SP Rides: The Makings of a Track Star
BY MICHAEL KITCHENS
Name: Chandler Quinn
Age: 22
Occupation: Army
Hobbies: Spearfishing, driving, cars, trucks
Year/Make/Model: 2011 Honda Civic Si
Color: Taffeta White
Engine: K20z3, Password JDM Power Chamber intake, Skunk2 Alpha Aeries headers, Invidia Q300 exhaust, Hondata Flashpro, Mishimoto oil cooler, Password JDM carbonfiber coolant cover plate, battery relocation to trunk.
Exterior: Mugen RR front bumper and side skirts, Vis FD2 carbon fiber hood, FD2 rear conversion, Vis demon style carbon fiber trunk, Top1 front splitters, Password JDM winglets, rear window spoiler.
Interior: Takata racing seats and harnesses, trunk and rear seats gutted, carbon fiber frogeye gauge pod, carbon fiber armrest, Hybrid Racing v2 short shifter, Password JDM team NvUS shift knob.
Wheels/Tires/Suspension: Falgenwerks Fw 001 18×9.5, Duraturn Mozzo Sport Tires @ 225/40R18, Godspeed Mono Max coilovers, rear beaks bar, Megan subframe brace.
The Honda Civic is known in import circles as the go-to car for those in the FWD scene. Since 1972, the model has morphed from a fairly basic subcompact to a proven standard for the upscale compact car segment. Although fondly remembered during its heyday (oil crisis of the early ’70s), the model of today is the chosen platform for import enthusiasts.
Chandler Quinn is on that list of fans.
Quinn picked up a 2011 Honda Civic Si while helping a friend shop for cars. While his sudden purchase might be a bit impulsive, he’s really put the effort into making this ride a standout. The model is the beginning of the ninth generation, and the body style is even more sleek and stylish. And just like its forebears, this car was made to mod — a fact that Quinn has taken full advantage of.
A Mugen RR front bumper and side skirts accent the futuristic lines of this car, while Top 1 Front splitters and Password JDM winglets have been added to help slice the air. The car sports a panda two-tone color scheme on the VIS FD2 carbon fiber hood and demon style trunk lid. Meanwhile, a rear window spoiler and FD2 rear conversion keep the overall look fresh and sleek.
Of immediate note are the neck-breaking Falgenwerks FW 001s that grace this car. They’re bathed in a shimmering gold paint that really makes the Civic stand out. This ride is sensibly lowered on Godspeed Mono Max coilovers and features further chassis strength thanks to a Rear Beaks bar and Mugen subframe brace.
As Quinn has grown with the car, he’s slowly transitioned from the show-and-go look to complete race worthiness. Being a military man, he’ll soon be moving to the Mainland, where he’ll be asked to take this baby to a real racetrack. Because of this, he’s intent on making modifications that will improve the car’s performance while also lightening its load.
To accomplish this, the engine has been given a makeover with the installation of a Password JDM Power Chamber intake, Skunk2 Alpha Series headers and an Invida Q300 exhaust. Tuning is achievable by a Hondata Flasphpro while further options such adding a Mishimoto oil cooler and relocating the automobile’s battery to the trunk will make the transition to a racing lifestyle much smoother.
The interior follows suit by featuring a set of very rare and expensive Takata racing seats and harnesses. A carbon fiber frogeye gauge pod has been installed for monitoring vital stats while a Hybrid Racing v2 short shifter and Password JDM shift knob have been include for better shifting. The rear trunk and rear seats have been gutted from the car in an attempt to further improve horsepower-to-weight ratio that’s so important in lightweight FWD cars.
For now, it seems as if Quinn has the makings of a bona fide track star.
