![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Bookler had us trying a few different lines, carefully moving us deeper into braking zones, testing the limits of the Si's upgraded brakes. Tight corners like the Chute and Turn 10 made for quite a few entertaining David-versus-Goliath moments. Experienced drivers in Corvettes and Supras torched us on the high-speed front and back stretches, but we weren't so easy to catch in technical areas that required careful throttle application. In other words: the guy you want slinging advice from the right seat of your Si.Īttacking the Glen's 11 turns in a 200-hp car keeps you from ever getting lonely. He's learned how to extract the quickest laps from front-wheel-drive track weaponry and has instructed a flock of drivers from NASA's Honda Challenge group, including one who went on to a national championship. He spent his 20s racing CRXs and Civics in NASA track events and claims three class records at the Glen, plus a championship trophy. Our instructor, Matt Bookler, has raced at Watkins Glen longer than F1 did. The Glen was also home to Formula 1 for 20 years starting in 1961, so it's a fun place to fantasize about former glory while sharpening fundamentals. This includes the Boot section that IMSA uses, adding four additional turns to the shorter 2.4-mile NASCAR circuit. During our fall weekend with NASA, we experienced the Glen's 3.4-mile Grand Prix Circuit. Watkins Glen welcomes a variety of motorsports and sanctioning bodies, including NASCAR, IMSA, a vintage grand prix, and the occasional ChampCar race. Which is a lot like the Civic Si but gets the toasty seats and adaptive dampers our staff keeps spilling ink over. In fact, the Civic Si's logbook mentions heated seats more times than the marketing literature for the Acura Integra. "A Michigan December and no heated seats is a recipe for a cold ass," noted associate news editor and future bare-all cookbook author Jack Fitzgerald. For instance, heated seats are standard on the less expensive Civic EX but aren't even an option on the Si. While the Honda's reliability doesn't come as a huge surprise, as this 11th-generation Civic shares so much with the well-established previous car, our staff hasn't been shy about pointing out the new car's paucity of creature comforts. In fact, we've not added an additional drop of oil outside the suggested service intervals. That is, we've expended money on fun stuff-aftermarket parts to enhance our track days-rather than out-of-pocket maintenance. Short of adding Hello Kitty grab-handle charms or doubling the ground clearance with large chrome wheels, we've stayed true to Civic ownership. During our 11-month stewardship with the long-term 2022 Honda Civic Si, we've spent the last 30,000 miles professionally goofing off. ![]()
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