Honda Homecoming 2021
When I was a kid, my dad and I would play Gran Turismo 2 almost every night. We typically raced at Laguna Seca, as it was one of the only American tracks in the game, and more specifically it was the only California track in the game. I always chose the AP1 S2000. I just thought it looked really cool, the long hood, short deck, smiling fascia. Championship White and Rio Yellow were the colors I gravitated towards most often. I have been an S2000 fan since my childhood.
I remember the first time I found out what Honda Homecoming was. As a longtime S2000 fan reading about the event in 2007, the inaugural show, it warmed my heart and made the S2000 a much more special car. Seeing images of all of these cars together was intriguing to my 11 year old self. How did they organize this? How did they get so many? There are NSXs too, how did they get them to come? Are they all from California? So many questions circulated in my head. I hoped I could one day attend just as a fan to see this collection of cars in person. Little did I know, 14 years later I would finally see one of these exclusive shows.
I am very lucky in that I work in the industry and was able to attend while working a booth at the event. Unfortunately, I could not bring my S2000, but I was able to attend nonetheless. Having the privilege of being there before all the guests arrived and watching them pour into the American Honda gates in color coded fashion was amazing. A flood of silver S2000's came first, followed by yellow. Then the Type R's arrived, first the Integras in white, black and yellow. The new model Civic Type R's were shortly behind, grey and white first.
I had to return to the booth I was working so unfortunately that was all I could see. Some of my favorite pictures of the day are from the guests' arrival. Then once the guests had arrived, the vendor vehicles went on their quick parade before returning to their booths. Iconic brands in the States (and one international brand as well), drove their cars down the main aisle: Rockstar, ScienceOfSpeed, Spoon, Jackson Racing, Hondata, just to name a few.
Once everything had calmed down I was able to walk around for a bit and check everything out. The new and historic cars that Honda had on display for everyone were so cool to see. Interesting and important cars from the past alongside incredible and innovative cars from tomorrow.
Taking a look at the guest vehicles, all 250 of them, was an emotional experience. Throughout the pandemic going to car shows was not really an option, this was the largest car show I had been to since March of 2020. On top of that, seeing that many S2000's, NSX's, and Type R's in one setting, was absolutely surreal. So much history behind each car, and the perfect backdrop for the show, American Honda Motor.
The S2000 has long been an achievable dream car for me, a car I have wanted since I was that kid playing it in Gran Turismo. A dream that I realized in 2019 by purchasing my Sebring Silver AP1. The NSX is another one of those dream cars I have and hope to one day own. Seeing these cars up close and in this volume is truly something special. The fact that Honda hosts this event at their American Headquarters says a lot about how appreciative they are of their owners and fans. They truly care and make you feel a part of the Honda family. I hope that I am lucky enough to attend the next Homecoming event and I hope that if I do, I get to bring my S2000. That would be another dream realized from my formative years. This years Honda Homecoming was a joyous experience and a show that I'll never forget.
