Honda S2000 Spin with Ferraris at Thunderhill Race Track

This is a very brief run on the track pretty early in the day (at Thunderhill Raceway Park in Northern California). I am driving my S2000. It handles great, has a V tec engine (so you can really feel it once it is over 6000 rpm). However, as you will see from this video, it is a bit tail happy. I am racing with Ferraris. When you see the spin you will see me facing approximately $250,000 to $350,000 worth of automotive machinery - head on. Enjoy - I did! I should note it was not scary - it taught me what my machine could do under those conditions and the coaches were excellent - turned it into a real education. Thunderhill emphasizes driving safely at high speeds.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Ferraris
• racing
• spin
• drift
• Thundershill
• race track
• Honda
• S2000

[FettermanAssociates]

You are telling me! I was racing along - thought I had some distance between us but suddenly they appeared almost out of nowhere - which means they have some serious acceleration capacity. Luckily, they thought it was as exhilarating and fun as I did (after it was over).

[FettermanAssociates]

Hi SamSam - yes - he is an impressive instructor. Knowledgeable, patient, and very skilled. He is also very philosophical about life and driving.

[gowdaflow]

Pretty cool..the instructor seems like a nice guy that really knows what he's doing..

[FettermanAssociates]

Yes - this man is very cool. He designs, builds, and then drives his cars to test them out. He is also a great coach - very knowledgeable and knows how to communicate. On top of that he has a JD and PhD. - not your average race track driver/coach. (We both have Ph.D.s. and figure our love of racing is in part related to matching the theories in our heads (of the driver's line for example) with practice (driving the track). We also enjoy the rush of course.

[espmktg1]

the car was an ap1 right ? do you know what year it was and had you done any suspension adjustments to it ?

I have an 00 ap1 and we put a strut tower brace on it and a beefier cusco back end tie bar underneath plus 17 wheels/tires as well as stock shocks but with 1" lower springs (Teins) and I'm just wondering if I have reduced the propensity of the car to spin at all. . .

[FettermanAssociates]

Hi

As you already know the strut tower brace will reduce body roll keeping you out of the wall at high speed turns. Strut tower braces are most effective when used with front and rear anti sway bars. I think it will help if you are running a NASCAR type track (which I just drove) but not a Thunderhill type track with blind corners and hair pin turns. Hope that helps.

[TheJoePepper]

That Ferrari sure showed up quick!

[samsam5886]

Sounds like a very great instructor!

[FettermanAssociates]

Hi - sometimes we use an intercom system - which I find helpful given the background noise and the insulation in the helmet. However, sometimes the coach's voice is so loud and "old school" they prefer to just shout out what they see and what I should be doing and if their voice is that strong it is fine too. I have experienced both - you just do not want a coach with a "weak" voice trying to guide you - it does not work. Hope that was helpful.

[espmktg1]

do u use an intercom system with the coach while driving ?