Datsun 240Z's Set Records On The Salt Flats of Bonneville
"GT" Class rules require stock bodies as produced and sold by the manufacturer's dealers. "F" Class is for cars with engines displacing 123.00 cid {2016cc} to 183.00 cid {3000cc} displacement.
Racer Brown, the famous Drag Racer and Camshaft designer had been working with the Nissan Competition Department, as well as the Datsun Racing Teams here in the US. Racer decided that given the slick aerodynamic body and light weight of the Datsun 240Z, it would make a good candidate for a run at the Bonneville F/GT Land Speed Record.
A team of six Nissan USA employees, working in the Nissan Technical Center, Competition Department and Service Departments built the above pictured 240Z. Tom O'Connor was responsible for building the engine, Milan Micka worked on the suspension and created the paint scheme and graphics. Frank Honsowitz, Matt Bornyasz, Roy Carreon, Max Jones and Bob Stockman worked with Tom and Milan on whatever was needed. Bob Stockman an Engineer from the Technical Center served as Team Manager / Project Coordinator, as well as Driver for the record run. Their efforts resulted in a new record of 166.037 mph. Which stood unbroken until 1985.
With a meticulously prepared Ferrari, Bob and his team set the bar for the F/GT Class a bit higher at 168.721 mph. 2.684 mph faster than the Datsun 240Z nine years earlier. Bob's record would stand for the following 25 years.
In Sept. of 2010 Buton Brown driving his Datsun 240Z regained top honors in the F/GT class by tripping the timing clocks for a two way average of 172.974 mph.
The Victory Motorsports Team hopes to go back to Bonneville this year. Using the lessons learned and experience gained in 2010 they hope to push the F/GT record up above 180 mph.
Contributed By: Carl Beck, IZCC #260
As Of: 21 Jan. 2010
Updated: 15 Oct. 2011
Souther California Timing Association's {SCTA} F/GT Class:
Grand Touring cars were defined as series production sports cars as accepted for Road Racing in the Production Class, as well as cars by recognized manufacturer which are primarily intended for comfortable high speed touring. Datsun 240Z's run in the SCTA's F/GT Class.
At the beginning of 1972 the Bonneville Land Speed Record for Grand Touring Cars with engines displacing between 2.0L and 3.0L, running in the F/GT Class stood at 153.711 mph. The record had been set in 1967 by Don Ricardo, in his aluminum bodied 1955 Mercedes Benz 300SL Gullwing.
There seems to be some confusion in the Bonneville Speed Trial records, as Racer Brown is listed as setting a new record at 152.134 mph in the F/GT Class Aug. 24th, 1972. {either the recorded speeds set in 1967 or 1972 could have been a typo during transcription} Be that as it may, a new record was set in F/GT in 1976.
Pictured Above: The Datsun 240Z that established a new F/GT land speed record at Bonneville in 1976. Shown as featured on display at the Lane Motor Museum on loan from Nissan Motors U.S.A.
Pictured Above: Bob Norwood and his team with their Ferrari 308 QV {Quatrovalvole}.
Pictured Above: Burton Brown and the Victory Motorsports Team with their Datsun 240Z.
Pictured Left to Right: Burton Brown, Jeff Ihde, Creston Vanderhoff, Tiffany Thulien-Brown and Nikki.