You've seen those fakers out there before, waving their show entry form out of the window of some two-tone, dented, scratched matchstick box. Using red tape to mask broken brake light covers is clever, but it does not equal points. Jorge Rodriguez just leans out of his 2002 Honda S2000 and tells them to get out of his damn way. This pissed-off little bee is the result of a focused and determined will to dominate. Built as a pure trailer queen, its tires don't even know what gravel and rocks look like. Purchased brand new off the showroom floor, Rodriguez's Honda appeared on the show circuit when the S2000 was not yet recognized as the hot stinkpot that it is. Six figures worth of money and a donkey load of custom fabricated and polished parts later, this roadster is out to prove that the S2000 has some sting after all.
Rodriguez did in fact drive the car at one point in time. He originally intended to only add a set of wheels and a body kit. Racing Hart C4 wheels were installed, sized 18x7 inches in the front and 18x8 in the rear, and wrapped in Kumho rubber, 225/40R18 in the front and 255/35R18 in the back. The C4 rims received special attention before being mounted: the center was painted Hyper Silver and the lip was given a high polish shine by F&S Crew of Miami, Fla. The body pieces are pure Japanese style including a full Veilside millennium body kit, luggage cover and carbon-fiber lip. Then Rodriguez went insane. With the decision to turn the Honda into a trailered show winner came many new parts. Mastergrade front racing fenders were added along with APR Performance carbon-fiber side-view mirrors, front canards and GT rear wing. A JDM FEEL's rear carbon-fiber diffuser completes the carbon-fiber aero package. Always up on new trends, Rodriguez updated the front headlights and rear taillights to 2004-spec units. Giving this bee some wings is a Lamborghini-style scissor door conversion, with the door handles shaved for that clean look. After all the exterior work was squared away, the car was shot down with Lamborghini Murcielago yellow pearl by Mike's Paint & Body of Miramar, Fla. No detail spared, the racing stripe is fully painted on; it's not a decal job.
Rodriguez chose one weapon for the interior: carbon fiber. The S2000 was taken to Disort Corp., where a fully custom carbon-fiber center console, door panels, door sills and a very trick stealth passenger seat N2O purge system were fabricated and installed. That hidden purge system was coerced underneath Sparco leather Milano seats with Sparco four-point belts. The driver's area also received a freshening, courtesy of a quick-release MOMO steering wheel and carbon-fiber shift knob. A set of A-pillar and dash-mounted Autometer gauges give a touch of sport and function. The trunk received a custom enclosure top and bottom to hold the full assortment of Rockford Fosgate stereo equipment and NOS N2O bottles.
Although this Honda won't be blowing Mustang doors off on a trailer, attention was paid to the engine bay to impress show judges. The centerpiece underneath the hood is a polished Vortech supercharger kit with an aftercooler. On top of that is a 50-shot wet nitrous oxide system, giving the S2000 more power than any Honda driver could ever wish for. A Comptech Icebox air intake system gathers cold air for breathing into the Vortech head unit that then ends up pressurizing a ported and polished stock intake manifold. Exhaust expulsion is handled by a Neuspeed cat-back exhaust system breathing through a DC Sports header. The new look under the hood is pure polished shine. A chrome valve cover, full assortment of RM Racing billet aluminum engine accessories, and an APR Performance carbon-fiber cooling plate give the engine bay that extra edge of style.
Suspension is another area where Rodriguez did not have to go buck wild, rather, he chose a series of modifications that added an air of track-bred performance to his show vehicle. Peeking out behind the Racing Hart rims is a Brake Zone front four-piston brake kit with drilled and slotted rotors and polished calipers. Stainless steel braided brake lines help the car maintain proper pedal feel when collecting trophies. Dropping the car nicely on to the larger wheel package is a set of Neuspeed lowering springs on stock shocks. Front chassis bracing consists of a Comptech titanium front upper strut bar and front lower tie bar. In the rear rests a Comptech rear lower tie bar and a Comptech lower X-brace.
Fully prepared in every category, this eye-catching Honda S2000 shows that determination, money and, thankfully, sponsors can combine to deliver one potent punch. With plenty of used S2000s on the car market now, be sure to avoid the sting caused by the looks of this beast.