Don’t be fooled by the name. This isn’t some dark and dangerous alleyway controlled by a gang of Honda E-thugs sporting hellaflush fitment. This is VTEC Alley, where you can find more cool Hondas in this little area than any other square mile in the world. Located in the heart of Phoenix, within an area hardly bigger than a postage stamp, resides six performance shops comprised of Arizona’s most respected tuners, manufacturers, mechanics, and engineers, including Hasport, Tri-Tech Motorsports, Locash Racing, Teague Speed Racing (TSR), RC’s Garage, and Full-Race Motorsports.
“People often ask if having so many shops within such a small area hurts our business, but I tell them it’s the exact opposite. Having so many Honda-related companies that do different things in close proximity is beneficial for both the customers and the shops. The customers don’t need to drive all over town to get what they need. As for the shops, we try to support each other by sending each other work and doing work for each other,” says Joe Sawyer, owner of Locash Racing. With each of the shops specializing in various professions, including chassis fabrication, dyno tuning, engine swaps, and more, VTEC Alley is a large reason why the Honda Tuning market has continued to flourish.
Hasport Performance
Owner: Keith Gillespie
Shop Specialization: engine mounts
Favorite Honda/Acura: all Civics
Weapon of Choice: all
Reason: “For Hasport it’s about pushing the envelope so we’re happy to experiment using all types of chassis and engine combos,” Brian Gillespie says.
Brian Gillespie, the marketing development specialist and face of Hasport Performance, is no stranger to the Honda world, becoming the authority in engine swaps and the number-one aftermarket engine mount manufacturer for Hondas. Hasport’s made its name as a specialist in transplant motor mount kits business since the company did its first engine swap out of brother Keith’s salvage yard—Honda Auto Salvage—from which Hasport derives its name. Both Keith and Brian have each been active racers for many years. They used their race cars as testbeds to develop new products as well as junkyard vehicles at their disposal to fabricate and test-fit engines in various chassis. Hasport has continued to develop engine mounts as business continues to blossom.
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Looking to transplant a K24A3 engine into a ’94 Civic EG or a J32 V-6 powerplant in a CRX?
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“Our stuff isn’t usually about fastest or most powerful, it’s more about: does it handle,
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Surprisingly tucked away in the corner of the shop was a ZC engine fully prepped by Mugen
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This blast from the past first-gen ’86 CRX (Ex SCCA GT-Light) is coming out of retirement
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Dubbed “Project Sipster II” this ’93 Civic HB is Hasport’s answer to the high cost of fuel
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’00 Honda Insight Code name: “Project Epiphany” Engine: K20Z3 Status: current land speed r
Hasport’s infamous supercharged K24-powered CRX has become a legend at track events, terrorizing competitors in the Unlimited FWD class. Throughout the years, the CRX has won numerous championships and titles in the time-attack circuit as well as seen multiple engines, including a D16, B16, supercharged B16, and three different supercharged K-series engines. This year, the CRX will be receiving a V-6 swap in preparation for the Super Street FF battle taking place at Auto Club Speedway. We asked Brian why the Honda tuning market has continued to flourish with the current state of the economy. He says, “It’s like skateboarding; there is a massively strong culture and community that has built up around these cars due to many factors, including the cost of the car, superior automotive engineering, ease and low cost of modifying, large and interactive online community, and timeless styling.”