- 19,679
- Alabamamania
The other day, I was checking out the used cars on our lot, but couldn't find anything of interest in my price range. But I looked in the back, and checked out the "wholesale" lot, which has some interesting goodies. It's a case of "As Is", so you'd better be ready to put some money into those cars. Some have too much mileage to sell to the public, others have sheet metal damage, and still others aren't very desirable to the jaundiced eye of the luxury car buying market.
Near the front of the line up, was an old GS300, a first generation model. I asked the wholesale manager if I could test it out, and he said "Sure, but you've got to give me the cash for it before it's hauled away in 24 hours."
"Okay. I'll have the car back in 30 minutes, I'll know if it's desirable by then."
The car had 42987.2 miles on it, and a Dark Bluish Gray Metallic color. Perfect condition, no stupid-looking 19-inch chrome rims with $350 tires on it. It appeared to be decently maintained. The interior was in good shape too. So I came back to the manager, and plunked down the book value, which was 6,000 for a car like this in great condition. A little overpriced, but I figured it was in stellar condition. I put down five grand, so I had to finance the remaining 1,000. The manager agreed to that, since I work there.
About a week, later the finance paperwork came in the mail. I opened the letter and discovered a typo...the loan amount was for 10,000 credits! I went straight to the wholesale manager, and raised hell with him. He said, "...There's nothing I can do! I've got the paperwork that we signed in writing..." waving the carbon copy we signed. He was right; I needed to argue with the financial services, who probably typed in one too many zeros.
I was on hold for hours and hours, and couldn't get through. The first thing I did was to take it for an oil change at work, and then slip off to race the big hound in the Beginner FR races. I know SSR5 well, so it was time to see how well I knew the GS. Its just 2 laps, so well see if this purchase was worth it. I shut off all the drivers aids, and made no other d=changes to the car. I notched up a win by 6.7 sec over a BMW Z4. This earned me 108 A-spec points. No challenge after the hairpin on the first lap.
I thought about a more difficult track, so I tried Tsukuba. No problems again, I hauled in the leading Z4 on the straight leading up to the final bend on the first lap. I guess the organizers decided to give me one less point (107) because I beat the same car again.
Now I was curious what tight turns would do for the GS, so I entered the car at Motorland. In fact, the car handles surprisingly nicely on the S2s despite the cars girth. I beat the Sileighty by 5.2 seconds after passing him on the first lap. This time, I racked up 116 A-spec points.
I wanted better competition, so I thought Id try something tougher: The Rally Capri (Easy) to try it on slow speed corners. I hustled the GS against the Lancia Delta 91 in the Normal Direction (10 pts.), passing it easily for the win into the first corner. The Reverse was against the Audi Quattro 82 not as easy this time. I passed him on the back straight on the last lap. The car was wheezing about due to its archaic 4-speed automatic transmission. I took 9 points for the win this time.
That tranny was bothering me; so I went home I looked about the Lexus parts catalogue about ordering a 5-speed transmission. I had enough bones (saving the prize RSC money for later) to get one, but the factory was all out of stock. I went to work, and called up good old Mr. Dornick.
Hey, Mr. D! Hows the SC300 doing?
Okay Hey, a buddy of mine at the SC300 Owners Club needs a favor from you. Can you give him call for the nearest body shop? he inquired.
For you no problem! I replied.
So I call up his buddy, and send down a tow truck for his car. I check it in, and it looks bad. The cars obviously totaled. But the transmission mounts are fine, so its okay. I dont want to wait two weeks for an entire transmission delivery, so I make an offer to the gentleman.
Before he gets in touch with the insurance company, I ask him if hed like to sell me the wreckage for 10,400 far better than what theyll give him. Deal done!
The rare 5-speed transmission option on the SC300 is a perfect fit in the old GS300. Wonderful! I can go back to racing again in the Professional Clubman Events, which is having its latest race at Deep Forest Raceway.
I take the lead from the S2000 while braking into the first turn on the second lap; netting a 112-point victory by 8.2 seconds. Not too hard.
This GS was working out to be a surprisingly good piece of racecraft. It would be even nicer if it could shed some weight. I used the winnings to put the GS on Weight Watchers, and 1000 credits later, shes shed 200 kilograms in a just a few hours! Unfortunately, the car doesnt have that nice leather smell anymore, but thats racing.
So now I figure I can really give the big boys a run for their money. I enter the Professional Turbo events, starting at Fuji Raceway. I figured the other competitors always brake too early for the first turn, so it ought to be an easy win, right?
Not so fast. Literally...
The race begins, and Im to be awarded 200 points for a victory. I realize Ive never won a 200 point race, so maybe this wont be so easy. But lets give it a try.
4th place, +14.9 sec behind the leading RX-7 Bathurst.
I spun once into the mid-way hairpin. Oh well, you cant win everything.
4th place, +11.5 sec behind the Bathurst.
No spin, but no win either. I decided catching the Bathurst isnt going to be possible yet.
Retired. (Phone rang, and realized Id thrown the controller on the couch after Id paused it. Oops.) I restarted the event again.
3rd place, + 3.2 sec behind the Peugeot 205.
No obvious mistakes, but that pesky 205 and RX-7 are giving me fits. They laugh at me on the long straights.
6th place, +16.8 behind everyone and everything.
Damn RX-7 Infini swerved into me into the sand traps at 150 mph.
3rd place, +1.6 sec behind the 205.
I make a slight bobble into the 3rdgear bend before the hairpin on the last lap; this really bugs me as the 205 tank-slaps the RX-7 on the final turn of the last lap. I could have won had I not made a mistake!
3rd place, +1.2 sec behind the FC.
I can smell their exhaust throughout the event. But I just cant seem to close in on them when it counts, even though the 205 went wide in the same place again. I reset the field, hoping for that elusive 200 point win.
2nd place, +16.2 sec behind the Lotus Esprit 87.
The other competitors were easy, but the Lotus just ran away right from the get-go.
2nd place, +13.7 sec behind the Lotus.
Somehow, I expected to get better by doing the same impossible task. I must be insane.
I like this car, but it needs help. So I enlisted the parts catalogue again, this time for a Racing Flywheel, a Triple Plate Clutch, and some more Weight Reduction. I make no power upgrades, as Im aiming for the 200 points.
2nd place, +7.8 sec behind the RX-7 Bathurst.
I slid wide too many times.
2nd place, +11.2 sec behind the Bathurst.
Spin the black circle!
3rd place, +10.5 sec behind the Bathescythe.
Its time for bed.
I wake up refreshed, and ready to take on the challenges of the same darn thing (much like life). I go to the shop, and ask the technicians to remove all the remaining unnecessary items from the interior of the car (who needs air conditioning in Florida, anyway?), add a racing adjustable suspension, and throw on some heavy duty brake pads, rotors, and calipers. We also try a racing limited slip differential, to help keep Big Blue in line.
To Fuji we go, 200 points or bust!
3rd place, +7.1 behind the Lotus Esprit.
You! Again?
2nd place, +5.8 behind the Lotus.
Not so distant are we?
2nd place, +5.2 behind the seemingly-impossible-to-catch Lotus.
You thinking what Im thinking? No, I was thinking about resetting the field once more.
2nd place, +4.0 behind the Audi S4.
Alright, progress!
2nd place, +2.3 behind the Audi S4.
Closer .
2nd place, +0.9 behind the Audi S4.
Almost there
1st place, -0.698 ahead of the Audi S4!
My first 200 point victory! Id forgotten what winning was like!
I went to work the next day, and sent the car to the body shop for rigidity refreshing of the cars frame. It deserved it, after all the abuse (both verbal and physical) Id given it at Fuji. I also added A Stage 1 turbo, since the last race was far from easy.
Next stop was R246 Reverse; I beat the Peugeot 205 coming out of the final turn and blocked it for victory by a scant 0.050 sec. I gained 177 points.
High Speed Ring: 1st place, I beat the Bathurst by 2.267, for another 200 point victory. I passed the RX-7 in the turn before the tunnel entrance on the first lap.
New York: 1st, 0.316 sec ahead of the 205, for 186 points. This is first time Ive enjoyed any race in Manhattan, I usually dread running here.
Midfield; 1st place, beating a 99 STi by 3.240 sec. I scored 199 points this time.
So I traded in that BP RX-7 (silly mismatched wheels), and went to Japan. Or at least tried to go there. Apparently, my cars American. Never mind the fact Lexus didnt actually sell the GS300 in 1991, which means that my cars just some expatriate renegade, forbidden to enter its country of initial heritage. In any case you might as well bloom where youre planted; so I headed over to the Stars & Stripes trio of events.
These races provided good A-spec points, even though I was only up against American cars, no Lexii, Infiniti or Acurii (I mean, Acuras).
1st place: Seattle, 2.134 sec. ahead of the 00 Camaro SS.
An easy 181 points; passed the SS on the first lap, just before the start-finish line.
1st place: Laguna Seca, 0.831 sec. ahead of the Viper
Another 181 points. I beat a Viper.
1st place: Infineon SCC, 1.165 sec. ahead of the ZR-1.
171 points for me. No Vipers in this race, I guess. Claimed that Camaro LM Car, or whatever they call it now. Still cant win it in black, either.
Now that I felt invincible, I thought Id try my luck at The Rally dUmbria. Except, I felt that I should try it in Hard, since Id won the other two. Nottachance!
2nd place: 45.110 seconds behind the Renault R5 Maxi Turbo Rally Car
The car felt good, it was great fun trying; but in the end trying this race in Hard is just plain dUmb.
So back in reality, I thought about trying the Family Cup event at Nürburgring. Two laps is just enough, and Ill have fun no matter what happens. Set the Difficulty on 5, and run with about 315ps.
I took the lead on the back straight, but lost a few places on the final long straight (the one thats actually you know, straight). I countered back to take the lead a few turns after the start-finish line, and extended my lead to about 7 seconds at one point. But then the R3 tires started turning yellow. And then they were orange. I started to nurse the car carefully into the Karusell. The tires turned orange-red while gingerly driving into the next couple of 3rd-gear ess-bends. I was doing some magnificent powerslides, holding up that Viper GTS in the process. But by the time tires turned red on the long downhill right-hander Ding! The tires are done and so are you!
I spun. And spun. And got clobbered by the GT-R Concept. And so I spun some more. And when I finally regained my cars composure the Mercedes SL600 hit me too! The Benz was facing the wrong way, so I managed to limp home 5th, only 5.7 seconds down, amazingly, but needing a trip to the body shop after all that.
I tried again, with the same Difficulty to 5. I bought R2 (Hard) tires to prevent a repeat of the last time I tried this race.
2nd place to a Viper SRT10 03, 1.2 seconds down.
Lead most of the way, but got passed twice on the final straight. More top-end power?
Same race, Difficulty 3. I also bolted on a TRD Racing Muffler from the parts catalog.
1st place, 6.2 seconds ahead of a Zonda C12.
This time, nobody could catch me on any of the straights.
So now I thought Id try my luck at another course, one I know well, but at the highest Difficulty (10). The track was SSR5 Normal, another Family Cup race.
1st place: 2.128 seconds ahead of the Ford GT.
I passed the Zonda C12 S during braking for the hairpin on the first lap, and never looked back (well, except on the front straight). I scored 200 A-spec points!
I won the to race the Tuning Car Grand Prix with a CLK Race Car last time, so I thought Id use something more competitive this time. I bought a Stage 2 (370ps) and a Stage 3 turbo (494ps), just in case.
At Apricot Hill, I scored pole by 1.081 against the Opera S2000, Ruf BTR, Spoon S2000, Mines Evo VI, and the Nismo R34 R-tune.
1st Opera, 2nd GS300 91, 3rd BTR, 4th Spoon, 5th Mines, 6th Nismo.
In the race, I finished 2nd to the Opera by 4.9 seconds. After he got by me at the chicane, I couldnt keep up no matter how much I tried.
At Fuji, I had the Stage 3 turbo installed. Good thing Lexus just opened service centers in Japan.
1st place: GS300, 3.5 seconds ahead of the Opera.
Easy win. I didnt need to qualify. Now I have too much power, although I wont complain.
The next race was another win, 2.32 seconds ahead of the Opera. I scooped up wins at El Capitan and Tsukuba, beating the Opera S2000 easily for the championship. Each of the remaining races paid out 35 A-spec points.
I thought Id try a round of the Supercar Festival, just for kicks. It paid a paltry 10 points, but I was nice to beat a Nissan R390 in a fair fight; the old GS was quite suited to Midfield.
Anyways, after that, I tried a few more races. Ill write more when I find the stats for those races that Ive recorded.
Near the front of the line up, was an old GS300, a first generation model. I asked the wholesale manager if I could test it out, and he said "Sure, but you've got to give me the cash for it before it's hauled away in 24 hours."
"Okay. I'll have the car back in 30 minutes, I'll know if it's desirable by then."
The car had 42987.2 miles on it, and a Dark Bluish Gray Metallic color. Perfect condition, no stupid-looking 19-inch chrome rims with $350 tires on it. It appeared to be decently maintained. The interior was in good shape too. So I came back to the manager, and plunked down the book value, which was 6,000 for a car like this in great condition. A little overpriced, but I figured it was in stellar condition. I put down five grand, so I had to finance the remaining 1,000. The manager agreed to that, since I work there.
About a week, later the finance paperwork came in the mail. I opened the letter and discovered a typo...the loan amount was for 10,000 credits! I went straight to the wholesale manager, and raised hell with him. He said, "...There's nothing I can do! I've got the paperwork that we signed in writing..." waving the carbon copy we signed. He was right; I needed to argue with the financial services, who probably typed in one too many zeros.
I was on hold for hours and hours, and couldn't get through. The first thing I did was to take it for an oil change at work, and then slip off to race the big hound in the Beginner FR races. I know SSR5 well, so it was time to see how well I knew the GS. Its just 2 laps, so well see if this purchase was worth it. I shut off all the drivers aids, and made no other d=changes to the car. I notched up a win by 6.7 sec over a BMW Z4. This earned me 108 A-spec points. No challenge after the hairpin on the first lap.
I thought about a more difficult track, so I tried Tsukuba. No problems again, I hauled in the leading Z4 on the straight leading up to the final bend on the first lap. I guess the organizers decided to give me one less point (107) because I beat the same car again.
Now I was curious what tight turns would do for the GS, so I entered the car at Motorland. In fact, the car handles surprisingly nicely on the S2s despite the cars girth. I beat the Sileighty by 5.2 seconds after passing him on the first lap. This time, I racked up 116 A-spec points.
I wanted better competition, so I thought Id try something tougher: The Rally Capri (Easy) to try it on slow speed corners. I hustled the GS against the Lancia Delta 91 in the Normal Direction (10 pts.), passing it easily for the win into the first corner. The Reverse was against the Audi Quattro 82 not as easy this time. I passed him on the back straight on the last lap. The car was wheezing about due to its archaic 4-speed automatic transmission. I took 9 points for the win this time.
That tranny was bothering me; so I went home I looked about the Lexus parts catalogue about ordering a 5-speed transmission. I had enough bones (saving the prize RSC money for later) to get one, but the factory was all out of stock. I went to work, and called up good old Mr. Dornick.
Hey, Mr. D! Hows the SC300 doing?
Okay Hey, a buddy of mine at the SC300 Owners Club needs a favor from you. Can you give him call for the nearest body shop? he inquired.
For you no problem! I replied.
So I call up his buddy, and send down a tow truck for his car. I check it in, and it looks bad. The cars obviously totaled. But the transmission mounts are fine, so its okay. I dont want to wait two weeks for an entire transmission delivery, so I make an offer to the gentleman.
Before he gets in touch with the insurance company, I ask him if hed like to sell me the wreckage for 10,400 far better than what theyll give him. Deal done!
The rare 5-speed transmission option on the SC300 is a perfect fit in the old GS300. Wonderful! I can go back to racing again in the Professional Clubman Events, which is having its latest race at Deep Forest Raceway.
I take the lead from the S2000 while braking into the first turn on the second lap; netting a 112-point victory by 8.2 seconds. Not too hard.
This GS was working out to be a surprisingly good piece of racecraft. It would be even nicer if it could shed some weight. I used the winnings to put the GS on Weight Watchers, and 1000 credits later, shes shed 200 kilograms in a just a few hours! Unfortunately, the car doesnt have that nice leather smell anymore, but thats racing.
So now I figure I can really give the big boys a run for their money. I enter the Professional Turbo events, starting at Fuji Raceway. I figured the other competitors always brake too early for the first turn, so it ought to be an easy win, right?
Not so fast. Literally...
The race begins, and Im to be awarded 200 points for a victory. I realize Ive never won a 200 point race, so maybe this wont be so easy. But lets give it a try.
4th place, +14.9 sec behind the leading RX-7 Bathurst.
I spun once into the mid-way hairpin. Oh well, you cant win everything.
4th place, +11.5 sec behind the Bathurst.
No spin, but no win either. I decided catching the Bathurst isnt going to be possible yet.
Retired. (Phone rang, and realized Id thrown the controller on the couch after Id paused it. Oops.) I restarted the event again.
3rd place, + 3.2 sec behind the Peugeot 205.
No obvious mistakes, but that pesky 205 and RX-7 are giving me fits. They laugh at me on the long straights.
6th place, +16.8 behind everyone and everything.
Damn RX-7 Infini swerved into me into the sand traps at 150 mph.
3rd place, +1.6 sec behind the 205.
I make a slight bobble into the 3rdgear bend before the hairpin on the last lap; this really bugs me as the 205 tank-slaps the RX-7 on the final turn of the last lap. I could have won had I not made a mistake!
3rd place, +1.2 sec behind the FC.
I can smell their exhaust throughout the event. But I just cant seem to close in on them when it counts, even though the 205 went wide in the same place again. I reset the field, hoping for that elusive 200 point win.
2nd place, +16.2 sec behind the Lotus Esprit 87.
The other competitors were easy, but the Lotus just ran away right from the get-go.
2nd place, +13.7 sec behind the Lotus.
Somehow, I expected to get better by doing the same impossible task. I must be insane.
I like this car, but it needs help. So I enlisted the parts catalogue again, this time for a Racing Flywheel, a Triple Plate Clutch, and some more Weight Reduction. I make no power upgrades, as Im aiming for the 200 points.
2nd place, +7.8 sec behind the RX-7 Bathurst.
I slid wide too many times.
2nd place, +11.2 sec behind the Bathurst.
Spin the black circle!
3rd place, +10.5 sec behind the Bathescythe.
Its time for bed.
I wake up refreshed, and ready to take on the challenges of the same darn thing (much like life). I go to the shop, and ask the technicians to remove all the remaining unnecessary items from the interior of the car (who needs air conditioning in Florida, anyway?), add a racing adjustable suspension, and throw on some heavy duty brake pads, rotors, and calipers. We also try a racing limited slip differential, to help keep Big Blue in line.
To Fuji we go, 200 points or bust!
3rd place, +7.1 behind the Lotus Esprit.
You! Again?
2nd place, +5.8 behind the Lotus.
Not so distant are we?
2nd place, +5.2 behind the seemingly-impossible-to-catch Lotus.
You thinking what Im thinking? No, I was thinking about resetting the field once more.
2nd place, +4.0 behind the Audi S4.
Alright, progress!
2nd place, +2.3 behind the Audi S4.
Closer .
2nd place, +0.9 behind the Audi S4.
Almost there
1st place, -0.698 ahead of the Audi S4!
My first 200 point victory! Id forgotten what winning was like!
I went to work the next day, and sent the car to the body shop for rigidity refreshing of the cars frame. It deserved it, after all the abuse (both verbal and physical) Id given it at Fuji. I also added A Stage 1 turbo, since the last race was far from easy.
Next stop was R246 Reverse; I beat the Peugeot 205 coming out of the final turn and blocked it for victory by a scant 0.050 sec. I gained 177 points.
High Speed Ring: 1st place, I beat the Bathurst by 2.267, for another 200 point victory. I passed the RX-7 in the turn before the tunnel entrance on the first lap.
New York: 1st, 0.316 sec ahead of the 205, for 186 points. This is first time Ive enjoyed any race in Manhattan, I usually dread running here.
Midfield; 1st place, beating a 99 STi by 3.240 sec. I scored 199 points this time.
So I traded in that BP RX-7 (silly mismatched wheels), and went to Japan. Or at least tried to go there. Apparently, my cars American. Never mind the fact Lexus didnt actually sell the GS300 in 1991, which means that my cars just some expatriate renegade, forbidden to enter its country of initial heritage. In any case you might as well bloom where youre planted; so I headed over to the Stars & Stripes trio of events.
These races provided good A-spec points, even though I was only up against American cars, no Lexii, Infiniti or Acurii (I mean, Acuras).
1st place: Seattle, 2.134 sec. ahead of the 00 Camaro SS.
An easy 181 points; passed the SS on the first lap, just before the start-finish line.
1st place: Laguna Seca, 0.831 sec. ahead of the Viper
Another 181 points. I beat a Viper.
1st place: Infineon SCC, 1.165 sec. ahead of the ZR-1.
171 points for me. No Vipers in this race, I guess. Claimed that Camaro LM Car, or whatever they call it now. Still cant win it in black, either.
Now that I felt invincible, I thought Id try my luck at The Rally dUmbria. Except, I felt that I should try it in Hard, since Id won the other two. Nottachance!
2nd place: 45.110 seconds behind the Renault R5 Maxi Turbo Rally Car
The car felt good, it was great fun trying; but in the end trying this race in Hard is just plain dUmb.
So back in reality, I thought about trying the Family Cup event at Nürburgring. Two laps is just enough, and Ill have fun no matter what happens. Set the Difficulty on 5, and run with about 315ps.
I took the lead on the back straight, but lost a few places on the final long straight (the one thats actually you know, straight). I countered back to take the lead a few turns after the start-finish line, and extended my lead to about 7 seconds at one point. But then the R3 tires started turning yellow. And then they were orange. I started to nurse the car carefully into the Karusell. The tires turned orange-red while gingerly driving into the next couple of 3rd-gear ess-bends. I was doing some magnificent powerslides, holding up that Viper GTS in the process. But by the time tires turned red on the long downhill right-hander Ding! The tires are done and so are you!
I spun. And spun. And got clobbered by the GT-R Concept. And so I spun some more. And when I finally regained my cars composure the Mercedes SL600 hit me too! The Benz was facing the wrong way, so I managed to limp home 5th, only 5.7 seconds down, amazingly, but needing a trip to the body shop after all that.
I tried again, with the same Difficulty to 5. I bought R2 (Hard) tires to prevent a repeat of the last time I tried this race.
2nd place to a Viper SRT10 03, 1.2 seconds down.
Lead most of the way, but got passed twice on the final straight. More top-end power?
Same race, Difficulty 3. I also bolted on a TRD Racing Muffler from the parts catalog.
1st place, 6.2 seconds ahead of a Zonda C12.
This time, nobody could catch me on any of the straights.
So now I thought Id try my luck at another course, one I know well, but at the highest Difficulty (10). The track was SSR5 Normal, another Family Cup race.
1st place: 2.128 seconds ahead of the Ford GT.
I passed the Zonda C12 S during braking for the hairpin on the first lap, and never looked back (well, except on the front straight). I scored 200 A-spec points!
I won the to race the Tuning Car Grand Prix with a CLK Race Car last time, so I thought Id use something more competitive this time. I bought a Stage 2 (370ps) and a Stage 3 turbo (494ps), just in case.
At Apricot Hill, I scored pole by 1.081 against the Opera S2000, Ruf BTR, Spoon S2000, Mines Evo VI, and the Nismo R34 R-tune.
1st Opera, 2nd GS300 91, 3rd BTR, 4th Spoon, 5th Mines, 6th Nismo.
In the race, I finished 2nd to the Opera by 4.9 seconds. After he got by me at the chicane, I couldnt keep up no matter how much I tried.
At Fuji, I had the Stage 3 turbo installed. Good thing Lexus just opened service centers in Japan.
1st place: GS300, 3.5 seconds ahead of the Opera.
Easy win. I didnt need to qualify. Now I have too much power, although I wont complain.
The next race was another win, 2.32 seconds ahead of the Opera. I scooped up wins at El Capitan and Tsukuba, beating the Opera S2000 easily for the championship. Each of the remaining races paid out 35 A-spec points.
I thought Id try a round of the Supercar Festival, just for kicks. It paid a paltry 10 points, but I was nice to beat a Nissan R390 in a fair fight; the old GS was quite suited to Midfield.
Anyways, after that, I tried a few more races. Ill write more when I find the stats for those races that Ive recorded.
