The Week I Drove A Honda S800M Via Japan – A-Z Eventz

Why can’t plans go our approach?

I’m critical. This from somebody who does much less precise planning and extra normal path pointing, however nonetheless! We as automotive fans have a plan of journey throughout a highway journey; a imaginative and prescient if you’ll of how we see an epic journey unfolding. We typically wait months, generally placing in lengthy hours of wrench time and spending more cash than deliberate, however isn’t all of it justified ultimately?

I’m a US army member who has lived in Okinawa, Japan since early 2020. Over a yr in the past, I bought a 1969 Honda S800M that was as soon as owned by long-time Japanese Nostalgic Car contributor Skorj. This was after a two years of digital correspondence between myself, Skorj, an S Car Honda Club mechanic, and the automobile’s then proprietor/collector. You can learn extra about all that in The Day I Bought A S800M.

Now, again to my newest chapter on this story…

Let me paint the image: I deliberate an epic 10-day highway journey with my brother who was going to fly in to Japan from the US to affix me. We are speaking a generational pilgrimage-type highway journey right here; stops in any respect the meccas of Japanese automotive heritage places and bucket listing websites. Honda’s god-status tuners Spoon/Type One and Mugen? Yes please! Nismo and RWB? Of course! Daikoku Parking Area for iconic automobile meets? You betcha!

Then, for our journey south, we deliberate in a single day stays in Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka and Kumamoto. We would keep away from expressways the place potential and hunt down conventional touge routes by means of the mountains for the total JDM fanboy expertise.

This would all be accomplished within the traditional Honda icon I had simply bought. True childhood dream come true stuff. But alas, it was not meant to be.

It might need been a bit too formidable actually, particularly throughout an period of ongoing pandemic journey restrictions. At the time, I figured Japan would quickly open again as much as tourism and all the things can be again to regular, nicely earlier than our chosen begin date, which in fact got here and went. Life has a humorous humorousness and historical past is 20/20 as a result of I used to be approach off.

The time ultimately got here after I may now not maintain off on the journey hoping for ultimate situations. The automobile needed to transfer earlier than April after spending longer than deliberate within the care of a beneficiant buddy with an additional parking area. These have been the playing cards I used to be dealt, so I needed to make the most effective of it.

Instead of a shared Japanese highway journey between two American brothers dwelling their greatest lives, I give you a comfort prize of a four-day dash from Tokyo to Okinawa. One filled with lengthy hours on the expressway, frequent stops to native comfort shops for fast meals, changing into a primary time open ocean car ferry passenger, and hoping my 50-plus-year-old Honda didn’t depart me stranded in a rustic that I don’t converse the native language.

Day 1

I arrived in Yokohama through airplane and prepare on an early March morning. My household and I had spent Christmas in Tokyo just some months prior, so I used to be feeling assured in my giant metropolis public transportation navigation abilities. I solely acquired misplaced as soon as…

Like a person on a mission, I walked as much as a well-known workshop and pleasant grasp mechanic that had been taking good care of my little Honda whereas I lived greater than 1,000 miles away. We exchanged greetings and I thanked him for the kindness he had proven me. His brother, who additionally dabbles in traditional Shōwa-era vehicles, was on the town and collectively the pair did a last mechanical verify of the Honda earlier than serving to me pack it with all of the spare components I had acquired through the previous yr and a half.

In typical Japanese politeness, they escorted me to the closest kōsoku-dōro (expressway) entrance to see me off on the beginning of my solo highway journey.

I had lots of miles to cowl till my first in a single day cease and solely half a day to do it. With a room booked in Kyoto for the night time, it will be one other seven hours earlier than I may relaxation up. Like most individuals, I desire to make lengthy drives in daylight if I’m unfamiliar with the route. It was one much less factor to fret about amongst different variables that might make this complete journey go south. I made a decision to push the little Honda to get forward of the clock, and it didn’t disappoint.

Originally constructed as a high-revving sports activities automobile with European inspiration, the early Honda S-cars should not actually designed for sustained trendy freeway speeds. Luckily my automobile is a later S800 Coupe mannequin that traded 1,000rpm from the rev restrict (now solely 9,000rpm as a substitute of 10,000rpm, the horror!) for extra usable torque, just a few creature comforts like an environment friendly heating system and extra reliability. Of course, my automobile had additionally simply acquired a mechanical refresh of the complete engine and drivetrain with just a few bits thrown in to bump up the unique energy output quantity and enhance reliability throughout the board.

To my reduction, cruising at 70mph (112km/h) proved no hassle in any respect, if not a bit buzzy with the 4-speed transmission. There was ample energy to encourage confidence and the coupe design makes the cabin really feel extra like the within of a miniature Jaguar E-Type when it comes to perceived area. I felt like I used to be a highway rally driver of the previous as I soaked up the miles to Kyoto.

Day 2

Kyoto for a foreigner is sort of a ‘pinch me’ second, and I awoke early to attempt to do some sightseeing earlier than I hit the highway. Even although the unique journey plan was a bust, I didn’t wish to miss a chance that may not current itself once more.

Walking the streets you’ve gotten solely seen on Instagram is a bit surreal. Colorful temples on the finish of winding alleyways, cherry blossoms lining streets and framing wood constructing – Kyoto actually made me really feel fortunate to be dwelling in Japan. Due to the early time there was not a lot foot site visitors, so it was ultimate for taking photos. However, the outlets had but to open so I couldn’t seize any souvenirs to take house with me. It’s a good motive to come back again for positive.

Driving from Kyoto to Fukuoka took essentially the most time behind the wheel. It was right here, as I moved away from town to the countryside, that I got here to really admire the Japanese roading system. Yes, the tolls have been costly, however I may see precisely the place the cash goes.

The pavement was wonderful and I drove over a whole lot of bridges and thru dozens of mountain tunnel passes that should break the bank to take care of. The roads have been all as clean as glass, freed from trash and particles, well-lit, and huge relaxation areas have been frequent. In the US, you level your massive SUV in a path, set the cruise management and check out not to go to sleep. This drive was totally different in each approach. Constant sweeping turns and hills to play with and the most effective roadside handy stops on the planet.

Once once more, I couldn’t consider {that a} child from Maryland whose first automobile was a 1991 CR-X that acquired totaled (not my fault, I promise) was driving Honda’s first sports activities automobile by means of the Japanese motherland.

Having arrived in Fukuoka earlier than the solar set this time, I did what any Speedhunter would do – discover the streets on foot from my lodge with a digicam in tow. Despite the wet climate, I discovered some attention-grabbing websites, together with a boutique racing store that had a Nissan Fairlady Z and several other very good European sports activities vehicles inside.

What do you suppose is beneath that purple automobile cowl? Probably a Ferrari, and maybe sporting a Liberty Walk package? That’s simply my guess…

Fukuoka itself has a particular Japanese metropolis feeling that separates it from the extra well-known cities within the north. It is just not the glittery worldwide vacation spot hotspot of Tokyo, the hipster coastal metropolis of Osaka, or a world-class historic tradition and tourism hub like Kyoto. It doesn’t fake to be any of these factor both, and I can respect that. It’s like a small powerful child that needed to develop up with larger people on the playground and have become a little bit of a rascal with a chip on its shoulder. It jogged my memory of my little outlaw S800M, holding its personal amongst different JDM legends.

Day 3

The sample of early morning rising continued on day three and it was nonetheless raining. Today was going to be the final drive by means of mainland Japan, my vacation spot being the south port metropolis of Kagoshima to catch a ferry again house. The ship was scheduled to depart early afternoon with a 25-hour sea journey time to Okinawa, stopping at a number of ports alongside the best way.

As ordinary, I left with simply sufficient time to make it to the dock. My luck was nonetheless holding out, as a result of simply by likelihood I checked my GPS at a cease 10 miles from town and noticed that I used to be headed to the unsuitable location. The automotive gods should have been nonetheless smiling down on me…

Let me go on some recommendation when you ever come to Japan: Don’t be too proud to make use of Google Translate and just about beg the locals to take pity on you when you’re a poor ignorant American. When I arrived on the ferry ticketing workplace, I used to be instructed I may solely reserve automobile slots on-line the day prior to departure. I had truly tried to do that just a few instances, however Japanese monetary institutes and companies don’t all the time work nicely with US banks so the acquisition by no means was capable of undergo. In typical cowboy style, I figured I might present up and deal with it after I arrived.

That’s proper, I flew throughout the nation, drove a traditional automobile 900+ miles in a land that I don’t converse the native language in any respect, praying I didn’t break down someplace with no actual method to simply get the automobile repaired, on a perception that the ferry firm would promote me a ticket on the day of departure to satisfy my tight timeline. The response from my spouse after I texted her an replace was, “why do you live your life this way?”. I would not have an excellent reply, so shifting on…

This is an instance of me doing normal path pointing somewhat than having an precise thought out plan, like I discussed firstly of this story.

An fast hurdle was that the car maintain was full. Smart travellers, who adopted the conventional process, had reserved all of the out there spots. I wish to reside on the sting.

The subsequent ferry was in two days, which might not work with my schedule as I used to be departing on a piece journey as quickly as I acquired again to Okinawa. So I did what any self-respecting man in my place would do, I requested for assist. I defined my state of affairs through Google’s robotic voice, utilized to the innate Japanese courtesy I’ve come to extremely admire, and threw myself at their ft for mercy.

The younger man behind the counter saved my butt. Not solely did he persuade his supervisor to promote me a passenger ticket, but in addition introduced a deckhand from the ship to actually measure my automobile within the car parking zone to see if there was room for it. There was! My luck at this level should have been legendary.

Within half-hour I used to be in line to load the little Honda with the remainder of the autos being transported to Okinawa within the ship’s cargo bay. Somehow, towards all the chances and with lots of assist, I had reached the ultimate a part of the journey. I used to be grateful, however all I may take into consideration on the time was whether or not or not sea illness can be in my fast future.

Day 4

I used to be not capable of e-book a single particular person passenger room since I used to be just about one step off a stowaway at this level. The passenger maintain lodging have been separate cubby areas with sleep mats in a big open space. Even although we had handed by means of some fairly tough water between the mainland and the southern island chains, my heavy tiredness and empty abdomen maintain me affordable and largely handed out for many of it.

With calmer waters forward I ventured for a late lunch within the eating space and sat outdoors to go the time, starting to course of the previous couple of days. It had been a whole dash by means of Japan, however one thing I’ll always remember. Adventures like these deliver us nearer to our vehicles. The experiences we share bond us to our machines and elevate them past easy, fascinating purchases. It was additionally an ideal crash course within the S800M’s quirks. I’ve began to determine what it does nicely and what I can enhance on.

Arriving in Okinawa was straight ahead. I may drive my Honda proper out of the cargo maintain on the path of the deckhands, by means of the port gate after which onto the road. I nonetheless had an hour drive again to my home, so after a fast cease for fuel I used to be on my approach, cruising in acquainted territory.

Taking the coastal highway as a substitute of the expressway offered one other perk of possession I had but to get pleasure from. The slower motion tempo and frequent stops for site visitors lights allowed me to share the automobile with others for the primary time. On extra events than I may depend, the little sports activities automobile drew smiles, appears with pointed fingers and thumbs up from the Japanese locals.

What are my plans now that the S800M is in my possession full time, you would possibly ask? Well, there’s all the time rust to restore and shield from, particularly on a tropical island within the Pacific. I’ll admit it isn’t precisely sensible being a tiny two-seater with no air-conditioning for full-time household duties, so I might be retaining my day by day beater in the interim. I nonetheless intend to take the little Honda with me after I transfer to my subsequent project in 2023.

Honestly, at this level I simply relocated it from one hibernation spot to a different, however we added a reasonably vital chapter to the e-book of possession and that makes this vital.

So I assume this brings this a part of the story to an in depth. Sure, it was not the unique highway journey I deliberate, nevertheless it was a whirlwind journey nonetheless. One that I’ll cherish and admire each time I have a look at this little rascal. Daddy’s “toy car,” as my children say. Until subsequent time!

Brian McIntyre Ray
Instagram: brianmr87

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