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I've been on this forum a long time and always told myself to make a thread to keep track of my AP1..
Time to share my Honda Challenge H1 build.
The car has been through a lot over the last couple years. From getting in a serious on track accident to almost being completely parted out and scrapped.
Most of that has been shared on the Racing and Competition thread, so I won't go into the details on that.. Wrecked AP1 by E36 @ CMP
This thread will keep track of my w2w progress, modifications and maybe a future engine build.
I purchased this Suzuka Blue AP1 in 2017 completely stock from the 2nd owner.
The original plan was to keep it a fun street car while I rebuilt my Time Attack/TT subaru STi. Well 3 ej25 engines and a fire at Road Atlanta persuaded me to start tracking the S2000 lol.
I did a number of DEs and quickly realized how amazing the S2000 was to drive at the limit. The Honda reliability sealed the deal.
I drove the ap1 for a full year doing monthly hpde events. The following year I said why spend all this money if I can't win anything? NASA contingencies are pretty solid for TT and Racing. So I progressed to time trials trying to chase free tires and brakes. Did TT for 2 years and then had the incident with the bmw...
I've always wanted to get into racing wheel to wheel. The added peer pressure from friends who race Honda Challenge and the incident with the E36 really pushed me over the edge.
Fast forward a couple years, now I have my competition license and have built a wheel to wheel racecar!
This is currently where the S2000 is at. Full w2w race trim.
Interior/Chassis-
2,455lbs light fuel without driver
Gutted chassis, no AC, no heat, no airbags, no windows, no passenger seat, gutted doors, gutted headlights, removed some factory wiring, etc.
Removed all emissions equipment, air pump, charcoal canister, lines, solenoids, etc.
Full 6 point NASA spec cage done by Wilson Racing Chassis in NC
Fire Sense - AFFF Fire System 4L - 2 nozzles in the engine bay & 2 in cabin
Element handheld Fire Extinguisher
COMPCOOLER racing chiller system w/ cool shirt
Cartek GT battery isolator (Kill switch)
Racequip mesh window net 15"x18"
MOMO Daytona XL containment seat
Sparco 1 piece seat cushion
PCI fixed mount seat base
Schroth Flexi 2x2 harness
Race German cage harness collars
Sparco R330 suede steering wheel
Battlecraft Hyper Quick Release
Works Bell 15mm wheel spacer
Splin Mota Shift Knob
SOS gauge mount panel
YAGI dry carbon fuel pump cover
Joes Racing 17" wide angle mirror kit
Ecliptech Shift P2 rpm gauge w/ 3d printed mount
Modifry Shift beeper
AIM Solo2 w/ 3d printed dash mount
GoPro 11 black
NAUS Brake pedal riser (0.5")
SRP aluminum grid style clutch, brake, and throttle pedals
Doryoku front crash bar w/ added tow points
Exterior-
RSG Amuse rep carbon hardtop
Izzy's Hardtop brackets
9 Lives Racing rear 68" chassis mounted wing
9 Lives Racing CFD endplates
9 Lives Racing front splitter chassis mounted
Professional Awesome splitter side support rods
Craft Square Carbon Mirrors
Track Spec hood vents
Track Spec hood wickers
SOS Hood Pin Brackets
AeroCatch flush mount hood pins
Zunsport mesh grille
Cartek 3 mode Rain Light
Doryoku front tow strap
OEM rear tow hook
Suspension-
Karcepts MCS 2way non remote w/ 800lb front & 700lb rear Hyperco springs & Hyperco helpers - RE suspension trimmed 1/2" rear bumpstops 45G white
Karcepts spherical top hats
Karcepts Front Swaybar
Karcepts Rear Swaybar
Karcepts spherical adjustable endlinks
Origin Fab UCA gussets
FDF RaceShop Green V2 Front Upper Spherical Control Arms
Kingpin Machine Front lower arm spherical bushings, Tig welded in place
Megan spherical bushings in rear upper and lower arms
Splin Mota Rear Toe Eccentric Lock Out Washers
Nagisa Auto rear adjustable spherical toe arms
Splin Mota Rear subframe stiffener
Rigid subframe collars
Spoon steering rack solid bushings
Ford steering rack limiters
Sakebomb FP spec front bumpsteer spacers
EPS mod (removed VSS wire at module, goes to 20% assist) better feedback and consistency.
Wheels-
Apex VS5RS Anthracite 17x10 +48 w/ Toyo R 255/40 or Maxxis RC1 255/40 - Dry Race Tires / +3mm front spacer
November 7th 2017
Paid $11,700 for this 3 owner w/ 104k miles.
Came with every receipt and an excel sheet of maintenance going back to the 1st buyer in 2002.
Suzuka wasn't my first choice but it was affordable and extremely well kept. Within my budget while I fixed my subaru "track car".
Interesting to keep the history of this car on s2ki. It has come a long ways..
Didn't get to take it to the Dragon until the following April. Only changed out tires which were still stock size but 200tw. Might have added a whiteline front swaybar and some hawk pads by then.
Last edited by .Boston.; Nov 23, 2025 at 09:28 AM.
Any reason why you haven't gone BBK up front? Do HC1 rules not permit a BBK upgrade? need to retain OEM calipers and rotor size?
A few reasons why I haven't moved to a BBK.
1st - H1 rules allow you to run any brake setup but I plan to jump into ST4/ST5 or TT if there aren't numbers in HC (free tire money). ST/TT is a points hit for a BBK.
2nd - I haven't ran into any brake issues with 2 piece rotors f/r, good race compound pads and titanium shims. The girodics last a whole season and then some. OEM calipers are cheap and everyone usually carries spares, myself included.
3rd - initial cost.. I've already spent a lot on this car for a true grassroots w2w build. The AP racing BBK is definitely on my to-do list. Right now I'd rather save for a diff regear and plated LSD which there's more of a benefit vs BBK.
Update -
I ran Hyperfest at VIR in May. Epic time hanging with all the Honda Challenge OGs. Lots a very fast drivers and cars. Quickly realized I was far from being optimized for H1 class.. Another S2000 in H1 had a J35 swap.. He had to weigh a minimum of 3,220lbs or something around that but it still pulled hard on me on all the straights. I was A LOT faster in the corners but I'm also overweight by almost 300lbs for running my F20. Went home after the race weekend with a car in all one piece and a list of parts I need lol. Now trying to find weight to remove around the car.
Currently down to around 2,480lbs without driver. Per HC H1 rules, minimum weight is 2,392lbs with driver.
Planning to cut the rear trunk pan out and gut more of the body panels next weekend.
Some clean shots from the weekend
And a couple new items for the racecar in order.
MRacing carbon side mirrors for weight savings and reduction in drag.
OSG LSD finally came in from Japan. Next day I sent it out to OSG USA for custom tuning. Waiting on that to come back and then counting down the days to send off to Puddymod..
Cartek FIA Rain light, need to wire this up next weekend. I'm now legal for rain races.
I picked up a used Origin Fab Titanium 3" exhaust. This is a 1 piece with vband at the header. Its a pain in the ass to install and get just right. Only weighs 9lbs or so.. Super light and LOUD.
Last edited by .Boston.; Jun 20, 2023 at 02:16 PM.
Boston's - 2003 HONDA CHALLENGE - Build Thread
