Editing S130/funnycars php (section)

=== COMPETITIVE, NOT DOMINANT ===

https://dev.z31library.com/xenonzcar_archive/s130/images/Funnycars/Datsun-280ZX-Pioneer-funny-car-640x480.jpg

If anyone harbored any concerns of foreign domination, that didn't happen, as the Datsun brigade experienced only moderate success in the nitro ranks. It should be noted Collins ran the only team with substantial sponsorship and help from the manufacturer. Collins ran primarily on the paid-in American Hot Rod Association circuit, winning two of the final three races of its Grand American circuit in 1981, and ran well on occasion in NHRA and elsewhere, however he felt he could have run even better.

The car worked great, Collins remembered. "It was one of my more successful cars. As far as the body, it was probably the slickest out there. My biggest problem was Bill Schultz was my crew chief, and he couldn't get the car to run right. One day, we discovered a main fuel injector jet had been left out for three and a half months. Schultz did a great job, as far as getting the car to run as well as it did, as lean as it was running, but we probably broke $20,000-$30,000 in parts."

Then, after two years with the ZX, Collins' Pioneer deal went to Shirley Muldowney for the 1982 season. Collins spent that year working on a deal with another car stereo company, JVC, and sat out the season to get ready for 1983. The Datsun appeared in just one race under JVC colors, making way for a new Chevy Camaro shell.

"It was JVC's request," Collins said. "Being an American company, I think they wanted an American-manufactured body back on the car."

Coincidentally, Densham and Grose also stopped running their Datsun bodies after the 1982 season. In three years with the ZX, sticking almost entirely to the West Coast, Densham managed runner-up spots in a 64-car show at Irwindale and a 1981 AHRA race at Spokane.

The Datsun also got Densham into an NHRA national event for the first time, at the 1982 World Finals at Orange County International Raceway, but Densham stated his World Finals experience from the year before is "probably the most memorable," as he rode out one of the worst fireballs of the time in a vain qualifying effort that made the cover of Super Stock and Drag Illustrated magazine.

"To be honest with you, it sure drove a lot nicer than the Trans-Am," Densham said. "It was a whole new car. Was it the chassis or the body, I don't know, but I loved it. With me designing the car, the way it was built, I was able to make it comfortable for me to drive. I'm not the littlest guy, and everybody was trying to make the car as low as possible."

But, after running with no financial help, the chance to make money off the Datsun caused Densham to go in a different direction with a Dodge Omni -- before the '83 season.

"It didn't look like I had any opportunities to get any money for the car," Densham said. "Also, I'd always built my own cars, chassis, everything, but I'd always wanted to run a (Steve) Plueger-built car. Johnny Loper had bought one a few months before, but he was getting out. Then I ran two races in Australia, and a buddy of mine running BB/FC there wanted to give me top dollar for (the Datsun), so I was able to make the swap to the Loper car. That was the first store bought car I had."

Grose went on to win the NHRA Division 3 Funny Car crown in 1981. He also went to the final round of the 1982 Gatornationals, losing to Frank Hawley but bringing home the only final-round appearance for a Datsun AA/FC in NHRA national events, and added strong showings in IHRA nationals and match races.

Grose never received any factory help from Datsun which led to a change in 1983, running a new Corvette after talking to representatives from General Motors.

"I would love to have continued with the Datsun," Grose said. "But the Chevy guys were looking at what I was doing with the body."

And, even as American car makers were struggling mightily against the growing number of Japanese imports, Collins, Densham and Grose all said they never heard fans boo them for running the Datsun.

"Not really, but I don't doubt there were people in the stands going, 'Oh that GD Jap car,'" Densham said.

"The car looked so sweet, I never heard any negative comments," Collins said.