A 16-year-old behind the wheel of a Nissan 350Z lost control at Omaha’s Supercar Saturday, smashing into a fire hydrant and nearly striking spectators. The crash went viral. After seven years of hosting this free, family-friendly car show, organizers have officially banned all VQ-powered Nissan and Infiniti vehicles starting in 2026.
The decision targets models including the 350Z, 370Z, G35, G37, and newer Q50 and Q60 variants—cars beloved by younger enthusiasts for their throaty exhaust notes and modification potential. Repeated incidents involving burnouts, excessive revving, and drivers who “refuse to adhere to the rules” finally pushed organizers to act.
When Enthusiasm Becomes Liability
Event organizer weighs survival against inclusion as specific models face the axe.
Event organizer Jamal Rahmanzai didn’t make this choice lightly. “Safety is most important,” he explained, noting the pressure to cancel the entire event rather than deal with ongoing problems. The VQ platform—Nissan’s ubiquitous V6 engine found in affordable Japanese performance cars—has become synonymous with what Rahmanzai calls a “street takeover” mentality infiltrating legitimate shows.
Police will enforce the ban at entry gates. VQ owners can still attend as spectators, but their cars stay home. The Facebook announcement garnered over 1,000 shares, with responses ranging from understanding to outrage from responsible owners feeling collectively punished.
Key details about the ban:
- Covers all VQ-powered models: 350Z, 370Z, G25, G35, G37, Q40, Q50, Q60
- Enforcement starts with 2026 season, potentially extending beyond
- Blanket approach avoids case-by-case judgment calls
- Spectator access remains open to banned vehicle owners
- Decision sparked by complaints, crashes, and reckless behavior patterns
The Bigger Picture
Omaha’s ban reflects nationwide tensions between car culture and community safety.
Car meets across America grapple with the same balance between celebrating automotive passion and maintaining public trust. The VQ’s popularity among budget-conscious enthusiasts—offering legitimate performance for used-car money—makes it a lightning rod for both appreciation and criticism.
“After careful discussion… due to the number of complaints and incidents… necessary to help maintain a safe and enjoyable environment,” the official announcement read. When your free community event becomes a liability magnet, difficult choices follow. The question facing car culture everywhere is whether enthusiast expression and public safety can coexist—or if one always wins at the expense of the other.
