Special thanks also goes to Nissan for making this vehicle available to us before the LA Auto Show this weekend. Below is some of the photos from the day, as well as some quick videos of the car.

And for those of you who asked (almost all).. the “weird black thing” in the center of the rear valance is the spot for the mandatory European fog light, but isn’t necessary for the U.S. so it’s simply blacked out.

EDIT:  Here are some interesting spec sheets and 350Z vs. 370Z comparison numbers we created for the mini-event.

Video: Walking around the 370Z

Video: Interior of the 370Z

Video:  Engine bay of the 370Z 3.7L

As I reminisce about my time on the rally a few thoughts cross my mind.  First, New Zealand is the most beautiful country in the world.  With everything from crystal clear ocean waters, to clouds lazily floating through the sky above lush green hill sides and farmlands.  There is no place in the world like it.  You could fill thousands of rolls of film, hundreds of memory cards, and dozens of photo albums and you will never be able to capture the true beauty of the country. 

Another fond memory that comes to mind is the people.  During the rally we meet a lot of people.  From young kids who can’t stop smiling when they see the GT to the good ole boys sitting on their porches as they smile and wave like school children when we rumble by, and especially the competitors.  I have been to many different forms of motor racing in my life and I have never seen such a friendly environment.  One of my favorite aspects of the rally has to be talking with other drivers.  Many times we found that the stages were a little delayed and the teams of volunteers (great groups of people in their own right) haven’t been able to funnel all of the cars through yet.  So, we jump out of the car, have a little chat, talk a little B.S. and meet new people.  Prior to one stage the owner of a 3 rotor RX7 actually took the time to open the hood on his car and tell me all about his race car.  New Zealand is home to the most car crazy people in the world, and some of the most friendly and hospitable people I have ever met.

As much as I love the country, the people, and the overall atmosphere, at the end of the day/week we were in a rally and nothing can beat that.  No experience in life can compare to flying through closed roads with a fire breathing 700 horsepower engine screaming right behind you, propelling you into the unknown.  One thing to keep in mind is that we don’t know these roads that we race on.  Sure, some of the roads are repeats from previous years but good luck trying to remember every part of it.  All you can do is put your faith in your driver and do your best to provide him or her with the information they need to get you both home safely, while still pushing hard for the win.  Then of course there is always the unknown.  What lies behind this left hand turn?  A cliff?  A car?  Maybe the roads have washed out?  Or worse yet, maybe there’s gravel strewn across the road?  The unknown is one of the most exhilarating aspects of the rally. 

I am extremely fortunate.  This year, I was able to do the rally with a man that is not only one of the greatest race car drivers… A man that has won numerous championships all around the world in many different forms of motorsport.  I was able to do the rally with my Dad.  Every son looks at their Dad as the “benchmark.”  How can you be better, faster, stronger, bigger… Whether it be a game of basketball, golf, hockey, or racing, every son thinks “I can’t wait til I can beat the old man!”  Well, after spending some time with my Dad in his element, I am pretty comfortable just learning, and seeing what I can pick up from him.  The videos you will soon see are very exciting, but they don’t show the whole story.  When we prepared the GT for the 2008 Targa we added an AP Racing rear big brake kit that moved the braking bias 2% to the rear of the car from the factory settings.  2% is pretty small and easily controllable and under normal even extreme conditions would not cause the car to spin or lose control.  Well, Steve Millen is a little different than most people.

About half way through the second day I started noticing that we were pushing harder, we were coming into corners a lot harder and faster and if the corner tightened up, the back end of the car seemed to quickly and abruptly turn in.  I started thinking about how or why that would happen.  Then I remembered the rear brakes were so much bigger.  In the middle of the stage I asked “Are you using the brakes to turn the back of the car?  Are you coming into these corners so hot that we’re just pushing through, then you brake a little harder to use the back brakes to turn the back of the car?”  In the most matter of fact way you could imagine I heard “Yep, these rear brakes and tires are really helping the back end.”  I was blown away.  In the few split seconds that we have in these corners he was actually able to figure out how to use the rear brakes to turn the back of the car without using too much pressure and spinning the car.  Rear braking is pretty common in forms of motorsport like rally racing or drifting but the main difference is that most of those cars are equipped to use the handbrake for the rear brakes… He never touched the handbrake!  All of his pressure application was done through the factory pedals that come in the car.

I know this blog post was extremely long and wordy but I can never fully explain the week I had in New Zealand.  The only way I can think to share my experience is to invite you down and live it for yourself.  The New Zealand Targa Rally is an unbelievable, unforgettable experience that every car guy should experience.  I can’t wait to see what Targa Newfoundland has in store for us.

The original posts from New Zealand as the event was taking place can be found here:

• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Preparation
• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Intro
• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Prologue Day
• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Update Day 1
• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Update Day 2
• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Update Day 3
• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Update Day 4
• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Update Day 5 (Results)
• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Wrap Up  [Current Selection]

More information and photos after the jump…

Look for a complete outline of the build to come soon, for now here are some photos from the GM Booth at SEMA, and the final build sheet.

Complete Build Sheet:

Exterior

• STILLEN Urethane Front Bumper Cover
• STILLEN Urethane Rockers
• STILLEN Urethane Roll Pan
• Street Scene Speed Grille Inserts – Gloss Black
• All Sales Billet Chevy Bowtie (Front/Rear)
• BASF R-M Carizzma Candy Apple Red Over Green Gold
• L&G Enterprises - Custom Paintwork

Performance

• Magnuson Products Radix Max MP 1900 TVS Supercharger System
• Magnaflow Performance Stainless Steel Dual Side Exit Exhaust System

Suspension

• McGaughy’s Suspension 3″ Front / 5″ Rear  Lowering Kit

Braking

• AP Racing Front 6-Piston Big Brake Kit
• Mintex Xtreme High Performance Brake Pads
• Goodridge Stainless Steel Brake Lines

Wheels/Tires

• KMC Wheels Dime 24″ Wheels
• Toyo Proxes S/T 295/35/24

Interior

• Katzkin Complete 2-Tone Full Leather Upgrade
• Rockford Fosgate Punch Series Component Speakers
• Rockford Fosgate Punch Series Amplifiers
• Rockford Fosgate Punch Series Subwoofers
• Rockford Fosgate Wiring Kit
• Visteon VNMC-1000 Touchscreen Integrated Multimedia Receiver
• N-Fab Rear View Mirror Camera System
• Gold Star Audio Installation
  • Audio Component Installation
  • Custom Subwoofer Enclosure

Make sure you check out the other two vehicles we built for 2008 SEMA!

• STILLEN 2009 Infiniti G37 Coupe (Infiniti Booth)
• STILLEN 2009 Nissan Maxima (Nissan Booth)

EDIT 11/19/08:  Pictures and Video of the 370Z are up as well.. CLICK HERE

more information, date, time and directions after the jump…

On Tuesday, November 18th from 12:00pm until 4:00pm, Nissan is bringing down the new 370Z for us to host a preview for our customers, and we invite you to come out and join us.

This is a unique opportunity to be one of the first to see a production-ready 370Z in person!

STILLEN
2010 Nissan 370Z Debut
11/18 - 12-4pm
3176 Airway Avenue
Costa Mesa, California 92626
714-540-5566

more information, build sheet, and photos after the jump…

We quickly got the vehicle into the urethane modeling shop and developed the Lip Spoiler for use with the Sport Model front fascia.  As always, components are build our of durable urethane, for OEM fitment and quality.

From there we worked on a rendering, including a 3-tone paint scheme utilizing some BASF R-M Carizzma paint to create a charcoal top with a red stripe on the factory silver paint.

While in the modeling shop we also created our signature Roof Wing, as well as a rear deck wing that covers the chrome strip and follows the contours of the vehicle.

Combined with the suspension goodies reknown from the R&D department at STILLEN, and some new performance items just released (like the STILLEN Generation 3 Ultra Long Tube Intake Kit), not only does this G37 Coupe look good, but it’s ready to hit the track.  Build sheet and products list below.  Look for more photos and studio shots soon.

Complete Build Sheet:

Exterior

• STILLEN G37 Coupe Urethane Front Lip Spoiler
• STILLEN G37 Coupe Grille - Urethane w/Speed Grille Mesh
• STILLEN G37 Coupe Urethane Roof Wing
• STILLEN G37 Coupe Urethane Rear Wing (Spoiler)
• BASF R-M Carizzma Charcoal & Cayenne Red Pearl Custom Paint
• Marcello MT-05 Platinum Silver w/Magnesium Black Lip 20″ Wheels
• Toyo Proxes T1R High Performance Tires

Performance

• STILLEN G37 Coupe Generation 3 Ultra Long Tube Intake Kit
• STILLEN G37 Coupe Stainless Steel Cat-Back Exhaust System
• STILLEN G37 Coupe High Flow Catalytic Converters (HFCs)
• STILLEN G37 Coupe Stainless Steel Coated Headers

Suspension

• STILLEN G37 Coupe Front & Rear Adjustable Sway Bars
• STILLEN G37 Coupe Rear Camber & Toe Arms
• Eibach G37 Coupe Pro-Kit Performance Lowering Springs

Brakes

• AP Racing G37 Coupe Front 6-Piston Big Brake Kit
• AP Racing G37 Coupe Rear 4-Piston Big Brake Kit

Interior

• Rockford Fosgate Components
  • Punch Series Component Speakers
  • Punch Series Amplifiers
  • Punch Series Subwoofers
  • Wiring Kit
• Gold Star Audio
  • Audio Component Installation
  • Custom Trunk Subwoofer Enclosure

Here is more information on the other two new vehicles we brought to this years SEMA Show:

• STILLEN 2009 Nissan Maxima (Nissan Booth)
• STILLEN 2008 Chevrolet Silverado (GM Booth) - Coming Soon!

more information and photos after the jump…

The Maxima is the featured vehicle of the Nissan booth (besides the unique Nissan Z Highboy with a Nissan powerplant installed).  A list of products installed on this Maxima are available HERE. Below is some photos from the booth.  Look for more photos and studio shots soon.

Here is more information on the other two new vehicles we brought to this years SEMA Show:

• STILLEN 2009 Infiniti G37 Coupe (Infiniti Booth)
• STILLEN 2008 Chevrolet Silverado (GM Booth) - Coming Soon!

Otherwise we could have left the Michelins on for the entire week and they would have been fine. They are an incredible tire.

We are proud to announce that we won many awards. Even though I had to hand over my seat as co-driver I was able to complete over 50% of the stages before getting out of the car. Which earned Dad and I the first father and son team. We also won first V8, and first Ford. Dad is pretty sure that we came in first in our class and we know that we came 8th overall.

If a few little things hadn’t happened we are confident that we would have had a top 5 finish. But, that’s racing and you just have to roll with it. At the end of the week we are very proud of our results and our entire team’s performance.

I am really tired so I’m going to keep this entry short but I will be writing a complete wrap-up of the week’s events soon.

Thanks!

Kyle

Other Targa Posts:

• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Preparation
• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Intro
• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Prologue Day
• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Update Day 1
• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Update Day 2
• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Update Day 3
• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Update Day 4
• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Update Day 5 (Results) [Current Selection]
• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Wrap Up  

I have relinquished my navigator duties to Conrad Healey. He has been involved in every Targa rally that my Dad has competed in since 2001 and is a great guy. Unfortunately my nerves/stomach couldn’t handle being a passenger on the rocket ship that is the NADA Guides Ford GT. It is truly incredible to ride in the car and the video’s speak for themselves. I can’t wait to get the cameras home so we can post them up for everyone to enjoy.

I made it through two stages in the morning but I just can’t do anymore…Last year the car had good brakes, good power, and decent acceleration but it had NO grip. This year it has AMAZING brakes, AWESOME power, UNBELIEVABLE acceleration and FANTASTIC grip. The two year preparation that went into the car is fantastic for the driver but absolute hell for the person hanging on in the passenger seat.

Many of the leaders have been experiencing troubles today. Joe McAndrew in the R34 Skyline went off and lost two minutes today. Richard Mason (current New Zealand World Rally Champion) also experienced a few hurdles which set him back. Some of the Subaru’s are starting to think they can fly, before realizing gravity always wins. A couple of the Porsche’s have been seen trying to turn themselves into tractors as they make their way through the paddocks. All in all it’s been a great day and the weather is still holding. However, tomorrow is expected to be rainy and cold…It wouldn’t be Targa without rain.

Final update and wrap up to come tomorrow!!!

Kyle Millen

Other Targa Posts:

• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Intro
• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Prologue Day
• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Update Day 1
• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Update Day 2
• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Update Day 3
• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Update Day 4 [Current Selection]
• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Update Day 5 (Results)
• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Wrap Up

EDIT 11/08/08:  View the STILLEN Maxima in the Nissan Booth at SEMA

So here’s the final info on the 2009 Nissan Maxima build:

More information and tons of photos after the jump…

The Maxima has been completed, and is prepared for the transport leaving tomorrow to take this car into the Nissan booth at the 2008 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.  For those of you attending, we hope you get a chance to stop in and see it.

Here is the gallery of images of the car just rolled out of the back of the warehouse, look for studio shots as soon as we can get it back from SEMA.

For the previous coverage of the Maxima, check out the other blog posts:

• 2009 Nissan Maxima SEMA Build - Part 1
• 2009 Nissan Maxima SEMA Build - Part 2
• EDIT: 11/8/09 - Maxima at the 2008 SEMA Show

To confirm the products being put into production:

• STILLEN 2009 Nissan Maxima Urethane Body Kit:
  • 2009 Nissan Maxima Lip Spoiler
  • 2009 Nissan Maxima Grille - Urethane Surround w/Speed Grille Mesh (Not completed for SEMA, but will be available soon after)
  • 2009 Nissan Maxima Side Skirts (Rockers)
  • 2009 Nissan Maxima Rear Wing (Spoiler)
  • 2009 Nissan Maxima Roof Wing
• STILLEN 2009 Nissan Maxima Intake Kit
• STILLEN 2009 Nissan Maxima Grounding Kit
• STILLEN 2009 Nissan Maxima Cat-Back Exhaust System
• STILLEN 2009 Nissan Maxima Sway Bars
• AP Racing 2009 Nissan Maxima Big Brake Kit
• AP Racing 2009 Nissan Maxima Cross-Drilled / Slotted Rotors
• Mintex Xtreme 2009 Nissan Maxima High Performance Brake Pads
• Goodridge 2009 Nissan Maxima Stainless Steel Brake Lines

Look for availability dates and pricing very soon.

Let us know what you think at info@stillen.com!

One thing I forgot to mention yesterday was the violence I experienced in the navigator seat.

I actually got physically ill on 2 stages and earned a new nick name…Ralph McPukin’…Courtesy of Mark Ungles…Thanks Mark! That little story actually made it into the “Targa Tales” that are handed out each morning. It was a good laugh.

The first stage was canceled because one of the rally cars went off-road and took out a power pole. Both the driver and co-driver were alright but they needed to close the roads to fix the power lines. From there we went to the second stage of the day and had a blast! These roads were the epitome of GT country! On the rally we have to deal with a 200 KPH (124.27 MPH) speed limit and we were constantly up against it. And guess what…WE GET TO USE 4TH GEAR NOW!!!! With the 3.9 gear ratio we are able to launch out of corners and accelerate to top speed, lightning quick. I constantly find myself telling Dad to watch his speed.

During the third stage of the day we experienced a few HARD hits…We bottomed out really hard twice and felt something give out in the right rear suspension. Unfortunately that was half way through the stage. So, Dad pulled over and we jumped out of the car to assess the situation, we saw that all 4 tires still had air so we jumped back in and took off. We limped out of the stage and back to service. Mark and Wayne quickly jumped under the car to find that the upper control arm had come loose. Fortunately the nut had stayed on so they fixed it up and the car was good again. Unfortunately…I wasn’t. Conrad Healey (our local guide/man in the know/team manager/you name it…) had to jump in the navigator seat for me to finish out the day.

No worries though, after today’s rest I’ll be good to go for the rest of the week. Conrad did great on the last few stages of the day but I can’t wait to get back in my seat. Dad and Conrad held on to our top ten results and we hope to move forward tomorrow!

Check back tomorrow for more photos and results. I’m going to bed as we need to wake up EARLY tomorrow. Tomorrow is a loooooong day.

Kyle Millen

Other Targa Posts:

• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Preparation
• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Intro
• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Prologue Day
• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Update Day 1
• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Update Day 2
• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Update Day 3  [Current Selection]
• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Update Day 4
• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Update Day 5 (Results)
• 2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand - Wrap Up