Dorifutography

If the first installment of this series represents the brand's heart, the racing galleries in this second part represent its pulse. Every innovative road car we explored in the previous write-up has its roots in the high-pressure, oil-stained world of motorsport. Soichiro Honda famously said, "If Honda does not race, there is no Honda," and nowhere is that philosophy more palpable than among the rows of championship-winning machines resting at Motegi. From the ear-piercing scream of early Formula One engines to the carbon-fiber titans of the modern era, these machines are the physical manifestation of a company that views competition as the ultimate laboratory. In this second installment, we will once again travel through time, stripping away the creature comforts of the road cars to focus on pure, unadulterated speed. To maintain the same depth as our previous look at the collection, we will be dividing these legendary race cars into decades. Join me as we trace the line...

On my latest trip to Japan, I decided to venture beyond the usual sights and make the pilgrimage to the Honda Collection Hall. Located at the Mobility Resort Motegi (formerly Twin Ring Motegi), the journey there is an adventure in itself. We learned the hard way that public transport is a challenge: after reaching Mito via train, we realized we had missed the only morning bus. This resulted in a two-hour taxi ride to avoid being stranded—a mistake that firmly convinced us to rent a car for our next visit. The Hall is masterfully organized, guiding visitors through a chronological journey from the company’s origins to its modern-day innovations across four main sections. Because the collection is so vast, featuring over 300 meticulously maintained machines, I will be splitting my coverage into separate installments. This first article focuses exclusively on the evolution of Honda’s road cars, organized by decade, while the motorcycles and legendary racing machines will each receive thei...