Take two Honda enthusiasts, stuff them in a shared workplace, mix in two S2000s, and what do you get? A couple of super-sleek builds that's what. Andrew "Drew" Blas and Jet Aguirre didn't just work their way up the company ladder from food runners to Junior Sous Chefs in the Antelope, Calif., casino where they are employed, they became friends along the way. Drew's Integra and Jet's Civic sparked their shared interest in Hondas, which later bonded their friendship. They both had aspirations and, through job promotions, were both eventually able to afford cars they never thought they could and enhance them with parts they'd only dreamed of.
It was just an ordinary day when Jet pulled into work and spotted a Rio Yellow Pearl AP2 sitting alone in the parking lot. He knew it had to be Drew's. Within nine months, the AP2 had a new parking companion-Jet's newly purchased Grand Prix White AP1. "On Mondays, when we were both off, we used to have what we called tech days where we would get together and help each other work on our cars," Jet said. The twofold tale embodies loyalty and community, two fundamentals the Honda scene has come to embrace.
Their love for Hondas developed naturally. For Drew, he's owned one since he began driving, and most of his friends share his enthusiasm for the brand. Even his girlfriend drives a Honda. Jet's family history can be traced back to Honda, which led to him purchasing one of his own. Jet's passion for the brand runs deep: "Most of all, you have to love mad VTEC yo!"
Andrew "Drew" Blas' AP2 S2000
Drew's AP2 might seem heavily modified, but he started out going for "the sleeper look." With more than four years and $25,000 invested, Drew's S2K belongs at the other end of the spectrum because there's simply nothing sleeper about it. The AP2 went through two major stages: first the engine bay and interior, then the exterior. He credits his girlfriend, father, and girlfriend's father for helping him throughout the process.
Drew's AP2 breathes in fresh Cali air via a Spoon Sports carbon-Kevlar snorkel, air filter, and airbox manufactured to Spoon Sports' rigorous specs. The plethora of Spoon Sports products include a thermostat, thermo switch, radiator hoses, radiator cap, aluminum radiator stays, oil cap, magnetic oil drain bolts, oil catch tank, and heat shield. Blue Spoon Sports reservoir covers and a yellow valve cover surround a Spoon Sports carbon-Kevlar spark plug cover autographed by Spoon Sports President Tatsuru Ichishima. "As if getting Spoon parts wasn't hard enough, how about a signature from the president of Spoon?" Drew says. After the stock F22C1 powerplant digests the air, the spent mixture exits through a Spoon Sports test pipe and Spoon Sports N1 exhaust.
Matching the Spoon Sports carbon-Kevlar theme is a pair of Spoon Sports carbon-Kevlar bucket seats gliding on Mugen seat rails. Takata four-point seat harnesses offer added protection. A Splash short hub and NRG quick release attach a Spoon Sports steering wheel, and a Spoon Sports titanium shift knob carries out shifting duties. Is anyone else noticing a theme here? Drew also swapped the original interior for blue and removed the soft top assembly. Following his addiction to Spoon Sports parts-which is, in part, due to the company's philosophy of balance-in-car entertainment remains stock.