VARA, yes. And Mr. Smith is in our racing forum. You should join, Tom, you qualify. I'll approve you. That goes for anyone else here who races in or around the Western half of the US. Since Les isn't a computer forum type of guy, I'm looking to add more A-tech to the forum!

Dodgeman all ways on the ball.

Hey Douze are you running with VARA??? If you are plan on having another 1200 out with you in 07. I was going to run the June event in Vegas but well I'm finally building a decent motor.

Tom

PS: do you know Steve Smith???

The Dodgeman has nailed it in one.........

Simplify, simplify, simplify.

That's why I like my Datsuns. That and the already mentioned reason of going by a cup car that costs $150,000 and has full pit staff and costs $80,000/year to keep on the track in a $25,000 car you built with your own hands is just priceless. I'm buying a 1200 almost purely for the oddity of it. You just don't see them at the track. A few years ago you could go to the track and see maybe another Z or a dime or two. There has been somewhat of a resurgence in the popularity of these two. Last weekend at BW there were 6 Z's running and 9 or 10 dimes and maybe 4 roadsters. I am afflicted with that troublesome gene that requires individuality. Hence the 1200.

Dodgeman is dead on for sure......when my buddy used the 1200 for his transport I remember he lovingly rebuilt the motor for $112. Tomorrow I'm going to pick up another Datto and use the A15 out of it......gonna cost me $60 and then I'll have maybe $500 total on the motor between cam , carb and head. (granted I'm doing the work)
By contrast my D-sports racer , which for anyone not familiar with SCCA classes is a 900LB with driver 150 HP motorcylce engine powered single seater , was the total black whole of cash. My wife told me to get the pokey back (The pokey is what we call our 1200) because I had so much fun with it. Thank God my racer buddy still had the car for me to buy back.(what the hell was I thinking when I sold it??) Despite it being 30 seconds a lap slower than the D-sports (D-sports are very fast)the Datsun really is a blast to drift through corners and I confess to loving the look on the faces of Elise drivers when your glued to thier back bumper mid-corner. Also because of it's lap times I often end up driving in the intermediate group , even though as an instructor it's cherry picking, I still love seeing guys struggle to catch the Datto in the corners. Nothing like dusting off Mustang Cobras and BMW M3's
The amazing thing now is that I have loads of people come up to me at the track and remark that a family member once had one and what a neat car it was. Plus when I tell folks the motor has been in the car for 15 seasons or so of racing their jaws drop.
Finally make no mistake I'm cheap so the parts prices appeall to me but the damn car hardly ever needs parts. Next Saturday I'll be instructing at a Porsche Club event and floggin the living poo out of the car...if the motor blows , I've go an A15 for it.......if that goes I still have another rebuilt A12 that cost me $80 in gas to go fetch. So I can blow 3 engines for $600.......try that with a Porsche or Vette.

Tom

I also think dodgeman is on the money,
ease of use, economy, interchangability, and the joy of beating all the porsche and alfa romeo guys at all the socal racetracks! My 1st car was a 1962 320 pickup, w/ A-14, I was 12 years old @ that time, now 43 y.o. and still LOVE these cars!!!

I love going past a 911 on a race track and seeing their face as you overtake them!!!
And then its esp good when they come over and you lift the bonnet and its a tiny little A15 in there with carbs that are bigger than the engine!!!!!! Priceless......

I love my 1200 becuase I drove it 30 miles whilst firing on 2 cylinders...

And its cost me about 200 bucks in parts and shipping so far for my rebuild and restoration on it.

doge man knows whats goin on, datsuns r jst so reliable and well, stylish!