Just wanted to share this video that JDM Masters just posted on youtube. They're a fairly new channel but put out excellent content.
Having owned an S2000 for a long time now, I usually don't watch S2000 reviews anymore, but this video had my attention for the full 49 minutes. It has a lot of great content, including translation/explanation of some interesting facts published in various magazines like Hyper Rev. If you're like me and can't read Japanese, then this should be interesting to you.

 

I saw their earlier video about, what to look for in an used S2000. And I had 2 thoughts while watching the used S2000 video:

- Why wasn't this guy here when I bought my car?
- The presenter is clearly Japanese... How is his English so perfect?! I mean, I spent most of the video trying to figure out where the video was shot. Japanese license plate... dude speaking perfect English. How?!

 

I absolutely love JDM Masters, great channel

 

He's from Singapore. His name is Kenneth Bradford Lim. Very cool guy and really does his research.

 

From Singapore, speaks Japanese and English... welp, it's time to ponder what I've done with my life...

 

Among the things i learned and/or never thought about: Red Valve cover. I always knew Honda put them on Type R engines, but for some reason never gave a second thought about why the F20C/F22C has a red valve cover. I guess i just thought it was styling. If what he said is true about red covers signifying the engine being the highest output spec of the engine family, then that's a pretty cool factoid.

 

In that case, makes sense that Honda saw no need to produce a Type R version, since every S2000 that ever produced was already a Type R. The JDM Type S and export version CR were special editions of the Type R, I guess.
So can I put a red "H" emblem on my S2000 without being pretentious now?

 

I've learned that Honda learned a lot from Ferrari when they were battling each other in F1. Ferrari only used red valve covers for their racing cars back in the day, Honda only in Type R models. I believe that's how the name Testa Rossa (which meant red head) was issued to a very special racing car in 1959 due to the color of it's valve cover. It also seems that a lot of S2000 reviews talk about how it's weird having to use the key and the start button. Even though most Ferrari models use the same method for starting their cars(including 458 Italia), no one seems to care about it in a Ferrari. To honor Honda's way, I always felt I should leave the valve cover in my CR red. Subscribed to JDM Masters of course.

 

This is a great video. Thanks for posting it.

 

Ferrari, Porsche, other LeMans start cars all have the key and start buttons like the S, it's a racing tradition allowing driver's to get going quicker.

Great video with some Japan only details from mags and very accurate.