The Datsun Deities and the People who Worship Them

By Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady

Mr.K-Yutaka Katayama, who is affectionately called “Mr.K.” has a simple life philosophy: Love cars, love people, love life.

Born in 1909 in a remote Japanese village in the shadow of Mount Akiba, home of a God of Fire, he has become a legend for setting things on “fire” wherever he goes.

Mr. K had a radical idea for a sports car when he served as President of Nissan USA from 1965-1974. He saw America’s need for an affordable sports car that offered extraordinary performance.

His persistence with the Tokyo head office finally paid off in 1970 with the 240Z. The Z passed the one million sales barrier faster than any other sports car marquee in automotive history. Mr. K is the acknowledged “Father of the Z.”

And does he ever have a loyal family.

I visited a Z convention at Texas Stadium in Dallas recently and later went to Texas Raceway.  People from all over the world had gathered with their Z to proudly show off their personalized Z. Two Z’s came from Japan, driven in from the West Coast to Dallas. To loyal Z owners and worshippers, no distance is too far, no date is too inconvenient.

This annual event is partly because of "Mad" Mike Taylor who organized the Z Car Club Association comprised of national and then international Z clubs. There are now dozens of clubs all over the world. The annual event is somewhat like a family reunion and everyone seems to be wearing Z T-shirts from a favorite years convention.

You don’t have to own a Z to love them. The event I went to was open to the public and enthusiastically received.

For more information on the Z see www.nissan.com

GREAT READING

For more on the life of Mr K, get

MR. K YUTAKA KATAYAMA
A MAN WHO REALIZED A DREAM IN AMERICA
Taylor Publishing

Madelyn Miller is a writer and web entrepreneur who started www.travellady.com, www.carladynews.com, www.cocktailatlas.com, www.teaATlas.com,  and www.chocolateatlas.com.  She has other websites planned.

Photos by Madelyn Miller, the travellady with help from a few friends