Every ship needs a captain, a leader that will get it where it needs to be.
Forum member CaptainDan intends to do just that with his current project. He’s sailing his 1993 Lexus SC 300 NA-T build toward high horsepower. He said, “My goal for the car is to make high 600’s on 93 octane, and hopefully reach close to 800 on VP Q16 [racing fuel].”
Dan’s still en route to his final destination, but so far, he’s come a long way. He’s running lighter-than-stock connecting rods, new head studs, GM LS3 coilpacks, performance engine bearings, a BorgWarner S300SX 9180 turbo, a two-way limited-slip differential, and a built R154 gearbox. The good captain’s made it over the rough waves of a trashed intake cam journal and piston-to-deck clearance issues and now has a power plant that he calls “the tightest engine ive put together.”
We hope the rest of your build is nothing but smooth sailing, CaptainDan. Please keep us updated on your voyage.
Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.
After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.
While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.
Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.
Where do you go for answers when you have a Lexus with a gorgeous leather interior but are not sure about how to maintain that luxurious look? The "Club Lexus" forums, of course.
