I got to play with the BRE cars

[metalmonkey47]

Yep, back in October I got to play with the BRE triplets at Road Atlanta.

Not so much in the 'toy' sense, basically I got a unique opportunity by Nissan to photograph these iconic cars on Road Atlanta, where they once dominated.

Every year, the company I work for (Z1 Motorsports) holds an event called Z Nationals that is basically a multi-day event that pays homage to the history of the Z car. We generally do a track day, and a car show. This year Nissan Motorsports came through for us and unlocked the Heritage Collection, bringing out semi-truck loads of iconic Nissan race cars, including my favorites here. We had access to the BRE 510 along with their LMP1 car, Bob Sharp ZX, and a few others. We also had the 370Z Tribute car that you may have seen photographed on Road Atlanta many years ago, although I assume no one here cares much for that. 

In addition, we had Randy Jaffe's BRE 240Z Tribute. I use the term tribute very lightly because this car is actually the re-embodied original BRE 240Z that was crashed in the 70's. It contains all of the original parts from the car John Morton raced, down to the roll cage. They have been transplanted into this new body and driven by John at Laguna Seca just a few months ago. It is the closest the world will ever get to seeing the original BRE 240Z.

 

DSC_4425.jpg by Matt Yates, on Flickr

 

DSC_4421.jpg by Matt Yates, on Flickr

 

DSC_4417.jpg by Matt Yates, on Flickr

 

DSC_4413.jpg by Matt Yates, on Flickr

 

DSC_4435.jpg by Matt Yates, on Flickr

 

DSC_4443.jpg by Matt Yates, on Flickr

 

DSC_4444.jpg by Matt Yates, on Flickr

 

DSC_4543.jpg by Matt Yates, on Flickr

 

DSC_4631.jpg by Matt Yates, on Flickr

 

DSC_4491.jpg by Matt Yates, on Flickr

[metalmonkey47]

We shut down Road Atlanta for about 45 minutes photographing a few sets of cars and filming them (we had a hell of a film crew there this year, lots of cool BRE footage to see soon). 

 

There are some photos I've heavily edited (a little cinematic for fun), and a few quick snaps I figured you guys would enjoy seeing.

DSC_4612.jpg by Matt Yates, on Flickr

 

DSC_4659.jpg by Matt Yates, on Flickr

 

DSC_4702.jpg by Matt Yates, on Flickr

 

DSC_4702-2.jpg by Matt Yates, on Flickr

 

DSC_5164.jpg by Matt Yates, on Flickr

 

ZNats-5110 by Matt Yates, on Flickr

[Spiff]

very nice!

[racerx]

Dang! lucky guy.

[tr8er]

Finally you post these...

 

Very nice!

[metalmonkey47]

Finally you post these...

 

Very nice!

Been sitting on them long enough, decided it was time to share.

[]2eDeYe]

Badass! Thanks for sharing :cool: 

[Ranman72]

so awesome 

thanks for sharing 

[paradime]

                                                                                        :hyper:

[metalmonkey47]

Just in case you've ever wondered what these cars sound like, here are two clips I recorded at Festivals of Speed here in Atlanta a few months back. Not exactly studio quality and a little shaky. but you get the idea.

 

 

[Ranman72]

those cars were definably made for speed not cruising 

I got to see the z at the Peterson museum in la at one of the shows there

the video doesn't do the sound justice but you do get the idea  

[edekalil]

nice!