Track day in a wildly inappropriate car (GS430)

OK, so it's not exactly a Murano Convertible, but I just did a track day in my GS430 and it was hilarious. My intent was to learn the track for the AER race coming to Mid-Ohio in October, and I managed to do a decent job of that and had fun in the mix.

It has a lot of rubber for a street car (245-45/18 Pilot Sport AS3+) but the weight was just torture on those tires. Any speed through turns resulted in a lot of howling. The brakes are the new Raybestos "Advanced Technology" pad and rotors with fresh fluid - just done for street driving mind you - and they might be cooked. There was a lot of smell in the braking zones and the rotors have a blue sheen to them now. They now moan a bit right as I'm coming to a stop.

We finished the day in the rain and that track gets very, very slick when that happens. We had only four of us brave enough to drive in the last lead/follow session, so the leader got to talk us each through a lap then do one fast lap. I didn't even try to keep up on the fast lap; even half throttle in the rain was giving me some slip.

I've only ever been on track in race cars. I mean Lemons cars, yes, but they're still race cars with cage and some of them were seriously well prepared cars. It felt very surreal to be on track with a full leather interior and a/c and what not. That came in handy to keep the windows clear in the rain.

I hit 110mph on the back straight. Sure it's not earth shattering, but it's a lot for me in my daily driver.

Wonderfully Aristocratic!
On my bucket list is to get the Q45 out to a track day.

I think it's great. You got in touch with your daily. Now, if, for some crazy reason, you ever need to perform high speed maneuvers, you are that much better equipped to compensate. Time will slow down for you in serious situations. Good health to you sir.

That sounds like you had fun, and if that's not what this is all about we're doing in wrong. Nice job!

I throughly enjoy taking the CLS63 on track, cooling seats going the whole time. Yay for fast luxo-barges on track!

Awesome! Did you chew the tires up to the point of needing replacement?

In reply to Klayfish:

Thankfully no. I see a bit of shoulder wear - as you would expect pushing 3700 pounds or so around turns at speed - but I think they'll work fine on the street for a long time yet.

Awesome! Inappropriate vehicles in unexpected places are the best.

I shudder to think what my GS would be like on a road course but i still support the idea of others doing it!

As long as it passes tech and has fresh brakes/fluid, there's no such thing as a wildly inappropriate crack day car. Well done!

Might I suggest you try some Stoptech Sport pads with Centric 120 rotors the next time feel the need to get silly in your speed barge?

In reply to Vigo:

I would love to see the hybrid out there. Kind of. I was acutely aware of the fact that I was depending on this car to get me back home after the event and to work today. The hybrid would make it a hundred times more nerve wracking.

Thanks for the positive feedback guys! And for the brake tips, WildScots. I'll keep it in mind but I don't plan to repeat the gs on track experiment. Hopefully I'll have something lighter next time I'm on a track in a street car.

Why not? Sounds like fun.

dculberson wrote: I was acutely aware of the fact that I was depending on this car to get me back home after the event and to work today.

This always ends up with the driver holding back a bit. There was a rallycross where towards the end of the day, I just said "berkeley it, I don't care if this thing needs a AAA ride home." Chopped a little over 10 seconds off my next run (on a 2-ish minute course) just from not holding back for fear of breaking stuff.

I approve!

Fast luxomobiles + track days are hilariously fun and addictive.

Doing things with the wrong vehicle is the best. I still want to autocross with a Hellcat and turn it into "How many cones can I kill?"

I took a Mirage sedan for a lap a couple weeks ago. Now THAT was scary.

I guess I don't see what's too inappropriate about that. The V-8 GS was claimed to be the fastest sedan sold in America when it came out, and from what I understand there is a whole lot of Mark 4 Supra in the chassis. Rock on.

I guess you're right. The worst part was the brakes and that just comes down to a bad choice in rotor and pad. I put a strictly basic street pad on not knowing I was going to hit the track a month later.

Maybe I'll repeat the experience but with better brakes. Then better shocks and springs. Then a manual swap. And a gutted interior. Oh wait ... ;)

Better pads and better tires would go a long way towards making that thing reasonably competent.

Is there an lsd available for those? Some junkyard third that swaps in or something? Or is aftermarket the only option? Trd, os giken, etc., who makes em? I've been considering a gs but I'm an lsd addict.

This year I've instructed in a Camary Hybrid and an Automatic Civic. They hybrid started off nice and torquey, but go slower as the day went on. The auto civic kept fighting the driver with the auto upshifting ever time he got off the gas. Still, fun was had by both students. Hopefully they come back for more!

There used to be a Phaeton that showed up at Nelson Ledges fun days. The infamous driver once wore a suit while on track.

Some of you other Nelson Ledges regulars may also remember the pair of Limousines that made some appearances.

Yeah, that rules. Some people take track events too seriously. Get out there and have some fun.

sesto elemento wrote: Is there an lsd available for those? Some junkyard third that swaps in or something? Or is aftermarket the only option? Trd, os giken, etc., who makes em? I've been considering a gs but I'm an lsd addict.

I didn't know lsd was addictive. ;)

I believe you can swap in a mkiv Supra lsd. But I don't know the details.