No. Lots of autocross but that doesn't count right?

 

How well do these cars hold up to the abuse? Any guys blowing engines or clutch or trans damage? It's tempting for sure, I'd love to do it but worried it would damage my "Sunday cruiser".

 

Any car will suffer from incompetent driving, I guess more so at track speeds.

I've tracked my old Porsche pretty hard with no problems, I would expect my S2000 to be at least as good in the environment

 

No, I've never been to the track.

 

No but mainly due to the fact I've only had it since March. But as per all my other fun cars this will be seeing track work for sure.

 

No, but only because there isn't a track for me to go to. I will once they build the local track that is going through the process right now though.

 

Yes.

This thread made me curious about how many laps I've done in my past and present S2000. I took each track and added the times I've done a track day or instructed. It's almost all instruction.

I assumed a normal lap time for me and four sessions per day although some days had 5 or 6 sessions I can't account for them properly. Due to age and health, the last few years have been sparse but since 2001, here's a reasonable estimate of my S2000 track use.

Gingerman.................................40 days...................................2,064 laps
Blackhawk Farms.......................8 days.......................................416 laps
Grattan Raceway.........................6 days.......................................310 laps
Autobahn Club-full....................11 days.......................................295 laps
Putnam Park................................4 days.......................................206 laps
Mid-Ohio.......................................2 days..........................................66 laps
New Hampshire Intl...................1 day.............................................48 laps

=3,404 laps

 

That is awesome! So something in the neighborhood of 6-8k miles on the track? How has the car held up?

I've done 4 track days at 3 different tracks on my bone-stock AP1 with just upgraded pads/fluid/lines. Haven't had a problem at all, other than getting pad deposits on a front rotor at Laguna Seca (notoriously hard on brakes). It's definitely a lot of fun. Driving the S2000 fast is a challenge due to quick breakaway at the rear and the need to keep the engine on boil, but getting it right is quite satisfying! The direct controls and neutral balance of the car make it a joy on the track.

 

90% of those laps were done in my first (AP1) S2000. It was essentially trashed. The front upper a-arm mounts were cracking away from the body, the steering was getting "iffy" and there wasn't a bushing that didn't need replacing. I figured that the car was worth $6-9,000 then in 2005.

But, I had an accident, the insurance company valued the car at $17K and said it was a total loss. So, I took the $12K insurance proceeds and talked them into giving me the car, too. In 2005, AP1 parts were in pretty high demand. So, I parted out the car over 9 months for a net gain of another $14K.

That gave me $26K which allowed me to buy the present car, used, with 4,850 miles on it for $22K and then add $4K in mods. I was the luckiest man on the face of the earth in 2005.

 

It has all been said. For those that haven't, it is a total blast and being able to drive at 9.5/10ths without worrying about "imperial entanglements" is just fantastic. From my track days in various cars you will destroy your brake pads, rotors and fluid at a phenomenal rate. Don't even think about doing a track day without fresh DOT4+ brake fluid full flush and fill. Track pads are also a good idea, most will melt under track conditions in a single day.

Go to a novice event to start if you can, like FATT (Friday at the Track) at Summit Point WVA. Great instruction and will teach you a lot. They mark the entry, apex and exit points and you will spend all day understanding how bad you suck at high performance driving. Tracking without those little cones is a really steep learning curve and takes you a lot longer and more instruction.

The big issue with S2000's is that we are NOT allowed on the majority of tracks unless you molest your car and put a real roll bar in it. 99% of us will never pass the broomstick test with stock OEM hoops. In the east it is only the two short courses at Summit Point (Shenandoah and Jefferson) and Dominion in Virginia are all that allow stock and only for some events.

Remember, your insurance does not cover the track and if your insurance company finds out that you drive at a track you may find yourself with a canceled policy. Cover your plates or remove them while at the track so posted pics and spies don't see your car with ID.

Finally, yes, your S2000 is tail happy. If you don't have TC it is easy to spin out. Build and learn slowly, don't try to kill it on the first lap or it might get very expensive. Shift before redline, stay within your and the car's limits and everyone will have fun and the car will last (except for the brakes).

Change your brake fluid. Really, don't go unless you change your brake fluid!