Goodguys May Gazette Cover

A publication schedule never changes. Month after month, covers, features, and event coverages are designed and stitched together to what customers can appreciate as the Goodguys Goodtimes Gazette. While others can enjoy the downtime in the off season, the Gazette never stops.

Goodguys Gazette

Celsiors from JOB Design Japan

Despite the recent natural disasters in Japan, JO and his JOB Design team just finished 2 more Celsior30 for customers. I cannot imagine the difficulties Japan is dealing with to restore and rebuild, but it is good to know that the Japanese people are supportive of one another and calm with positive attitudes.

JOB Design Japan

GM Design Best Truck @ SEMA 2011

This incredible ’68 Chevy pickup belongs to Mitch Henderson. It features filled drip rails, shaved doors, Baer brakes, Bonspeed wheels, and hours of custom work smoothing the under hood area around the 327. Fresh.

PPE Engineering & Project43

VIP cars are commonly known for their low and slow mentality. Traditions go back to Mercedes influences with their AMG themed cars. That's all gravy, but I still enjoy a good rumble. Perhaps it is the "hot rod" blood in me calling for straight pipes or a blower. Nonetheless, I have found a company that actually makes headers for the Toyota UZ series motor. PPE Engineering

For those that are stumbling upon the site for the first time, my project car is my daily car. Adding mods can be difficult at times, b/c my Celsior30 is my way to and from work. Adding an intake and exhaust was simple; it did not require the car to be out of commission. Headers on the other hand, is an entirely different ballgame.

PPE Engineering is a sponsor on Clublexus.com offering headers to members for many makes and models. Paul was the contact over at PPE and he was truly a professional to deal with. I had made a request to have the headers made and shipped within 1.5 weeks and Paul delivered right-on-time. The plan is to get the headers installed and dyno tested before headed out to WORD-UP on Saturday. (Install post to follow..)

Back to the actual product. I am quite impressed with the quality and design from PPE. The welds look strong and the CNC header plate is thick and flat. What kind of power can I expect?.. According to PPE, on a completely stock LS430 just with the headers installed they were able to extract a peak of 24whp on the dyno. Torque also jumped up significantly.

Check out the pics:

 

 
PPE Engineering

Lexus LS430 shot by PhotoShootMyCar

Seems like today, everyone can buy an entry level SLR camera and call themselves a "Photographer".. but in reality, a small percentage actually have any knowledge about their equipment. Then within that small percentage, only 1/5 of those select few actually understand lighting. Personally, I'm a total point-and-shoot person, but I have been lucky enough to be surrounded by talented photographers, Jeff, Ken, Tony, to show me their skills. You guys capture what the eye cannot see.

Which leads me to this fine photograph by none other than Jeff @ PhotoshootMyCar.com. During our Lexus LFA Experience at Infineon Raceway, we found an empty pits garage where Lexus only occupied 3 bays with storing the 0-60 GS450h race car, Five AD built GS350 demo car and extra wheels and brakes for the LFA cars. It was in the later afternoon when we decided to pull the LS into the garage and start the photoshoot. Grassroots.. no flash, no tricks, just capture the car in its' environment.

Jeff and his assistant Arlin did an incredible job. This is just a teaser to what's to come. Look for a full feature on DriveCulture.com very soon.

Scott Pruett & Lexus LFA @ Infinion Raceway

Here is the same run from the below video of the Lexus LFA dancing in front of the TOYOTA wall @ Infineon Raceway. Thanks to Lexus Marketing, Jim, Ryan and all that were able to witness such a historic event with Scott Pruett.

LEXUS

Video by Ryan T.

Lexus LFA Dancing @ Infinion Raceway 2/27/11

Lexus LFA Burnout from Ryan Trinidad on Vimeo.


Lexus Marketing invited a very select few to enjoy a day at Infineon Raceway to experience the Lexus LFA supercar with non other than their all time winning Gran-AM driver, Scott Pruett as our instructor and co-pilot of the day.

Here you see Scott sliding the incredibly "Smart" LFA around turn 11 by the red Toyota wall. What you don't see is the difficulty and technical ability of Scott to actually dance this incredible car. Why?.. the LFA has the most precise computers calculating all aspects of the vehicle at every mili-second. As soon as the car begins to slide, the ECU will actually allow a bit of a drift before transitioning every so smoothly back to a grip mode. Unlike standard traction that retards timing and instantly robs horsepower, the LFA glides so sweetly saving the driver from any misshapes. Incredible.

This footage was shot by our good friend, Ryan T. from Speed Element.

The Lexus LFA Experience Part 1

Saturday afternoon, I get a phone call from a very close friend from Socal. He asks if I am free to come meet him at the Fairmont Hotel in SF. For those that are not aware, I live 1 hr plus east from SF and not to mention 2 kids and a family. Nonetheless, I managed to pull strings with the wife and off I go to the city. What awaited there caught me by total surprise.

Crossing the Bay Bridge on a Saturday evening into the city, the traffic was surprising good.


A yellow Lexus LFA sat in the front of the hotel while a crowd stood and took pictures. My good friend is Ryan, who is our connection to Lexus Corporate. Ryan flew up to SF with one of the Marketing gurus at Lexus Corporate, Jim. Along with the group, I met Tom from Seattle co-founder of Open Interface North America Inc., Moto the president from Club4AG, Guy and Lang from VIP Auto Salon, Jeff from Drive Culture and a few of Jim's friends.

After the first class meal at the Fairmont Hotel, we decided to cruise the streets of SF and headed towards Embarcadero. The Lexus LFA made an impression on everyone that happened to be walking around that night. People pointed and took pictures, as the perfectly tuned exhaust note screams to a incredible 9,400 rpm redline.

The night was perfect with clear skies. The yellow LFA lead the 2 white LS430s and a white Prius throughout the city. Ryan was pleasantly revving the 4.8 liter V10 motor for all of SF to enjoy.

While shooting on Embarcadero street, a super nice security guard allowed us to drive the LFA onto the sidewalk for better photos. The guy later suggested an even more private location. He let us into a gated parking lot that stretched even closer to the Bay Bridge and onto the water.

While driving into this locked parking lot, a modded Mazda Protege tried to follow us in, but was quickly asked to turn around by our good friend, the night watchmen. Those kids gave thumbs-up and I'm sure they updated their Facebook right away.

I'm never a fan of yellow color, but to be perfectly honest, the LFA looks tough in yellow. Perhaps it was the gunmetal wheels or the 15" inch carbon ceramic brakes, but I was smiles from ear to ear.

More to come.