Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
The following video from Fast Lane Daily is not only full of great footage of the Lexus RC 350 F Sport driving through L.A. at night, but it’s also educational.
Neill Blomkamp, the South African director of such movies as “District 9” and “Elysium,” recently told Motor Trend, “My mom says that some of the first words that I knew were car names.” In the years since his childhood, Blomkamp’s learned the name “Lexus LFA” – from his experience owning one.
If you looked at the LF-SA concept that Lexus unveiled earlier this week at the Geneva Motor Show, you might have noticed its wheels. They look as if they’re throwing stars from the future. However, it’s the Goodyear Triple Tube tires that wrap those wheels that are truly futuristic.
2014 marked the 25th anniversary of the original Lexus, the LS 400. Instead of celebrating, the employees at Lexus’ Europe-based design studio, ED2, got right back to work and started to sketch the LF-SA concept.
Well, folks, the verdict is in. We had been wondering what Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson would think of the new Lexus RC F. Now we know … and wish we didn’t.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Lexus SC builds, it’s that putting Toyota Supra Turbo engines in them is a popular thing to do. Forum member tenac2215 has gone a different – yet similar – route with his 1993 SC400.