Other than making sure wheels and tires don't extend past the fenders (no flares allowed), any wheel-and-tire combo can be used. Tsuyoshi started out with 5Zigen FN01R-C wheels in a 15x7 size, soon upping them to 17x7, 205mm-wide Toyo Proxes RA-1 tires that pound the track into submission.
For the interior, Tsuyoshi kept weight low by installing only a Sparco Pro 2000 seat with Sparco Sabelt five-point harness. A Sony Xplod sound system is in place, but do you think you could hear it with no sound insulation?
Once the car was finished and it met the minimum weight of 2,200 pounds with driver aboard, it was time to go racing. So how'd they do? Fourth overall in class for 2003 in the Honda Challenge, as well as first in a NASA three-hour enduro in a class against M3s and similar cars. Not too bad for a lowly Civic. Tsuyoshi and friends even tried out the NASA 25 Hours of Thunderhill, where they qualified 15th out of 73 cars. They were running well until they got rear-ended by a Porsche in the seventh hour, which damaged the transmission. Rather than give up at that point, Tsuyoshi's die-hard crew made a quick run to San Francisco to pick up another JDM tranny and they were back on track at 5 a.m., driving until noon on Sunday.
For 2004, Tsuyoshi plans on running the Civic in any race he can find, including the entire Honda Challenge and any others. The specs will remain mostly the same, but as the rules change, so will the car. "Anyone can build a car like this," says Tsuyoshi. "The parts are easy, but it's the right combination of parts that's the hard thing." We think he's built a car that's definitely up to the Challenge.
For complete rules to see how you can take on Tsuyoshi's Civic with your ride, visit www.nasaproracing.com or www.hondachallenge.com
| 1993 HONDA CIVIC HATCHBACK |
| Chassis Code | EG |
| ENGINE |
| Engine Code | 1996 JDM B18C |
| Type | Inline four-cylinder, aluminumblock and head |
| External Modifications | JDM 4-into-1 Honda header,Mugen oil pan, custom RS Akimoto Spiral intake tube, J's Racing carbon air intakeducting, Hasport enginemounts, straight pipe by5Zigen/Pacific Supreme Muffler, 5Zigen Border 304 Max muffler |
| Engine Management Mods | Erick's Racing ECU, Earls oilcooler, C&R racing radiator,B&M fuel regulator, A'PEXiVTEC controller |
| DRIVETRAIN |
| Layout | Transverse front engine, front-wheel drive |
| Transmission | 1996 JDM Honda Integra Type R |
| Drivetrain Modifications | 1998 JDM Integra Type R LSD, ACT Xtreme Clutch, ACTXact ProLite flywheel, Raxles CV axles |
| SUSPENSION |
| Front | Zeal Function B6 shocks,Zeal/Swift 1150-lb springs,stock 22mm anti-roll bar, Neuspeed front upper strut bar and front lower tie bar |
| Rear | Zeal Function B6 shocks,Zeal/Swift 1006-lb., 784-lb. or 1118-lb. springs, Neuspeed19mm anti-roll bar, Neuspeed rear lower tie bar |
| BRAKES |
| Front | Endless aluminum four-pistoncalipers, Endless brake lines,Acura Integra master cylinder |
| Rear | Acura Integra GS-R calipers,Endless brake lines |
| EXTERIOR |
| Wheels | 5Zigen FN01R-C 15 x 7 or 17 x 7 |
| Tires | Toyo Proxes RA-1 205/50ZR-15 or 205/40ZR-17 |
| Body | GTP International carbon-fiberhood, rear wing, front lip spoiler, side skirts, official Endless blue paint by Griffinwurxs |
InteriorCustom 18-point chrome-moly roll cage by Hy Tech exhaust, GTP International door panels, Sparco Pro 2000 seats, Sparco Sabelt 5-point harnesses, Sparco steering wheel, sound deadening removed, Sony Xplod audio system