Enter Slam Van

The import scene. Usually coupled with those cars imported from Japan. At the moment, I am decently involved with it since I have a Nissan, which has had a decent influence in particular spheres.

The shop I frequent is known as U.P. Garage USA or Fairlady Z. The owner is Doug Smith and is a very capable individual. Not only does he have a solid foundation of knowledge concerning modification, fabrication, mechanics, and tuning, he is an avid racer. He has raced on many platforms of vehicles ranging from jet skis, motorcycles, and cars.  Despite owing a busy and successful shop, he remains active in track events.

A breakdown of some of the modifications to date as supplied by Doug Smith.

Chassis: 1995 Eagle Summit AWD, 5spd
Engine: 1995 EVOIII from Japan
Upcoming Power FC for tuning
EVO III FMIC
Stock Airbox
Stock Summit exh.
Status bucket seat
Functioning AC and Cruise Control
Functioning stock full power package
Euro spec "Space Wagon" clear corners

Suspension:
Front S13, Cusco with modified brackets
Rear:is R32 with modified mounts to allow suspension travel at the given ride height.
Stock sway bars
Custom U.P. Garage USA bump steer adjuster roll centre on spindles

Brakes are:
Front EVOIII/ Carbotech XP10
Rear Ver V STI Carbotech XP8

Soon to be added: Evo III clutch type differential

Marc at U.P. Garage USA named the vehicle the Slam Van in jest one afternoon during an inspection of the van.  The moment the nickname was coined, it stuck and is still used to everyone's amusement.

Doug takes time off every so often and takes to the tracks. He has traveled a bit in his pursuit of enjoying the road and enjoying the challenge of multiple cars on multiple tracks with different drivers.

On this particular day, June 1st 2010, Doug faced a host of other cars ranging from a Porsche, Lotus and Ariel.

Doug not only was out there for a good time, but was testing the car itself. His expectations were met along with his suspicions of needed upgrades and tuning.

The video below is one of three. Other videos are available on YouTube under my channel.  Due to video length limitations, the videos were shortened to meet the requirements.



All pictures are of the ownership of "xqsme photography"
 - xqsmephotography.com
Pictures used are only for promoting Doug Smith, Doug Smith's shop U.P. Garage USA, and his vehicle that was used.
The video was taken by Doug Smith and is used with his consent.

End of the World

In life, most things are temporary.  It is sad to think that with the given law of relativity, everything is temporary.  However, that does not mean some aspects make such an impression that despite their age or being temporary pedestrians in life that their influence is forgotten.

In the current age of information and the Internet, the extent in which one can influence others has become exponentially greater than before.  One such item of note has been of a simple flash animation made years ago.  I do not remember where it was when I first saw it nor who showed it to me, but it has obviously been important enough for me to have bookmarked the website all these years later.  And by chance, one idle moment while at work, something triggered the memory of the video.

Without much more prolonging, a video recollected from memories and an Internet classic
The End of the World

Stuck in a Rut

As with most people, if someone is able to own a car, they tend to own multiples.  I can testify to this.  Since purchasing my first car in 2004, I've had many cars since then.  Granted, it's been an excessive 19 to date ranging from 1984 to 1991.  However, the first car I bought thankfully I still have.  It has been my most audacious project and one that took a lot of effort on part of many people.


They also say a car tells a lot about the owner.  Well that must be true with me.  I currently own 3 cars, all of which share one large commonality: design.  I currently own a 1984 Porsche 944, a 1987 Nissan S12, and a 1991 Mazda RX-7.

As stated earlier, they all have the same design.  From the pictures posted, it is quite apparent.  Many people I know have been slightly confused.  School, work, or other, they all know that whichever one I drive, it's my car.

I was recently told by a classmate that she knew it was my car because it looked like the car I drove the previous week until she got up close and realized it was different.  A coworker told me that he knew which car I drove to work because despite it being different, it fit my personality.  He knew it was not the same car i drove the day before, but knew which car was mine without prior knowledge of me obtaining a new car.  It seems that anyone who has a decent feel for who I am, can easily pick out what car it is that I would most likely be driving in a parking lot.  It is kinda humorous.

In short, I must be predictable in my mannerisms concerning cars.  As is obvious, all three cars are black.  They are all RWD, fastbacks/hatchbacks, have sunroofs, pop-up headlamps, long bonnets, and are all with a sports bias.

In the Press

I own an 1987 Nissan 200sx as it is known in the US.  Around the world it has gone under several names: Silvia, Gazelle, 200sx and 180zx.  The term S12 refers to the chassis name for the car made by Nissan.  As of late, there has been a resurgence for recognizing this forgotten chassis.  It has been very much been overshadowed by its descendants: the S13, S14 and S15.  However, with this resurgence, there have been several in print in the past several years and from the years before.  To recognize all those who have made their car into something great, the following lists the individuals along with links to access their articles in pdf format.
*Links are of each individual's name.  Sorry, I do not have the pdf files for all the below, so redirected to web pages that do.

SpeedHunters Blog
 - I submitted my blog and it was chosen to showcase that the S12 as a chassis was not a lost cause had had an appeal to this day, 26 years since it's debut, both domestically and internationally.

Ben D
 - A legend in the world of S12s.  Hails from Australia.  His fastest time for the quarter mile was down in the 8.x second range.

Keith L
 - Located in the US.  He is the earliest known private owner of an S12 to have made it to the press.

Colin M
- Located in the Pacific NW in the US.  After Keith, the S12 remained silent and in the background of imports.  In April and May of '07, the S12 was featured again and brought much attention back to the S12.  Featured in both Turbo and Modified, respective months above.

Markus M
- Hailing from Finland, this man holds the title of THE best S12 in the world since Ben D in my eyes.  Not only is it built extensively, it performs well and is taken to the track where Markus drives actively in spec. races.  Featured in a Finnish magazine in '09.

Henry N
- A tuner from NorCal who seeks function over form.  Knows the styling trends and loves track days, this car and owner has garnered quite a following.  Featured in SuperStreet, June '10.

Pictures, Lanayrds, and S12Silvia.com

One of my mates in Adelaide made S12Silvia.com.  The owner and creator of the site is one talented and chill guy: Matt Castle.  I was a great admirer of Matt with is work on S12s for quite a while and have talked to him the past couple of years as subjects allowed.  Earlier this year, I approached Matt and inquired if I could lend my abilities to help his site, either with promotional or content needs.  Matt was quite accepting and willing to work with me and the many ideas I had.  Some of which have been implemented since then and some that have yet to be expressed.  S12Silvia has only one direction foreseeable and that is to grow.

One of the concepts I had was to help expand Matt's current line of products.  He only had the replica S12 Silvia bonnet badge available.  I do know I'll have to purchase one of these by end of year. For more information: Bonnet Badge.

Well my first contribution was to add a lanyard to the line.  If one is interested they can be purchased at $6 USD shipped internationally, Paypal: s12silvia.com@gmail.com.  Multiple purchases inquiries, please email s12silvia.com@gmail.com

However, after receiving these, I took several pictures, some for testing and some for actual promotional use.  I am quite impressed with how they came out.  I have been interested in photography for quite a while but only recently decided to delve into what there is to know about it.  The pictures throughout this entry were ones I took within a span of 30 minutes.  These are just a few examples.  Beyond the obvious lanyard used, a Nissan Skyline GTS-T key, Nissan S12 Silvia and Gazelle bonnet badge were all used.