--- title: "Japan’s 1981 Honda Civic Cup Was Real Racing" date: "2024-07-26" modified: "2024-07-26" authors: - name: "Jerry Perez" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/japans-1981-honda-civic-cup-was-real-racing" categories: - "Culture" - "History" - "News" - "Watch This" tags: - "Civic" - "Hatchback" - "honda" - "race car" --- # Japan’s 1981 Honda Civic Cup Was Real Racing ![]() *\Honda\* One of my favorite scenes from Asif Kapadia's 2010 *Senna* [docufilm]() is when they ask Ayrton about his happiest time in his racing career. By then, he was already a triple [Formula 1]() world champ and a global star. However, he quickly tells the interviewer that his favorite memories date back to his karting days in the '70s. "That was real racing," he says. I recently came across this video of Japan's [Honda]() [Civic]() Cup, and all I could think was: "That's real racing." The Instagram clip posted by [Japanifornia]() appears to be a highlight reel of the Suzuka round of Japan's 1981 Honda Civic Cup. I did a little digging and found onboard footage on [YouTube]() of the same race. And boy, it's an absolute hoot. The driving is phenomenal, the excitement is palpable, and the crashes are, well, pretty crazy. > [View this post on Instagram]() > [A post shared by JAPANIFORNIA (@japanifornia)]() It turns out that in 1980 Honda decided to create a one-make racing series that was within reach of The People. According to an old [bulletin](), the series had to be based on "commercially available passenger cars widely enjoyed by everyone from beginners to hobbyists and craftsmen." The logic? These cars were "inexpensive to maintain and easy to balance performance." They had it all figured out, didn't they? It's nearly the complete opposite of most modern racing series. This led to the launch of the Honda Civic Cup in 1981, featuring the then-new SR-type Civic, which was based on the second-generation model that had debuted a few years earlier in 1979. The race-prepped compacts were powered by the optional engine offered to street-going cars, dubbed the 1500, though it was technically 1,488cc. I couldn't find an official source with performance figures for these little racers, but does it really matter? Just look at them go! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F3QhsxA19E Up to 30 Civics would see the green flag and go on to race each other *hard*. Too hard, in some cases, as the video shows some gnarly crashes where cars are punted straight into the air. In others, they just knock each other out while trying to dive into corners. My guess is that only half the field would finish the race, but who's counting? Judging by their speed down the straights and their handling prowess through the esses, these must've been a joy to pilot around—especially at Suzuka. And of course, it's just cool to watch the vintage racing fashion and general flair of dedicated Japanese racing drivers and fans. Such a passionate bunch. *Got a tip? Email us at tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter. ### Author social links [Instagram]()