event is TZCC’s annual car show, scheduled for Saturday, May 5th, at
Pomoco Nissan in Newport News. Mike Bonatz is planning an outing to the Military Aviation Museum in
Pungo, and Matt Zentz has just volunteered to host the Superbowl party on Sunday, February 5th.
For the next meeting on February 13th, we’ll gather at Big Woody’s again and go on from there. The club is
open to suggestions for additional locations; please feel free to do some scouting and talk to any of the club’s
officers.
The International Z Car Convention in Phoenix, AZ, is September 18 – 23, 2012. Reservations are now open
for the host hotel, Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino. You must phone the hotel at 1-800-946-4452, extension
4900, and use the Group Code ZCON 2012 to get the special convention rates. For more details about the
convention, visit the ZCON website at http://www.zccazconvention.com/conventions/2012/index.htm. Event
registration is not yet open.
The 2013 convention will be in New Hampshire, and the 2014 one will be in San Diego.
The meeting was then adjourned.
Secretary
Wendy Smith
Treasurer
Matt Zentz (2012)
TZCC January 2012 FINANCIAL REPORT
TZCC
For more autocross information with
dates and etc:
www.tidewatersportscarclub.com
http://www.odr-scca.org
What to autocrossers do on off winter months?
Work on their cars or their friends cars
Race go karts at indoor tracks during off season to ―brush up‖ on skills
Always start thinking about modifications. Think mod planning and a project or two is
always a good use of the non-race seasons of the year.
Catch up on ―Honey-do’s‖
TRAACA Annual Swap Meet
Saturday
March 3, 2012
8 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Hickory Ruritan Clubhouse
2752 Battlefield Blvd. (Business Rte 168)
Chesapeake, Virginia
(just past Benefit Road on right)
For the sale of Antique and Collectible
vehicle parts, accessories, equipment, and
transportation-related memorabilia only.
For information: 757.486.5456
In the beginning, sadly my first car was a Ford Mustang, as it was the only muscle car in my price range. At 16
years old I was not going to wait for a good car or practical one, so the next week I bought a 1986 Mustang GT
with T-Tops with some extra ―mods‖ done by the PO. The color was loud red and the tops came off! So I was
happy to be in the words of Vanilla Ice ―Rolling in my 5.0‖ (lol). But that was short lived 6 days after I bought
it the head gasket blew. The PO was kind enough to give me most of my $1000 back ($900). So with that in
hand, I immediately purchased a Pontiac Grand Prix SE from my grandparents (such a cool car for a 16 year
old aspiring gear head). Then I learned how to power break and slide a FWD around, it became my ―go-tomove‖ so I could impress all my buddies. This lasted about six months before bald tires around blind curves
next to a historic land mark in my home town (the Gilreath’s Mill) claimed my second car. I was running out
of cars!
Determined to find my perfect car, my mother and I drove around town and searched newspapers until finally
a week after my last wreck car, there she was up on a hill a little faded red sports coupe, my Z31. A 1986 a little rough since it had been sitting for a couple of years and the rear bumper was so sun faded it was pink. It had
my name written all over it, except for the pink bumper! So the PO and I came to an agreement of $1250 and
she was mine. Being a broke high school kid, I could only dream of making it a sweet ride. I’m still trying 7
years later but man is it fun. I love it when people ask what kind of car is that and then I get the look ―like
really a Z31‖. I love that little car and owning it has given me a really big appreciation for all Z cars and old
Datsuns. The history is just so interesting from the small trucks to the BRE racing cars. I am always learning
some new and interesting facts about how Datsun/Nissan got its start and was the first car company to do this
or that .
I love both of my Z’s and even though they’re not perfect, I wouldn’t trade them for anything else. I haven’t
won any awards but I do enjoy going to the shows and bouncing ideas off of fellow enthusiast. So if you see
me out any where I would love to hear some feedback about my cars good, bad or other. I joined TZCC last
year after I went on a leaf tour that ended up in Smithfield. It’s great to be in the club.
The cars I own:
2003 350Z Track Edition with Stillen cold air intake, B&M short shifter and slotted front rotors. My future
plans for it: Stillen dual exhaust, slotted rear rotors w/hot pads, coil-overs, sway bars and plenum spacer.
1986 300ZX Z31 GL with 17‖ American racing staggered wheels, Eibach progressive -1" springs, Tokico
shocks w/ urethane bushing kit (mostly installed), gutted intake manifold, headers back exhaust, Taylor big
wires, short shifter, 5K CFM electric fan and tons of deletes under the hood. My future plans for it: Nistune,
install pro charger, install pro charger, custom coil over mod, and shave door ding trim, urethane diff mount
and R200 LSD swap.
Blake’s sweet rides!
TZCC Super Bowl Party
On Sunday February 5th folks gathered in Indianapolis, IN for the Super Bowl XLVI,
but also TZCC members gathered at Matt Zentz house in Portsmouth, VA for the
same! There was food, snacks and trash taking about the game. The big screen was on
at kick off time and the rest was history. What commercials! What a half-time show!
New York Giants 21 to New England Patriots 17. What a game!
Let’s see if I can figure this
out. If they go down field and
he goes to the side ...
Photos By
Bryan
Somebody
drop
something,
I’m on it!
Twelve car care cleaning myths
Submitted by Roaming Reporter
Myth 1: Dishwashing detergent is safe to use as a car wash.
First among them is the idea that plain, ordinary dishwashing detergent is just fine and dandy for car wash purposes.
Even in the face of other opinion that suggests ―go ahead, not a problem‖ when it comes to squeezing a little into a
bucket of hot water and tackling the SUV or four-door sedan, nixes the idea altogether. ―Any dishwashing detergent is
meant to remove everything from the surface,‖ he says. ―That will include stripping the polymers of the paint surface
and the last thing you want the paint finish to be is squeaky clean.‖ Likens the effect of dishwashing detergent to what it
does to someone’s hands. ―Too much detergent will dry the skin. On the surface of a car, the same thing occurs;
dishwashing detergent actually accelerates the oxidation process when you use it on a regular basis.‖
Myth 2: Washing and cleaning are the same.
A car wash removes loose contaminants; cleaning removes stubborn stains, blemishes and bonded contaminants. Bonded
contaminants? Think tree sap and, almost as bad, an aerosol spray of tire rubber that no one can escape. ―When you’re
driving behind someone, the rubber from the tires is landing somewhere — and that’s on your vehicle.‖
Myth 3: If a car looks shiny, the cleaning process can be skipped.
In this case, seeing is quite definitely not something you want to believe. ―Your eyes can’t tell you what’s going on in
the paint finish,‖ but it is suggests rubbing the face of your hand over the surface of the vehicle after a car wash. ―It
should feel like glass if it’s right. Most of the time it’s going to feel more like sandpaper. You can feel the
contaminants.‖ Products like a clay bar can easily remove bonded contaminants, something that’s essential before the
application of a polish or wax.
Myth 4: Clay bars should only be used by professionals.
Remember how easy it was to use Silly Putty? Using a clay bar is just as easy, the bar (which comes in a kit) is able to
grab and gently remove all bonded contaminants (like the tree sap and road rubber).
Myth 5: Waxing can remove swirl marks.
Swirl marks, which are nothing more than scratches in the surface of a vehicle, can only be removed by getting to the
bottom of it — literally. Today’s modern paint finish actually magnifies the scratches, making swirl marks one of the
more troubling aspects of maintaining a vehicle’s finish. Folks ask about swirl marks than anything else. Getting rid of
them will depend on how deep the scratch is, with micro-fine, hairline scratches taken care of with a non-abrasive paint
cleaner; moderate ones may require something a little more serious; even deeper swirl marks (caused by improper use of
rotary buffers and rubbing compounds) may need professional color sanding and buffing.
Myth 6: There is no difference between polishing and waxing.
Understanding what polishing and waxing are designed to do is key. Polishing creates a brilliant high gloss surface; waxing protects the vehicle’s finish by coating it with waxes polymers, resins and silicones. Which means waxing won’t
make a dull surface shiny.
Myth 7: Machine polishers damage the paint finish.
Speed is the key; a dual action polisher or orbital buffer shouldn’t be a problem for even the most inexperienced. Not so
with rotary buffers, which operate at much higher RPMs and are best left to the pros.
Myth 8: Diapers, t-shirts and flannel make good cleaning cloths.
A smooth surface is exactly what you don’t want to see in a cloth, the reason being those fine particulates that you’re
trying to capture. While the cloth diaper or t-shirt may be clean, it’s actually scratching the surface; a terrycloth premium
microfiber towel is what’s recommended, the deep pile surface creating a buffer zone that will pick up the bad stuff, not
grind it into the paint finish.
Myth 9: Wax protection can be guaranteed to last up to one year.
A claim may help sell a product, but there are enough variables in place that make any such guarantees suspect.
A better strategy might be to consider those differences — weather, use of road salt, whether your vehicle is parked
outside or garaged — and maintain accordingly.
Myth 10: Paste wax offers greater protection than liquid wax.
―In the old days, there was a great reliance on carnauba wax, which was the hardest natural wax available. Fifty years
later we have synthetic waxes, polymers and resins that have far more resilience than carnauba and enhance the gloss.
Interestingly, carnauba (which people still want to see in a product) actually grays the surface of a vehicle.‖
Myth 11: Lighting a hood on fire, without damaging the paint finish, proves the protective qualities of a car wax.
It may be a nice science trick, but that’s about it. Even if the paint surface has little or no protection, setting fire to a pool
of alcohol will produce nothing more than a barely warm surface when the flame goes out–which it will do in just a few
seconds.
Myth 12: Once a car is waxed, regularly protecting the paint finish becomes unnecessary.
Remember that tree sap and tire rubber? It’s never-ending, which means so is the need to remove it (and everything else
the world might throw at the surface of your vehicle).
The best strategy: remove the contaminants with a mist and wipe product before they have time to bond to the vehicle’s
paint.
presents
Saturday
May 5, 2012
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This show is opened to all and any year Datsun Z, Nissan Z and Infiniti G35 and G37 series vehicle
regardless of age or condition! There will be many trophies, door prizes and more. FREE to spectators.
Day of show registration from 9 am to 12 noon. Awards at 4pm
Information contact: Todd call 757.851.8098 email [email protected] or
Mark call 757.620.0934 email [email protected]
Pomoco Nissan, 1134 W. Mercury Blvd., Hampton, VA 23666
Liability Release: I hereby release Pomoco Nissan, Tidewater Z Car Club or any/all members thereof, any/all organizers, all other sponsors
and volunteers for any damage, injury, lost or stolen property resulting from this event and all liability associated with the show. I agree to
abide by the show rules and understand that I am responsible for my own vehicle(s) and property... I have the minimum necessary vehicle
insurance required by the State of Virginia, Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Name _______________________________________________________________________________________
Address _____________________________________________________________________________________
City _________________________________________________ State ___________ Zip ___________________
Phone __________________________________ Email _______________________________________________
Car Club Affiliation ___________________________________________________________________________
Vehicle Information
Vehicle _____________________________ Model _____________________________ Year ________________
Pre- Registration $25.00 Before April 25th
Day of Show $30.00 per vehicle ………. . $__________
Entry fee includes an event T-shirt State size (adult sizes only) M, L, XL or XXL …….
__________
Additional event T-shirts will be available at the show
Please make check or money order payable to Tidewater Z Car Club or TZCC. Mail completed form with payment
Tidewater Z Car Club, P.O. Box 2033, Poquoson, VA 23662
to:
Back stock of TZCC ZOdyssey Car Show T-shirts
Sizes listed under each year for that year. Once they are gone, they are gone!
2004
2005
2008
Medium
Small & Medium
Small & Medium & Large
2009
2010
2011
Small & Medium & Large
X-Large
Medium & Large
& X-Large
& X-Large
TZCC logo on front left chest with design on back of shirt
Pricing for any years 2004 thru 2009 is 2 shirts for $5.00 (mix or match)
Pricing for years 2010 & 2011 is $10.00 each shirt
Contact: [email protected] or 757.255.2620 for info or purchase
We can ship via USPS mail if needed (USPS mail shipping costs extra)
Preferred Venders
Pomoco Nissan of Hampton
1134 Mercury Blvd.
Hampton, VA 23666-3322
757.838.6111
Ask for TZCC Discounts
Henry Ayer
Home of the TZCC Z Odyssey Car Show
Get your TZCC Club gear on the net now! Shop in your PJs …24/7
There are cool items that include polo shirts, a nice travel mug, tote bag and more.
Also we even have our own TZCC Club Beer Stein. All items are sporting the TZCC
logo. Can you say … Sa-weet! www.cafepress.com/tzcc
Black Dragon Automotive
Motorsport Auto
800.633.6331
10% off parts
With TZCC member
number!
Your local Amsoil
dealer Justin Peszko
757-718-2941
Offering TZCC 20%
discount
Datsun 240Z, 260Z, 280Z, 280ZX
Auto Parts and Accessories
Shop online 7 days a week or
Request a FREE Catalog
Give discount to TZCC members
Banzai Motor Works
List your business here FREE
301.937.5746
Contact
[email protected]
www.zzxdatsun.com
Hall Nissan Western Branch
3417 Western Branch Blvd.
Chesapeake, VA 23321
877-541-8768
20% off on Nissan parts when showing
your TZCC club membership card
Parts: (877) 577-9826
Home of the All Import Car Show
www.hallnissanofchesapeake.com
Membership Application
Name: _____________________________________________________________________
Address: _____________________ City, State, ZIP: ___________________________________________
Home Phone: ______________________ Birth date: ____/____/ (the year doesn't matter)
e-mail: _________________________________________________________________________________
Z CAR #1 Year: ______ Model: _____ Color: _____ Coupe: _____ 2+2: ______Turbo: ______ Transmission (circle one):
Auto 4-spd 5-spd 6-spd
Z CAR #2 Year: ______ Model: _____ Color: ____ Coupe: ______ 2+2: ______Turbo: ______ Transmission (circle one):
Auto 4-spd 5-spd 6-spd
Infiniti G35 Year: _______ Model: ________ Color: _______ Coupe: _______ Sedan: _____Convertible: ______ Transmission (type)
__________________
Infiniti G37 Year: _______ Model: ________ Color: _______ Coupe: _______ Sedan: _____Convertible: ______ Transmission (type)
__________________
Area/s of Interest
Tech Info: _____ Concourse: ______ Rallies: ______ Auto Cross/Competition: _____ Parties:______
High Performance: ______ Customizing: ______ Restoration: ______
Please list other members of your household and their birthdates (NO years):
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
How did you hear about us?
Newspaper: _____ TZCC Member: _____ (who: _________________) Show: _____ Internet: ____ Other: ____
Please explain: ____________________________________________________________________________
Annual Membership-$40.00 _____
Family Membership-$45.00
_____
Associate Membership-$25.00 _____
(An Associate Member is one who is a Z/G enthusiast but does not currently own a Z or a G)
With TZCC membership a year subscription to Nissan Sport Magazine is included
Make check or money order payable to: Tidewater Z Car Club
PO Box 2033, Poquoson, VA 23662
Signature: _______________________________________________
Date: _____________________
Tidewater Z Car Club
PO Box 2033, Poquoson, VA 23662
The best car safety device is a
rear-view mirror with a cop in it.
Our web sites!
www.tzccva.org
www.cafepress.com/tzcc
The NewZ newsletter is published monthly for the
members of the Tidewater Z Car Club. TZCC assumes
no liability for any information contained herein or provided by its member volunteer consultants. Ideas and
opinions are those of the writers and no authentication
or approval is implied by editors or publishers, who
assume no liability for information contained herein.
Club members may submit articles, classified ads for Z
cars or Z car related items. TZCC reserves the right to
edit, reject articles or classified ads for any reason it
deems inappropriate without notice. TZCC is looking
for sponsors/venders who would like to be included
here and who will offer discount to TZCC membership.
If you have a suggestion or classified contact:
757.851.8098 or 757.868.6753 Email: [email protected]
or [email protected]
Contents copyright© 2012 by TZCC. All rights reserved
This Month’s Meeting … Always 2nd Monday of each month!
February 13, 2012
TZCC Officers for 2012
President
757.851.8098
Big Woody’s Bar & Grill
4200 Portsmouth Blvd
Chesapeake, VA 23321
[email protected]
Vice President
Social/Dinner: 7 PM
Club Meeting: 8 PM
Mark Garrenton
757.620.0934
(757) 966-2656
Located at the main entrance by JC Penney’s
inside the Chesapeake Square Mall
Todd Wagner
[email protected]
Treasurer
Matt Zentz (Big Z)
757.338.2157
[email protected]
Secretary
Wendy Smith
757.483.5026
[email protected]