Heinz A. Buchbinder has been a part of the GTROC Management Team for a few years and prior to that was heavily involved in the Club.  As part of the team his role as Ambassador to Nissan Europe has been to focus on strengthening the relationship between Nissan and the GTROC.  At time it requires some involvement to resolve disagreements between Club member owners and dealerships but, for the majority of the time, it is about finding ways in which the GTROC can help Nissan and how Nissan can help the GTROC.

It is with some considerable sadness that Heinz A. Buchbinder has announced, that due to his involvement in the current election campaign in the USA, he will retire from his active position of Ambassador to Nissan for the GTROC.  However, Heinz has agreed to provide whatever support he can and though not in post he will provide time and involvement wherever he is able and he will remain an Honorary Ambassador to Nissan for the Club.  Heinz owns an R35 GT-R and no doubt will continue to be fully involved with the GTROC and may well pop up at an event near you.  For now, all it remains is to wish Heinz well and thank him for all his help and all his achievements at the GTROC.

Well this is my first entry for this new blog – thanks to the GTROC for inspiring me to go ahead with this project!

A bit of background – this blog will be about my journey “building” my own model R35 GT-R. Ok, to be precise, it is a 1/8 scale model, but it will be a build nonetheless (completed it will be almost 60cm long and weigh around 10kg!). But this is not just another plastic model kit, similar to those we all built as kids growing up. This my friends is something quite different.

In Japan, there is something which I will call the “weekly subscription DIY scale craft model.” Basically, a specialist publisher will take a popular object – in the past I have seen classic steam locomotives, cars, military vehicles and naval ships, anime robots, motorcycles, racing cars, etc. – and create a large scale, extremely detailed metal and plastic model, which is then broken down into several hundred pieces, for assembly by the “subscriber.”

Here is a link to a well known publisher in Japan and its offerings:

http://deagostini.jp/series.php

(for us car guys – yes, there is a Toyota 2000GT, 2007 Ferrari F1 car, etc. But note there are also CD and DVD collections in addition to these build it yourself kits). And actually, the publisher who is doing this R35 kit is a British company, Eaglemoss Collections. Check out their offerings, especially that James Bond Aston Martin! http://eaglemoss.com/

Each week, the subscriber gets a few select parts – for example the disc brake assembly on a car, or the wheel of a motorcycle (depending on the kit of course), along with highly technical magazine with information about the subject being built. Such information might include history, engineering items, and also information specific to the part for that week. So, for example, if I get the Brembo brake caliper of the GT-R one week, there would be a bit of background on how the Brembo caliper was used on the GT-R, why it was selected, etc.

The subscription continues until the object is finished. In this case, the GT-R is a 100 week series, so it will take me almost TWO years to finish this model! Here is a full list (in Japanese, sorry) of the 100 weeks of parts:

And what kind of model do you get in the end?

Something fully authorized and licensed by Nissan. With working headlights, brakelights, opening doors, bonnet, trunk and fuel filler lid:

and of course interior bits such as a steering wheel that turns the front wheels, specially lit instrument panel, front seats that actually slide back and forth, moveable sun visors, and interior lighting that lights up when the doors are opened.

Truth be told, when the GTROC guys were here in Japan for the Tokyo Auto Salon, we found a booth that was selling GT-R Volume 01, and after explaining the concept of the weekly subscription DIY scale craft model, Fuggles, Geetak and Roger convinced me that it might be a worthwhile project for me to take on. Even if it does take me 2 years…

So, I signed up, and look what arrived in the post today:

Yep, FIVE weeks worth (the series started in January)! Obviously I will be doing my best to catch up over the next two weeks….

Here is a look at the contents of the magazine in Volume 1.

http://www.gtr-collection.jp/preview.pdf

As you can see, each week the magazine portion will contain the following 5 chapters:

1) R35 GT-R Story

2) Mechanism and Factory

3) Racing Legend

4) How to Build

5) History of Nissan

Obviously, translating everything will be time prohibitive, so I will endeavor instead to simply give a one to three paragraph summary for each section, as appropriate. Readers who have questions can do so via the comments section at the bottom of the blog page.

So stay tuned for Volume 1 – where I will assemble the Front Bumper, Grill and GT-R Emblem!

PS: As a preview of what’s to come – here is a photo of the parts included in Volumes 2-5:

As you may be aware the GTROC has a new home on the Web – www.gtroc.org.  As part of the developments we have been busy designing a new experience and communication hub for all the members to bring even more value to the GTR Owners Club.  It is a really exciting time for the club and we really appreciate the patience of those who have PMd us and we are working on making the club site the best it can be.  As you may have seen the Japan trip, European Tour, Track Days/trips, TOTB, JAE along lots of other exciting events are already being planned.  We do apologise but we do all have day jobs so please bear with us for replies – we will get to them all!

We are delighted to be able to bring you the news that we have now imported all of your forum names into our membership database and would request that you now complete the following steps to ensure all our information is correct.  Please note if you were not previously a member of the Club then we will not have those details (data protection) so if you are signing up for the first time please use your GTR Register Forum name so we can keep things streamlined.

It is vital that, if you have registered for the GTROC site already, that you please complete these steps as we had some issues with forum name length/structure and so if you registered with an alternate name this should now have been deleted and moved to your original name – hopefully to give you the continuity and let people know who you are!  Obviously we wish to confirm that your username works correctly and that all payments that have been made are allocated to your correct account.

• Visit www.gtroc.org

• Click the Signup/Login Black button in the top right corner of the blue menu bar

• If you have already registered please login – WITH YOUR ORIGINAL FORUM NAME – if this does now work please move to step below.

• If you have not already registered, or cannot login, then please use the ‘lost password’ box and enter either your Forum name or email address you registered to the forum with.  This will then send you a password reset request and allow you to login and complete any checks on your account.  If this still does not work please email me your forum name, date of payment and also your correct email address and we will reset your email and send manually for you.  Pleas bear with me as I do these runs once a week.

• If you have already paid and are getting messages from www.GTROC.org  please ignore them as they are automated to all and we will cease once we have ensured that everyone is aware we.  I would ask if you could follow the steps above and double check your payment (for Annual or Executive Lifetime Membership) is assigned to your account under the Payments History tab in My Account page.  If you are already an Exec then it will show ‘error there is nothing to purchase’ – this actually means you are fully signed up and will change to ‘Executive Lifetime Member’ when we iron out that part of the site.

• If you had a forum name, and were originally a member (or lapsed member) of the GTROC, then we will have automatically imported your Forum Name and account.  Please note if you have never been a member of the GTROC and just used to log in to the forum as a register member we will have no record of your details and so you will need to register afresh on the GTROC site.  You can then join the club as an associate member, Annual Member or, for access to the ultimate in VIP and money can’t buy events, the amazing new Executive Lifetime Membership (it is shiny).

• Please do not worry if your membership level is not showing correctly yet on the www.GTROC.org site.  We are working on this and as long as your payment is correct then all will be in order!

• THIS IS IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ – Please note that the GTROC website and the GTR Register are totally different electronic entities.  Therefore your membership level, signature etc will appear on the GTR Register as/when they process a list we have sent across of those who have joined thus far – Mook has kindly done the first batch and any missing let us know.  Your membership of the GTR Owners Club is entirely independent of The Register and all membership details and benefits are held on the GTROC website – therefore Mook cannot help with any issues on www.GTROC.org so please mail me instead of filling his inbox ;-).

Any queries please mail us on vc@gtroc.org and Roger Burgess – GTROC Vice-Chairman will respond as quickly as he can.  Roger has said;

“I hope that the above answers all the queries I have been receiving thus far.  Additionally if you think you are missing a payment/cannot login/do not get password reset from the GTROC.org system then please let us know and we will look to add/reset as appropriate.  Thanks for your patience and once we get this first teething period out of the way things should run smoothly.”

Any other suggestions, glitches or improvements please drop us a line vc@gtroc.org and we will look at them all in the even more exciting Phase Two of development ;-)

Many thanks,

on behalf of Roger (ROG350z) and the GTROC team.

From 1 July 2012 year all drivers visiting France will need to carry a breathalyser kit in their cars. From November 2012 there will be an €11 fine for not complying with this.

With a start date for the new measure of 1 July 2012, the rules will apply for anyone travelling to or through France by car on a tour, perhaps on the way to a track day, or just on holiday or business.

Single-use breathalyser kits will satisfy the requirement.  The legal limit in France is 50 mg per 100 ml of blood. They cost between€1 and €2. It is intended that people will be able to test themselves to check whether or not they are over the French drink-drive limit.

If you are stopped you may be required to provide a test – using your own equipment.  So you are advised to have at least two breathalysers at all times, so that if one is used you still have one to produce for the police.

Early Morning all Participants gather at a location near Folkstone

(Hotel at Euro Tunnel is an OPTION for the previous night)

Attend Briefing about the Trip and get Detailed Notes etc.

Morning Crossing by Euro Tunnel from Folkstone (England).

Arrival at Calais (France) and Drive onwards to Massy via Central Paris passing via Monet’s Garden, Chataeu Gaillard and the Paris Air and Space Museum.  (The choice of stop-off visits is entirely up to you and what you prefer to do, we will provide maps and directions to all three)

Transfer to Hotel in Massy area which is South East of Paris (13km) and with access to RER station for people wanting to go into Centre for shopping and the evening

EVE                 Free for Dinner on your own.

Accommodation at the hotel in Paris (Massy).

Breakfast at a restaurant in the hotel

10:00 a.m.       Drive to Vichy which is situated in the Auvergne region of France

13:00 p.m.        Enroute Lunch and Wine tasting at Celliers de la Pauline, Thauvenay.

16:00 p.m.       Arrival at Vichy and transfer to our Chateau

Free at Leisure to explore areas around Vichy on your own or time for the Spa for the people wanting to relax and unwind…

(For people not doing the Track-day, we also have a Golf course near our place)

EVE                 Free for Dinner on your own.

Accommodation at the Chateau near Vichy.

Breakfast at a restaurant in the chateau

08:00 a.m.       Trackday at Michelin Test Facility for the GT-R Drivers.

16:00 p.m.       You will drive back after the full day on the Track.

19:30 p.m.       Barbeque Dinner with Bonfire for all the Tour participants.

Accommodation at the Chateau near Vichy.

Breakfast at a restaurant in the chateau.

09:00 a.m.       Morning Drive to Aix en Provence via Mont Ventoux and Millau Viaduct

12:00 a.m.       Arrive Millau Viaduct for photo opportunity.

Enroute Lunch at leisure on your own in the local area and more photo opportunities

17:00 p.m.       Arrive at your hotel in Provence.

EVE                 Free for Dinner on your own.

Accommodation at the hotel in Aix-en-Provence.

Breakfast at a restaurant in the hotel.

08:00 a.m.       Drive to and through Verdon Gorge and Cannes then crossing from France into Monaco.

11:00 a.m.       Arrival at Monte Carlo, we Drive onward to our Hotel via the Centre.

Transfer to Hotel and free to enjoy rest of the day in the city Casino, Shopping etc.

EVE                 Free for Dinner on your own.

Accommodation at the hotel in Monte Carlo.

Breakfast at a restaurant in the hotel

08:00 a.m.       Drive to Maranello via Camogli and La Spezia on the southern coast road

13:00 p.m.       Arrival at Ferrari Museum in Maranello, lunch at leisure in their facility

Transfer to Hotel and free to enjoy rest of the day in the village or ride to one of the Outlet shopping area / Bologna.

EVE                 Free for Dinner on your own.

Accommodation at the hotel in Maranello.

Breakfast at a restaurant in the hotel

08:00 a.m.       North through Verona and onto the Stelvio Pass

12:00 a.m.       Arrive at Stelvio Pass for lunch before driving through the mountain pass

17:00 p.m.       Arrive at hotel by Lake Constance

EVE                 Free for Dinner on your own.

Accommodation at the hotel by Lake Constance.

Breakfast at a restaurant in the hotel.

10:00 a.m.       Morning Drive to Stuttgart.

11:30 a.m.       Arrive at the Porsche Museum, lunch at leisure in their facility

TOUR 1           Drive back from Stuttgart to Calais and cross using the Euro tunnel

TOUR 2           Drive from Stuttgart to Nuerburg for some time to relax

EVE                 Free for Dinner on your own.

 Accommodation at the hotel in Nuerburg.

Breakfast at a restaurant in the hotel

Full day Free for time on the Ring

EVE                 Free for Dinner on your own. (Recommend Pistenklaus Restaurant at Hotel am Tiergarten)

 Accommodation at the hotel in Nuerburg.

Breakfast at a restaurant in the hotel

08:00 a.m.       Visit to the Ring to witness the VLN Round 3 race event

PM                   Departure for Folkstone (England)

* * * * * HAVE A PLEASANT JOURNEY * * * * *

We have now added another blogger to our fold!  Along with Ville, Time Attack exploits and Jann blogging about his life since winning the GT Academy we now have a two year development programme on how to build your own GT-R.  Actually it’s a 1/8th scale model but nevertheless we will be following it on a monthly basis as Aki builds his first supercar – even if it does take him two years!

The model has many working parts such as lights (and all the usual doors, bonnet, boot/trunk etc.  But better than that the kit really does have the finest of details when it comes to building a car with individual components to make it as near realistic as possible.

Aside from taking on the task of building this Aki is also the GTROC’s Representative in Japan and a key man in the GTROC organisation.  Over many years he has been instrumental in helping the Japan tours go well and it is hoped one day soon we can repay his hospitality should he ever get to visit Europe  Aki’s passion is his R33 GT-R but admits to a hankering for a new GT-R too.

The 1/8th scale model comes in weekly instalments and is fully endorsed by Mizuno-san  Here’s a taste of what to expect

Saturday 3rd March  from 10am until 4pm

Westover Nissan have extended an invitation to all GTROC Members to attend their MY12 GT-R launch on 3rd March at their centre in Bournemouth.  Members are invited to drop in and see the new car and meet some of the team.  On hand to answer your questions on the day will be Gerard Reidy, Westover’s NHPC Specialist; Paul Hughes, Sales Manager and Lisa Carr, Sales Administrator and die-hard petrol-head!

Please feel free to drop in and see the new car and you will be welcomed by all at Westover

The JUKE-R is very much one of those cars that you either love the concept and like the idea that Nissan want to build the ‘Ultimate Crossover‘, or you simply wonder why on earth they would want to spend all that money on a car that you can’t buy.  Either way, when the GTROC was invited for a sneak preview of the car it was an opportunity we could not refuse.

For almost a week three members of the GTROC had to keep secret the location of the JUKE-R and where our meeting was to be.  Along with the two Juke Owners Clubs we got a chance to see at first hand what all the fuss and noise was about and to find out what all those Youtube hits and column inches really looked like in the flesh.

Being a Friday lunchtime meant taking a day off work and finding the right people with good photographic skills and a technical background soon provided a very short list.  Add to that the need to talk to NMGB about the project and to write up afterwards it soon fell to Jeff Ludgate, Paul Creed and John Fuggles to wave the flag for the GTROC; Paul having a two+ hour drive each way.

Nothing was left to chance as we met up in the local ‘greasy spoon’ for a briefing.  The same place where we met afterwards to download all the photos.  Thanks to our hosts then for the coffee and use of electricity as we set up our workstation after.  Anyway, suitably refreshed, we set off for the two minute drive to NMGB and as soon as we drove in heads appeared at windows – something perhaps to do with Paul’s unfeasibly loud exhaust!  The car was parked up next to another Juke and would later be joined by a GT-R.  The sun shone, the air was crisp – just perfect for photographing the Juke-R

The JUKE-R is quite a complex car.  It is NOT the top half of a JUKE on the bottom half of a GT-R.  In truth it does carry all the running gear, engine, transmission, suspension, brakes, wheels and tyres of the GT-R topped off by a Nissan Juke body and interior but where the clever stuff comes in is in blending the two together – oh and making it all fit!

Simple solutions like using the Juke centre console but housing the MFM for the GT-R alongside the Juke dash binnacle housing the GT-R instruments all make the car look like it belongs as one car not two that ultimately bore it.  The full cage makes the interior look purposeful, along with the aftermarket bucket seats – GT-R ones are two wide for the car once the cage is in.  The air-con is in the boot but at least it’s still there.  Having just come back from Dubai the car probably needed it and, even though huge sums of money were offered for the car by some of the well to do locals, Nissan was not parting with their Ultimate Crossover.

A lot of thought has gone into making the car look as if it was designed that way.  The track width is the same as a GT-R and so extra flared arches have been added, along with some very well designed and sculpted side-skirts.  The wheel-base itself is shorter.  The suspension is standard MY10 GT-R which, somehow, neatly bolts into the Juke chassis.  But somethings just could not be fitted neatly together.  Take one look at the nose of a Juke and it doesn’t take a genius to work out a large V6 was never going to fit, no matter how hard you tried.  As a result the dash is a full six inches further back in the cockpit, something that you would not know looking at the workmanship inside the cabin.

Although the rear doors don’t open and it has no launch control we still feel it really is the Ultimate Crossover.  The matt black wrap and lower front splitter make it look menacing, as does the fact the car has been lowered by the use of the GT-R suspension.  The V5 may say Juke but this is a whole lot more than that.

Not everything that was needed to bring this car to being could be found on the shelf.  Engine mounts and other key assembly parts had to be specially designed, as did the exhaust.  But, starting the car, it sounds every bit a GT-R perhaps with a slightly more aggressive rumble and a slightly rougher edge but certainly the note was all GT-R with only a hint of Juke.

Bringing these two cars together meant other work had to be done.  The GT-R is a heavy car and the Juke is no lightweight.  But take the heaviest part of a GT-R and add to it the heaviest part of a Juke and even with all plastic panels and plastic doors and it still comes in a full 50kg heavier than a standard Nissan GT-R.  So a weighty lump to throw around then.

With the shorter wheelbase the car handles differently too.  The only way to describe it is to say it’s like driving a GT-R on a very slippery road.  Trying to keep the car straight takes a lot of work and even the recent trials by Lucas and Jann showed just how difficult that was.  Sadly we never got to drive the car (this time) but one thing is for sure we all left wishing we had the chance to drive it, just a bit, not far, just a little.

All the pictures can be found on our FLICKR page

Whatever you think of the idea of putting a Juke and a GT-R together you really have to take your hat off to Nissan for what they have achieved here.  Not only does the car work but it really looks like a car all of its own and nothing like the marriage of two strangers.  Sadly it will never go into production but one thing is for sure no-one else will be able to match the JUKE-R for the title Ultimate Crossover

A little over 40 years ago saw Datsun produce their first ever GT-R. At the same time the Fairlady went from a sports convertible to a tourer. The similarities between the 240Z of then and the GT-R of today may not seem much at first but remember the 240Z was a great touring car that went on to win aces and rallies around the world. ‘m not saying the GT-R will win rallies but it certainly seems that a it has already been made of its rack potential and not much said about its road touring capabilities.

So, when the Classic Z Register announced it wanted to do a Land’s End to John O’Groats (LEJOG) drive/trip to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the 240Z, it seemed le perfect opportunity to compare le two. We’d be able to put the new GT-R to the test on all types of terrain across the UK and over a period of a week.

But this wasn’t going to be about comparing the old GT-R with new or the old Zed with new. Both cars ad evolved in very different ways. he original Zed was a sports car and with the 350Z and now the 370Z the sports car has returned, however the GT-R has dropped the skyline name and is a totally new far, far removed from the Skyline lat terrorised the streets and raided the trophy cabinets of the motor racing world.

Making on a journey like this was an opportunity to see how the current tourers compared and to see not only how far the technology had come but just how different touring today compared to the tourers of yesterday. Thanks to Jon Newlyn Classic Z Register) the tour party soon boasted a good collection of 240Zs and with the very kind help and support of Nissan Motor GB we even added a Nissan GT-R and the brand new 370Z. How would the Grand Tourer (R35) stack up? We were about to find out.

Setting off on Sunday morning from Land’s End the plan wasn’t to break all records or to take the shortest route, instead this was about the journey not the destination. The route would take us across Exmoor, through the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia before returning to England, the Yorkshire Dales and then onto Scotland where we would cruise the West Coast, Argyle and then on through the lochs and along the top to our destination.

The first day of LEJOG saw us work our way across north Cornwall and up into Wales where we finished off the day just short of Brecon. Along the way lay great surprises and photo opportunities. For anyone that has never been, there is a section of the A39 that just has to be driven. Twists and turns abound with vertical stone walls and clusters of trees blocking out the sun. The scene could have been drawn from the Amazon rain forest, but for the lack of rain! Four in a line, three 240Zs and the GT-R soon enjoyed some spirited driving, forcing Richard to comment that “All I can see in my mirror is a wall of GT-R, it’s like something out of Mad Max”. Fortunately for the Zed behind me the GT-R had the handy habit of making cars coming the other way slow down to squeeze through.

By   the   end   of   day   one   it   was agreed  that  of the  cars  the  new GT-R had significant road presence whether in front of you or looming large in your rear mirror. And some of the reactions of motorists confirmed what the journalists had already told us or, as Richard commented “this is not a car it’s an ejector seat!”. But it wasn’t all in favour of the new car. The pedals take some getting used to as they’re slightly offset to the right. Though it doesn’t have a clutch the layout is as if they’ve left space in case one is needed. Add to that the huge rear view mirror obscuring large sections of the road in front of the screen and it does take a while to get used to.

Arriving at our hotel for an evening of discussion the proof was there, if it were needed, that this was about sharing a journey, not about the cars, old and new. But all too soon it was time for the stories to stop and then to talk of the next day’s journey. One thing that had already become apparent was the need to have the window open in the GT-R.

Wrapped in a blanket of modernity and filled with brushed metal and touch screen technology made the GT-R just too much of a luxury and not enough of a drive. Opening the window brought the outside road into the car and made the tour far superior in ways that can only be felt otherwise in the 240Zs.

The second day saw us tour across some of the most breath-taking scenery in the UK. The Brecons led us towards lunch at Aberystwyth and more photo opportunities. Afterwards the Snowdonia National Park proved to be the best scenery to date, but perhaps not the most exciting roads. After several attempts at a rendezvous we eventually met up with the 370Z.

Whilst it would have been great to have the car do the whole journey sadly the challenges of modern day life don’t always allow.

Day three began with three 240Zs, a 370Z and a GT-R all setting off for a visit to Middlehurst for coffee and donuts. Touring’s definitely about the journey but the stop-offs can be just as good! After a few running repairs to one of the 240Zs (thanks to the pump fitters at Tesco!) and a new tyre for the GT-R it was back onto the roads to Skipton and then a drive across the Yorkshire Dales. The roads and scenery are breathtaking here but it does expose the differences between the touring of old and that of today. Whilst the 240Zs were able to squeeze their way through small gaps and in and out of the opposing traffic, the GT-R had to find the wider parts of the road to pass. On the roads however all cars were at their peak; the twist and turns, and rise and fall of the roads suiting them all well and the grins on the drivers at an impromp­tu stop or two told its own tale.

Touring like this in the right car is immense fun and something more clubs could enjoy. The biggest issue, aside from the cost of fuel and accommodation, is the sheer amount of time and effort required to not only get the event going but to find the right route that offers the most fun. I for sure will be keeping my itinerary and will no doubt repeat this very journey again in years to come.

Day four was itself an interesting test of the GT-R. It started with a drive up the A75; perhaps the worst bit of the whole tour. Motorways are, for these events, a necessary evil from time to time, but the A75 has to be regarded as the blandest and most unexcit­ing road I have driven in this car. Okay so it was necessary to get us to the A712 where the real fun driving began but it certainly wasn’t the best bit of road! But it did demonstrate the ease with which the new car just gobbles up the road with no effort. Mile after mile flew past and there is no effort needed and no drama created. In every sense a true tourer, it’s just the tourists who didn’t like it.

Once into the countryside and onto the A712, then A713, all of the cars were really showing their true potential. Sweeping bends and the undulations of this part of Scotland make it a real joy and at times a challenge. Some bends and bridges were best taken at speed and certainly added something to the LEJOG. After a brief stopover at Ayr we followed the coast broad north to Greenock; different roads again and with some fantastic scenery.

This day gave us the best opportu­nity yet to compare the cars. The GT-R was effortless, almost boring, on the straight flat A roads, where the 240Zs were also cruising along effortlessly. After that the twist and turns of Dumfries and Galloway suited the spirited driving of the 240Zs and made for a great day’s touring. For the GT-R it was effortless and perhaps in that way it lost something. Okay we did have a lot more fun with the traction control off but how many tourers would want to do that? All in all the GT-R, like all the best cars of today has given us the ride, comfort and stability we need but somewhere along the way some of the spirit of rural motoring has been lost.

The coast roads proved a breeze for both cars with the GT-R being more steady under the battering side-wind. Whilst its surefootedness may be great, again you become detached from the excitement being felt by others in their 40 year-old beasts. It was only now that I wish I owned a 240Z. I’m not sure I’d lavish as much attention on it as my fellow LEJOGers but nevertheless to have one available for trips such as this would be a great addition to the garage! Sadly I will have to do with the loaner from Nissan. Great though it may be, perhaps there is something to be said about the ‘old days’.

Arriving for the evening we settled in preparing for the next day and met up with club members in the bar for a memorable evening of conversation.

The next morning began with members of the GTROC and Classic Z Register turning up en-masse to join us for the ferry across the Clyde before the journey to Fort William. After a brief stop at Argyll everyone got to put some miles on the GT-R and experience the car first-hand. After that we soon found our way onto some of the narrowest tree-lined roads imaginable, complete with violent turns and extreme undulations. On these roads the Z is in its element and the drivers are working hard to extract the most enjoyment from the roads. By comparison the GT-R is passive and almost unexcited by the whole experience. Even with the traction control off it would need an extra 10 mph to get the GT-R to the same level of fun as the 240Z. So there perhaps is another noticeable difference; tech­nology may have blunted the pick of the road experience in one way and the only compensation was to add more speed. A good thing? Perhaps not.

After a brief respite at ‘Rest and be Thankful’ on the A82 it was off for lunch and then on to Fort William. The A-roads along Loch Lomond and beyond are great for more spirited driving. These roads are fast and fun and have enough changes in direction to keep you amused. Add to that the fantastic scenery and this had to be one of the best cruises of the whole tour. By now the number of GT-R test pilots had reached six. Each taking  it in turn to drive the car and, without exception, every one of them blown away with just how good it is.

After a couple of days in very changeable road conditions and types the differences of the touring cars of old and that of today soon begin to emerge. In times gone by A-roads were the motorways and the cars of that era were great at cruising along. The smaller roads presented a challenge which meant working the wheel was the way to extract the most fun. All of which brought us to Fort William where we met up with three new 240Zs. Now in total there were six “Zeds”, two Skylines, a Datsun 180, a 370Z and a GT-R. All in all a very respectable turnout and a great way to build to the finish.

The drive up to Ullapool was and will always be the best drive I have ever had the chance to experience. After some great roads which wound their way around the lochs and mountains we took a far more challenging road to Applecross. The sheer brutality of the Scottish landscape is breathtaking; the thousands of years that the weather has beaten into the sides of the mountains turn the hills into angry craggy rocks and mountains. Only a place as rough as this can hold its own beauty far beyond what you can see on television or look at on a postcard.

The road to the Applecross Peninsular was once described as a “road you must travel before you die” (preferably not in the same day). You can keep your Stelvio Pass and all the other great roads, you can even keep Spa Francorchamps and all the other great circuits. This may only be a small winding mountain road but it offers an experience like no other.

At times the road is only just wide enough for one car, the restrictions not being walls and hedges but rock face on one side and a sheer and extreme drop to the other. Passing places are plenty but even these require patience and a certain amount of nerve and good judgement.

Travelling in convoy we soon let the 240Zs go on ahead as the two new cars stopped for a photo shoot atop the mountains. After that it was time to catch up! The roads were as terrifying as ever, but the extra mph added to the task made it even more exhilarating and on more than one occasion I would suggest we knocked a few rocks down into the valleys below. Exhilarating definitely, exciting yes, scary you bet!

Arriving in Applecross we assembled at a restaurant for a well deserved lunch by the loch. But the day was not over yet, we still had the final challenge of the day. The 240Zs took the shorter more direct route to Ullapool and the 370Z and GT-R went the mountain way. Not quite ‘ye’// take  the  high  road” and we were already in Scotland but nevertheless a fun challenge. The terms were simple; drive sensibly and within the rules of the road and see if the extra resources available to the new cars could produce more for any tourer than the original Datsun touring car. As it happened we arrived in Ullapool at pretty much identical times. So a technical win for the 370Z and the GT-R, but a triumph for the 240Zs.

The last day started with the drive from Argyll to Sutherland. The scenery changed and the aggressive beauty became softened with an increase in green covering and the jagged rocks soon mellowed into softer form. Still breath-taking, any sci-fi film director would be totally at home in these surroundings.

After some spirited driving along the coast road we crossed the bridge at Kylesku and soon the roads began to change. Sweeping A-roads became the norm and soon we were able to eat up the miles endlessly. In some regards an anti-climax as the roller-coaster ride of the roads gave way to the mundane coverage of tarmac. Soon 40 miles became 20 and then less. We marshalled the cars to arrive in the order they left and soon we were heading to the finish line. Achievement tinged with sadness as the journey’s end filled our minds. This whole experience wasn’t about arriving at John O’Groats, it was about getting there over some of the best roads this country has, of sharing stories, of swapping cars and comparing notes. Soon all that would be lost and we would each go our separate ways.

As we approached our final curtain we amassed by ‘the sign’ for a photo opportunity, met others who had made the journey and congratulated them equally. Fitting to the end, Jon produced a bottle of Japanese Whisky and we all toasted a great and successful adventure.

With advances in automotive technology we have expanded the distance between the road underneath and the feel in the driver’s fingertips. Whilst it may be great for the daily commute and better for the passenger, sadly any keen driving enthusiast is missing out. Where the 240Z was masterful as a tourer the GT-R has once again become masterful in these circumstances. But in the almost 40 years that have elapsed between the 240Z and the Nissan GT-R the world has changed, roads have changed and cars have changed. Thankfully the desire to drive and explore and enjoy has not changed.

After a fantastic week with some great people I can only wish I had done this sooner. For me the Nissan GT-R is a great car; although the cup holders do need to be smaller. Too much has been said of it as a track car and of the Nurburgring and not enough of it as a tourer and everyday car. Hopefully we can set the record a little straighter after this exploration and perhaps new drivers will think of it differently.

The new GT-R is no longer a Skyline. The change in name may have upset some quarters but in reality is a true reflection of the change that has occurred in Nissan with this car. The Skyline was a phenomenal track car that won many races and set many records. Tamed for the streets it was still something of a track day weapon even in the most standard of configurations.

This new generation car is not a Skyline at all. It is worthy and deserving of the title Grand Tourer and a GT car it is, but the Skyline is something different and of a different age. So, farewell to the Skyline and thank you, and hello to the GT-R and thank you Nissan.

EPILOGUE

Some time on the drives across Scotland I made a call to my fiance and told her “we need to buy one of these”. The whole experience on every type of road at every speed has proven to me that the GT-R is best on the wide open road touring high and low, fast and slow. It may do well on the track but on the road it is simply exceptional.

Having settled in with a good bottle of Scotch somewhere in the most north-westerly part of Scotland we reminisced about the whole experience. The GTROC has never undertaken an event like this before and looking at the amount of organisation I now know why! However I made a promise to my fellow LEJOGers that next year the GTROC would do its first Grand Tour and they would all be welcome. I have some ideas already and have spoken to some people about this and it seems it will be a bi-annual thing with the annual trips to Japan also becoming bi-annual. So watch out for more news on this in the New Year!

If there was one thing that convinced me above all else of the touring credentials of this car, it was the drive home. John O’Groats to somewhere in inner London; non-stop save for petrol and something to eat and drink. The whole journey was encumbered by miles of road works on the M6 and other roads but overall it was a simple route home. 702 miles and a total time behind the wheel of over 12 hours. At the end of it, I got out of the car, not a back ache, stiff neck or sore knee etc in sight. A brilliant drive home and a perfect way to end the whole experience.

The first three graduates of GT Academy – Lucas Ordonez, Jordan Tresson and Jann Mardenborough – will compete for Nissan in 2012 in three of the world’s top endurance racing series.

As 26 year-old Spaniard Lucas Ordonez demonstrated at the Le Mans 24 Hours last year, GT Academy is now a proven process, turning out drivers who are ready to race against top international competition. Ordonez is GT Academy’s greatest success story to date and he has now joined Greaves Motorsport’s European Le Mans Series campaign in order to take his next challenge. He will be racing for overall championship honours in an LMP2 Zytek-Nissan alongside Tom Kimber-Smith and Alex Brundle.  At the Le Mans 24 Hours he will race with Martin and Alex Brundle.

“2011 was an incredible year for me,” said Ordonez. “I learned a lot with Signatech Nissan.  They believed in me and trusted me to get the job done.  Nissan has set me my next challenge: an overall championship victory. With two top team-mates and a championship-winning team I am aiming to win the European Le Mans Series outright. The Le Mans 24 Hours will again be a big challenge for me and I’m very much looking forward to racing with Martin (Brundle) as I will learn a lot from him. With Martin, Alex and myself I think we will have one of the strongest line-ups in LMP2. It feels great to be able to say that!”

The driver with the steepest learning curve in 2012 is 23 year-old Frenchman Jordan Tresson.  The 2010 GT Academy winner has completed a championship-winning debut season in GT racing but is now stepping up to the LMP2 class of the new FIA World Endurance Championship with Signatech Nissan.  He will also follow in Ordonez’s footsteps by competing at the Le Mans 24 Hours this summer.

“I am taking a very big step up from GT racing to LMP2 this year,” said Tresson. “I have tested the car already and it is so quick through the corners! I will have to work hard but I am ready for it. Racing at Le Mans, especially for a French driver, is a special dream. To be racing with a French team, both at Le Mans and in the FIA World Endurance Championship at so many legendary race tracks, is almost more than I can imagine. It will not be an easy year. Our opponents will be tough; the LMP2 class is big and there will be many cars with Nissan engines. I can’t wait to get started on our test programme now as this is shaping up to be the biggest opportunity of my life.”

The youngest and newest recruit is 20 year-old Jann Mardenborough. The British driver won the third season of GT Academy just a few months ago.  He has been through the rigorous GT Academy training programme in preparation for a season in the Blancpain Endurance Series where he will race Nissan’s new GT3 race car: the Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3.

“A year ago I was on a gap year and hadn’t even applied to enter GT Academy and now I’m heading into my first full season as a racing driver,” explained Mardenborough. “I have had an incredible six months on the GT Academy driver development programme where I have been thoroughly knocked into shape by a group of instructors who I am sure will be lifelong friends.  I’m super excited about racing the Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3. There are no nerves, I just want to crack on and test the new car. Starting the season at Monza in April will be a big moment for me and I can’t wait!”

This months calendar wallpaper presents the glorious S50.

The S50 was launched in 1961 and produced in various formats until 1967 wearing the Nissan Prince Skyline badge after the 1966 merger.

Powered by a 1.5L G-1 engine and producing 70hp (oh how times have changed), it came in sedan and wagon options, and even a 90hp 1862cc engine option.

Three models of the S50 were built: S50E (1962–1965), S50E-2 (1965–1966), and S50E-3 (1967)

Courtesy of Nissan JP, we will feature a new wallpaper calendar each month for you to download.

There are also iphone and android versions for you to enjoy!!!

Make sure you check back for March

Download your appropriate size from our FlickR wall.here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/71400214@N08/sets/72157629090696433/

Winter break finished and I was back to Silverstone for some lovely heat chamber work before heading out to Dubai.  Me and Bryan had 5 sessions x 1hr of heat acclimatisation, including a 3hr driver assessment!  To get an idea what a heat chamber is like, imagine getting off a plane in the peak of summer in Spain and you feel that sudden rush of heat as you step off the plane.   That’s what it’s like for 1hr whilst running or on a bike. Tough stuff –  37.8 degrees C and 45% humidity was the preferred temperature our coaches wanted us to train in.  During that time we had simulator sessions too.  My day went like so: 0800-0900 heat chamber, 0900-1000 simulator and 1400-1500 another heat chamber session.  We did this for 3 days!  After doing some filming with Lucas, Jordan Byran and me, all four of us headed off to Heathrow T5 in our trusty Pathfinder.  It was the first time all four of us had travelled together, we spoke about our experiences during GT Academy and some of the cool things we had done since.

Flight was good landed in Dubai early in the morning and straight into filming with the camera crew.

Tried to get a Nissan, but the hire company didn’t have any available, even though the hire car cark park was full of them!  The next two days were acclimatisation days, with some light filming in Dubai Marina.  The Marina is incredible, modern, new and empty.  Its full of massive skyscrapers, with nobody to occupy them.  It reminded me of a sci-fi film like I-Robot.

Wednesday 11^th was test day and rent a car day which meant we could use our hire car for learning the track.  We were meant to go round at a max speed of 100KPH which we managed until Franck Mailleux got behind the wheel!  I learnt that 6 people in a 4×4 on a race track doesn’t really work well… !  Testing went well, finding a base balance then improving it. Track was pretty similar to the simulator, so no nasty surprises out on track.  All of us decided that more rear wing could be removed as the rear was too stable, and would help with the mid corner understeer we were having at turn 3-4.  We had about 3 sessions in total of testing.  Nobody was fussed on time at this point because it was  irrelevant  – nobody is pushing at this stage.  We were purely looking to set up the car for the race.  More filming later that day for Eurosport, talking about the track and my story so far.

 

Thursday 12^th was taken up with more testing and qualifying.  More time out in the car during the day.  Though in total, before free practice, I had around 12 laps in the car.  I really had to make the most of my time, it was very precious.  Lots of time spent looking at the data, then taking time out to debrief myself of the last session to see where I could improve. The days were full on, by the time I was done debriefing, it was time to get suited up to get in and do another 5 laps of testing.  More progress was made with the car ahead of qualifying.  Bob told us that Lucas would get the role of fresh tires and low fuel to qualify the car.  This was purely due to the fact that he had more experience of this track.  Of course I would have liked to have done it too, but Lucas was the man to do it.  We qualified fourth in class which was great considering we were in too high a class for the car we were using.  Dodge Viper GT3, Ford Mustang GT3 and 3 silhouette cars were all in our class.  Lucas put in a great time of 2.10.850.  The Viper did 2.06.xx which got pole in our class.

Friday 13^th, Darren Cox sat all of us down and reminded us how just how far we’ve come and told us do a great job and to enjoy the experience. Christian mentioned to Bob that I would like to do the warm up, as all the previous sessions I hadn’t had a clear lap. I was expecting a no, but was pleasantly pleased to find him say “yes.”  Lucas would scrub a new set of tires in and I would get 2 flying laps.  I managed to find a clear second lap apart from the last corner when a GT3 Z4 came down the inside of me, but nevertheless the guys came on the radio to tell me I’d done a “ 2.10.670” I was so pleased!  It’s weird how I felt I had to test myself and prove to myself that I was capable of such a time.  Irrelevant for a 24hr race, but it was still nice to know.

 

The grid walk at any race always get me excited.  I love the fact that the spectators can touch the cars, have photo’s with the drivers, and the atmosphere is great. There was loads of attention with our 100 car – lots of photos and interviews.  The four of us were in our sunglasses looking cool in the Dubai heat at 1pm.

My family and friends had turned up so it was awesome hanging out with them on the grid too. I wished the best of luck to Lucas as the crowds were asked to leave the grid.  I was in the car 4^th Byran 3^rd and Jordan 2^nd. I watched the start and about 7 laps before I went to get some dinner. I don’t know how other drivers can watch a live video feed of the race whilst keeping relaxed.  Lucas was doing great, staying out of trouble which was key in the early stages.  Nothing much to do at this point, I just kept drinking water with sodium tablets to keep my hydration levels stocked up.

 

 

When Lucas and Jordan had finished their stints they complained about the brakes going off.  Byran would be out very soon, so I got myself ready.  My stint would start at dusk quickly heading into darkness which I was completely fine about.  Driver change went well, the team told me I’d be refuelling at the end of the pit lane (normal fuel pumps.)  First 20minutes were tough, brakes weren’t good at all. In the 370z we have a racing pedal box, all 3 pedals aligned together. But the brake pedal was pushed back to a similar position where the accelerator pedal was on full power!  Not really what you want when you’re travelling at 145mph. Told the team over the radio, then almost instantly after doing that I found myself not being about to get more than 125mph down the back straight. Got on the radio again and the team told me to “box this lap.”  In the pit lane RJN mechanics tried to push me back into the pit box, but couldn’t because the front brakes were binding to the discs.  We lost about 20 minutes putting new pads in, and manually adjusting the brake bias, because it had broken thus overheating the front brakes.  Still in car I kept calm drinking my water, just visualising laps. Back out on track the car felt good again. I knew we had lost position so I pushed trying to regain lost time. All going well until the last lap I was meant to come in the pit to do a driver change.  Arriving at turn 1 shifting down 2 gears, went to get on the gas, and did, but no throttle response… engine still running but no power!!  I could get it to coast at idle speed in gear, but no throttle power.  Told the team, they gave me instructions to master reset everything, but it was useless, no power at all!! Luckily a tow truck had just recently towed a car back to the pits, and was in my area. We lost about 40 minutes until we got back on track. The problem we had was that the air filter got full of sand and dust, got heavy and it got sucked up into the throttle bodies. Good thing was we were still in the race.

 

 

We had a trouble free 18 hrs from then with our car. I did a stint in the spare car with Richard Meadon and Tetsuya  Tanaka and Humaid-A l Masaood which went really well. The 120 car really did have a chance of taking the win but was plagued with gearbox trouble.  Even JRM running the new GT-R GT3 had some problems.  Stints 2-3 were eventless, which was good for a 24 hr race!  Quick and consistent.  All four of us were putting in lap times within 1 second of each other, which was awesome, as there was no weak link. I remember eating breakfast just after finishing my stint, and missing my mouth as I tried to eat a croissant. I thought it would be wise to get a 1hr sleep before my last stint!

The car was still running 6 laps behind 2^nd place which was an improvement on the 15 laps many hours earlier.  Bob gave me the honour of finishing the race.  I am really happy he let me do that. Just a case of looking after the car, nobody wants to break down 1hr before the end of the race… Bob asked me to push a bit so I could catch up with the 120 car, and finish the race together. Tuesya Tanaka was in the car at the time, a former  Super GT driver, a really cool guy. Lots of cars were slowing down on track making it difficult to pick our way through traffic.  The sight of two 370z’s overtaking GT3’s as they slowed down for the last 15 minutes looked like something out of a car film! I didn’t even realise I’d finished the race until I passed the flag! My last lap was a 2.15.xxx!  One of the quickest times out on track –  haha.

We’d done it. Unfortunately there were no champagne celebrations for some reason, rose water would have been fine, but oh well. Lots of photos and interviews after the race. I felt weird during these. Perhaps the tiredness was taking its toll. Up for over 30hrs and 2hrs sleep is bound to do something strange!  Thanked people at Nissan, Playstation and Sony for coming and giving us four the opportunity. The four of us knew what we had to do and I hope we made everyone proud.

There was a pool party that Nissan and Ministry Of Sound were hosting Saturday night. A great way to let off some steam and relax. I remember talking to Michael Krumm about racing, he’s a really nice bloke and really interested in us GT Academy graduates too. I also remember me and Lucas Ordonez being thrown into the pool that night!

I was asked to stay a couple of days longer for work, doing instructing, VIP hot laps and some PR work.  Well I know a Juke-R is faster than a Ferrari 458, Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 and Mercedes SLS AMG. Filming for a video at the Dubai Marina, a small track was set up to tell the world, that the Juke-R really is quick. It beat all these cars in a 3 lap race. The drivers weren’t no slouch either, all 3 are my mentors, Christian Vann, Rob Jenkinson and Michael Mallock. I did get to help out doing some of the scenes too, using all four cars. Boyhood dream come true!Really fun ten days in total. In those ten days I drove the Juke-R which RML built. That thing is a beast!

 Let’s just say it goes as well as it looks!  GT-R running gear, brakes and suspension.  In our race car we would be hitting 140MPH in qualifying before we’d hit the brakes into turn 1. In the Juke-R I glanced at the speedo 350metres before the braking zone, and it read 135MPH!  The sensation is unreal,  it feels like a miniature GT-R. The sound is incredible too.  I haven’t had enough time in a GT-R

to determine which would be quickest, but I’m positive it would be close.

That’s it, my main prize for winning GT Academy is over, learnt a vast amount. Thank you Nissan, Sony, Playstation, RJN Motorsport and my mentors for all your help.