First Post

Welcome to my blog! 

Thank you for checking us out and for your support! This blog is dedicated to my 1973 Datsun 510, Sheena. Here I will layout all the details of the build- from the very beginning to the current. Here is a little about my beginning with the car and a little bit about myself. 

I was born in Des Moines, IA and have been here ever since. I actually am a fan of my city; it has grown over the past several years and offers a lot more opportunities now than it did. There isn't anything offered in the car scene though. There are car cliques, street racing, different groups, and events. Any form of 'fun' is typically done at your own risk, mostly on private property or on the streets at night. It makes drifting in particular a question of if you feel like breaking the law or not. I'm hoping someday there will be a track for the car scene around here so practice and performing can be done legally and hopefully a lot more safer.

I was first introduced to drifting by my partner with his 240sx. It was an electrifying experience that ignited a spark of interest within me. This lead to the purchase of a cheap starter budget car. Something that I could learn the basics of drifting with and not care about the consequences of making a mistake. After a year of practice, I found myself determined to get more serious with drifting. I was positive that it was time for a change in my life. Something different than your normal drift vehicle would be nice. 

From early on, I've been a fan of older Japanese imports. Something about classic boxy styling just appeals to me. Naturally, I found myself in love with the Datsun 510. Not only do I like the looks, but I also admire the racing background and heritage of the chassis. This got me thinking, why not drift a 510? Investing time in a car that I truly admire is important to me. I wanted to see this car in my life for a very long time, so I knew I needed to pursue a car that I absolutely wanted.

The search began. Since this was going to be a car that I would indeed drift, I avoided pristine listings. Didn't want something that was 'too nice', but wanted something that was still pretty damn good. There were a few I had found, but distance was an issue. Buying a car so far away made me nervous and feel obligated to purchase, especially with all the expenses of traveling to see it. "What if it was in poor condition in person?" "Do I just go home empty-handed?" There was nothing offered in the Midwest, mainly just the West Coast and surrounding areas. It wasn't until a year into my search that my dad came across an ad he found on craigslist.There it was. A beautiful rolling shell in my price range, it came with a few extra goodies and was still for sale. How did I manage to miss this? I looked at the location and found out why. It was 1,100 miles away in Alamogordo, New Mexico.

You see, I wasn't a huge fan of risk taking. I'm more of a calculated individual who doesn't like to be outside their comfort zone very much. That is until, I first tried drifting. It was like nothing I've ever experienced before. It felt so compelling and captivating, that I decided I want to be part of the fun. It had a tremendous impact on my life and in all seriousness, changed it forever. Corny, I know, but it really did! I've always been content with my life. But in all honesty, it lacked adventure.

*Deep breath* I decided to take the plunge and go for it. What do I have to lose? Money? Perhaps. I imagined the memories that could be made from just the adventure of going down there and checking it out. There could be so many more exciting adventures that could come from it. I was pumped. I messaged the seller and asked if it was still available. It was, but was being held for another person at the moment. They were set to come down over the weekend and take a look, possibly buy. I didn't hear anything about how it went, so on Monday, I emailed asking if it was still available. It was! I inquired if he would be fine with holding the car for me and even offered to send money to show I was serious. He agreed he would hold it for me; no money required. I'd only be able to come down during the weekend, which was almost a week away. During that time, I was a nervous wreck. Doubts, 'what if's' and fears clouded my thoughts. Did I mention I am afraid of long distance travel? Oh, what a weekend it was set to be. 

When Friday finally approached, my partner and I packed everything up and rented a trailer from our local U-Haul. Everything was set to go. Moments after picking up the trailer, our vehicle started to overheat. Luckily it happened before we traveled 1.1k miles. I could only image how much of a nightmare it could have been if this happened halfway through our journey. Thankfully, we were able to borrow his father's truck for the trip.  It was on our 2.5 year anniversary that we started the trek and celebrated that night counting our blessings and eating Sonic's. Romantic, huh? I wouldn't have it any other way.

I ended up getting a pinched nerve in my neck as we left. It would make driving very interesting over the next few days.We made a stop that night in Wichita, KS and stayed in a local suite. It was like a mini apartment. Didn't get to enjoy it much since we arrived late and began early the next morning on our way. 

I have never really seen a desert before. Or even a tumbleweed. I got to experience the new kind of scenery and road conditions for the first time on the quest to New Mexico. 

We made it down to Alamogordo on Saturday night, just as the sun was setting. 

I looked over the car and it looked even better in person. After thanking the seller for holding it, we loaded her up and began our trip back home. 

First official picture with Sheena!

The whole way I couldn't help but look in the rear view mirror and smile . There really was a 510 on the trailer! We made a stop outside of Texas for the night and tried to rest up for the next day of driving. As we left that part of town, we saw "Mator" (from the movie Cars) outside a local shop. I couldn't help but to pull over and take a picture with him. 

We finally arrived home Monday morning at around 1:30 am. 2,200 miles in less than 3 days, what an adventure. I look forward to the many more adventures to come, all thanks to a chance that I took.

I am currently still in the process of the build. I have more things left to do before it is ready to drive. There has been a lot of work that has already gone into this project, and still a lot more to go. I just wanted to share my story of how and why I chose the car I did, and what it means to me. I also look forward to more posts and hope that sharing my build will help or enlighten anyone who may have questions about it. 

"The beginning is the most important part of the work."

-Plato