Daily Slideshow: Some of the Best Tracks and Your S2000
The S2000 is undeniably one of the greatest sports cars ever made and offers a driving experience, unlike any other road car. When it first came out it was a game changer that packed a screamer of a motor known as the F20C. As the years went on Honda improved the car by increasing displacement and fine-tuning the suspension geometry. To this day it sticks out in my mind as one of the best road cars I’ve ever driven. In this article,
Sonoma Raceway
One of the most beautiful tracks in terms of location this is the racetrack equivalent of your own private mountain road. I had to save the best for last. This track is perfect. Very few cars are as fun to drive here when properly setup and it makes the list because it’s all about handling here. Do you want to go in a straight line? Buy a Hell Cat. Want to tear up Sonoma? Bring the S2000. Turns 1 to 10 can only be described as a roller coaster. At turn 11 you pull a 180 and do it all over again. Every single drop of blood, sweat and hard work that went into creating this balanced rear wheel drive machine was done for places like Sonoma. If there is one place you take your S2000 this Summer it has to be this track. Videos do not do it justice so when you finish reading this, jump in your car, make a hotel reservation and go drive it! Until next time…
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Autocross
This format of time trials is a great precursor to getting out on a race track and the AP1 and AP2 have an ace up their sleeves. The S2000 was engineered by Honda with an X-bone frame that makes the car incredibly rigid compared to other vehicles. Anything with a high volume of corners and a lot of transitions (think slaloms) will favor this type of car, but there’s more to it than that. The S2000 is an excellent teacher of staying in the power band and carrying momentum. VTEC and long gearing combine on ultra technical courses to force the driver to keep their speed and stay in the power band. This can be challenging, but mastering it will lay the foundation for any car you drive in the future.
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Laguna Seca
An absolute must for any S2000 owner. This track has a little bit of everything and dropping into the legendary Corkscrew in your weekend warrior is something everyone should experience. Unlike autocross, the gearing and insanely high revving engine are a perfect fit. Lots of elevation change and some corners that will really test you as a driver. Everyone talks about the iconic Corkscrew, but the turn you’ll need to watch out for is #6. Deceptively fast, this is the one that will catch you out and you really don’t want to go off here.
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Willow Springs International Raceway
The S2000 is at home here because of the aforementioned screamer of a motor. Going here really allows the car to stretch its legs and move. There are faster cars out there, but the F20C and F22C are just plain fun to drive here. This is where wheelbase comes into play. Generally speaking, long wheelbase cars (over 100 inches) are more stable at high speed and short wheelbase cars (under 90 inches) are typically less stable in high speed. Where does our beloved Honda come in? Just about the middle. At 94.5 inches the S2000 is right in the sweet spot to challenge a driver at the ultra-fast 9 turn, Goliath.
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Buttonwillow (Configuration #13 Clockwise)
For a number of reasons, this track had to make the list. This is where top-level time attack cars throw down for bragging rights and it's the track that’s going to build your trust in the car. Why’s that? Well, the thing about Buttonwillow is it has this corner called Phil Hill. This turn belongs less on a track in California and more on a rally stage in Finland. It’s an uphill right-hander that crests before dropping downhill. You can catch air here or you can go off really really bad. Honda’s suspension geometry and balanced weight distribution stand out here.
>>Join the conversation about these tracks and tracks we've missed right here in the S2ki Forum!
