09/14/2021
This post requires a little background. If you know the Z-car you know about Mr K. If it's all new to you, Yutaka Katayama (片山 豊, Katayama Yutaka, born Yutaka Asoh; 15 September 1909 – 19 February 2015), also known as Mr. K, was a Japanese automotive executive who was employed by Nissan and served as the first president of Nissan Motor Corporation U.S.A. Katayama expanded Nissan's focus from economy vehicles towards sportier vehicles, and is regarded by Datsun/Nissan Z Car enthusiasts as the father of the Z-Car, as well as the Datsun 510. For more history about Mr. K check out this link http://www.speedhunters.com/2019/10/mr-ks-personal-240z/
Nissan brought Mr K.s Z car to the recent ZCON Convention and car show in Colorado Springs, the show we just got back from. The young team assigned to transport and stage the car clearly had little to no experience with carburation, much less at elevation. They just couldn't start the car. Duane walked over the first night the car was displayed, asked if he could help them, got into Mr K's car, started it and then drove it to the transport trailer for them. Soon history would repeat itself, the next night the crew couldn't start the car and again Duane went over and got Mr K.'s car running for them. What a thrill to drive this piece of Z history. When you see Duane ask him about it.
