[oddball]

If you don't mind, I had a couple of questions. I think you already said you are running the whole lime rock course?

Cool - anyway - are you leaving the car in auto or manual/e-shift? Both, or, what ever the mood calls for?

I've not taken my IS to the track yet. Trying to see what others do. From what I've done on the road, it seems cumbersom as all hell. I couldn't imagine driving Sears Point using it...

So - if you don't mind, shoot either an email or message with comments how it drove. I'm interested.

There is a Thunder Hill event with another club I'm in. If my other car is not ready, I was thinking of using my IS. We'll see what they say

Maybe just a hot lap or two.

Thanks.

 

[croddy]

On the track I use e-shift. I want the car already in its power band and not have it downshift when I am comming out of a corner accelerating. I do the downshifting when braking before the corner and while the wheel is straight prior to turn in. Hope that helps. Also, the e-shift is less cumbersome on the track than you might think. You should not have to move your hands from the 10&2 possitions at any time. I have taken some very tight hairpins and was taught that it could be done. It take some getting used to, but once you do it helps you control your car better. Have fun. What is the other car?

 

[ckolsen]

Yeah, the only time on the track I had to move hands from 9 & 3 position was on the 180 U-turn we did at NH Speedway, but this was an unusual configuration due to construction on the banked oval.
You had to do a tight 180 at the end of the straight, and that required spinning the wheel almost to the stops.
I don't like the way the IS300 downshifts, the car jerks bad - like if you downshift on a clutch and don't give it any gas. Is there any way around that?

Originally posted by croddy:
On the track I use e-shift. I want the car already in its power band and not have it downshift when I am comming out of a corner accelerating. I do the downshifting when braking before the corner and while the wheel is straight prior to turn in. Hope that helps. Also, the e-shift is less cumbersome on the track than you might think. You should not have to move your hands from the 10&2 possitions at any time. I have taken some very tight hairpins and was taught that it could be done. It take some getting used to, but once you do it helps you control your car better. Have fun. What is the other car?

 

[croddy]

You would think with all the technology, espesially throttle by wire, that it could rev-match the downshift for you. I do not know a way around it, but I do wait until almost right before the turn in to down shift so that I am as slow as I can be. Chris, you should sign up for the NASA time trial at Lime Rock in August. www.nasatristate.com I will be there. We can have a little friendly competition.

Originally posted by ckolsen:
[QB]I don't like the way the IS300 downshifts, the car jerks bad - like if you downshift on a clutch and don't give it any gas. Is there any way around that?

 

[ckolsen]

That looks cool, never heard much about NASA. I have a 2 day track event in Canada the week before, Aug. 17, so I'm not sure I want to go the next week, but I'm dying to see an IS300 on the track. I also want to try Lime Rock, looks fun. Higher speeds than the 2 events I've done - though the Canada event will be VERY high speed - it's a 3 mile track!
I heel & toe before corners - I'm not usually jerky, but sometimes I can't make the shift and I sail through the turn on the brakes and in the wrong gear.

Originally posted by croddy:
You would think with all the technology, espesially throttle by wire, that it could rev-match the downshift for you. I do not know a way around it, but I do wait until almost right before the turn in to down shift so that I am as slow as I can be. Chris, you should sign up for the NASA time trial at Lime Rock in August. www.nasatristate.com I will be there. We can have a little friendly competition.

Originally posted by ckolsen:
[QB]I don't like the way the IS300 downshifts, the car jerks bad - like if you downshift on a clutch and don't give it any gas. Is there any way around that?

 

[oddball]

Croddy,

Thanks for the reply, and to everyone else as well.

If you couldn't tell yet, the IS is still new to me. I've owned mine for 3 weeks now. Still breaking it in, so I've not really jump'd on it so to speak. Thus the quesiton about manners on the track.

My other car is a 89 mustang. Used to be my daily driver. However, 180K later, blown ring, it's tired. Motor department is mostly stock, however, the suspension and brakes is where I've spent time. Tracks it sees are Sears Point, Willows, and Thunder Hill. I'm in the process of rebuilding the engine now, but it is as time allows. Nothing too urgent.

I would have taken that car to Thunder Hill. As it probably will not be ready, I'll go drive my IS down for a day to meet some friends and at least watch. But, has it usually turns out, I'll be offered to hot lap it around the track...not a whole 20 minute session, but I'll at least go around 4 or 5 laps - just to see how it likes it.

As I'm coming from a different car, torque, and a manual, it's different. You can't imagine what it is like not having to worry about my ass end swinging around...

Anyway - just gathering some info about the IS and people who drive it on road courses.
I'm looking forward to giving it a good spin.

Have a good day.