Powerhouse in Nissan performance to field drift 'Z'
N.Y. dealership's D1 Grand Prix mission: study the best drivers and machines
Using expertise gleaned from their Nissan race cars, like this twin-turbocharged drag racing machine (shown above in an artist's rendering), Performance Motorsport is at work on a 350Z for drift exhibitions and car shows in New York and New Jersey.
Long Island, N.Y. (Jan. 26) -- Strategists at two longtime East Coast Nissan dealerships are so sure that drifting is the bold new frontier in motorsports, they're making a pilgrimage to the D1 Grand Prix season opener to catch the ultimate in drifting style and skill.
"We are planning to bring this exciting sport to the northeast in a big way," says Dan Ziegler, who directs marketing and motorsports at Smithtown Nissan and Westbury Nissan in Long Island, New York. The Rubio family has been with Nissan for more than four decades and has capitalized on the performance niche. Their Performance Motorsport arm consists of an import tuning shop, drag racing organization and re-styling operations. In November, a web site was launched for Nissan enthusiasts and racers -- http://www.TheExperience.com
Ziegler and Gary Rubio, president of Smithtown Nissan and a CART division driver for years, are directing the transformation of a 350Z drag machine into a drift car for drifting exhibitions and car shows in New York and New Jersey.
Owning several Nissan dealerships and racing professionally has allowed me to spend many hours under the hood of some of the world's most advanced automobiles, said Rubio, president of Performance Motorsport. I have seen the power our 350Z can handle.
Notes Ziegler: "During the 2003 season we ran a 350Z drag car. Well, after running a 300 shot of NOS on a stock engine and crossing the line at a record speed of 11.38 (seconds) at over 119 mph in the quarter-mile, we knew the VQ35 could take a lot of abuse."
The car is being converted to drifting and will feature a Power Enterprises twin-turbo/NX nitrous system. Ziegler, who also manages Internet sales for the Long Island dealerships, adds: "We have decided to enter the PRO class of import drag racing this year at NDRA, IDRC and NHRA events with a Nissan 350Z. We are the future _focusing on the import lifestyle, import tuning, import drag and import drifting."
N.Y. dealership's D1 Grand Prix mission: study the best drivers and machines
Using expertise gleaned from their Nissan race cars, like this twin-turbocharged drag racing machine (shown above in an artist's rendering), Performance Motorsport is at work on a 350Z for drift exhibitions and car shows in New York and New Jersey.
Long Island, N.Y. (Jan. 26) -- Strategists at two longtime East Coast Nissan dealerships are so sure that drifting is the bold new frontier in motorsports, they're making a pilgrimage to the D1 Grand Prix season opener to catch the ultimate in drifting style and skill.
"We are planning to bring this exciting sport to the northeast in a big way," says Dan Ziegler, who directs marketing and motorsports at Smithtown Nissan and Westbury Nissan in Long Island, New York. The Rubio family has been with Nissan for more than four decades and has capitalized on the performance niche. Their Performance Motorsport arm consists of an import tuning shop, drag racing organization and re-styling operations. In November, a web site was launched for Nissan enthusiasts and racers -- http://www.TheExperience.com
Ziegler and Gary Rubio, president of Smithtown Nissan and a CART division driver for years, are directing the transformation of a 350Z drag machine into a drift car for drifting exhibitions and car shows in New York and New Jersey.
Owning several Nissan dealerships and racing professionally has allowed me to spend many hours under the hood of some of the world's most advanced automobiles, said Rubio, president of Performance Motorsport. I have seen the power our 350Z can handle.
Notes Ziegler: "During the 2003 season we ran a 350Z drag car. Well, after running a 300 shot of NOS on a stock engine and crossing the line at a record speed of 11.38 (seconds) at over 119 mph in the quarter-mile, we knew the VQ35 could take a lot of abuse."
The car is being converted to drifting and will feature a Power Enterprises twin-turbo/NX nitrous system. Ziegler, who also manages Internet sales for the Long Island dealerships, adds: "We have decided to enter the PRO class of import drag racing this year at NDRA, IDRC and NHRA events with a Nissan 350Z. We are the future _focusing on the import lifestyle, import tuning, import drag and import drifting."
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