2001 Honda S2000 - Pleasantly Amused

Following the shipping time from Japan, it took another three weeks for Carcraft Auto Salon of North Hills, Calif., to install, fit, and paint the GT1 kit in the three-stage Imola Orange paint from the Acura NSX. Plus, the weeks spent on the bodywork do not even take into account the fabrication and installation time needed by Anthony's Muffler Shop in Whittier, Calif., to make a custom exhaust that exits in the uniquely positioned holes of the GT1 rear bumper. Accenting the stretched S2000's new flanks is a carbon-fiber hood, carbon trunk, and a Mugen hardtop. Much like Power House Amuse's own time attack car, Rico's S2000 no longer uses the stock soft top, in this case replaced with the lighter fiberglass unit.

More GT racer and time attack car than Honda had ever intended, Rico's S2000 makes use of a suspension setup from famed motorsports manufacturer Ohlins. Featuring 30-position adjustability, 16kg/mm front springs, 14kg/mm rear springs, and spot-on damper valving, the Japan-spec Ohlins setup is probably one of the most track worthy setups that street S2000's can pick up. Also pointing to the track bred pedigree of this S2000's underpinnings is the 13-inch six-piston Endless braking system setup, backed up with stainless-steel braided brake lines, Endless brake pads, and Motul brake fluid.

Although the Endless brake kit provides more than enough heat retention and stopping power to cover any S2000, Rico took the measure to be able to handle the madness of a soon-to-be-installed turbocharger system. Also readying the car for the added stress of boost is a Spoon Sports N1 radiator, thermostat, and clutch kit, with a lightweight Buddy Club battery thrown in for added under hood space. Grabbing grip on the inside for when VTEC and peak power hits, Rico installed a set of Recaro Pole Position buckets mounted with Mugen seat rails and the requisite JDM Takata harnesses. Scattered throughout the cockpit, Defi is responsible for the engine monitoring, consisting of 60mm oil pressure, oil temperature, water temperature, EGT temperature, and fuel pressure gauges from the BF lineup. Currently fit with a Spoon Sports air filter, header, and throttle body, the Honda can't hope to outrun any modified Evo's right now, but then again, turbos do make great equalizers. There's still hope for the future.

Fit with some of the widest S2000 fenders we've ever laid our eyes upon, as well as every modification under the sun in anticipation of a turbocharger upgrade, Rico's Honda S2K is on its way to becoming one of the baddest rear-drive H-badgers to roam the streets. But considering that this is Rico's fourth complete makeover of his roadster, he tells us that even he is reaching the end of this adventure. The man that has tasted almost every possible modification for the Honda S2000 says that, for the final stroke on his masterpiece, he will either change the paint color or sell the car off for an Acura NSX and start all over. But, whatever Rico decides to build next, we look forward to catching a glimpse of it, hopefully before it's taken apart and rebuilt three or four times.

Behind the Build
Name: Ernie Rico
Age: 31
Hometown: Manila, Philippines
Occupation: Carpenter
Hobbies: Cars, Video Games, Basketball
Build Time: 3 months
Feedback: spoonus2001@yahoo.com