In the import race industry it is imperative that racers revamp themselves to keep pace with the technology that is the lifeblood of this sport. Think about it. If you showed up to a race sporting some of the oldest trends, you would have a car rolling on 13-inch steel primes sporting a duct tape/trash bag rear hatch with the rear end stink bug in the air. That's the fastest way to not get sponsored, not to mention broken off by bracket cars.
Following the latest trends and technology not only helps lock in sponsors; it also allows the racer to evolve his car and drop his e.t. Jeremy "L Natural" Lookofsky has gone with the flow and been a top contender in the all-motor ranks.
Jeremy's last X-Files feature long ago gave us a glimpse at a revamped L Natural CRX. The vehicle went under the knife for a full makeover inside and out, sporting a new paint scheme and custom suspension. Months after its X-File debut the car was dominant on the track in competition while regaining the title of the World's fastest normally aspirated front-wheel-drive Honda. While Jeremy is still campaigns the CRX, his new project is this 2001 Civic.
This project was started right as the CRX first hit the track. Using the technology honed in the CRX helped the team build a new foundation for the 2001 car. The CRX started out as a daily driven unibody car and was slowly transformed into a tube chassis racecar. The 2001 Civic started its life on a jig and was never a stock unibody vehicle. The body is made of carbon fiber which is the same carbon body that Stephan Papadakis sports on his new ride. Jeremy purchased the lightweight body from Steph; Steph is the only one with a mold of a 2001 Civic. The chassis looks identical to one of last month's X-File cars, Myles Bautista's Integra. The two started on the same jig but later moved to separate chassis builders. Area 51/Climax redesigned a new set-up which included new motor mounts and front suspension package by Ground Control. The front suspension is designed to accept a 26/8-15 slick which is a big step up from the 24.4x13 run on the CRX. The rear suspension is unique by allowing the user to have preset wheelbases ranging from 103 inches max to stock at it's shortest setting.
The car's H-series engine may under go a change in fuel from the past Prelude engine. The thought of using alcohol is up in the air. Considering this old engine makes 280-plus hp to the wheels on race gas, we think in the hands of the right engine builder and tuner, alcohol should make power well into the 300-plus zone. Engine building will be handled by R&D Dyno along with the help from L Natural Motorsports while tuning is in the hands of Darren of R&D Dyno.
Jeremy will enlist the help of Ghost Ride Kustoms to lay the enamel on the carbon body. This body shop is the same one responsible for spraying the many different paint schemes on the CRX. As far as color is concerned, expect to see the new L Natural Civic in it's traditional orange with a little extra pizazz added to the mix.
Engine Builder
R&D Dyno & L Natural
Tuner
Darren R&D Dyno Service
Sheetmetal Fabrication
Rob Miller (AKA 909)
Sponsors
DVS/Nakayama/Nitto/Thermal Research/ACT "Your name here!"
Goal
Apply leasons from old car to the new car. Nine-second e.t.s?