A Very Honda Weekend

It’d been a little while since I’d had a Honda-centric day, my last being Honda Nationals in 2022, so late last year I thought I’d satiate that need with a full weekend of them.

First up was World Time Attack Challenge. I’ve been attending for most years since 2011, and seeing the international competitors is what tends to draw my attention. This time was no different as I was particularly excited at the opportunity to lay eyes on the FK8 Civic Type R endurance racer brought over by Spoon Sports USA, despite only making its appearance on track for a few demonstration laps. There was a lot of flurry around the JDMYard stand with the car on display and some Spoon staffers from Japan (and the U.S. if I remember correctly) in attendance. I’m really fond of milder racing car builds à la GT4 and N1, particularly for endurance racing, and I avidly followed the build of this one up to its class win in the 25 Hours of Thunderhill in 2021. Seeing the cars you admire in the flesh just hits different.

On the following Sunday morning was a stop at JDMYard for their post-WTAC meet. The last time I went to a meet there felt like so long ago – was it 2017? Anwyay, much like at WTAC, there was lots of excitement around Tarzan and Jomoto-san being there, who were signing t-shirts, flags, model cars and real ones every time I caught glimpse of them. I’m usually the one getting amongst it when it comes to autographs and the like, and in the past I probably would have been, but it was fun this time standing to the side and watching the five year old come out in others as they interacted with some of their heroes.

I managed to capture a few shots of what I saw across the weekend, but generally taking it easy – I think that’s been a theme of late. Life has been busy so taking time not to think about it was refreshing.