Japanese Nostalgic Car Touge California 2016

[Jehannum]

In late February, JNC opened their Touge California to applicants (pre-1980 Japanese cars only). Their intent was to take what they considered to be the top 25 cars. I submitted my Datsun, figuring that clean Zs were a dime a dozen in southern California, but they called my bluff and turned around and accepted me. So, I polished the Z up and got it ready for 200 miles of SoCal canyon driving. On 1 April, my navigator and I loaded up and headed west. Albuquerque turned around and shat on us by snowing.



Touge (translated literally as "pass" as in "mountain pass") is associated with spirited mountain and canyon drives in Japan, and JNC had their inaugural event last year (though that one was not open for applicants). So I, along with 25 others and 3 JNCs from the Mazda vault (an '85 RX-7 GSL-SE, a GLC, and a Rotary Engine Pickup) departed from Lake Wolford ranger station on the morning of 2 April.



Among the attendees was Yutaka Katayama's own G-nose S30 (gifted to its current owner on Mr. K's retirement in 1977. Next to it is Randy Rodriguez's G-nose S30 (Mr. Rodriguez designed the 370Z).



So much S30



Among the weirdness, a Toyota Century


And several rotaries




And some classy toyotas

[Jehannum]

We did many fun canyon drives, including Palomar (check out my fat tits!)



I spat fire the whole way down (may have over-richened the carbs for going down in altitude, but holy shit, there must have been 30 more horsepower than here in Albuquerque).

Rice canyon (lol appropriate)



Also Ortega Highway out of Elsinore


We cruised into Corona Del Mar up the PCH at sunset (bucket list, check mark)


Got there at Golden Hour


We finished up at Mazda's North America headquarters.

[Jehannum]

At Mazda's HQ, we saw several interesting things.

The only 1999 Spirit R in left hand drive


Cosmo!



RX-792P


After dinner, they fired up the RX for us (action starts around 4:00). It was the only thing consistently louder than the Datsun all day.

+ YouTube Video

[Jehannum]

After that, they led us down to "the basement", which was chock full of Mazda oddities from over the years.

Prototype RX-7 (later repurposed for racing)


RX-4


GTP and GTU RX-7 chassis


Unrestored 767


covered 787


the only factory coupe miata


We blew out two trailer tires on the return trip and the second one blew the fender off the trailer. Stranded us at a tire shop in Winslow, AZ. :/

[Jehannum]

To prepare, I refinished my Enkei 92s in a 3 stage gunmetal (base, flake, and clear)





Then I shod them in Dunlop Direzza DZ102s in 205/50R15



The 50 series are a bit smaller than stock (which I think equate to something like 60 series in 15"), but the selection in 50 series is really much broader and better (basically I could only get more shitty all seasons in 60).

I also had to do several small repairs - replacing both wheel cylinders in back (with series 2 units because series 1 replacements are unobtainable), fixing some bugaboos on the paint, replacing the throwout bearing and clutch pilot (they were squeaking), and the attendant transmission fluid replacement (redline MTL 90 FTW).

[GhEttOrAiD]

https://youtu.be/LVDongH4pmA?t=4m10s

[Jehannum]

Wish I had the reverse angle, it spat flame with every rev.

[Typhoon43]

Looks like a killer time man. The PCH drive is definitely something everyone should experience. I use to make my folks drive the extra 2 hours from LAX to their place so we could take the PCH home from there. Love it.

[Jehannum]

Originally Posted by Typhoon43

Looks like a killer time man. The PCH drive is definitely something everyone should experience. I use to make my folks drive the extra 2 hours from LAX to their place so we could take the PCH home from there. Love it.

No doubt. It's been on my bucket list to drive it in a car that I felt was worthy for some time. Gorgeous view.