First Love. A build saga.

Strike a pose darling

Rambling words by Adam, Pics by Chris Sullivan, CRSFOTO.com

We all probably have a friend that still has their "first love" car, yet hasn't thought about it in years.  A good buddy of mine, Luke, has valuable garage space given to his old Escort GT that hasnt moved in nearly 15 years.  My brother-in-law has a first gen CRX that hasn't made vroom vroom noises in the better part of a decade.  My own garage contains a "first love" Civic that has been a rolling shelf for 2 years.  

This might take awhile, but at least its not rotting in a garage.  

I can fully understand the "I'm going to do something with it someday" argument, as its my go-to excuse for my red hatchback.  We have too much history with these cars to just let them go to some stranger for pennies on the dollar.  We can't end the relationship that way.  You wouldn't toss your best friend onto Craigslist if he broke his leg and was immobile, so why does the car with an exploded transmission need to be parted out?  All those nights cruising around, all those track days, and all the memories made with the car are really why we keep these piles of junk around.  Cars become a bit more than parts, wheels, and a bondo-filled pile of steel to people like us.  I dont think Luke will ever part with the Escort, and in fact, I'd bet he WILL do something with it someday....I'm actually shocked he hasn't turned it into a Grassroots Motorsports magazine Challenge build yet.  Something will happen to all these cars someday.  Hopefully it will involve smiles, and tire destroying on a track somewhere.

All projects involve a few messy steps. 

This is the beginning of a multi-part build, a first for Tracktuned.com.  A friend of ours,  pro-photographer (like, photography  ACTUALLY is how he makes his living..... somehow!  CRSFOTO.com) Chris Sullivan has had an Accord for many years.  I first met him in a parking lot, surrounded by hundreds of other car enthusiasts, and struck up a friendship immediately.  As a lover of 80's and early 90's Hondas, how could I not be friends with the only guy I've ever seen who likes 4 door CB-chasssis Accords? Chris has shot 3 of my cars for magazine features for various magazines, and I simply love the guy.  

Dry Ice is cheap, and when you break it up, lay it over sound deadening, and wait a few minutes, it makes that sound deadening very hard.  Strike the sub-zero tar-filled goop with a hammer and it comes off much cleaner that trying to scrape it off at room temperature 

Getting the goop out so Mike from Redmist can lay down some plates weld beads.  

Chris eventually got into s2000's, and even started tracking his stunning, white AP1 the last few years.  The Accord blew up, had too many problems, and sat.....and sat.....and sat...until recently.  Chris rented a spot at a buddies shop, and got to work.  Many people cannot wait to see it back in action.

This s2000 gives me bad thoughts. And it goes on track.  

Room for so many things on the way to the track.   And activities.

What does all that wiring do?  Guess Chris will find out when he builds a custom, minimalist harness...

The plans are to prep the car for a rollcage, then send it to Mike Pieko at Redmist Auto (redmistauto.com) for a full, custom trackday/time attack cage, strip it down, paint it himself, and install Honda K-power of a yet-to-be-determined size.  After it looks good and is safe, Chris intends to spend years beating the snot out of it on track (it will be converted to 5-lug so it can share wheels with the s2000), and also driving it around the country to meets, as he is one of the official photographer of many of the "Big" import meets around the midwest/east coast, and has shot events all over the country.

Almost done with cage prep.....and check out the sweet red door panels. ....... Classy in a "I'm a mother of 3,  I love maroon, and my sensible automobile needs to reflect my personality" style

Stay tuned for more progress soon, and be glad someone is resurrecting a First Love. The fact that this car is even getting it's doors opened up and attacked with wrenches motivates me to go do something with my cars, and we hope it gets you in the garage to work on your first or current automotive love!