Lexus GX 460 Overlander

In late 2019, I attended Lexus’ Experience Amazing Drive Event.  It was the last car event I attended before the pandemic struck, and until that point, surprisingly my first experience with the Lexus marque, despite all my other involvement with the auto enthusiast world.  This event was geared toward their luxury, sport, and daily-driver / grocery-getter offerings, so the GX was notably absent.

Based on the Toyota Land Cruiser, the Lexus GX brings the luxurious comfort and attention to design detail to the a formidable off-road abilities of the N210 and later N280 chassis.  Because of that one-two combo, the GX is a popular choice among overlanders, who modify their flagship Lexus SUV to handle even rougher terrain when the dirt road ends, camp out under the stars, and do it all in comfort regardless of how far away from asphalt you are; The Lexus GX lets you explore and always feel at home.

This particular Lexus GX 460 is currently for sale on Expedition Portal (at time of writing).

You can visit the sale page here, and read a piece from its feature on Expedition Portal here.

(Please do not contact J. David Buerk - Photography for vehicle sale inquiries - I am not the seller.)

This 2012 example has been heavily modified to increase functionality and endurance, but has in no way impacted the comfort or space for you and your passengers.  Notable modifications include lift kit, skid plates, auxiliary fuel tank, rooftop tent, solar panel, refrigerator, front and rear bumpers, winch, floodlights, ham radio, and more.  You can find a full list of modifications from the seller below:

Interior:

• A-pillar Tacoma RAM mount/sPod touchscreen with 8 slot controls

• RAM accessory rail

• Yaesu FTM 300-DR, includes GPS and APRS

• Orangeboxx Fabrication rear MOLLE panels

• Fire Extinguisher & mount

• MSA fridge slide

• Ironman 50L refrigerator

• Goose Gear rear plate

• QuickFist axe/hatchet mounts

• Custom rear battery box/dual battery with 100aH Duracell AGM battery which includes:

  • 2 cigarette charging ports (Fused to Blue Sea block)

  • 4 USB ports (Fused to Blue Sea block)

  • REDARC 1225BCDC solar controller

  • REDARC SBI Smart Battery Isolator 12v/100A

  • (2) 8AWG Anderson plugged-leads for external tent power/heater, etc.

• Custom “Jump” button to use house battery as starter for emergencies

Exterior:

• Bush Company Alpha RTT with dual ladder mounts which are configurable Driver/Passenger/Rear

• Merlin Solar Trailblazer TBS 180R 180w solar panel

• Prado 150 rocker panels

• Dobinsons IMS 3” lift and BMC. Front springs are Dobinsons C59-329 with Dobinsons PS59-4030 ¼” spacer and OME 2899 rears with spacer

• Timbren rear bumpstops

• (5) SCS SR8 wheels with Kenda Klever 35x10.5” tires, 5 tire rotated

• Ironman forged upper control arms

• Ironman front recovery points

• RAD Rubber fender flaps

• ARB IPF Series 2 driving lamps

• Superwinch Tigershark 11,500 with synthetic line and control box relocate

• Dobinsons rear bumper, dual jerry can swingout and spare tire holder

• Ironman front bumper

• Compactennae ham radio antennae

• ARB single compressor to Blue Sea fuse block

• Rigid Industries Side Shots ditch lights with amber covers

• Baja Designs rear 2” flood lights – tent mounted

• RSG sliders - Rhino-lined

• RCI steel skids (Front, t-case, and fuel tank)

• LRA tank 33 gallons

If you are interested in this Lexus GX 460, you can visit the sale page here, and read a piece from its feature on Expedition Portal here.

(Please do not contact J. David Buerk - Photography for vehicle sale inquiries - I am not the seller.)

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If you are interested in this Lexus GX 460, you can visit the sale page here, and read a piece from its feature on Expedition Portal here.

(Please do not contact J. David Buerk - Photography for vehicle sale inquiries - I am not the seller.)

Etihad at Children's National: Dream a Little Dream

This past Friday, April 11th, Etihad Airways, alongside several other partners, unveiled the Etihad Airways Room at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington DC.  Etihad Airways’ Chief People and Performance Officer Ray Gammell was joined by UAE Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Yousef Al Otaiba, President and Chief Executive Officer of Children’s National, Kurt Newman, MD, and Fox News anchor Bret Baier, a member of the Children’s Hospital Foundation Board.

The unveiling took place in Children's National's Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation after a tour of the Cardiac ICU, where Etihad Airways also gave funding for additional hospital rooms.

The Etihad Airways "Flying Nannies" also flew in to Children's National, paying a visit to entertain some of the hospital's young patients.  Each Etihad flight has an onboard "Flying Nanny" available to help entertain children during the flight.  Nannies are specially trained and certified by Norland, and have a busy bag for children.  Kids can enjoy coloring, origami, face paining, and even more with the Etihad Flying Nannies.

Due to patient confidentiality, I am only able to release Etihad's Official Press Release photograph I took of the Flying Nannies.

The events in the morning were only a precursor to Children's National's annual "Dream a Little Dream" Fundraiser Ball at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington, DC, that evening.  Almost 1,000 guests, including National Security Adviser, Susan Rice (D), Chicago Mayor, Rahm Emanuel (D), and the Saudi Ambassador to the US, Adel Al Jubeir, and other congressmen, senators, and celebrities, were welcomed by video introductions from Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, and First Lady Michelle Obama.  Speakers included Kurt Newman, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Children’s National, House Majority Leader, Eric Cantor (R), and His Excellency Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to the United States.  The glamorous evening began with dinner, personally cooked by Wolfgang Puck himself.

After dinner, the fundraising auction began.  Bret Baier, anchor for Fox News Channel and member of the Children’s Hospital Foundation Board, conducted the auction with the help of Norah O’Donnell, co-anchor of CBS This Morning.

The auction was kicked off with a black labrador puppy - the only description was "AWWWW!!!"  Other auction items included Two Diamond First Class tickets on Etihad Airways, tickets to the Kennedy Center Honors, and tickets to tapings of American Idol and The Voice.

All auction proceeds went directly to Children's National.

Another item auctioned was a Lorraine Schwartz bracelet, necklace, and earrings, designed for and worn by Beyoncé.  The jewelry was co-designed by Jozlyn Miller, a 12 year old patient of Children's, who modeled and was on hand to help Bret Baier conduct the auction.

Upon winning the jewelry, Jho Low surprised Jozlyn by asking her to keep and enjoy the jewelry, and also donated an additional $100,000 to Children's National on top of the jewelry's purchase price.

The evening concluded with a surprise performance by singer and actress Jennifer Hudson, which I was unfortunately unable to photograph due to licensing agreements with Ritz-Carlton.

Overall, the fundraising event raised a record $10.7 million, all of which directly benefits Children's National.

This was the fifth time I have photographed for Etihad Airways, and it is always nice to catch up with some familiar faces I have come to know over the past year.  I have photographed Regina and Jekaterina at every Etihad event I have attended to-date.  It's so great having friends and fans all over the globe!

My photography has been used for press release, and has been featured in several news outlets.  I have been informed that The Washington Diplomat is also writing a story featuring my photography, due out next week.