Book Review - Samuri - Ultimate evolution of the Datsun 240Z

[Paulo]

Just finished scouring the Samuri book of evolved Datsun 240z's brought to the reader from an English perspective of engine tuning in the 1970's and 80's.

If you are after technical data, hard facts and some inside appreciation of what they were doing, how they were doing modifications and looking for data sheets, then this book will NOT increase your knowledge by one degree of camshaft revolution.

I was taken aback at the A5 format, large print and rather curious legal warnings. I would have thought this was a book with some substance given the price from The Pistop Bookshop ($45.90 delivered).

NOT recommended reading, a pure race bred whinge about life in general and very short on substance.

[Zedman240®]

Thanks for the warning...

[boyblunda]

Hi Paulo and thanks for your frank opinion of the book.

 

I bought and read this book a few months ago and can see how you might have come to the conclusions stated above.

 

Without going into the book word by word I always thought that it was going to describe some of the life of Spike Anderson, with a strong emphasis on his involvement with the modified s30 (Super Samuri) cars and a coverage of Win Percy's involvement with Big Sam. I agree that it was lacking in technical detail but I thought I got a good insight into the scene surrounding those topics and the frustrations that faced many very talented mechanics and drivers in the 70's. His life seemed to be a series of semi chaotic events punctuated by some notable achievements.

 

He certainly expressed frustration at the lack of manufacturer support for his efforts and achievements and personally suspect that his own personality might have sometimes been an obstacle for achieving greater recognition and assistance.

 

I did appreciate the description and listing of the cars involved in the program as I would think some of the current owners of those vehicles might do.

 

For what its worth I was happy to have purchased and read the book and value its position in my Z library.

 

Regards

Dave

[zed240au]

I thought it was a good read myself

 

mick

[dat2kman]

Does it have any content, data or specification sheets on the standard production models, more specifically, any "production" models that WERE prepered by any Nissan/Datsun dealer anywhere, or at a Nissan/Datsun plant/factory, showing and detailing, very clearly what was fitted to production models??

 

Anyone who has a copy, can you private message me scans of anything relevant.

 

I have also recieved a four page spread from a British Classic Car magazine (year and month unknown) about the Production ZG that had wider rims, brakes G nose, Slan athomas gets a goid mention, along with the owner of the car featured.

 

Why do I ask?

 

I need a number of independant separate pieces of information, all verifying the same or similar, so i can successfully put a case forward to CAMS Australia to allow the Z cars to have a more even footing on brakes, tyres, rims and bodywork, in comparison to aporsche cars allowances.

Thats why.

 

Peter Lang here in asustralia has been the most helpfull with suppirting documentation,

I am yet to get anything concrete out of anyone in the UK.

One would think it is a conspiracy theory and all secret squirrel getting info from varioys sources of expertise.

I am struggling on tjis one!

[HS30-H]

I have also recieved a four page spread from a British Classic Car magazine (year and month unknown) about the Production ZG that had wider rims, brakes G nose, Slan athomas gets a goid mention, along with the owner of the car featured.

 

Why do I ask?

 

I need a number of independant separate pieces of information, all verifying the same or similar, so i can successfully put a case forward to CAMS Australia to allow the Z cars to have a more even footing on brakes, tyres, rims and bodywork, in comparison to aporsche cars allowances.

Thats why.

 

With regard to the piece on the Fairlady 240ZG in Classic Cars Magazine ( it's the Sept. 2012 issue ) it's not going to help you with brakes or wheels, as the production model 'HS30-H' had exactly the same steel wheels and hubcaps and solid-rotor non vented two-pot front brake calipers as the other models in the S30-series Z range that were sold alongside it. It was built to homologate aero parts, not drivetrain parts. The car in the article received its wheel, tyre and brake upgrades well after it left the showroom. 

 

Peter Lang here in asustralia has been the most helpfull with suppirting documentation,

I am yet to get anything concrete out of anyone in the UK.

One would think it is a conspiracy theory and all secret squirrel getting info from varioys sources of expertise.

I am struggling on tjis one!

 

No offence, but haven't we been here before? Rather than any 'conspiracy', I think it's rather more likely that what you are looking for doesn't really exist in the form that you are hoping it will. For example, a few months back you were looking for data on S30-series Z cars racing in 1969, but none did. I guarantee that, so you can at least count on that as something 'concrete' out of someone in the UK...

 

I'd like to be able to help you, but if it didn't happen or didn't exist, or isn't eligible because CAMS won't accept it, then it's game over I'm afraid.

 

 

 

Spike Anderson and 'Samuri'? It's a good local story, but it was all too little and too late.

 

'boyblunda' I think your appraisal of the book, and the story, pretty much hits the nail on the head. There are still many people who have affection for the character, and he certainly punched above his weight for a while, but he seems to have been one of his own worst enemies. There were actually other companies ( Janspeed and Fourways Engineering to name just two ) who were building and racing Zs in the UK with some success at the same time as 'Samuri Conversions', but they didn't - still don't - get the press attention.

[dat2kman]

The British Classic Car article could be used in a case, simply by the way it has been written.

We are going to have to look in the period from 1970 to 1976.

 

The rally car program that Nissan undertook will /could add more information to support all this.

 

Anything that alludes to what may have been done, from various sources in various countries, collectively, just may give us a chance to get this up.

 

Let me say, Alan, the ability for Porsche MGB, and Morgan to get their "items" allowed, was somewhat dubious, but it succedded.

All i need is to throw a number of magazine articles, some Nissan information on rally cars as built, some copies of parts catalogues, some letters from Nissan, a number of photos of the day, and, request a formal review and we have a chance.

 

Any here in Aus who actually pissesses this book, please have a look through it, looking for reference to body kit, rims and brakes, and please pm me, with scans etc.

[Paulo]

I will go through my collection of Cars and Car Conversions for the years 1970 -76. There will have to be some articles in there - it's editor was the same Jeremy Walton that is mentioned as reviewing his Samuri for another magazine.

[boyblunda]

Dat2kman, I think the degree of technical support you might be looking for is best summarised in Paulo's opening post in this thread.

 

PM sent to you.

 

Best regards

Dave

[NZeder]

Jason,

 

Have a look at my introduction post on theroaringseason a guy from the south island has made a post might be good to pm him and see what info he can share given his connection to a now pasted famous Datsun Rally Driver RIP