Thrilling ride in Honda S800 at Fall Colors
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From: Timonium
Brian Baker, who has the best collection of vintage Honda sports cars in North America, had the car on display at Fall Colors all day Saturday (yes, he brought it to the autocross). I asked him for a ride during the early afternoon, and he eagerly took me for about a 5 mile spin.
Here's Brian with the S800 and with the S2000 (he was lucky to drive on of the pre-production models brought to the US).
During the ride Brian told me his S800 was the same car used in the recent Road & Track story on Honda S series sports cars. R&T had the S800 trucked out to California for the S2000 comparison and flew Brian out as well.
When Brian first fired up the engine and drove out of the lot with me riding shotgun, I thought back to 1963, the model year of Brian's car and the year I bought my first car -- a used TR-3. My first impression of the S800 is that it was vastly superior to the TR-3. The chassis was much tighter, it had dual overhead cams (the TR-3 was a pushrod), much superior brakes, and was much quicker. But in 1963, nobody in the US took this car very seriously, even though this car was vastly superior to most of the crap being produced in the UK. True, none were imported (Brian's is a right-hand drive) but even the motoring press did not take Honda as seriously (and many don't today).
Brian and I talked about this and how the famed "character" of English cars the motoring press liked to talk about was just a cover for shoddy workmanship and generally inferior engineering. Much of this cultural bias still exists today. When Honda introduced the NSX (a super high performance car that was affordable and reliable) rags like R&T just couldn't handle it. An affordable Ferrari? Perish the thought! As I thought about this, I decided that it was just the result of our Euro-biased culture, a form of masqueraded racism about Asian culture. Brian told me that when he takes the S800 to vintage sports car rallies he's treated with condescension, even though his car is far more rare and unique than many of the German, Italian, and British sports cars shown at these events.
I think we were very forunate to see the S800, since it's the predecessor of our great car. Brian hosts an annual Honda vintage sports car rally on Labor Day weekend, and we now have a standing invitation to come to the 2003 event with our S2000s. The event includes a drive through the Bear Mountain region, so imagine doing what we did last weekend with a group of our predecessor S cars. I know I'll be there!
Here's Brian with the S800 and with the S2000 (he was lucky to drive on of the pre-production models brought to the US).
During the ride Brian told me his S800 was the same car used in the recent Road & Track story on Honda S series sports cars. R&T had the S800 trucked out to California for the S2000 comparison and flew Brian out as well.
When Brian first fired up the engine and drove out of the lot with me riding shotgun, I thought back to 1963, the model year of Brian's car and the year I bought my first car -- a used TR-3. My first impression of the S800 is that it was vastly superior to the TR-3. The chassis was much tighter, it had dual overhead cams (the TR-3 was a pushrod), much superior brakes, and was much quicker. But in 1963, nobody in the US took this car very seriously, even though this car was vastly superior to most of the crap being produced in the UK. True, none were imported (Brian's is a right-hand drive) but even the motoring press did not take Honda as seriously (and many don't today).
Brian and I talked about this and how the famed "character" of English cars the motoring press liked to talk about was just a cover for shoddy workmanship and generally inferior engineering. Much of this cultural bias still exists today. When Honda introduced the NSX (a super high performance car that was affordable and reliable) rags like R&T just couldn't handle it. An affordable Ferrari? Perish the thought! As I thought about this, I decided that it was just the result of our Euro-biased culture, a form of masqueraded racism about Asian culture. Brian told me that when he takes the S800 to vintage sports car rallies he's treated with condescension, even though his car is far more rare and unique than many of the German, Italian, and British sports cars shown at these events.
I think we were very forunate to see the S800, since it's the predecessor of our great car. Brian hosts an annual Honda vintage sports car rally on Labor Day weekend, and we now have a standing invitation to come to the 2003 event with our S2000s. The event includes a drive through the Bear Mountain region, so imagine doing what we did last weekend with a group of our predecessor S cars. I know I'll be there!
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From: Dana Point, CA
Rick-
Sorry for the double post but I wanted to grab your attention.
What article in R&T are you referring to? I've been a subscriber for as long as I can remember and I honestly don't recall this article (speaks volumes about my memory doesn't it?)
Sorry for the double post but I wanted to grab your attention.
What article in R&T are you referring to? I've been a subscriber for as long as I can remember and I honestly don't recall this article (speaks volumes about my memory doesn't it?)
I would love to have one of those S800's myself!
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From: Randolph, NJ
I love old English sportscars but I too wonder why Asian cars are not taken as seriously as they deserve to be.
Japanese cars, especially Hondas, owe apologies to no one. They are among the best engineered and built automobiles in the world. Period.
I fondly remember my MGs and Triumphs, but my S2000 is the finest sportscar that I have ever owned.
Japanese cars, especially Hondas, owe apologies to no one. They are among the best engineered and built automobiles in the world. Period.
I fondly remember my MGs and Triumphs, but my S2000 is the finest sportscar that I have ever owned.
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From: Timonium
Originally posted by ToyBoy
Rick, you are a lucky dog to have gotten a ride! I was obviously lusting for one, kept hinting at it, but I'd just met Brian, so it wasn't meant to be.
Rick, you are a lucky dog to have gotten a ride! I was obviously lusting for one, kept hinting at it, but I'd just met Brian, so it wasn't meant to be.
That's too bad. If you asked, he would have gladly given you a ride and even let you drive it. That's the kind of guy he is -- one of ours
.
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From: Parsippany
[QUOTE]Originally posted by ralper
[B]I love old English sportscars but I too wonder why Asian cars are not taken as seriously as they deserve to be.
Japanese cars, especially Hondas, owe apologies to no one.
[B]I love old English sportscars but I too wonder why Asian cars are not taken as seriously as they deserve to be.
Japanese cars, especially Hondas, owe apologies to no one.
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From: Dana Point, CA
Originally posted by ToyBoy
When Brian showed it to me, the cover just flashed by, but I think it was October of 2001.
The story was really about the S2000, and pictured it next to a white S800. Another photo in the story showed Brian at the wheel. That was all I saw of it.
When Brian showed it to me, the cover just flashed by, but I think it was October of 2001.
The story was really about the S2000, and pictured it next to a white S800. Another photo in the story showed Brian at the wheel. That was all I saw of it.