Today was track day for the S2000 meet. It was the infield track at California Speedway, which is flat and has a number of squar-ish turns connected by two straights.

Cal Speedway itself is enormous--while we shared the infield track with WRX's, EVO's, M3's, NSX's and other fun cars, stock cars were circling the track, big rigs were coming in for a race next week, the drag strip outside the field was full, and an autocross was in full swing. LOTS of fun for everyone.

Weather was beautiful, although a bit hazy and slightly windy, and the local mountains were topped with snow.

For anyone who hasn't been to a track day, it's a great way to check out the limits of your S2K, and separate classes keep you from feeling frustrated or "over your head".

 

So where's the pics?

 

As impressed as I was with my S it was not until I got on the track at Beaverun during FCT04 that I gained a whole new appreciation for this car. As I posted before the event. My S is my daily driver so I would not be "pushing it", as I not only had to drive it home, but to work on Tuesday morning after the track days. As (almost) always, I used an 8,000 RPM redline as my shift point. On Saturday night at the FCT04 Banquet the American Honda representative confirmed that for every thousand RPM's that the stress goes up exponentially.

My S is "bone" stock. On Sunday morning in the rain I got to go out on the track for my first time at Beaverun as one of the instructors to learn the track. On my first lap in the wet as I approached the "blind" turn one as one comes up over a rise, I applied the brakes to slow from my 118 MPH speed down the front straight on my entrance into to turn one at about the 150 foot marker. The back end started coming around to the right, I counter steered and then it wagged to the left, I corrected and then once I had the nose pointed to T2 I gassed it. The car will do (almost) anything that one wants it to do. It is a truly amazing car.

I urge everyone to take advantage of the track time at FCT05. One does not have to drive over ones head (that is discouraged). The point is to find the limits of this amazing vehicle to make you a more competent driver on the road. No surprise is the best surprise.

 

Matt,

You just made me feel like I beat my "baby". I hit redline about six times...

 

Here are some pictures from Saturday and Sunday:


S2Ki meet on Saturday


One of the more exotic attendee cars


me


California Speedway garage


my lil rocket