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Magazines Square Off In Honda's 'Civic Si Challenge'

2 November 1999

Magazines Square Off In Honda's 'Civic Si Challenge'; Super Street Magazine Takes Win

    TORRANCE, Calif., Nov. 2 -- Super Street magazine spanked its
rivals, taking first place in American Honda's "Civic Si Challenge," a
competition to see which of four magazines - Super Street, Popular Mechanics,
Sport Compact Car and Car and Driver - could create the PHAT-est (Pretty Hot
and Tasty) conversion trend vehicle.
    The four magazines were each loaned a Civic Si for 6 months, and were
asked to trick-out the car to best emulate the appearance and performance
modifications made popular by today's growing group of "Y" generation hot
rodders and conversion trend enthusiasts.  The publications were allowed to
spend $10,000 on retail parts and to make any conversions they wished, as long
as the vehicles passed a California smog test and remained street legal.
    The competition awarded points for appearance, performance and handling.
Appearance enhancements were voted on by race fans at the Battle of the
Imports held in October at the Los Angeles County Raceway and by Honda
employees.  Super Street swept the votes at the Battle of the Imports, while
Popular Mechanics stole the Honda employee vote.
    The competition got personal when designated drivers from each of the
competing magazines squared off on the drag strip at the Battle of the Imports
to test performance modifications.  The four cars went head to head for best
overall time in the quarter-mile with Super Street again leading the pack with
a time of 14.135 seconds.
    Honda Champ Car driver Paul Tracy, then helped put the Si Challenge
vehicles through their paces in a series of comprehensive performance and
handling tests at Las Vegas Motor Speedway just prior to the SEMA show.  Super
Street again finished first in the quarter-mile, acceleration and braking
tests, and Sport Compact Car took number one in the three-lap handling test.
    Modifications were unique on each vehicle as all four magazines focused on
different areas of enhancement.
    Super Street:
    --  A complete engine package by JUN
    --  Bergenholtz racing transmission
    --  DC Sports header
    --  Progress Group suspension
    --  Cusco limited slip differential
    --  Yokohama tires
    --  Advanced wheels and Endless brake pads

    Sport Compact Car:
    --  Jackson Racing supercharger and water injection
    --  DC Sports header
    --  A'PEX N1 exhaus and AEM intake
    --  Integra GS-R pressure plate
    --  Progress Group suspension
    --  AEM brakes and rotors
    --  Goodrich braided steel brake lines
    --  Kosei racing K1 wheels
    --  Hoosier tires

    Car and Driver:
    --  Jackson Racing supercharger
    --  Enkei wheels
    --  Mugen limited slip differential
    --  Mugen 4-into-1 exhaust header and cat-back stainless steel exhaust
    --  King Motorsports/H&R coil-over shock kit
    --  Hoosier tires
    --  R.C. Engineering fuel injectors
    --  AEM intake
    --  Goodrich stainless steel brake line set and Hawk Blue racing brake
        pads

    Popular Mechanics:
    --  Jackson Racing supercharger and prototype racing exhaust system
    --  DC Sports header, intake, engine dress up, rear suspension and shifter
    --  Baer racing brakes
    --  Tokico adjustable shocks
    --  American Racing wheels
    --  Hoosier tires
    --  Custom paint with red and orange flames spread across the hood and
        skull shift knob and tire stem plugs

    Honda will present Super Street with a trophy during a reception on
Wednesday, November 3 at the SEMA show in Las Vegas.  The SEMA Show, which
serves the performance and restyling industries, is the world's largest
automotive aftermarket trade show in the country and is expected to draw
80,000 attendees.  This year will be the first year that American Honda
exhibits its vehicles and parts at the SEMA show.