2006 Nissan 350z

Join us on Social Media YouTube,  Facebook Group,  Facebook Page,  Instagram 

We are listed on Google News  give us a Follow

More car images are in the slider above.

2006 Nissan 350z

Daniel Martin 

Instagram: @diabetic_dan_

Photographer/Author  -  Donnie Rochin

Instagram -  @r0cean11

FaceBook -  r0cean11 Photography

www.r0cean11.com

I’m Daniel I’ll be 36 this March. I was born in Port Arthur, TX but we moved to Rock Rock, TX in 1994 and I’ve been here since! I have been an automotive technician since 2007.

On location at Circuit of the Americas - COTA

I went to Universal Technical Institute in Houston, and after graduation, I moved back to Round Rock. I’ve had dealership jobs and private jobs. I worked for the city of Round Rock on all Round Rock Police cars and Fire trucks. Currently, I am an equipment technician at Equipment Depot here in Austin. 

I have been interested in cars since I was a kid! I remember loving the car from the movie Grease. Playing the game “Driver” on the original PlayStation is what set everything off. Reverse 180’s, racing, crashing, all of it. My best friend Pat had a Foxbody Ford Mustang with the 5.0 in high school, and this really made me get into cars. I got my first ride along from Chandler O’Neal in his yellow C6 Vette at the LoneStarDrift demo in 2019 and I was absolutely hooked! I bought my Z in 2019 and started the build and getting seat time and now I’ve been drifting for 3 years. 

I chose the 350z because I have heard from so many others that it’s a great seat-time car and I agree! The Z makes decent power, but it’s no Racecar lol. It makes plenty of power to drift but not so much that your tire budget is gone, which is the key to seat time in my opinion. I have modified almost every vehicle I have owned in some way. Most vehicles have had the intake and exhaust and some suspension mods. 

The Z is my favourite car I have owned though. It looks and sounds cool, and is a blast to drive. Every time I drive it, it still feels like I’m a 16-year-old. When I park I always look back at it and appreciate it and the time I have put into it. I built this car to drift, which is what I do with it but I also have made it into my own style. The look of it still excites me when I see it. People always tell me how beautiful my car is and kids often tell me to rev it up for them and it makes me feel accomplished and happy. When you get people to tell me to rev it, I always do. I used to be that kid.

Like I said, the 350z is a great seat-time car, just know they burn oil. Make sure to do your routine maintenance and always check the oil level. The key to a seat-time car is keeping it on the track as long as possible and the best way to do that is to take care of it. 

Do you need a Quality Photographer? Ours are Available HERE

I think my car is pretty unique in some areas. I have always been a fan of bash bars. I just think they look cool. The front one is tucked behind the KBD bumper but is still noticeable. And the rear bash bar is exposed with a factory rear bumper cut to fit. The blue paint I chose was actually chosen by my hood buddy Lio who has the exact same blue paint code on his g35 sedan drift car. I copied him so we could match on track and we love this colour. It is Acura Still Night Blue. 

What do you think of the Story?, leave your comments below Thank You.

Modifications -

Engine/Drivetrain: 

• Factory Vq35de Revup (untuned)
• Mishimoto Short Ram Intake
• Mishimoto 160° Thermostat
• Mishimoto Coolant Hoses
• Mishimoto Oil Cooler
• Blox Racing Intake Plenum Spacer
• ISR Test Pipes, ISR Y-pipe, Custom axle back from Continental Customs
• Summit Racing Power steering cooler
• Torque Solutions short shifter
• GkTech Weighted Shift Knob
• Welded Rear Differential 

Steering/Suspension:

• GkTech Angle Kit
• GkTech Lower Control Arms
• GkTech Rear Camber Arms
• GkTech Rear Toe Arms
• GkTech Solid Diff Bushings
• BC Racing True Coilovers 

Brakes:

• Sikky In-line Hydraulic Handbrake 

Wheels:

• XXR 552 Hyper Silver
• 18x10 +21 (Square setup)
• 1” Hubcentric Wheel Spacers (All 4 wheels)

Tires:

• Kenda KR20A
• 255/35/18 Front
• 265/35/18 Rear

Interior:

• NRG Seats
• NRG Steering wheel
• Sikky Handbrake/GkTech Shift Knob colour matched to the exterior paint job
• LED strip lighting

Exterior:

• Acura Still Night Blue paint
• TrueFocusFab Front/Rear Bash bars
• KBD Front Bumper
• Duckbill Rear Spoiler
• Crown Carbon Crafting 15mm Over Fenders

The Work

All the work has been done by myself and my teammate Lio @Lionelatx. Next on the list is a cage for this chassis. I’ll probably never get rid of this car because it’s an amazing tire-friendly car. When I upgrade later, I will probably HR swap it and get it to my buddies Ben and Charles at @vpftuning asap!

Groups:

@_thesmokingsection_ (Our drift crew)

@lonestardrift is where I first practised donuts and figure 8’s, and now a few years later I’m doing competition drifting

@clubloosetexas is where I’ve got a majority of my seat time. I could learn in a relaxed atmosphere and really learn how to dial in my car with steering/suspension and tire pressures and of course get comfortable doing tandems

From Gone in 60 Seconds to the entire Fast and Furious franchise… Building this car and drifting has become my life. The thrill I get from being behind the wheel and controlling the car as close as I can to others is exhilarating! I’ve made so many friends and continue doing so almost every day.

It makes me so happy, it can’t always be put into words. The best thing my Z has brought me is my wife. A simple message on IG asking me about my drift car has brought my wife to me and she and the Z bring me more joy than I could ever imagine! Our goal is to one day is to own an R34 Skyline!

For everyone reading or listening, I just have this to say…

No matter how old you are, where you are in life, what you have done in the past, what you think you can or can not do…

• It doesn’t matter!
• Find what you are passionate about!
• Find your dream, and then make your dream a reality!
• It’s going to be difficult, but it’s going to be worth it!

All Photographs are supplied and owned by the  Photographer named, our Photographers can be found HERE!

Please leave your comments on my story in the comments section at the bottom of the page, it helps the story get more views and reach the Printed Magazine, Thank you.

'The future is bright as long as we can still Smell the Fumes'

All of our Magazines can be found on Amazon, they Print and Deliver worldwide, Stance Auto can not be held responsible for the final print, and all complaints and returns must be directed to Amazon.

UKTM no: UK00003572459