The additional power and dramatically improved handling would no doubt transform the car into a whole new animal, but there was plenty left to do. Not wanting to rely on the stock brakes to maintain control of the missile, Brian installed a Rotora big brake kit with Motul RBF 600 fluid pumping through its stainless steel veins. Power and braking were then maximized by way of performance rollers and aero enhancements. A J’s Racing rear wing is aggressively perched upon the rear deck lid, while the front fascia is armed with a splitter, canards, and winglets to assist with additional downforce and improved stability at speed. Ditching the anemic factory donuts, Brian picked up a set of 17x9 BBS RX wheels with Toyo Proxes R1R rubber. Beyond the obvious performance aspect of wider wheels and stickier tires, the matte black BBSs add a menacing touch to the dark chassis. His sights set strictly on track days and only an occasional street trip, Brian opted for an Autopower four-point rollbar, a set of Bride bucket seats, and not much else in the cabin. The radio and any unneeded controls on the dash were removed and meticulously covered with hand-trimmed carbon-fiber pieces that the owner battled with personally.
There’s certainly no shame in slowly working on a project car over the course of many years. Enjoying each upgrade individually as your bank account allows is somewhat of a tradition amongst hot rodders both young and old. But in the case of Brian Berger, his destiny premapped, education came first, and his automotive obsession benefitted as a result. He was able to build exactly what he wanted in a relatively short period of time. “It’s great. I’ve brought it out to Summit Point and headed to VIR for some track days. I would have been there in the RSX more, but toward the end of the summer, I picked up a Ducati 1098 and I’ve been trying to learn how to properly track a motorcycle.” Brian is enjoying his career and has a dedicated track car along with a new Ducati sitting in his garage. Stay in school kids…
Why An RSX?
The real question should be: “Why not an RSX?” When asked what prompted his choice for this particular chassis to build, rather than more popular platforms, Brian states, “Mainly because the K series is an awesome motor, and you just don’t see that many RSX builds, especially ’05–’06 models set up for the track. I wanted to do something that not everyone else had already done.”
As with most Honda models, it can take years before the community warms up to a particular chassis, and Honda’s Integra replacement is certainly placed within that category. Early RSX models are inching ever closer to their 10th birthday, and as such, their prices have dropped dramatically, prompting many to opt for the sporty coupe as their next build. Armed with the potent K20 powerplant, plenty of factory amenities, and warehouses full of aftermarket goods, the RSX is poised to make an indelible mark upon the Honda community.