S2000 Drive: Escaping to Toyota’s Hidden Roads – VTEC Dreams at Kawami Parking Lot

2026年5月24日

Let me be clear: The morning chill, the open top, the sheer rush of wind—this is exactly why I exist. During this time of year, the sun turns into a laser beam that’ll roast your skin by noon, but this early morning? This is the VIP seat granted by the gods.

I set my sights on the “Kawami Parking Lot” in Toyota. Cherry blossoms? Who cares. Honestly, it’s better right now because it’s empty. Empty roads are an enthusiast’s playground, and today, that playground was all mine.

Arriving at the destination, I went through the ritual: grab a canned coffee, snap some photos. And let me tell you… when I looked back at the shots, I was appalled. Composition? Garbage. Just a machine sitting there. Why is photography so damn hard?! If there’s a god of photography out there, please possess my body and fix my framing!

Then, I spotted something fluttering in the wind. WRC banners. Aichi is becoming a stage for the WRC—it gets my blood pumping just thinking about it. I swore to myself I’d see it live eventually, but for now, just driving the same roads in my S2000 made me feel like a rally driver. At least, in my head, I’m tearing up the stages just like them!

After soaking in the vibe, I headed to the usual sanctuary: the Yahagi Dam rest area. And guess what? It was packed. Dammit. I did it again. I forgot to take a picture of the crowd. I’m a man of many talents, but fumbling the ball at the most important moment is apparently my specialty.

But the connections I made there? Priceless. While talking shop with other drivers, I met a youngster driving a stripped-out Alto Works. Talking to him brought back that raw, unadulterated passion I felt when I was obsessed with circuit racing. Tuning, driving, talking cars—is there anything better in life?

Time is a cruel master. My freedom had an expiration date, and reality called me home. Back to the grind.

I’m still battling with my camera rig for the YouTube videos. Where should I put the mic to capture that perfect engine note? I haven’t found the answer yet. But this struggle? This constant trial and error is the heart and soul of Logical Drive Lab. I’ll keep tweaking it until I finally deliver the perfect VTEC roar to the world!

Check out the full drive on YouTube. You’ll find my obsession with sound, the scenery, and my desperate thirst for freedom.

▼ The Full S2000 Run Here

So, did you feel a bit of the heat from my random weekend getaway? Who knows when I’ll get my next “exit permit” from the wife, but until then, I’ll be polishing the S2000, waiting for the day.

Got it? Now go watch the video and hit that subscribe button! Our drive never ends!

Author of this article

Buri-shabu

Mid-life salaryman by day, surviving the pharmaceutical trenches with logic. But the moment I step out, I’m a "fanatic" devoted to my S2000. 20 years together—VTEC kick is pure ecstasy.