Racing History

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Revision as of 23:10, 24 November 2006

B110 (Sunny, aka Datsun 1200) Japan Racing Concise History
source: Sunny Owners Club.

November 23, 1970 Fuji Speedway 200

B110 Brilliant Debut!

Although sales of the 2nd generation Sunny (B110) started in January of 1970, the racing debut was in the 1970?11?23 Fuji Speedway 200 miles race. "TS" class race is the 1300cc class.

It didn't seem much of a threat to the Mazda Capella rotaries and the mighty Toyota KE Corollas, but when preliminary round ends, a drastic reversal of fortune was hinted at. Suzuki Makoto marked the time of 1:42:28 and took pole position. The crowd at large still expected the factory Toyotas would have the advantage, as they had dominated the Sunny B10s (Datsun 1000s).

On race day, in the first corner is was Corollas, 1 2 and 3. However, on the last corner, the Sunny slipped in and it was all over. Victory for Sunny!

October 9, 1971 Fuji Master 250 kilometer race

Cherry X Debuts (E10 FWD family - pulsar was the N10 member of Cherry series)

For some reason the Cherry X A12 engine was tuned to a higher level than in the Sunny 1200. Rather than the Weber carbs in the engine, Lucas fuel injection (from the GTR PGC10) was fitted. This was reported to delivered more torque than the carbed engine.

Injected A12

• TSA Class (1300cc) A12s were at 1270cc.

In the rain, the Cherry X went to head of the pack, with Suzuki's Sunny in 3rd nearly 30 seconds behind. The race ended:

1. Hiro Hase Cherry 2:13:18
2. Ichiro Tsujimoto Sunny 1200 coupe 2:13:50
3. Suzuki Makoto Sunny 1200 coupe 2:13:63
4. Black Genji Cherry 2:13:77
Suzuki ended the season as the TSA class champion.

May 3, 1972 1972 Japanese Grand Prix

Race of Negligent Destruction!
Debut of Sunny Excellent
The Excellent is the PB110 (L14-engined Sunny)

TSA class race Starting line accident

Toyota vs. Nissan -- woohoo!

In the TSA (Touring car) Class (1300-1600cc)

The Excellent L14 OHC engine was increased from the original 1428cc to 1598cc. With ECGI the highest output was said to be at least 160 horsepower. Unfortunately, the suspension hadn't been sorted out yet, also with a weight of 795kg it had a disadvantage.

1. Cicely 1600GT
2. Kenichi Takeshita Cicely 1600GT
3. Takahashi Corolla
4. Cicely 1600GT
5. Kitano Sunny Excellent

March 18, 1973 Grand Champion first race Fuji Speedway 300km race

Minor touring champion race
The field was 80% Sunny! The days of Sunny vs. Corolla are gone, now it's Sunny vs. Sunny. The qualifying race was held in the rain, where the FWD Cherry once again showed its strength.

The Sunny grille mask debuted here

Unexpectedly, race day had fair weather. The Cherry and Akiyama's Sunny sprint off at the signal. By turn one there was a bunch-up of Sunny's, including Tomei and Mecca cars.

1. Kenji Takahashi Tomei Special Sunny
2. ???? Pit Road Sunny coupe
3. ???? Cherry coupe
4. ????? Harada trading company Sunny
5. ???? Perfect processing Sunny

Other cars included the Turbo Tsuchiya Sunny, and the Kashima Sunny coupe.

November 24, 1973 Grand Champion fifth race Fuji Speedway Victory 200

Sunny is Defeated by DOHC Toyota
minor touring class

The day that lives in infamy, as the Sunny sweep comes to an end at the hands of the Toyota Starlet DOHC 4-valve engine.
Red Starlet leading Yellow Sunny
Note the blue cam cover. Nippondenso fuel injection. Dry sump oiling.
Note the 30-degree high bank track

Based on the Toyota 3K engine of 1166cc, engine was increased to 1293cc. The result? 180ps (hp) @ 9500 rpm. Torque 14.0 kg at 7000rpm. Starlet is fitted with front and rear spoilers, tubular a-arm suspension and a differential oil cooler. Although having a heavy weight of 717kg (about 100kg heavier than Sunny), with its power-to-weight ratio of 3.9kg/PS vs. the Sunny's 4.0kg/PS, the Starlet's perfomance was better.

1. Hisashi Toyota Starlet
2. ???? Toyota Starlet
3. Kenji Takahashi Technica Sunny
4. Hoshino Cherry coupe 1200XIR
5. Takatoshi Cherry coupe
6. Yutaka Masa Shibata Sunny 1200 coupe

May 10, 1979 Grand Champion Second race 1979 Fuji Speedway

Sunny technology has advanced

1. Osamu Sunny 31:49.29
2. Suzuki Megumi ADVAN starlet 31:49.44
3. Shibuya Tomei Sunny 31:50.65
4. Kenji Takahashi ADVAN Sunny 31:55.51

The injection-equipped Sunny did not show inferiority to the Starlet even on the straightaways, with only a 0.15 second finish difference .

March 29, 1980 Fuji 300

Of 21 entries, 12 were fuel-injected B110 Sunnys. Again, the 16-valve Starlets won the pole position. However, the over-head valve (OHV) Sunnys pull thier own. Some Sunnys were eliminted after experiencing injection pump, differential or electrical trouble. The winning Sunny exceeded 10,000 rpm.

Fuji Speedway Incorporated (FISCO) sponsor the race.

Oct 10, 1984 Minor touring race

B110's Last Race

After 12 years, the B110 Sunny races its last race.