Things sure have changed over the years. As a society, we’ve become increasingly impatient and what was once deemed as a “short attention span” has quickly withered away. You often need distractions to keep you company as you feel a sense of inadequacy when taking a moment to catch your breath. That’s why social media blossomed, and continues to consume our lives spawning a generation that can’t seem to put their smartphones down. Admit it, if you aren’t doing anything pressing, you’re quick to log on to your favorite social media sites to see what someone else is doing or what is currently “trending” worldwide. When you’re stuck in traffic or waiting in line, the first thing you do is pick up your phone. We all know it’s dangerous and oftentimes illegal to play with your phone while driving, but you’re willing to take that chance because you simply don’t know what to do with yourself. We are by no means condoning the use of a cell phone while behind the wheel, but you know that it’s the truth. It’s as if you feel you’ll miss out on something if you’re not on your toes. Obviously this is a general statement and doesn’t affect everyone, but let’s be honest, many of you know exactly what I’m referring to. This is the direction our generation is moving, and your brain is wired to believe it.
When it comes to Hondas, and building cars in general, our impatience has become as much a trend as the silly sticker-bombed, “stanced-out” cars we’re tired of seeing. The cool thing to do now is to build a car, garner any type of Internet “fame,” then attempt to sell the car to make a profit. It’s rather disturbing when you think about it. Enthusiasts once truly appreciated the work they put into a car and enjoyed the labors of their hard work. Nowadays, many attempt to justify their love of building their dream car to make a profit. It’s no longer about “love” for many so-called enthusiasts. Money and fame have taken precedence, and people are always on the move, trying to build something to top the next guy. No one wants to be left behind or forgotten, and they realize that everyone is just as impatient as they are. If you aren’t working on something new, somebody else certainly will be and your Internet persona will mean nothing—it all sounds a little ridiculous when you put it into perspective, right? It’s rare to see someone hold onto their car for an extended amount of time. The ones who do either have no choice due to a lack of funds to start another project, or they actually value what they have and do their best to hold onto their prized possession.
Brent Bauer might be placed in the latter category. It’s a very strong possibility that somewhere deep inside his soul, he has love for his ’01 GS-R. Brent’s had his taste of notoriety with his Integra, and he didn’t jump ship and sell it to make a quick buck. His DC2 is virtually unidentifiable after the makeover, but if you’re a longtime reader of Honda Tuning, you’ve actually seen this car before.
“My Integra was featured before in HT in May of 2009,” Brent recalls. “I never really had any thought of getting rid of it after the feature, but life happened so it’s spent much of its time just sitting around. The K20A I had swapped into my DC2 was starting to get worn down, so it was time for a rebuild.”
Back in 2009, we had the pleasure of doing a story on Brent’s Integra and told you about his extensive background with RC cars as well as his near-death experience when he totaled his first Honda. The Integra carried a much tamer appearance two years ago, but by all accounts, it was already a badass build. As Brent stated, the DC2 already had a K20A2 swap and it was no slouch. The engine was built internally and had all the right bolt-on components to make respectable power. A JDM Type R front end conversion and VIS carbon-fiber front lip made for a classic look that was a perfect complement to the bronze Volk CE28s and contrasting OEM black paint—it was just a timeless look. So why, you ask, would Bauer mess with a good thing?