One of the truly intoxicating feelings associated with owning a performance car is the sense that, at any time, you could put on your blinker, make a right turn onto the front stretch of a professional racetrack and turn in some hot laps – all without having to leave the comfort of your air conditioned leather seat.
Some cars only hint at the possibility of such capabilities in their advertising and brochures, but the Lexus IS-F truly delivers. This special model’s 416 hp and 371 lb/ft of torque transform the standard IS sedan into a 10-ticket thrill ride, a vehicle that devours pavement by the mile without the slightest hesitation. In combination with an eight-speed automatic transmission, a stiff suspension and oversized brakes, the IS-F transcends the luxury segment to occupy a sector of the market reserved exclusively for the cream of the crop.
With so much potential sitting under their right feet, typical IS-F owners often find themselves asking where exactly can they unleash their beasts. Public roads are never the safest places to fly low, and Germany’s autobahns are a little too far out of the way. Fortunately, there is a great spot, located not too far off the beaten path, that offers Lexus owners the chance to stretch their cars’ legs and also take in some of the nicest scenery in the region.
Watkins Glen International is a 3.4-mile road course located near Watkins Glen State Park, in the western part of New York State. Ground was broken on the site in 1948, and for many years, the track hosted Formula One’s American Grand Prix, as well as competitions from several other different series. After a thorough renovation in the 1980s, the track once again was the site of top-level NASCAR, SCCA and vintage racing competitions. Constant updates have kept “The Glen” fresh for new generations of racers.
The facility is also open to the public through a large number of track days organized by racing clubs not only local to the area, but also from across the entire northeastern United States. These track events range from full-day excursions with an instructor seated beside you coaching you toward better and faster lap times, to more introductory excursions that include lunches, visits to automotive museums, a few laps around the track and VIP access to racing events like the U.S. Vintage Grand Prix. It’s really up to you to decide how far you want to take your racedriver fantasies – and how hard you want to push yourself out on the tarmac. Your Lexus IS-F is up to the challenge.
Of course, if you get tired of turning in lap after lap at speeds that would possibly get you arrested outside of a closed course, there are other ways to enjoy yourself in Watkins Glen. The village itself is situated at the south end of Seneca Lake, a beautiful, 38-mile-long finger lake carved out by glaciers long before the invention of the internal combustion engine. Not only is Seneca Lake a calming spot to fish for trout or merely relax for a peaceful afternoon of boating, swimming or lying on the beach, but its presence also contributes to the special macroclimate that sustains the Seneca Lake American Viticultural Area (AVA).
In layman’s terms, an AVA is a special type of region that is ideally suited for growing wine grapes and that has been federally recognized as such. As Seneca Lake does not freeze during the cold winter months thanks to its great depth, it stores enough heat to lengthen the growing season for the dozens of vineyards surrounding it. Watkins Glen is encircled by 30 different wineries, producing everything from Chardonnays to Pinot Noirs to Merlots. The Finger Lakes Wine Festival celebrates the region’s best bottles every July with most of the events taking place in the village of Watkins Glen.
A trip to “The Glen” is about more than satisfying a need for speed. Once that particular itch has been scratched by the track’s twists, turns and white-knuckle straightaways, it’s time for an evening of wine tasting followed by a daytrip through one of the most uniquely beautiful regions found in the eastern U.S. Bring the family along – there’s plenty for everyone to do on the shores of Lake Seneca.
