There was a special treat at GRIDLIFE West yesterday. Actually, a few special treats, all of them of the Nissan variety. I got up close and personal with the new Nissan Z, met the ridiculous Altimaniac drift taxi, and saw them alongside two race-built 370Zs on track at Willow Springs Horse Thief mile. That doesn’t happen every day, does it?
March 26, 2021 Car Autance Feature Photo Details
Car(s): Nissan Z Proto, Altimaniac, CF Racing 370ZTT practice drift car, CF Racing GLTZ 370Z grip car driven by Bryan Heitkotter
Location: Willow Springs Horse Thief Mile, Rosamond, CA
Photog: Chris Rosales (Instagram + Twitter: @Chrishasacamera)
Camera: Canon 5D Mark III w/ 70-200mm f/2.8L
I came out to this GRIDLIFE event on a whim. My esteemed compatriot Peter Nelson was driving his Mazda 2 at the event, and I decided to go check it out and get some shots of the Mazda zipping around the track. I’d never been to a GRIDLIFE event before, and I didn’t expect much from this invite-only, quiet event in the era of COVID.
I arrived, as I do most weekends, at the gate of Willow Springs Raceway. I expected a track day with a few cool time attack cars, maybe some full-fledged machines having fun. What I did not expect was the immediately see a posse of Nissans travelling towards Horse Thief Mile, with the new Nissan Z Proto amongst them. I did a full double take, and set off in gliding pursuit in my Subaru Outback.
I followed them up to the track, and I immediately hopped out and set off into the infield, blending in with the media at the event. Luckily, this event didn’t require hi-vis vests to be worn, so I could roam freely and snap away. As they formed up to get the Nissan PR money shot, I lined this bad boy up and fired away.
Oh, and don’t worry, this won’t be the last photo you see from GRIDLIFE West.
As big as we could get this one:
