Japan bound

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Aloha folks,

I have been out of the net and going through some heavy life changes in the last year. I retired from the military and have been working for the same as a government civilian for the past few months. During my temporary duty and traveling I was offered and accepted a job in Japan so the Z will be moving with me. I am scrambling to finish it and get it running in the next few weeks so I can ship it. I'll try to learn the language and culture so I am meet up with our brothers there and do some "touring" as they call it. It was an offer I could not refuse and I plan to be there for 5 years, but I think I will remain as "HAWAIIZR-1" since this is home and I have return rights to my current job when my tour is over.

Anyway, I'll still be in touch off and on and will try to keep in touch. My reporting date is in March.

Craig

[Pete]

H Craig
How much more you have on your Z.

Good luck with the new job.

Pete

[A26B]

Hi Craig,

Congratulation are in order I assume. You have my very best wishes for a speedy & uneventful completion of your ZR-1.

Please try to visit us as often as you can!

[GrayZ]

Here is how to say diaper in japanese:
Japanese symbols : 御襁褓
Meanings : diaper
Kana reading: おむつ
Romaji reading (pronunciation): omutsu


Craig,
wow, what a move. I truly wish you all the best, enjoy yourself over there, I'm green with envy, what an adventure.
I'm certain that you will succeed in any place you go, good things happend to good people. Stay in touch, I hope to see you again at a gathering,
so we can take another, spirited ride through the Kentucky hills, obeying all posted speed limits signs. ahmmm...kinda. http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/kmoudy/cartoons/drive.gif

take care of yourself, my friend.

Keith

[sammy]

craig best of luck.its not a bad place once you learn the lingo .thanx for those great cookies and all your fine posts . enjoy .bradley

[rhipsher]

I hear asian weman like american guys over there if you know what I mean. wink wink:p

[ZZZZZR1]

Wow Craig!!!!


Congrats! From what you said there are many Z owners in Japan as well!!!!


We want lots of pictures!!!!

:cheers:

David

[todesengel]

I used to spend one week a month there with my last business. It wasn't my cup of tea, but it may be perfect for you.

You wont need your car much, public transportation rocks there.

Don't get run over by a hello kitty taxi!

[FU]

That sounds very exciting Craig. Good for you I wish you luck. be sure to stay in touch :handshak:

[Scrrem]

Congrat Craig,
Please keep in touch on the forum, let us know how things are going. I was hoping to see that Z on my next trip to HI, oh well, we have a site in Yokota, will that be close to you?
Rich

[ScottZ95ZR1]

Congrats and best wishes in your new job and move.

Looking forward to hearing you've got that beast back on the road! :cheers:

[Locobob]

Good for you Craig, should be a fun adventure. While you are over there you should look into importing some of those cool Z mods our Japanese counterparts have been creating.

[GOLDCYLON]

Congrats and best wishes in your new job and move.

Looking forward to hearing you've got that beast back on the road! :cheers:


X2 good luck to you Craig ! ! :)

[Jagdpanzer]

Craig,
Best of luck on your adventure to the Land of the Rising Sun.
They drive on the "British" side of the road there so don't forget to watch out for left-hand traffic.
....and we will be looking forward to hearing about the ricer kills you rack up with your American LT5 muscle.:flag:

[secondchance]

Terrific! I hope you get PX privilages. Gas is very expensive in that part of the world.
Congratulations and hope to continue to see you on the forum.

[rogerzr1]

Congrats Craig. Sounds like a cool adventure!!!!

[Coupe89]

Hey Craig,

It was nice meeting you on the rock.
Maybe we can hookup if you come back. :cheers:

[Z Factor]

I have no idea what living in Japan might be like, but as you know I've been in your neck of the woods several times. Considering how great Hawaii is, you might find yourself homesick before long.

Heres hoping you have a great time, and make sure to have one of your last dinners in Oahu at Sarento's on top of the Ilikai.

http://www.tristarrestaurants.com/sarentos_top_of_i/

Also make sure to encourage our Japanese brethren like Mad Vette to visit the forum more often.

:cheers:

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Thanks for all the replies and wishes. I'll try to answer some or most of the questions in this post. I have been gearing up for this for a few years as you know and started conversion to the Z even before knowing the dream would come true. The only thing I have not done is the C5 mirrors as I'm waiting for some wiring assistance from Chris Petris that is helping me out. I am going to try to pass the inspection without and see that the Z brothers there have not US specs and I believe payoff someone to pass.

What I have left to do is is install and degree the cams and it will be a challenge with the motor in the car, but no time to pull. I would just pin them but having Stage 1 camshafts and the other side degreed I will make it happen and have a plan figured out. I'm going full throttle on it this weekend since I go back for 4 days next week and lose another weekend before my final move in March.

Keith, I'm impressed with your Japanese and will check the diapers for you in Japan. The women in Japan do like gaijin (foreigners), but they like the caucasian guys; unfortunately I look more like the locals so I'm screwed in that department. There are supposed to be about 30 ZR-1s in Japan and will try to meet up since MadVette is the President of that organization and we just met in Yokohama when I was there in Dec; one ZR-1 drove up from Tokyo and the other from Nagano area and frequents this site too.

Rich, Yokota AB appears to be about 3 hours away from where I will be but nothing but a drive. Yes, these guys develop a lot of custom stuff like all the carbon fiber parts that MADVETTE had done for his or the frame brace or computer controlled shocks, etc. Speaking of racing the ricers they are pretty fast and just the other week while I was there I was sleeping on the bus from the airport when a loud something blew by the bus so I woke up to see what the heck and another one blasts by and I could not even tell what it was. Some of these guys are very serious about speed and cold care less about show. I can't wait to go to the Tokyo Auto Salon http://www.e-autosalon.net/en/index.html that I missed since I had to work that weekend while I was there. Yun, yeah I'm retired so no issues with PX priveleges and civilians also get them even if not retired since overseas. They sell gas at my job site and it is a good savings compared to outside by the liter. I'm going to try to visit some of the nice restaurants here before I leave, but will be back in Hawaii at least once a year to see family and check on the house, etc. The food and service is just awesome in Japan and I would have to say best in the world from my own experience only. MADVETTE is very busy with his business and I think is going to buy the C6 ZR-1, but I don't think he will give up on his C4 ZR-1.

I'll surely try to keep in touch with this brotherhood as the internet is the world wide web and available everywhere. I have told the guy there that we should plan a trip to the ZR-1 Gathering and we'll see how that goes.
Anyway, thanks again for the wishes. Take care and Aloha (Sayonara),
Craig

[RICKYRJ1]

Hey Craig, still need to keep in contact with you, your my mod brother!:handshak:

[tomtom72]

Wow Craig, this sounds like a great opportunity for you. I hope everything goes smooth for you in your new job! :handshak:

Also, I hope the Z goes back together smoothly....no surprises! Just be careful driving on the wrong side of the road over there! :mrgreen:

Take this one for the road!
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc123/tomZR1/20thGathering151.jpg

:cheers:
Tom

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Hey Craig, still need to keep in contact with you, your my mod brother!:handshak:

Ricky, you know I will have you in mind when I see all the modded cars over there and we'll share some ideas for sure. You are the King of mods though...................I'm just your disciple.:cheers:

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Wow Craig, this sounds like a great opportunity for you. I hope everything goes smooth for you in your new job! :handshak:

Also, I hope the Z goes back together smoothly....no surprises! Just be careful driving on the wrong side of the road over there! :mrgreen:

Take this one for the road!
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc123/tomZR1/20thGathering151.jpg

:cheers:
Tom

Tom,

Thanks so much and I forgot all about that picture........are you trying to make me famous? Yeah, I just know I'm going to drive on the wrong side of the road a few times. Aloha!!!!!

[tomtom72]

:o I'm not paying attention most of the time! I forgot the link to that picture, sorry Craig!

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc123/tomZR1/20thGathering151.jpg

I hope I did that correctly so you can take a copy if you like? :icon_scra

Famous?! You are famous already Craig! Just look at all the stuff you did to your Z....jez, that car & your working alone & the results of your work are my inspiration to keep on top of mine. There a few of us who are "out in the cold by ourselves" in as much as we are not near any of the really organized local groups. Geographic luck of the draw! Craig, you are proof that where there is a desire, there is a solution!:handshak:

You want to see a funny picture of a guy pointing to his brick? I have one of my CT bro Lou pointing to his brick; he bought it back when the NCM first opened & at the 20th it was the first time he ever saw it!

[HIZNHRZ]

Craig, congrats on the new job and opportunity. Wish you all the best.

I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of your work. You've got to finish that beast and post lots of pictures before you leave so we can give you a proper send off!

[Hammer]

Craig,
Hope everything works out great for you over there. It's been great getting to know you and then riding around with you at the Gathering this year. I certainly enjoyed it.
John

[HAWAIIZR-1]

:o I'm not paying attention most of the time! I forgot the link to that picture, sorry Craig!

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc123/tomZR1/20thGathering151.jpg

I hope I did that correctly so you can take a copy if you like? :icon_scra

Famous?! You are famous already Craig! Just look at all the stuff you did to your Z....jez, that car & your working alone & the results of your work are my inspiration to keep on top of mine. There a few of us who are "out in the cold by ourselves" in as much as we are not near any of the really organized local groups. Geographic luck of the draw! Craig, you are proof that where there is a desire, there is a solution!:handshak:

You want to see a funny picture of a guy pointing to his brick? I have one of my CT bro Lou pointing to his brick; he bought it back when the NCM first opened & at the 20th it was the first time he ever saw it!

Hey Tom,

I really appreciate the photo and kind words. Yes, life with the Z has been a challenge working on it alone; at least there was a friend I met through here that has an LT1, but is very smart and with an interest in the Z helping me at some critical times like today when I will degree in the right side cams in with the motor in the car. I could not make a single ZR-1 friend on this little island, but made some great friends on this site and while attending the Gatherings. That is a funny story about Lou and I believe I have photos of both of you too. I'll be in another part of the world, but will still be here. Take care and hope to see you at another Gathering in the future.

Aloha,

Craig

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Craig, congrats on the new job and opportunity. Wish you all the best.

I'm looking forward to seeing pictures of your work. You've got to finish that beast and post lots of pictures before you leave so we can give you a proper send off!

Scott,

Thanks, it means a lot and we (my wife and I) are so excited about this opportunity.

I'll try to post when I can get some good photos outside of the garage where the Z has sat for so many years on stands. I really want to take the Z to Punchbowl where it is scenic and I can tribute the Z to all the great veterans that lay resting there. I hope to have this Z running in a few weeks so I can break it in before shipping it off.

Here is a taste of a recent mod to prep for my journey:

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j86/hawaiizr1/DSC03165.jpg

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j86/hawaiizr1/DSC03161.jpg

Porsche side marker/turn signals with LED bulbs to help me pass the Syaken system for registration there.

Aloha!!!

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Craig,
Hope everything works out great for you over there. It's been great getting to know you and then riding around with you at the Gathering this year. I certainly enjoyed it.
John

Thanks John, I really appreciate it and same here with getting to know you too. I hope to make a Gathering from the "Land of the Rising Sun" and maybe bring some of the Z brothers with me. I'll be in touch here.

Take care,

Craig

[flyin ryan]

Take care Craig & be good :cheers:.

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Take care Craig & be good :cheers:.

Thanks Ryan; your jokes and other emails will keep me smiling...................

[-=Jeff=-]

Craig,

good luck on your journey to Japan, I have been to Japan twice ( both 1 week trips). different place.

Also when you do the Mirror mod could you post some pictures of them? curious to see how they look

[HAWAIIZR-1]

Craig,

good luck on your journey to Japan, I have been to Japan twice ( both 1 week trips). different place.

Also when you do the Mirror mod could you post some pictures of them? curious to see how they look


Jeff,

Thanks for your thoughts. My trip this week will be about my 8th time and l loved every trip. I have truly been blessed with opportunites in my life.

I surely will keep you posted and remembered your interest. I test fitted the mounted to the body and no issue as well as the wires to the terminal to splice. My plan is to convert the connector so it will be easy to reverse if desired.

Aloha,

Craig