Take a look at the winningest cars in any arena of automotive competition, and you'll notice a pattern: all were built to do one thing. You won't catch F1 cars mixing tread with Indy. Unlimited-class time attack cars wouldn't lower their standards to beat up on Street-class competitors, and you'll never catch the fastest drag cars wrenching their turbos off to take a spin in All-Motor classes. Maybe that's why we like Hondata's RSX so much--as a major player in SCTA-sanctioned land-speed competitions throughout the Southwest, not only does it hold the world record as the fastest production FWD car, but also titles as the fastest naturally-aspirated 2.0L production car, fastest nitrous-enhanced 2.0L, and a few others. What's more, its 2.0L K20A engine remains virtually untouched between competitions in each class, and even when tuned to 765 whp or blasting 236mph runs, it's never even seen a turbocharger.
After years of closed-door fabrication, midnight tuning sessions and blocking the automotive paparazzi's best efforts at exposing the beast, Hondata front-man and driver of the RSX, Doug MacMillan, let 2NR cameras inside his company's Torrance, CA headquarters, to show the true makings of a car that's earned titles as "World's Fastest" in as many categories as it's entered.
Profile
Looking at a car's profile, you'll notice that it bears resemblance to an aircraft wing. As vehicle speeds increase, so does the propensity for lift. Nearly everything fitted to a top-speed car's exterior must accomplish two jobs: cutting drag, and decreasing lift.
Forward-moving vehicles generate downforce over their front wheels. "This," informs Doug, "gives FWD cars a bit of an advantage in the top-speed game." Next to the CRX and Insight, the RSX is one of Honda's most aerodynamic FWD platforms, and since its factory engine is the K20A--the one Doug was planning to use regardless--the RSX is legal for competition in more categories than a car with a swapped engine would be.
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In top-speed racing, reducing every possible source of drag is vital. And that means the s
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The aluminum rails running along the top of Doug's RSX are required for competition cars t
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At the RSX's corners lie factory Honda space-saver wheels--the same "donuts" that can be f
Front
The front of a top-speed car must do many things: limit airflow under the car and to the wheels, streamline with the hood and fenders to improve aerodynamics, and present as smooth a surface as possible to reduce drag. Pictured here, the RSX's fiberglass front does all three, while allowing full access to the engine bay and radiator support.
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Even these Aerocatch hood pins were chosen for their low drag profile. Sure, they look 100
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Sheet metal covering the entire underneath of the RSX also accomplishes two tasks at once:
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For classes where the K20A breathes through individual throttle bodies, the large, off-cen