This was the car in 1973, launched the brand, and the outfit that will grow to being one of Toyota's right hand teams to set the world straight on how to build a fast car.
The KP47 by Tom's won Japan's Grand Championship series with it's fully modified and meticulously honed and balanced K-series engine that revved sky high at 11,000 rpm. This engine, 3K-R was the benchmark reference for all of the Toyota DOHC engines that followed from the 4A-G, 3S-G, 5M-G, 7M-G, G-G,and JZ-G. It was a puny 1300cc, that packed over 190 horses breathing natural atmosphere. No turbo.
With maximum torque at a very narrow peak and 100 lbs-ft at that, those who could drive it fast was far and few in between.

The post TOM'S KP47 Starlet, that's Tachi-Oiwa Motorsports appeared first on Club4AG.

Cusco 1-2 gear set and Final Drive Gear set and Limited Slip Differential
1st - 2.946 vs 3.626 (stock)
2nd - 2.011 vs 2.188 (stock)
Final Drive gear available in 4.556

The post Toyota 86 Drivetrain, Close Ratio Gears, and Final Drive appeared first on Club4AG.

Meet the 2016 Lexus GS-F.
If you know what an "E-ticket" means, you're ready for the perfectly sensible road rocket.
If not, you're probably too young and shallow to even begin to comprehend it... 

Lexus has been ultra-busy producing a huge line-up of new cars practically replacing the entire fleet over the last couple of years, starting with an all new NX, refreshing the IS, GS, and ES, then launching with huge fanfare, the RC coupe and using the attention to slip the all new RX and some revamping of the LX F-Sport package.

For the enthusiasts of driving emotions, however, the attention must go to the RC-F and this brand new sibling, the GS-F. Both cars have been a topic of controversy among the general buyers in the market for such disproportionately powered monster super-sedans, touting it as bloated or geeky in shapes. I, however, feel that beyond the marketing taglines, and fan-based gossiping, that the RC-F and GS-F are two of the most boldly planned cars that traditionally conservative Lexus brand has ever carried to date. The IS-F which the concept lends back to, launched in 2008, was the first iteration of the monster super-sedan. The IS has almost been a backbone for constant evaluation of both mechanical design and testing the market waters for such cars.

Despite the astronomical costs of launching a new car on a unique non-shared platform, with it's own engine variation is not something even Toyota can laugh about. Today's regulatory commissions of first world nation comes with extreme overhead costs of meeting these rules, from EPA to DOT, to reports of independent studies, and the list goes on and on, and by the time these are all checked and met, the company would have invested in excess of $50~100 million for each platform.

The GS-F is such a car. It's exclusive to a thousand and few hundred owners globally, and are hand-assembled like the RC-F, to each order by the dealers or customers. Like the RC-F and the IS-F before it, it boasts a v8 engine converted with high strung cams, and programmed to respond. So much so, that the cars are also equipped with equipment to keep monsters at bay so that the spouses and kids can drive it to the mall in rain without the risk of self-propelling the car into a ditch.
The monsters I state here is in the order magnitude of say, nearly three times the power of a Camry, and if you look back at history, more power than a Ferrari Testarossa had in Miami Vice chase scene.  Unlike the RC-F's personal size styling and use features, the GS-F does have a proper 5 passenger seat configuration and rear doors that truly make it a "E-Ticket" ride for 4 eager passengers. (Yes I said E-Ticket, and that's how old you'd be to understand this car. )

Despite this, the public cries it loses in numerical power spec to the Mercedes Benz AMG. Everything is about numbers I suppose but as for me, I rather feel that having already this much power, and curtailing it just enough to have the fuel use figure that slips by a hair under the "Gas Guzzler Tax" in the USA seems, well, sensible. Yeah, this RC-F and GS-F does pass under that silly Uncle Sam invoice, so that you're not paying that extra several thousand bucks in registration and ownership. That sensible side of Lexus is what erks most passionate folks, I suppose. But you know, I think that's a choice really, and if one wants to be passionate and financially responsible (given you're already nuts for choosing these F cars), so be it, and Lexus F cars here are the clear choice.

Bulky and heavy? Sure, but even the 400lbs lighter super-sedans from competition is still heavy compared to a true sports car like the Lotus Evora by a few hundred slices of the best prime rib. I don't really see it as a car you'd buy based on raceway agility in other words, if you really do know how to drive sports cars. That goes for the entire category of these big-power land missiles. You shoot down the interstate in these, and carve passes with glorious noises of the wide-overlap V8, not dice with Fiat 500 Abarth and Miata on Sunday tracks.

Just reserve one, and buy it, if you can afford it. It is the most exciting Lexus you can buy, and it isn't the F-Sport that slips under the radar at family gatherings, these RC-F and GS-F do make a loud presence in your instagram feed. Don't worry about it.

It is a PROPER SUPER-SEDAN.

The post Meet the 2016 Lexus GS-F. If you know what an "E-ticket" means, you're ready for the perfectly sensible road rocket. appeared first on Club4AG.

I had a chance to test the APEX-i Smart Throttle Controller this week, and it's been 4 days since I got it strapped to my car. It's a very easily concealable unit, consisting of a brain CPU box that is about as big as a cigarette pack, and with long enough leads to hide it anywhere. The FRS has a lower trim panel under each side of the center console area which can just pop off, and quite a bit of space is inside where things can just mount without issues. So the box went in easily in there, and harness couplers just go between the throttle socket and main E/BCU harness.
10 min install for most folks who can figure out how to put a socket in and out of plugs.

The main reason for Apex-i USA and I was to make sure the unit works as designed and since it is a universal Denso style unit not specifically made for this FRS, that we wanted to see what effects this will have on the car.
Everyone knows that playing with throttles won't add any power to the car, but it is there to tune the throttle pedal in relation to the actual actuator motions at the engine to fine-tune and tailor things to the driver's tastes, which this unit is designed to do.

The Apex-i TCC has sort of a unexpected benefit, now that I spent a few days with it.

The original FRS throttle, as designed by Subaru and Toyota engineers on this car, reacts really precisely and rapidly, unlike most of the previous lazy Denso throttle on other cars, where it isn't any slower or nudgy.
It actually behaves REALLY good out of the box, and there isn't a single complaint for the FRS throttle.

There, as almost predicted, the response turned "up" on the controller didn't help much in the FRS, as it made it overly sensitive, and sort of became rather jumpy. Perhaps this would however be useful if you are sort of into revving at the light in neutral, or performing quick starts if you can modulate the clutch pedal in lightning quick ways of a pro-NHRA guy.

In track use, the normal FRS throttle would give the best balance of response, and predictably as Mr.Tada and his team designed so feverishly to stay in focus of the character and use of the FRS. At least to me, it was wonderful in stock form whether AT or MT.

However, in the three degrees of ECO modes of the Apex-i unit, the throttle becomes slightly lazier in actuation curve without losing the response, and it helps when you might want to lend the car to someone who just wants to get from A to B, without having the drama and Initial D experience. It makes maneuvers in parking lots easier and possibly extends freeway miles by regulating smaller inputs, especially in AT equipped FRS, to a milder state where AT doesn't kick down in confusion at the slight input, or rough driver inputs by someone not familiar with how responsive the FRS reacts. The ECO-1 mode actually made the throttle feel almost like a traditional cable direct actuation, toning down the really enthusiastic response to something like as if it was a inline four with side-draft carburetors, LOL! Classy!

The FRS throttle is very much dedicated to skilled and enthusiastic sports driving, and there was no compromise to accommodate the "committee." Therefore, it's far responsive than most other cars in production. AS such, this device can make it feel more mundane for those that prefer it for daily uses.

Considering it adds virtually no weight to the car, and reasonable pricing, it might be one of the items on your shopping list that you can play with, and have pretty noticeable difference in how the car responds. I think I'd much rather put couple hundred bucks in this device, knowing in the future there may be some mods to the car, than to invest in some random magic octane boost or swirl generator in the air box...LOL! None of the latter would have any effect really, on a modern GDI engine like the FA20... but playing with the parameters of input signals will have some fun results in engines like this, where everything is monitored and dependent on electronic signals from the ****pit.

I would know that I can fine tune the gas pedal in as easily steps as a click of a couple of buttons in the 4 settings. ON/OFF and in steps of ECO, 1~3, and Low, Boost, and High Boost mode. And regardless of whatever reasons you may have or wish to make it behave one way or another, this is one of those devices that will add to the fun of "tailoring your car, your own"

Again, it is one of those things, where if all your brain can digest is specs on paper, and numbers coming from sheets, in the published stats-Olympics, no, this won't do anything to change your ego.
But if you are a discerning driver with human sense, and can interact with a car in a more intuitive way, then it sure adds some element of fun.

I say thumbs up. As this is something that does enhance the FRS experience, a car born of intrinsic fun and tactile interactions of the driver.

Please excuse the less than ideal photo...and semi-temporary mounting...
I didn't want to start hacking the dash for this little switch just yet as there may be other things later that I need to plan.

The post Apex-i Smart Throttle Controller (Scion FR-S) appeared first on Club4AG.

Original Hayashi Stret ST-L series wheels soon available in 17" for two models, Scion FRS, Toyota Prius with dedicated fitment specs or both in classic sport functional specifications. The new series uses lighter alloys with stronger design and machine process, CNC from single billet. #hayashracing Hayashi racing.

The post Hayashi Racing ST-L Wheels, Returns in 17" sizes for the Toyota 86/ Scion FR-S appeared first on Club4AG.

The post 86 Dynamic Driving Academy 6 appeared first on Club4AG.

https://www.facebook.com/Moto.Club4AG/posts/10203404243283067

The post A couple of quotes from Akio Toyoda, the president of Toyota in a Japanese interview... appeared first on Club4AG.

San Diego's local chapter SCCA SOLO2 Autocross Championship. We took a visit to support our local friends like Robert Stangarone, who's avidly campaigning the Scion FR-S all the way to National Tour events this year.

With San Diego being a huge and established US Navy community, the variety of cars run a gamut from ever popular Muscle Cars to Dedicated Formula cars, and even kids in Go Karts. It's one of the most diverse Solo2 chapters in the nation as far as types of cars, and is also home to a large number of National Champions of the Solo2 community.

It sure was a treat to welcome some of them to Winmax USA, brake pads, and get to know more and more friends.

The post SCCA Solo2 Scene in San Diego, California... appeared first on Club4AG.

The post PIAA LP530 RFT-LED Fog Lamps custom fitted to Club4AG Scion FR-S, borrowing pieces from motorcycle aftermarket technology. appeared first on Club4AG.

Dynamic Driving Academy 2

Event Date: July 13th 2013, 7:30am~4:00pm
Event Entry Price: $125 registered online (link below)
Location: Willow Springs Raceway (Balcony Testing Grounds)

Schedule Details:

Classroom Meets at various venues local to discuss and exchange ideas with instructors and gather necessary conceptual elements and basic understanding of physics in dynamic control of a car.

Balcony Area Testing Grounds provide actual driving dynamics practice, in a safe and controlled, sanctioned environment with instructors for improvement and satisfaction of ownership and learning how to control a car. The goal of the events will not be for the sake of racing, but to understand how cars are driven in a performance venue, with skills to maximize the use of the car at speeds and control the automobile proficiently.

Features:

Autocross, Gymkhana, Pylon cone lesson areas, games, and class sessions with Q&A.

Required:
A qualifying automobile in good maintenance
A SA or MA 2000 or newer Helment or an FIA rated helmet.
A good set of tires, and spare pair or set if you can bring some.
A basic set of tools to safely change tires
An assistant is optional and useful
A will to learn, behave, and make friends.
A driver's license from any state or province of USA
A driver who is 18 years old or older.
Shoes, not sandals, slippers, or boots.
A good attitude
A friendly demeanor
A respect for another person and property

What is NOT required:
Animosity to a particular car
Evil intents
Huge ego
Any significant modifications to car or person
Children or pets that needs supervision full time (unless you bring someone over 18 that can supervise them full time)
Alcohol is prohibited as are any controlled substance in the State of CA
Entourage of people who want to cheer you on, and get in your way.
THis is a classroom, and a school... So don't bring anything or anyone you don't want in school...

IN addition your car needs to be:

Not leaking oils and fluids
Not catching fires
Free of issues of electrical, fuel, or other critical areas mechanically.
Tires more than 1/8" tread usable tread.
Parking brakes and main brakes functional
All lamps functional
Seatbelts, and seats, that are DOT approved or FIA approved. (factory belts are DOT approved)
Wheel nuts and studs with more than 5 turns to secure.
Hubs and steering system in good condition
We reserve the right to refuse any participants for partial or full refund if we deem your car or equipment not fit for the event with minimal requirements.
Event Location Willow Springs Raceway (BALCONY Section)
Street Address 3500 75th St W, Rosamond, CA 93560
Country USA
Maximum Entries 30
Online Registration Opens 02-Jul-2013 1:00 AM EST
Online Registration Closes 13-Jul-2013 1:00 AM EST

REGISTER HERE:
http://www.myautoevents.com/pls/mae/frmEventDetail.Show?psevent_id=14224

The post July 13th, 2013 - 86 Dynamic Driving Academy 2 at Willow Springs Raceway, Balcony Vehicle Testing Facility. appeared first on Club4AG.