I'm not finding good information on this race and looking for ideas or leads.

I find mostly standard vague references that seem to be tied to every Bellett GT-R scale model.
There are a few references of a Honda driver being killed in the race.
The one good reference is the JAF page:
http://www.jaf.or.jp/CGI/msports/result ... 1969000160

This is the victory of the GTX, driven by Shigeki Asaoka.

The other thing I am looking for is a graphic or symbol used in the promotion of the Suzuka race.

Hi JT,

I don't think anyone is ignoring you on this one; I just don't think anyone knows anything about it!

Cheers,


Dave

I've googled my heart out and found nothing.. I'm into the Zed cars too and I thought that might be an 'in' but not for '69, the 240Z (432R) had success in 1970. I just can't find anything on the '69 race.

R.

Wasn't the Z432 some time after 1971?
It is interesting that the dawn of written history seems to be 15 minutes before the Mazda Rotaries started freezing out the Skylines in 1971 or 1972. I asked a Japanese friend about the often claimed and never supported string of Skyline victories, and the response was something like "creative math".

The finish order on this 1969 Suzuka 12 Hour is interesting:
1. Bellett 1600 GTX
2. Toyota 1600 GT
3. Publica
4. Bluebird SSS
5. Bellett 1600GT
6. Mazda Rotary Coupe
7. Skyline 2000GTR
8. Bellett 1500
9. Honda 1300R
10. Bellett 1500

17. the other Skyline 2000GTR
18 & 19. Fairlady 2000s
26. Bellett 1500
Then a couple more Fairlady 2000s

So the Skyline GTR finishes 7th, after five cars with four cylinder engines and a rotary. If the fifth place finishing Bellett is not misidentified, then the Skyline GTR lost to a regular, SOHC or OHV, Bellett GT. And the Skyline GTR was closely followed by two more Belletts, which were 1500s! I don't recall ever reading about any GTX prepared 1500s.

Unless they are classing these cars by the number of doors (Skyline GTRs all being four doors until 1971), then this represents a pretty big hole in the Skyline story.

Hey JT, good to see that you found the info on Suzuka, that would be interesting to see the pictures or some footage from that meeting! Where on earth did you find that list and do you have any more info? Times? Starting field?

As for the Z432 it was brought into the racing circles to replace the old Fairlady 2000 in 1970 with one of it's first outright victories being at the Suzuka 1000km race in May that year. I would love to see the full race results from that meeting too as I imagine that there were Skylines and Bellett GTR's on the grid by this time. Not sure how the rotaries faired against all of them in their first meetings and as I fear history has been written by the victors we not know for sure.

Cheers,
Ross.

ALL I CAN HELP YOU WITH IS THE 1969 JAP GP DVD BY THE ALEC MILDREN RACE TEAM
WHICH SHOWED THE " OLLIVETTI BELLETT "