6.711 @ 207.46
6.748 @ 206.23
6.775 @ 206.46
The AEM Drag Civic and its gutsy lead-footed driver Stephan Papadakis have big-time dropped the bomb on NHRA drag racing-and done so on both the sport compact and big-league domestic sides of the fence. Considering this is the Team AEM's first year in competition, its accomplishments are astounding. There have been struggles, as expected, but when things hooked up, the AEM Civic was a red blur blasting down the tarmac.In late July, the Honda propelled itself into the 6-second range and joined the Summit 200-mph club at Vegas running 6.90 at 200.56. Then, the cosmic tumblers really aligned at the Extreme Rush held in Dallas, Texas in September.
The Extreme Rush program puts sport compact cars on the strip making exhibition runs at a domestic Powerade event. So the stands are filled with die-hard V8 lovers. Steph was in rare form as usual and power shifted the NSX-motivated Pro RWD Civic to awe-inspiring 6.775-, 6.748 and 6.71-second e.t.s at more than 207 mph. These times were quicker than the Powerade Pro Stock cars on hand for their national event. Pro Stock racer Greg Anderson qualified on top with a 6.826 and won the event with a 6.807.
The Civic features a Don Ness Pro Stock chassis with carbon-fiber Civic body panels. Lamb front shocks and Koni rear shocks both feature electronic control, while Lamb carbon-fiber disc brakes team with a compressed air-deployed parachute. The driving force behind the car is a twin-turbo NSX C30A 3.0-liter V6. It's this high-revving engine that we'll focus on here.
Turbo got the scoop as a C30A was about to be assembled at AEM's race shop. We shot pictures of the most innovative and groundbreaking components of the powerplant, then played "Show & Tell" with AEM's John Concialdi.