I did one solo event in Seattle last year. It was one of the BEST EXPERIENCES of my life, learning how to push that car to the max and manuever the course. :gpower: I came out first in ladies novice, in a stock manual Civic Ex.
I then bought an RSX Type S, with air intake and UHP tires, to continue with racing. However, a 6-speed wasn't the best car for long work hour corporate lifestyle with a 3-hour daily stop-n-go commute, once I moved to LA. Since then, I bought an automatic Lexus IS250.
Any way this car can take the track? Since that RSX, I feel like Im in a granny car... Is there any hope for me?
Glad you like driving in a solo event and welcome to LA/CSCC!
You can definitely take an IS250 on the track! Its a pretty capable car and you can have lots of fun with it. I drove Mike Palero's Hyundai Accent yesterday, and you would never think that car can be fast. End of the day, it proved me wrong with some very nice times. Maybe I'm strange, but that was most fun car I drove that day out of 4 cars.
IS250 can only be better.
BTW, we have a Novice school in November if you want to attend. I highly suggest it, CSCC has the best instructors. viewtopic.php?f=7&t=2882" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
My wife and I ran a 2000 Dodge Intrepid ES and a 2000 Dodge Dakota Club Cab SLT+ for 4-5 years.
Ran the crap out of them. Local Schools, Evo Schools, practices, local events, track days, even SCCA National events.
They were frustrating at times, not competitve.
But overall we still had fun and got to participate.
I got to think an IS250 would be better than either of our old barges.
Dr. Conemangler
aka The Malefic One
2015 Wildcat Honda F600
I'm relieved to hear its okay to take my car. Heck, if an Intrepid can do it, mine can!
Perhaps I'll get to learn how to manipulate this rear wheel drive now... It's interesting how driving became a different experience ever since that first racing event I did. I felt like the car and I had become one (cheesy alert!)
I saw that posting about the school. Sounds great. I even saw there is going to be a ladies school potentially?
Which do you recommend more? Will this address rear wheel drive too?
Also, what is the most fun car you both have taken on the track?
All of the schools are open to any car: rear, front, all wheel drive. I don't think there are any teaching differences between the Open (gents/ladies) and Ladies only school, but check with the school event master.
I work for Toyota and we test drive the IS250 sometimes all over the US. Should be plenty fun for a novice.
The most fun car I have ever driven in an autocross is my M3. Just really easy to drive at the very limit. I have a video of it, I'll send it to you later.
I'd do both. They tend to be different. The open school is a little more structured. The Ladies School a little more informal. Both are great opportunities for seat time and improvement.
Dr. Conemangler
aka The Malefic One
2015 Wildcat Honda F600
AUTO's are FUN! I actually got a chance to run an automatic is250 for a lap at an autox practice a few months ago & it's not bad at all.
You may want to see if there is an easy (an legal for scca way) to disable the traction control while autoxing, as it still turns on during hard corners/transitions even when you explicitly turn it off via the button. It's still quick even with the traction control on though, you just have to drive a slightly different line.
Quoc-Viet Dang wrote:AUTO's are FUN! I actually got a chance to run an automatic is250 for a lap at an autox practice a few months ago & it's not bad at all.
You may want to see if there is an easy (an legal for scca way) to disable the traction control while autoxing, as it still turns on during hard corners/transitions even when you explicitly turn it off via the button. It's still quick even with the traction control on though, you just have to drive a slightly different line.
Oh YES YES YES!
Exactly what I wanted to hear. Okay, quick lemme go google "slightly different lines." J/k--I think I know what you mean.
Now, any ideas if disabling traction control, even temporarily could also disable my car warranty?
What they never know will ever hurt it...or WILL it?
Nicole Armstrong wrote:
Now, any ideas if disabling traction control, even temporarily could also disable my car warranty?
What they never know will ever hurt it...or WILL it?
Shhh shhh, its our secret . Disabling won't void your warranty.
I can't remember where I read it, but in a couple car magazines, I read the procedure for completely disabling the traction control on all Toyotas. It is possible, and you don't have to touch the wiring. I'd look on the Car and Driver and Road and Track Web sites, or (even easier) call a service tech at a Toyota dealership. Or one of the Toyota employees in our region may be able to help. Tin?
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Oversteer is better than understeer because you don't see the tree you're hitting.
Kurt Rahn wrote:I can't remember where I read it, but in a couple car magazines, I read the procedure for completely disabling the traction control on all Toyotas. It is possible, and you don't have to touch the wiring. I'd look on the Car and Driver and Road and Track Web sites, or (even easier) call a service tech at a Toyota dealership. Or one of the Toyota employees in our region may be able to help. Tin?
The Toyota cars I ususally drive are prototypes so we don't have VSC/TRC/VDIM installed..
I believe all production 2007 ISOOO and newer have a VSC/VDIM off switch. 2009/2010 for sure. Just press and hold it until you see the VSC off light come on the instrument panel.
Tin Bui wrote:I believe all production 2007 ISOOO and newer have a VSC/VDIM off switch. 2009/2010 for sure. Just press and hold it until you see the VSC off light come on the instrument panel.
The problem w/ that button is that traction control will turn back on. Happened to me about half way through an autox lap - taking a hard sweeper and you hear "beep beep beep beep beep". End of lap, vsc is turned back on. That's why there's the cheat code posted above, hee hee.
Tin Bui wrote:I believe all production 2007 ISOOO and newer have a VSC/VDIM off switch. 2009/2010 for sure. Just press and hold it until you see the VSC off light come on the instrument panel.
The problem w/ that button is that traction control will turn back on. Happened to me about half way through an autox lap - taking a hard sweeper and you hear "beep beep beep beep beep". End of lap, vsc is turned back on. That's why there's the cheat code posted above, hee hee.
You might have not held it down long enough, its a two stage timed button.
For deactivating the traction control I found this info in some Lexus forums but I have hard time to believe it is correct }:) - anyway it's worth trying it...
Headlights off
Engine on
press and hold INFO button
switch parking lights on and off three times
release the INFO button
Tadaa...!
PS - found this on Koshime's diary - but it states it's for VDIM (so IS220d Sport only but I'm confused as the words imply an auto shifter...so must be a petrol - maybe it should read VSC and not VDIM...)
1. (VDIM ON) As stated above, I set the parking brake and started the car. Pumped the brakes twice, set and reset the parking brake twice. I pumped the brakes twice more and the TRAC-OFF light came on the dash.
2. (VDIM OFF) From a stop, I turned right. I started slow but went to full throttle before I was fully into the turn. The RPMs went way up when it shifted to second and I felt I could hear the rear wheels losing traction, but it was not a "squeel".
3. (VDIM OFF) I found an emtpy parking lot. Stopped the car and turned the wheel all the way left. Went right to full throttle. The back end slid out and I did doughnuts. The wheels didnt "squeel", but the RPMs where up and the rear-end had 0 traction.
4. (VDIM ON/TRAC-OFF) Shut down the car to reset. Set TRAC-OFF. Did the same as #3. The back end never lost traction but there was a LOT of "squeel".
5. (VDIM OFF) From a red light, I made a left turn. I immediately went to full throttle and completely lost the rear end and had to counter steer. Some "squeeling".
6. (VDIM ON/TRAC-OFF) I did the same as #5 at the same light. The rear end started to slip. I Heard 4 beeps in quick succession and the rear end got traction and was back on track.
I didnt bother doing VDIM-ON/TRAC-ON as I think #5 and #6 prove it.
The key here are the 4 beeps. Using this method to disable VDIM will let you completely lose the rear-end and smoke the tires. You'll NEVER hear the beeps.
If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got an electrical problem
Is there any hope for me?
J/k--I think I know what you mean.
