Each year Z1 Motorsports graciously hosts a celebration of all things Nissan automotive at their location in Carrollton, GA just outside suburban Atlanta.
One of the Many GTR's That Participated in the 2011 Z Nationals Track Day (1920x1200)
A visceral multi-day experience that encompasses an ever expanding array of Nissan show cars and a comprehensive track-day designed to entertain and improve driver skill. An all encompassing weekend long event, the Z Nationals also incorporated a wide array social gatherings that allow the enthusiast community to meet and interact on a personal level not often afforded throughout the rest of the year. Through the course of the past seven years, the Z Nationals has developed into a premier enthusiast event greatly respected and looked forward to throughout the south-east and beyond.
Saturday’s car show was no exception in terms of quality, comfort or participation, boasting the highest attendance to date; in excess of 1,000 attendees. Spread across the broad Z1 campus and under the crisp nearly cloud free early Autumn skies there existed a shimmering sea of modified Nissans and Infiniti’s all on display for public consumption. The theme of the day being good food, good times and an unparalleled comraudery in a common passion.
Sunday’s track day built upon the success of Saturday’s show and marked a notable venue change from years previous. Gone was the agrarian Talladega circuit and in its place we found the massive, banked and awe-inspiring Atlanta Motor Speedway. Broken up into sessions and classes the sights and sounds of a pantheon of Z’s, G’s and GTR’s making their way around the banked corners and infield circuit permeated the air in a cacophony of sounds and smells unparalleled in the average enthusiast’s driving experience. To say the 2011 track day was a success doesn’t do it justice, the weather was perfect and the event exceedingly well orchestrated allowing all participants amply track and prep time.
A native of Tampa, FL Robert is the presiding editor and co-owner of both Down Shift Magazine and DS Holdings, LLC. A proud alumnus of the University of South Florida’s class of 2005 Robert is active in the Tampa Bay community and when not residing at his home in Tampa, FL enjoys traveling throughout the United States and abroad covering the motorsports and cultural phenomenon that shape our modern automotive enthusiast community.
