Z Owners Unite: A Conversation with Jeffrey Willerth - West Of Tulsa Show #0015

Join us for an #exclusive conversation with Jeffrey Willerth as we delve into the resurgence of the #Z Club of America. Discover the history, impact, and future of this iconic organization within the cultural landscape. Gain valuable insights and behind-the-scenes stories from a key figure in the Z Club community. Don't miss this in-depth exploration of the enduring legacy of the Z Club.

This week on the West of Tulsa Show, the team welcomes Jeffrey Willerth. He’s the Vice President of the Z Club of America and has been a member since the early 1980’s. He gives a shout out to a previous West of Tulsa guest and he talks about his early days in the media. His first interview was with legendary drag racer Shirley Muldowney. She’s getting a lot of airtime on the West of Tulsa Show, maybe she should be on our show!

Willerth also talks about the first time he saw a Datsun Z car in the 1970’s. He says it was the Jaguar XKE of his generation and he instantly fell in love with the body lines, then got into racing them at Limerock and other tracks. He met Joe Casella, the founder of the Z Club of America, in the early 1980’s and they’ve been friends ever since.

Willerth talks in detail about why the Z Club went dormant for decades until Covid hit and then Nissan announced a new Z was coming. He jumped at the chance to revive the Z Club of America with Casella’s blessing and guidance. He also talks about the shortcomings of Nissan’s marketing for the Z car and how a generation of heavier cushier Z’s helped in the brands decline through the 1990’s. We discuss how Nissan could take a page from Mazda and how that Japanese automaker really gets behind the rotary and Mazda car clubs.

Willerth also talks about a big car show he’s planning for 2025 and that it will include JDM from all over Southern California. Also, are new Z car club chapters starting around the country? How to join the club if you’re interested. A crazy story about one of his Z’s being stolen and where it was found, plus his passion for deep fried avocados from Tulsa!!

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