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Technical Center North America. Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take pictures inside the facility but we found some time after the visit to take pictures outside. While in the facility, we had to leave our cell phones, cameras, camcorders, and other recording devices at the main security booth at the front entrance. Once inside, we hopped in Nissan vans to be taken on a tour of the facility including the high speed oval, marketability course, real-world street areas, corrosion testing areas, mud testing areas, water intrusion areas, hot weather testing areas, off-road areas, and other cool testing areas. After riding in the vans, we were allowed to take our cars on a parade drive through the facility as long as we followed Nissan escort vans. I was able to get my car up on the high speed oval and get the Z near the top of the banked oval. That was a total rush. We drove on this "parade" drive twice. Another cool thing that I got to try was to ride with a Nissan test driver. Mad Mike called me last night and told me that I was one of 9 drivers picked to be able to do the ride-along. I was the first driver to go on the ride-along. The Nissan engineer took me in a 370Z onto the marketability course with plenty of tight, technical turns, elevation changes, steady state skidpad, high speed braking areas, acceleration areas, and other areas consistent with typical road courses. There were sections duplicated from Willow Springs Raceway and Sears Point Raceway. That was a rush and I was lucky to be selected from all of the ZCON attendees. I will never forget that. Anyways... on to the pictures: 
It has been a long but outstanding week. My TT is back in the garage for some well-deserved shade. It was about 106 today in Stanfield, AZ where the Nissan Technical Center was located. I think that I am 4 shades darker now.
 
I eat rice, I don't put rice on my car!
sig quote by AEFL92, "you're not a pic whore...you're a pic pornstar..." |
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More pic whoring from ZCON. Some pics from the Nissan - 
