More Than 500 Nissan Z-Cars Gathered in Orange County, Calif., this past May...for the thirteenth time in as many years. We've been attending the West Coast Z Nationals since the beginning, and each show seems to offer a slightly different twist from the last. Strange, considering that except for a handful of Z33 owners (and one R35) all the cars in attendance have been out of production for over 12 years. The reigning highlight of the show was the amount of crazy engine swaps on hand-RB25s and 26s, VG and VQs...even the occasional twin-turbo small-block 350 found its way inside the bays of more than a few vintage Zs-not surprising, considering the older cars are completely CARB and Smog exempt and aren't mandated to meet emissions. As with any proper event, the cleaner examples outshined the flashy, and subtleties like RHD conversions, Mikuni-carbed L-series mills, wire-tucks, and flawless restoration work stole the show. Our favorite? The black sheep of the show: Yasu Kohara's flared, Bosozoku-style red 240Z (more coverage on the way!) www.motorsportauto.com
Miss Road Rage
In an odd twist of Celebrities Gone Wild, 2007's Miss Fayetteville (N.C.), Jenna Walters, recently found herself in court, answering to reckless driving charges after her bizarre encounter with Southern Pines, N.C., motorist Angela Thomas. It seems that upon being cut off by Thomas, the former beauty queen/role model decided it would be a good idea to ram the woman's car a few times, cut back in front of her, exit the vehicle, and proceed with verbal taunts and profane gestures. The kicker? Walters was voted "Miss Congeniality" in the 2006 Miss Fayetteville pageant.
Toyota: MPG Champ
The numbers are in, and Toyota officially offers the best overall average fuel economy of any full-line automaker, with eight models touting EPA-rated highway economy numbers above 30 mpg or higher (counting Scion vehicles). Company reps point out the achievement is due to features like VVT-i variable valve timing, fuel-injection improvements, transmission enhancements, and the wider use of lightweight-vehicle materials. We point out that all these points would also serve to improve performance, as well, especially if applied to any production-ready, high-performance GT-R-combating concept car the company is sitting on...(cough) the LF-A (cough)! www.toyota.com