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@DLPTony , @TipsyTonio , and I were lucky enough to do the Lexus Performance Driving School yesterday! Here are a couple photos of the IS 500s they were using for autocross. I think TipsyTonio is in the orange one in the first photo. Second is just me in the staging area waiting for my next run. It was a lot of fun!
We were supposed to be in the same group, so other than my Skid Pad performance, that was the only sucky part. BUT…at least we were able to hang out some before my team lead yelled at me. 😂 I love you guys!
Originally Posted by macmaster
As someone who already has an IS500, was it worth the grand to you? Did you abuse their cars enough?
Oh yeah…totally worth it. The autocross is like driving the streets of Atlanta. 😈 I didn’t realize how loud the stock exhaust was until yesterday. I drive most of the time above 4k rpms, so that baffle is wide open. Totally settled it, I will never change out my exhaust the car is loud enough.
BWAHAHAHA!! For some odd reason, a nice online presence is equated to an entirely different look. It’s worse if it’s a phone thing, people think I’m Californian or Canadian. 🤷🏽♂️😂
I contemplated joining you guys after a call with TipsyTony but the cost of flying and everything else just made it a bit too much for the short amount of time there.
I contemplated joining you guys after a call with TipsyTony but the cost of flying and everything else just made it a bit too much for the short amount of time there.
I don’t know, it’s the way I say certain vowels. I’m a military brat and we moved every 3 years, so God knows where I picked it up.
It would’ve been awesome if you could’ve made it, but I understand. We were hoping to do lunch with Tipsy and his girlfriend today, but an impromptu work meeting got in the way. 😞
Calm down, chicken little. A handful of exhaust systems and accidents has not endangered the species.
And in the case of mine, it's just a dent. They probably won't even need to replace the body panel. Still sucks, but I am not super broken up about it. At least there was no broken glass or anything of that sort. I can still drive it, and most people won't see the dent. It looks bigger in photos than it does from a distance in the real world.
They're going to keep making IS 500s for a while yet, as well.
I am new to the forum and new to Lexus. Overall it is my 3rd Toyota product and I can’t say anything bad about any of them. I’ll post some better pictures once it gets nice out. It has been crappy out here in the suburbs north of Chicago since we got it. Brand new 2023 IS500.
I am new to the forum and new to Lexus. Overall it is my 3rd Toyota product and I can’t say anything bad about any of them. I’ll post some better pictures once it gets nice out. It has been crappy out here in the suburbs north of Chicago since we got it. Brand new 2023 IS500.
@DLPTony , @TipsyTonio , and I were lucky enough to do the Lexus Performance Driving School yesterday! Here are a couple photos of the IS 500s they were using for autocross. I think TipsyTonio is in the orange one in the first photo. Second is just me in the staging area waiting for my next run. It was a lot of fun!
Sorry for giving you sloppy seconds on the car They gave me the car with fresh tires and I handed it to you with worn tires and faded brakes lol. It was a ton of fun!
Originally Posted by DLPTony
We were hoping to do lunch with Tipsy and his girlfriend today, but an impromptu work meeting got in the way. 😞
Next time!
For sure! And hopefully @Carolina50 can join us so he can buy me my damn beer!
Originally Posted by DLPTony
We were supposed to be in the same group, so other than my Skid Pad performance, that was the only sucky part. BUT…at least we were able to hang out some before my team lead yelled at me. 😂 I love you guys!
Oh yeah…totally worth it. The autocross is like driving the streets of Atlanta. 😈 I didn’t realize how loud the stock exhaust was until yesterday. I drive most of the time above 4k rpms, so that baffle is wide open. Totally settled it, I will never change out my exhaust the car is loud enough.
BWAHAHAHA!! For some odd reason, a nice online presence is equated to an entirely different look. It’s worse if it’s a phone thing, people think I’m Californian or Canadian. 🤷🏽♂️😂
Hahaha your team lead was quite the guy. The experience was a ton of fun. As @arentz07 said, to get on a track you need to pay at least a $50 SCCA or Chin Track Days membership, then another $300-500 in event cost, then another $250-$400 in track day insurance, then another $250 minimum for a Snell racing helmet. By the time you add it all up, it costs more and you're using your car so its your engine and your tires taking the beating. We were repeatedly reminded these weren't our cars so we should do with them as we please. Having said that I do still feel bad lol. The 2023 Molten Pearl IS500 I was in had 40 miles when I started. The 2023 Infrared RC F had 16 miles (and I actually caused it to throw a CEL and shut off, sorry not sorry Lexus). And the 2023 Infrared Bespoke LC500 has 97 miles. These were all brand new cars. Also, I forgot to tell you @DLPTony , sorry for turning on the AC in the LC between our runs lol
“Also, I forgot to tell you @DLPTony , sorry for turning on the AC in the LC between our runs lol”
LOL!! I just turned it off, hot as hell, but I wanted access to every hoof in that thing! I was with Team 132mph+. 😜😎
Man, I was fully comfortable during my track laps. Ventilated seats on, A/C on, laid-back seating position, and still scrubbing the front tires through turn 5.
I didn't hit 132 but maybe mid-120s. Our instructor, Jonathan, was backing off on the back straight and just coasting - probably trying to make sure we didn't cook the brakes.
Originally Posted by TipsyTonio
I wish I got stuck with one old guy that always left a massive gap. I got up to 127 before I had to slam the brakes or I'd hit the instructor lol
Oh, you too? Dang. Though, in my case, it was the YOUNG guy who left a massive gap. The other older guy in our group was mobbing. He and I got the same time, roughly, in autocross, and seemed to have a similar pace on track. But the other younger guy was always like 5 car lengths from the car in front, even in the turns. Ugh!
04-03-23, 01:27 PM
They gave me the car with fresh tires and I handed it to you with worn tires and faded brakes lol. It was a ton of fun!
