Heavily modified Lexus takes on the original Acura supercar followed by the new NSX.
This video comes to us from TheBayAreaRacing YouTube channel and it features a pair of races including a Lexus ISF and an Acura NSX – with two different examples of the midship supercar facing off with the sedan. These races were captured during a Never Lift half-mile top speed event and although the Lexus runs a quicker speed, one of the Acura’s gets to the finish line first.
The Competitors
The video features three high performance cars storming down the half mile runway – a Lexus IS F, an older NSX and a 2018 NSX. The Lexus has forged internals, headers, a supercharger making 6 pounds of boost and an E45 ethanol tune. The classic NSX has a supercharger setup and it seems that the new Acura is stock.
We don’t get power numbers on either of the modified cars, but we know that the older Acura and the Lexus are rear-drive models while the new NSX has the advanced hybrid all-wheel drive system and 573 horsepower. Based on the video, we would guess that the built Lexus V8 has more than that.
The Racing Action
The video begins with a battle between the old school Acura and the Lexus. The two leave the line pretty evenly, but it doesn’t take long for the IS F to begin pulling away. By the time they get to the half-mile finish line, the sedan is way out ahead – hitting a speed of 158 miles per hour to just 136 for the NSX.
The second race pits the same Lexus against a new NSX. On the start, the Acura gets out to a healthy lead and while the Lexus pulls hard and closes the gap on the top end – the midship supercar gets to the line first. However, the Lexus once again laid down the bigger number, hitting 158 once again while the Acura “only” hit 152 miles per hour.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
