Historic Pit Stop:SCCA ProRally 1978


Les Nelson's Rally 510 circa 1978


Les Nelson competed in The SCCA pro rally series from 1977 to 1981, but was really a conservative driver..."I didn't want to roll the car off a cliff and as such my best accomplishment was 9th place."

The car had some rally history before Les acquired it. He believes it was competed in the 1973 Olympus Rally which was the first pro rally to be staged in the Pacific Northwest and was also the first event that Les participated in, that time as a worker timing cars at a finish control. The car had another owner and then was rolled over a bank on a local rally...then Les bought it and began competing. Eventually he did the paint job which was only a few weeks old in the photo. Then as Les got into helping with the route for the Olympus rally, this car was used for several years to find and measure roads for that event.


This car has the Datsun Safari suspension, Bilstein shocks, welded stock differential, Dellorto sidedraft carbs, SSS head and flattop pistons, datsun rally cam, balanced 1800 crank in rebored 1600 block, roll cage, comp belts, battery relocated to back seat area, trip computer driven off right front wheel... plus a long list of other features and mods....with many parts taken from John Rodgers 510 (5th in 1973 Press On Regardless Rally).

Les Nelson still owns the car, along with another 510. He intends to get it off-road worthy again...
"There were many many competitors that chose the 510 for Rallying and I guess it was probably the most popular until Mazda came out with their rotary engines (RX2,RX3). You will still find some of these old 510's out competing in local events and hopefully this car will get a taste of gravel roads again...."



This is how the car sits now. Thanks to Les for the Photos and the History.



Have you or do you own a Vintage Datsun Racer? Send me details of your history and of the car.
Datsun History   Bluebird 510-810   President   Fairlady Roadster and Z   Cedric and Gloria   Laurel   Violet 710 to Auster/Stanza   Sylvia Gazelle 200SX   Sunny B10-210   Skyline   Racing History   Rally History   Safari Rally   Trans Am 2.5   Pete Brock & BRE   Bob Sharp Racing   Home   About Me Contact Me