We'll Make You Famous
Want to get your car in Honda Tuning's Grassroots? Email your photography to: editorial@hondatuningmagazine.com

Purchasing a specific car involves a lot of external factors. Sometimes the price is right, sometimes credit is approved, and sometimes people grow tired of certain vehicles and their doomed fate. It made sense that Mike Reid, out of Wilton, Connecticut, purchased a Honda, which he has always liked for their light weight and body styles. His previously used VW Golf consumed three transmissions, one exhaust, and had multiple wiring issues in the six months he owned the car. To rid the nightmares, Mike purchased a brand new 2005 Honda Civic LX and began a four-year journey that he would share with his family and close friends. He also threw $30,000 down along the path in case he needed to find his way back.inline_mediumwraptextright26930533/features/htup_0912_2005_honda_civic_lxhtup_0912_01_o+2005_honda_civic_lx+front.jpgTrue

Shifting And Heavy Breathing
Password:JDM has been on the cutting edge of the Honda movement for years now, with absolutely no signs of slowing down. They've just released this ergonomically balanced shift knob made of aircraft-grade 6061, which has been anodized for a clean look and a lifetime of usage. Weighing in at 6.1oz, the knob fills the gap between other shift knobs that are usually too light, or too heavy. To get a truly unique look, the top of the shift knob incorporates a threaded opening for Password's colored washer kit.inline_mediumwraptextright31155006/features/htup_0912_password_jdm_intake_new_performance_productshtup_0912_02_o+password_jdm_intake_chamber_and_other_new_performance_products+password_jdm_shift_knob.jpgTrue

When it comes to hard to find parts, tuners are a bloodthirsty bunch. If you're not quick to pull the trigger on those rare offset BBSs, they'll be gone before you can even check your account balance. Matt Tucker of Fayetteville, Tennessee, is a fast draw, and when a legit 2000 CTR popped up for sale, the eager enthusiast wasted no time. One catch...the car was located in Los Angeles, while Matt resides in Tennessee.inline_mediumwraptextright26925511/features/htup_0912_2000_honda_civic_type_rhtup_0912_01_o+2000_honda_civic_type_r+front.jpgTrue

Ferd Natividad's 1994 Honda Del Sol S Anyone who has ever built a project car that has reached any amount of success will promise the next project will be even better. The hunger just doesn't die. If you build a car and it ends up in a magazine, then you definitely have to come back even stronger than before. It's often hard to pinpoint why, though it could be attributed to pride. Maybe you just want to prove to yourself that it wasn't a fluke. Either way, the thirst to create never really goes away. Nobody wants to be a one-hit wonder. If you can produce hits, why not keep going? There's no such thing as true satisfaction when it comes to building Hondas; people are always striving to do more or change something up. If you run out of something to do to your car, more than likely, it's time to move on to something else. Even the person who says "I'm just going to enjoy my car now" is still tinkering with something here and there.inline_mediumwraptextright26923750/features/htup_0912_1994_honda_del_sol_shtup_0912_01_o+1994_honda_del_sol_s+driver_side_rolling.jpgTrue

When a casting call went out earlier this year in search of the perfect car to represent Honda Tuning magazine, a major decision had to be made. We could find the highest-dollar, most hardcore force-fed monster to compete against the other magazines, or we could choose a car more in touch with our readers. Now don't get me wrong, we love well-built powerhouses with high dollar one-of-a-kind mods just as much as the next guy. But the reality is most of us don't have the money to buy even half of what those cars run around with. With Loi's Song's Sportcar Motion-built Civic, you have mostly off-the-shelf parts, with a motor combo that a large number of Honda fans can build themselves. Unlike many shops, they don't keep any secrets; they'll tell you exactly what they're running, why they think it works well, and how to get your hands on it. The K-series motor is now a staple of the Honda community, and we wanted to see what it could do against high-level competition. When we featured the white hatchback (Aug issue), it was sporting a shiny new Kraftwerks Rotrex supercharger, making over 400whp. During initial track testing, cooling and efficiency became a serious problem. The solution would be a custom intercooler and radiator setup, but, with so little time before the competition, the Sportcar crew decided to drop the forced induction altogether. This of course made a major impact on power output but insured that the car would run cool even with desert track temperatures. Now if you're slapping your forehead wondering why we'd enter a competition with a severe disadvantage right from the start, we understand completely. But think of it this way: with the Sportcar Motion Civic running naturally, it truly is representative of the majority of K-swap owners that track their cars. Here's a breakdown of some of the categories along with ways we could have improved our overall standing. These aren't excuses by any means, but rather lessons on how to be that much better in the future.inline_mediumwraptextright31135800/features/htup_0912_1994_honda_civic_cx_hatchback_loi_songshtup_0912_01_o+loi_songs_1994_honda_civic_cx_hatchback+right.jpgTrue

Ramon Briones shouldn't own a CRX. And he never should have built the one he's got. Chances are you wouldn't if your first one was left to collectively rot in body shops for nearly two years, was broken into, and was finally stolen. But you're not Ramon.inline_mediumwraptextright26920600/features/htup_0912_1991_honda_crx_sihtup_0912_01_o+1991_honda_crx_si+front_left.jpgTrue

After numerous garage swaps, this Canadian Civic owner finally found the power he was in search of.

If you've been involved with Hondas for more than a few years, the photos on this page probably conjure up memories of the mid nineties. Back when headlight and taillight conversions were in fashion, and custom bodywork (usually Bondo based) was the norm. Civic and Integra bodies were no strangers to Supra and Mustang parts, and two-toned pleather interiors were mandatory. Extreme measures were taken to push the envelope in hopes of standing out from the crowd. And just like the current craze, hard-to-acquire Japanese parts were also in high demand.inline_mediumwraptextright31073397/features/htup_0912_feels_honda_civic_hatchback_aero_kithtup_0912_02_o+feels_honda_civic_hatchback_aero_kit+driver_side_rear_view.jpgTrue

Work For HT...Sort Of
The Great Honda Tuning Photog Search
Think you've got what it takes to shoot a feature for Honda Tuning magazine? All it takes is that winning submission to Honda Tuning's official Oh Snaps! photo contest and you could be on your way to a life of automotive fortune and fame...or at least have the chance to shoot a Civic and get paid for it. Read on for contest rules and details.inline_mediumwraptextrightKayvon Beigali31139451/features/htup_0912_honda_tuning_photographer_searchhtup_0912_03_o+honda_tuning_photographer_search+integra_by_kayvon_belgali.jpgTrue

Ahead Of The Curve
When it comes to alternative fuel vehicles, Honda has always taken a lead role in research and development. In the late '90s, with the introduction of the hybrid electric-powered Insight, as well as the announcement of the Civic GX natural gas vehicle making headlines, the Honda name became synonymous with creating low-to-zero-emissions vehicles. Though sporty offerings like the S2000 and Civic Si were still brought to the table, there's no denying that the automaker has its sights set on clean-burning vehicles for their loyal fan base. The FCX Clarity is in fact, a culmination of those ten years. They now hold the title of producing the world's first hydrogen-powered vehicle produced from the ground up, rather than a modified existing platform; a feat that many would consider far too risky with such and unsure future in public interest.inline_mediumwraptextright26850709/features/htup_0912_honda_fcx_clarityhtup_0912_01_o+honda_fcx_clarity+right.jpgTrue

Clean Livin'
If you live in Utah, congratulations, your state has just been named the third in the country that will begin selling the all-new Civic GX natural gas vehicle on a retail basis.inline_mediumwraptextright26932942/news/htup_0912_honda_civic_gx_acura_zdxhtup_0912_02_o+honda_civic_gx_acura_zdx_and_more+natural_gas_pump.jpgTrue

December 2009 issue's Table of Contents. - Honda Tuning Magazine

Questions Answered By Honda Expert, Ryan Basseri Of Rywire www.rywire.com

More than eighty percent of America's lettuce is grown in Salinas, CA, earning it the nickname, "The Salad Bowl of America." Aside from lettuce, the city boasts one of the highest crime rates in the country, with violent gang-related crime leading the way.inline_mediumwraptextright26852026/features/htup_0912_1992_honda_civic_hatchbackhtup_0912_01_o+honda_civic_hatchback_eg+left.jpgTrue

Two New Hybrid Models In 2010
Honda announced plans to begin sales in Japan of the CR-Z in early February of 2010 and Fit Hybrid by the end of 2010.inline_mediumwraptextright26617924/news/htup_0910_2010_hybrid_modelshtup_0910_02+2010_honda_hybrid_models+honda_crz.jpgTrue

Props
Ben @ Blueprint Racing
Dan Phan @ Rcrew Racing
John @ Revenge Motorsports
Albert @ N1 Concepts
Tony Shagday @ Skunk2
Matt @ ICBmotorsport
Bryce @ JHPUSA
Thomas and Taun @ Pann Auto
Todd, Ryan, and Shawn @ Church
Automotive Testing
Esteban Gonzalez
John Nguyen (SuperTwinz)
Justin Lim
Reza Yaghoubi
Rodrez
Tony Jackson
Katman
Marc Tran
Josh Solis
Jeffro Oleksow
Gilbert Corona
Will Salazar
My family
My wonderful wife Bobbiinline_mediumwraptextright25385543/features/htup_0910_2001_acura_integra_type_rhtup_0910_16+2001_acura_integra_type_r+display_night.jpgTrue

Castrol Syntec Top Car Challenge
In the August issue of Honda Tuning Magazine, we featured our pick for the Castrol Syntec Top Car Challenge. In just six pages, you got a complete rundown of what makes the Sportcar Motion '94 CX tick. Owner Loi Song is never one to keep a secret, and more than willing to share the intricacies of his little white hatchback. In the article, you read about the Kraftwerks supercharger and its ability to help spin to the wheels to well over 400whp. In naturally aspirated form, the car was scrappy. With the addition of boost, it was transformed into an all out monster. Instantaneous boost and massive amounts of useable torque were products of a well designed Rotrex supercharger and plenty of dyno time.

"Oh my God! I've never seen a Ferrari up close before," the child-like barista says to me as I walk into Starbucks, half paying attention to her as I try my best to ignore the eight-dollar apple fritter.

1978 Honda Express (Nc50)
The Honda Ruckus has made quite a splash in recent years as Honda heads all over the nation have taken a liking to the tiny people mover.

Bubble Boy
When you're young, unless your parents took you around the country, or perhaps around the world, you probably felt like the planet wasn't much bigger than your backyard. There might have been the occasional road trips to here or there, but the majority of the earth's activity seemed to revolve a few feet around you. Of course, as you mature over the years, you come to find out that there's much more out there, beyond your comfort zone. I can recall visiting family in the Midwest at a very young age, culture shock slapping me in the face as I stepped out of the airport terminal. It took a little time for me to wrap my head around the fact that all of "this" was going on outside my little bubble.

"Yellow Jacket" Aero & Cooling
In the first installment of Project AP1, I picked out a set of wheels, tires, and coilovers, and paid a visit to Evasive Motorsports where they rolled the factory fenders, and properly aligned the car. The fresh handling, without question, increased the car's fun factor ten fold. The next order of business was to add a little aero to the equation while increasing cooling efficiency; still retaining a clean and aggressive overall look. Here's how it went down:inline_mediumwraptextright31166022/tech/htup_0910_project_ap1_2001_honda_s2000htup_0910_02_o+project_ap1_2001_honda_s2000+hood_vent.jpgTrue

Suspension, Appearance, And Results
Our project Fit has come a long way. In the beginning, we could barely scrounge up a set of coilovers since no one was jumping in to make new parts for the '09 GE. In fact, when the car was handed over to me, it had nothing more than a set of coilovers, HKS axle back muffler, and set of Gram Lights. A great beginning, but there wasn't very much aftermarket support for the '09 GE. Being the internet nerd that I am, I searched high and low, looking for anything to add to the list of upgrades. Eventually I ran across a cold-air intake from Takeda for a little more power, and some beautiful carbon fiber pieces from JDP Engineering. It's been a long hunt, but I've managed to dig up a few more items to bolt on.inline_mediumwraptextright26953738/tech/htup_0910_project_2009_honda_fithtup_0910_01_o+project_2009_honda_fit+completed_install.jpgTrue

Cezar Ambriz' '92 Civic CX
Way back in '98, long before the madness of Y2K swept the earth, years before the loss of MJ, when many of us were skidding around town in beat-to-hell hand me down cars, or worse yet, two wheeled bicycles, Cezar Ambriz was getting his start building cars. While others were cruising to the nearest Quickie Lube for a long-past-due overpriced oil change, Cezar was fabricating parts and wiring electrical components while simultaneously changing oil in his driveway......blindfolded with one hand; he's just that good.

We'll Make You FamousWant to get your car in Honda Tuning's Grassroots? Email your photography to: editorial@hondatuningmagazine.com