Generally I would use loose to describe tendency to oversteer.. but in this case not sure that is exactly what I was seeing or not. From perspective of being behind him, looks like oversteer with some good controlled 4 wheel drifting on the longer high speed turns. That is what I see from the rear.. but, not being the one driving, I am not entirely sure if its truly oversteer or more a factor of the light weight of the car and the high entry speedy / carrying speed through corners that simply leads to a controlled drift out on some turns without actually oversteering. To me it looks like he has nicely controlled (induced) oversteer on tight turns to help bring the car around. The faster turns look much more balanced with some lift / left foot trail-braking induced oversteer after corner entry but before apex that carries onto 4 wheel drift after apex . I believe he does a lot of left foot braking.

Tom: What is it exactly? Induced oversteer from the left foot, or just so much speed + lightweight leading to 4 wheel drifts? or a little of both?

I remember when I was behind you last year being surprised just how much that car moved around. its really surprising. Yet, its obvious you are in complete control. For me it was IMPRESSIVE. Its pretty easy to drive a car that is almost glued to the ground (my wagon is like that).. it makes me look like I know how to drive. But to drive a car that loose like you do, takes some serious skill. My buddy races the 710 and when I was behind him, same thing.. although I will confess you control it and USE IT much better than he does. After seeing how you drove last year, I am excited to learn to drive the 1200 this year. I suspect I will be very slow for a while until I pickup some skill and gradually some confidence. A very different beast than the cars I have been use to. Very excited! And yes, we need to give those Porsches a run for their money.

When I see you in the fall, I am going to have lots of questions and be listening and learning and hopefully can stay close enough behind you for at least a few turns (warm ups??) to pick up some tips! You really do drive that thing phenomenally.

When I bought my 1200, my fabricator said "why do you want one of those little slow cars.. you are going to be so disappointed". He was at Pahrump with me and he knows I am a reasonably decent driver in the wagon and when he saw how you blew by me and the corner entry-through-exit speeds you carried in your car he came up to me and said "wow, I was wrong.. if a 1200 can be driven like that, you are going to have some fun in yours, lets get it out on the track!". You completely changed his view.

awesome report. Congrats on some solid racing. Wish I was there. I am planning to be at VARA race SEPT 30-OCT 2 there and hoping to have my 1200 there so you can teach me how to drive!!! Its going to be a whole new ballgame compared to the Wagon!

Tom, I'm the guy with they 510 Wagon. I was bummed you broke. Was nice meeting you and just the couple laps I got behind you when you passed me helped me TREMENDOUSLY with figuring the track out. That and talking with you.. and thanks for all the 1200 tips and info. Bummed you didn't get to race because we would have had fun on Sunday. I ended up running 2:46.xx on Sunday and we would have had some fun out there!!

I have a lot to learn about the 1200 (this is my first non- L series Datsun... all my others were 510, 610, 620, etc) but watching you out there got me excited about getting my 1200 prepped and ready to vintage race next season and learning a whole new style of driving and whole new kind of car to play with!

NO, I don't know Norman. I don't know anybody with a 1200 yet. But Hercules is only about an hour or so from me.. not too far. So I probably should get to know a few people. My connections have been more with 510 guys BUT I do have a few buddies who have built and raced 1200's in the past... so that should help. I mostly picked up the car because I liked the history for the price and wanted something smaller and lighter and less HP to mess around with from my regular race car.. just a change of pace for fun. I always liked the way 1200's looked so, figured to dive in!.

attached a photo of my current / regular racer. And of the 1200 in current condition. It apparently ran two Time Trial days in 2014 and that is it since refresh.. so we will see how well its dialed in.. I don't really know. Buying stuff from across the country is always a gamble!!

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I am out in Northern California. Race with VARA. Just a few vintage races a year. Nothing too serious. The car will be used but not beat up too badly in its old age with me !!

Thank you Peter. Now I understand. Not quite the history I thought wihen I purchased but still very cool and seems like the car (and drivers) were pretty damn good. Very cool. If you ever come across old photos, etc I would be interested I will be in touch with you very soon. Few weeks maybe. I will need pets and advice. I race a 510 now but know NOTHING about 1200. It will be raced. Hoping I might have it ready to race weekend of October 9 with VARA in Vegas where Datsun is their featured marque that race. For. Now I will race GTL with VARA. But my long term idea is possibly returning the car to C sedan spec and race C sedan since my 510 Wagon is already a GTL cAr with the club. Either that or keep the 1200 in GTL and build a hot A15 and then up my 510 Wagon to larger motor and move one class up in that !! We shall see. Again thanks for the info and I will be in touch soon!!

ddgonzal: Thanks for replying. I know this is a super old thread so it's cool that you responded. Thanks.

So I can read the plaques in the pics but I am confused about what the represent. Searching SCCA runoffs results (national championships) and also MIDDIV SCCA regional results I don't see that this car won any nationall championships I went through SCCA archive results. Just not finding it. Best I found was that it won Midwest regional championship only 80 and 81. Or maybe I am just missing something in my research.? Driver was the late David Miller I think ? Anybody know later drivers?

Reason for me asking is I just purchased this car (awaiting delivery in a couple weeks) and trying to get a solid grasp on its race history and championships. And the plaques don't match the SCCA results I am finding. Really curious.

regarding this car and the dash plaques: does anybody know what those "National Winner" plaques are actually for? I thought the indicated winner at the runoffs. But they don't. I don't see that this car / driver ever won at the SCCA National Championships or Runoffs. And only 2 wins in regional championships (MID DIV) in 1980 and 1981. So, what do the plaques mean? Does anybody have any further information / history / Documentation?

Thanks