A Motorsport Career is Possible – Zamil’s “The Joker” S15 Silvia

Nissan has given us (car enthusiasts) a lot of goodies over
the years. They gave us the Skyline & consequently the GT-R, the Z-cars or
Fairlady (from the Datsun days), the S-Chassis, and even some crazy small cars
like the Nissan March Super Turbo. The S15 is the last of the long line of S
Chassis cars and is a popular choice for a drift car. Despite having a design
that dates way back from 1999, the Silvia S15 fits right in in 2018.
This is Zamil’s S15 which he calls “The Joker”. Unlike most
of us who put brand decals on our cars for no reason, Zamil is actually
sponsored by the likes of Borg Warner, Pakelo, and F-Tuned Racing. Borg Warner
sponsors the turbocharger, Pakelo sponsors the lubricants, and F-Tuned sponsors
the suspension on this purple Silvia. Other sponsors include Turbosmart, Everco
Motorsport, EUROASIA Autoworks, Drift House, Maxx ECU, and Under6ix Exhaust
Specialists.
How does one get
sponsors like this?
By making yourself relevant in the motorsport or automotive scene through competitions and promotional activities.
Starting Young
Zamil’s involvement in drifting began way before he obtained a driver’s license. He was a big fan of drifting, and like most young guys, he started with taking photographs with an entry level DSLR camera (link to his work). Some illegal drifting happened after obtaining his driver’s license but later on he decided to take this activity more seriously. So, he enrolled in a Professional Drift Lesson Course (Beginner) by Team Sync Optima.
It’s not easy to get into motorsports (it requires a lot of skill, patience, and it is financially demanding) so obviously Zamil didn’t start out with this Silvia S15. He started out with a humble KE70 (Cheeserolla) that later went kaput after filming for a music video with Goldfish & Blink and Elizabeth Tan (Somewhere New). Only after that did he decide to get his hands on the S15.
"Cheeserolla" in action
Learning to drift or learning advanced driving skills can be
costly (fuel, tyres, & car parts) and you are risking your own safety every
time you get in the car. A more cost-effective and safer way to start out would
be through simulators and that is what Zamil did. The simulator he used? Live for Speed, a simulator developed
by a small team of three guys. He still plays on Live for Speed occasionally but currently he spends more time on Assetto Corsa, a driving simulator developed
by Kunos Simuziolani.
The first cars he drove were a UK Spec Proton Iswara and his
family’s 1997 Nissan Serena (age 16). Both cars were automatic and the first manual
car he drove was an AE86 Trueno (also at age 16). The Hachiroku was probably
too much to handle for the young Zamil and he still remembers the burnt clutch
smell at the end of the drive.
Not all of us are as lucky as most F1 drivers who are able
to start their careers at a very young age. Most of the top guns we see in
motorsports started karting at 10 years old or below. Like it or not, our
family background and the community we grow up in have a huge effect on what
career we end up choosing. For most of us, motorsport is barely even a side
income. It’s a hobby and hobbies are where money is spent and not made. And if
you’re going to spend your money, you better get your money’s worth. You can always
start with a simulator and slowly get into real life competitive driving with a
low-cost project car.
You can view his chronology of activities on his facebook supporter page.
The Setup
During an Autocross Event in Shah Alam
This is a 2001 Nissan Silvia S15 Spec R. The drivetrain is FR, the engine is a SR20DET, and the car was originally white. The Silvia is a 2-door, RWD, Inline 4-cylinder, Japanese Sports Coupe, which is something we don’t get any more these days. The closest we have to this recipe would be the Toyota GT86 (with a flat four engine) or a Nissan 370Z (V6 engine). Currently the S15 has no successor but there are rumours of an S16 Silvia. Will it happen? We don’t know, they’re just rumours.
The powerplant is an SR20DET with a stock block, Stage II
High Lift Cams by JUN, HKS Valve Springs, and a turbocharger by Borg Warner
(EFR7163 Twin-Scroll). There are more details of what has been done to this
S15, JIC you’re curious*. One concern that Zamil has for new drifters is that
they tend to rely too much on power. We can’t blame them either since new age drift
cars usually boast 900hp and above and it is easy to be fooled into thinking
that massive power is needed to drift. Of course, we mean no disrespect to the big-name
drifters. They are highly skilled and all start out with less powerful cars. It’s
just that cars with massive horsepower put up a much more interesting show with
more drama and exhilarating sound. Zamil’s S15 currently produces 362whp at 1
bar of boost and that’s more than enough to have fun with.
*Full Mods List at the end of article
How is the S15 set up for
events (Drifting, Autocross, and Gymkhana)?
For drifting, autocross and gymkhana the
difference lies in the rear alignment setup. For drifting the car would run 0
or -0.5 camber as it evens out tire wear. For gymkhana the car would run a
little more like -1.25 to -1.5 as for more grip in the rear. For circuit the
setup is around -1.5 to -2.0 camber. The front usually remains at -3.5 or -4
camber, only few adjustments on caster or toe.
On the Silvia, the toe is best left at 0,
though Zamil usually prefers a bit more toe out in front and toe in at the
rear. For normal driving, the alignment usually remains as how the car is set up
for previous event as Zamil likes it to be "event ready" in case of
last minute issue.
Will we see more changes
on “The Joker” in the future?
Yes, we will. Zamil is going for a Japanese inspired drift car look for the car so we’ll wait and see how that turns out.
“The Joker”
Why call it “The
Joker”?
Because it’s purple. And
you rarely see a purple S15 in Malaysia. There’s no serious reason to this. It’s
just for laughs.
The Japanese decal just spells out “magician” and “joker”. Any
Japanese speaking reader wanna verify this?
On a side note, the S15 is commonly referred as “Ichigo”. “Ichi” is one and “go” is five in Japanse. “Ichigo” also means Strawberry in Japanese. So Silvias with S15 front end conversions are usually called Strawberry Faces.
Being Relevant
Just like the rest of the world, the world of marketing and advertising
is ever changing. And some businesses took a blow when social media advertisements
became accessible. Getting featured in a post by an influential social media
page is the modern equivalent of being featured on a television talk show. The
video of “The Joker” by TGTR had its shot at fame when it was shared by Car Throttle. The sponsors were
delighted when this happened.
Personally, I find advertising in motorsports to be rather
limited. Unless you’re Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button, Fernando Alonso, Colin
McRae, Valentino Rossi, Max Verstappen, or any other world-famous motorsport
athlete, it’s hard to make a living with advertising and sponsorship money.
Marketing stunts can also be tricky and people get bored easily. The first few videos of Ken Block’s Gymkhana Video were exciting and out of this world, but Gymkhana 457 won’t be as exciting and interesting as the Gymkhana 1. Staying relevant in advertising and marketing requires us to be increasingly creative and constantly evolving. We don’t know what Zamil has in store for us next and we wish him all the best in his career.
Conclusion
Last thoughts on the car?
Well, I can’t think of a modern equivalent for the S15.
(Perhaps the GT86 somewhat fits in the role of an affordable 4-cylinder RWD
coupe). The S15 looks relevant in 2018 and has a domineering long & wide
stance. There is quite a huge number of S-Chassis cars in Malaysia and I was
lucky enough to see almost all of them in one place during S-Chassis Day 2017 (Link to Event Article). The Silvia could be responsible for launching the careers of
some drifters you may know today. For the benefit of Nissan, it might be best
to keep the S15 where it belongs - in the past. Cars are becoming hybrids and
electrics and the focus now is on mobility. Perhaps after this transition in
the auto industry (and everybody gets bored with normal efficient cars), will we
see an increase in appreciation for analogue sports cars like the S15.
And hopefully Zamil’s story might just be that extra nudge
you need to get a project or competition car for yourself. Zamil does not race
or drift full time and there’s no pressure for you to do so too. You can always
start small.
Mods List:
Car Model
2001 Nissan Silvia S15 Spec R
Engine
SR20DET, 1998cc (2.0)
Block
Stock, SARD 2mm high performance metal head gasket
Head
JUN Stage II High Lift Cams, HKS Valve Springs, HKS Solid
Lifters & ARP Head Studs
Induction System
Turbocharged, Borg Warner EFR7163 Twin-Scroll Turbo,
Turbosmart IWG-75 Wastegate, Turbosmart Raceport Blow-off Valve
Intake System
Simota Air Filter
Fuel System
Walbro 255 LPH Pump, Turtle Factory Fuel Regulator, 550cc
injectors & KTS Extended Oil Sump
Fuel &
Lubricants
RON 97 for normal drive, RON 100 for race duties, Pakelo
Krypton Racing 10X-60, Pakelo Global Gear Oil DLS SAE 75W90
ECU
MAXX ECU Street Standalone Engine Management
Ignition System
Custom made K20A Coil Plugs, NGK Iridium IK22 Iridium Spark
Plugs, Modified Distributor, Mil-Spec Harness
Cooling System
Mishimoto Aluminium Radiator, SARD Dual core intercooler,
MOCAL Oil Cooler Kit, TOMEI Style N2 Super Oil Block Adapter, Custom made
high-speed Volvo fan, Panasonic Twin Fan (Secondary Cooling), Pakelo Coolant
G30
® Red Long Life
Others
Aftermarket 2-point strut bar, Nismo extended wheel studs, Turtle
Factory oil catch can, Aftermarket aluminium power steering tank, Works
Engineering Boost Controller, Brembo brake reservoir sock, GKTech Eccentric
Throttle Wheel V2
Exhaust System
HKS Hi-Power Exhaust, Under6ix Custom Twin-Scroll IWG
Manifold with custom made stainless steel downpipe
Oil System
Moroso Oil Relocater Kit
Transmission
Stock 6-speed Gearbox with KAAZ 1.5 way LSD, Ogura (ORC)
Super Single Clutch
Handling
Custom F-Tuned Roadtrack GT Series Coilovers, D-MAX Japan
Complete Adjustable Arms Set Front/Rear (Caster, Toe, Camber), GKTech Roll
Center Correction Kit, GKTech Solid Steering Rack Mount
Brakes
Nissan Fairlady 350Z Brembo ventilated brake disc and cross
drilled calliper set, R33 GT-R Rear Brake Assembly Conversion, Project μ D1 Spec Handbrake shoes, Custom Steel braided brake
and clutch hose
Wheels
ADVAN Racing RS-II 17”, Wedsports SA15R 17”
Interior
Bride Zeta III, Razo RA25 Gearknob, KTS Handbrake Knob, Nardi Gara
Type 3 Steering, Sschroth Racing Profi-III 5 Harness, NRG Short Hub Boss Kit,
NRG Quick Release, Carbon Fiber Interior Trim, Genuine Defi Advance ZD Club Sport
Package, NRG Boost Gauge, Apexi Pen Turbo Timer, Killswitch, Battery relocater
box, carbon pedals
Exterior
C-West Aero Rear Bumper and Sideskirts, Garage Mak Type II Front
Bumper, Top Secret Style Rear Diffuser, Carbon Kevlar FRP Front Vented Hood,
Best Kit Fiber FRP Rear bonnet with integrated spoiler, JURAN multi-deflector
Maintenance
EUROASIA Autoworks, SA-Autotech
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