2023 Baja 1000 with Jaos Lexus LX600 (1 Viewer)

[cruiseroutfit]

We've made the trek to La Paz at the bottom of the Baja peninsula. We celebrated with late night tacos with Jaos/Toyota team from Japan. We've got a few days for final prep and testing.

The LX600 has had some major changes in the past year. 37" tires, larger KYB shocks, additional bumps tops, etc. The race this year is a grueling 1311 miles, quite a challenge for a stock class vehicle under any circumstances.

I'm hoping they accidentally leave a toolbox at my shop post race.

 

[bkfj40]

Can’t wait to see some posts on this over the next couple of days. Good luck!

 

[TeCKis300]

Awesome. Couldn't wait so did digging and the Jaos site has some good media - TEAM JAOS 2023 - https://www.jaos.co.jp/teamjaos/2023/

Looks like some serious structural mods were made in the chassis and suspension. I don't remember if Monica had this degree of strengthening?

 

[clrussell]

Watching

 

[jmw101]

Awesome! Thanks for always sharing insight on the challenges at Baja. I have to make it there someday.

 

[nickandrews]

We've made the trek to La Paz at the bottom of the Baja peninsula. We celebrated with late night tacos with Jaos/Toyota team from Japan. We've got a few days for final prep and testing.

View attachment 3479428

The LX600 has had some major changes in the past year. 37" tires, larger KYB shocks, additional bumps tops, etc. The race this year is a grueling 1311 miles, quite a challenge for a stock class vehicle under any circumstances.

View attachment 3479429

View attachment 3479430

I'm hoping they accidentally leave a toolbox at my shop post race.

View attachment 3479431

Best of luck this year! We are all cheering you on!!

 

[OGBeno]

Have a blast, Kurt. Cangaru is pitting for Jaos, I assume?

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Have a blast, Kurt. Cangaru is pitting for Jaos, I assume?

Pitting, driving and co-driving in the Jaos LX600

 

[OGBeno]

Killer.

 

[thatcabledude]

Sick

 

[theferg]

Yeah buddy! Good luck out there!

 

[cruiseroutfit]

 

[Docyota]

That is awesome. Looking forward to seeing some suspension descendants trickling down to us every day drivers.

 

[Oakleyguy]

So excited for this! I hope to see y'all finish!

 

[Jetboy]

Good luck! I'll be cheering for you!

Any other stock class teams this year? Is Canguro also racing the LC200?

Also I didn't know you could truss the axles and do other mods like that for stock class. I haven't read the rules in a few years. I don't recall the rear axle ever being an issue that needed to be trussed. Was that due to something found in testing or just an abundance of caution?

One question I don't understand is that Stock Full class says minimum of 130" wheelbase and max of 75" track width. Stock Midsize is under 130" wheelbase and maximum of 67.3" track width. LC300 is 112 WB and ~65" track width. Shouldn't it run in Stock Mid-Size class? Also - oddly the rule doesn't cover a vehicle that is under 130" wb but over 67.3 track width - it would be excluded from both categories. Anyway - why does it run in Stock Full vs Stock Mid?

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Good luck! I'll be cheering for you!

Any other stock class teams this year? Is Canguro also racing the LC200?

Also I didn't know you could truss the axles and do other mods like that for stock class. I haven't read the rules in a few years. I don't recall the rear axle ever being an issue that needed to be trussed. Was that due to something found in testing or just an abundance of caution?

One question I don't understand is that Stock Full class says minimum of 130" wheelbase and max of 75" track width. Stock Midsize is under 130" wheelbase and maximum of 67.3" track width. LC300 is 112 WB and ~65" track width. Shouldn't it run in Stock Mid-Size class? Also - oddly the rule doesn't cover a vehicle that is under 130" wb but over 67.3 track width - it would be excluded from both categories. Anyway - why does it run in Stock Full vs Stock Mid?

We are only running the 8188 Jaos LX600 this years, pitting, chasing and sharing driving & co-driving duties.

There was a massive rule change this year that added the wheelbase, width, tire and V8 requirements. Fortunately both the 8188 and 8155 are grandfathered into the class. In the future, new builds for Stock Full will have to be full-size trucks.

 

[tincan45]

We are only running the 8188 Jaos LX600 this years, pitting, chasing and sharing driving & co-driving duties.

There was a massive rule change this year that added the wheelbase, width, tire and V8 requirements. Fortunately both the 8188 and 8155 are grandfathered into the class. In the future, new builds for Stock Full will have to be full-size trucks.

Oh man, that really limits things on the Toyota side. Would like to see another Tundra in the mix someday. Looks like the only other "Full Stock" entry is a 700hp Ford Raptor...This will be fun to watch!

Good luck guys!

 

[Jetboy]

We are only running the 8188 Jaos LX600 this years, pitting, chasing and sharing driving & co-driving duties.

There was a massive rule change this year that added the wheelbase, width, tire and V8 requirements. Fortunately both the 8188 and 8155 are grandfathered into the class. In the future, new builds for Stock Full will have to be full-size trucks.

Thanks for the explanation. It's odd how they changed the rules. I'm no expert and I just looked up what the rule said out of curiosity and I didn't know it was different in the past. That basically means that no SUVs other than a Suburban and maybe an H1 can run in stock full. I don't think any other SUVs have a 130" wheelbase. At least nothing in the normal lineups. I think SCORE might want to consider re-thinking this one. Regular cab F150 and Land Cruiser = midsize but Tacoma = full size. And a Tahoe or Expedition would not technically fit either class.

I guess it's nice that you are grandfathered in so the Ford crossing with 45 seconds left isn't the class winner.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Thanks for the explanation. It's odd how they changed the rules. I'm no expert and I just looked up what the rule said out of curiosity and I didn't know it was different in the past. That basically means that no SUVs other than a Suburban and maybe an H1 can run in stock full. I don't think any other SUVs have a 130" wheelbase. At least nothing in the normal lineups. I think SCORE might want to consider re-thinking this one. Regular cab F150 and Land Cruiser = midsize but Tacoma = full size. And a Tahoe or Expedition would not technically fit either class.

I guess it's nice that you are grandfathered in so the Ford crossing with 45 seconds left isn't the class winner.

The H1 is too wide. New rules out it at 75” max width.

 

[Jetboy]

The H1 is too wide. New rules out it at 75” max width.

Good point. I was just looking for the longest WB SUVs I could think of that might be viable to run in the desert races. Maybe it makes sense to just have one class of stock vehicles. There hasn't been many Stock Mid-Size category vehicles in the last decade. Maybe they should just all race in Stock Full unless there's enough to split the class again or at least allow people to race up a class if they want. If I were going to race a Tacoma 4cyl - I'd rather race in a class with a few competitors than race alone in a class of 1.

Whatever the future is - I hope your team has a great race! I'd love to hear your thoughts on the KYB suspension (I didn't know they did race stuff) and LC300 race truck vs LC200 after the race.