How a $300 Datsun 510 Became a Legendary Racer: The Unbelievable Journey
June 4, 1972, Mid-Ohio. Thirty minutes before the 2.5 Challenge Trans Am Series race, and our Different Drummer Racing Datsun 510 was jacked up with an oil-leaking gearbox lying beside it. My volunteer crew and I were in a mad rush to replace it with a four-speed transmission kindly lent by dealer/racer George Alderman. Scrambling across the paddock, I hooked it up just in time. We hadn't even qualified for the race, yet hope ignited against all odds.
In the Heat of Battle
Enter our very first professional 2.5 Series race at Lime Rock Park, Connecticut. I was new to the track, and a ripped-off exhaust system cost us crucial laps—we finished a frustrating 12th. Redemption came at Donnybrooke, Minnesota, where the now-reliable Datsun 510 earned us a win in the B-Sedan class during a marathon 500-mile endurance race. Buoyed by that victory, I left the 510 untouched on the trailer, confident for the next challenge.
The Arrival Drama
My '69 Chevy Suburban tow vehicle crumbled under pressure, its fuel pump failing en route to Mid-Ohio. Missing two practice sessions, we were allowed to start at the back if we clocked five laps in the warm-up. We did, but the broken transmission left a trail of blue smoke. Against the odds, we replaced it within an hour, lined up last, and the race began.
From Behind the Pack
The green flag waved, and as I hit Turn 1, oil sprayed across my windshield from a blown engine ahead. Mid-Ohio is a handling course, and our 510 hugged the corners beautifully, allowing me to overtake cars despite the greasy chaos. The newly resurfaced track made driving off the racing line treacherous, with loose stones turning it into a precarious obstacle course. But the 510 was in its element.
A Leap of Faith
In early 1971, the decision to buy a used 1969 Datsun 510 for $300 was almost an act of desperation. Financial constraints narrowed my options, and the Datsun, despite its low power and tinny construction, was a feasible choice. Leo Adler Datsun's support, albeit limited to parts at cost and storage, was a godsend. Over time, the car evolved from a street machine to a track beast, competing staunchly in SCCA Regional and National races.
Rising Through the Ranks
My journey wasn't without hiccups. During my racing school at Grattan, Michigan, the 510 nearly tipped over, earning laughs from instructors but securing me a necessary pass. With persistence, significant improvements, and the aid of a lease-driving friend, the 510 transformed into a competitive racer. By the time we reached the Mid-Ohio race of 1972, we were a team to be reckoned with.
The Climax
Driving hard in the Mid-Ohio Trans Am race, we defied expectations. My aggressive yet tactically aware driving landed us in a shocking 7th place, winning $300. John Morton's overheating issues and Peter Gregg's BRE guest 510 victory overshadowed our performance slightly, but for us, it was a monumental achievement.
A Glance Back
The joy of a racer's life is interlaced with mechanical woes and wild triumphs. After celebrating our unexpected result and returning the borrowed transmission, exhaustion mingled with euphoria—a feeling every racer knows well. This journey, from a $300 buy to a formidable competitor, encapsulates the essence of grassroots racing.
Stay tuned for part two of this riveting saga.
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