Tis’ The Season
With the weather reflecting the likes of Spring incredibly early this year, Amodei managed to photograph his new/temporary XXR wheel set up. The phrase ‘needs more low” does not apply.
FRENCH
Vacation
This past weekend I had the luxury of taking a short 3 day cruise to the Bahamas with the family.. After returning we met up with some family in Coral Springs, Florida.. I then get a message from Sheldon saying he lives 10 minutes away.. This lead to us meeting up and me snapping a few photos of his nicely put together AP1… Enjoy!
Full set can be found HERE!!!!
-Chris Amodei-
Full set can be found HERE!!!!!!
Stolen
As much as I’d like to have a “daily” gum scraper like the EG bubble below or the Acura Integras I’ve been sharing, the idea of having it stolen at every moment is incredibly discouraging. SMH
FRENCH
photo credit: unknown
Guide Post
“Success isn’t measured by the position you reach in life: it’s measured by the obstacles you overcome.”
-Booker T. Washington
I like to believe this Honda Civic initially developed to be an economical commuter car is a proper example of the quote above. Often a joke to the car enthusiast outside the Honda community it’s the underdog that was the foundation for an entire generation of tuners. True story, this Summer at a Watkins Glen circuit day with the PCA a gentleman driving a 996 GT3 Cup was more than enthusiastic about a turbo Civic at the clubs last outing. G’night
FRENCH
Photo Credit: Unknown
Seat Time
If you ever thought about going to the circuit you’ve come across the uninviting costs of doing so and like any competitive activity practice or in this case seat time it is what separates “the men from the boys” or is it? There has been a growing discussion among the Honda-Tech community regarding video games such as Gran Turismo 5 and Forza 4 and the idea that consciously playing them has benefited individuals when tracking in reality as the game physics are relative to that of the real World. Clearly not the only persons to think so as the television show, GT Academy was produced, note the word produced. In any case, the cost of becoming a respected driver ,if you do happen to believe the idea of simulators, has drastically been reduced and the Winter… well E and I are going to Miami for a few months :shrugs: Can anyone comment on Palm Beach International Raceway?
FRENCH
some more Integra influences
photo credit: unknown
Exercise Knowledge
“We seem to collect information because we have the ability to do so, but we are so busy collecting it that we haven’t devised a means of using it. The true measure of any society is not what it knows but what it does with what it knows.” -Warren Bennis
FRENCH
In an attempt to display my know how and being that I’ve always had an interest in DC2s, my younger brother and I have to decided to pick up an Integra. BAWSEEESSs
photograph by Nelsmar
Island Import Day October 23, 2011
It’s hard to believe that the season is approaching its conclusion. With the warm weather behind us, the cold weather present and the very cold looming in the near future, we’ve been attempting to cover every meet, race and “gathering” within reason. With appointments to roll 3 cars’ fenders earlier that morning Spilner and I were a bit discouraged as to if we would be able to attend Island Import Day’s season finale. But the inability of a BMW 135i to hold their appointment provided us with an opportunity to go and doing so I made sure to go nuts and shoot every f$%kin’ photo-worthy gem insight.
FRENCH
Do you have it, guts!
Photogenic much?
Kevin Markland has a mustache
Not something you see everyday, on air
The character behind the Jag
The instigator
Millan’s “race car”
No fires will be put out with these old extinguisher bottles
But tattoo artist Anthony Mealie’s GTI will be laying low
The Arthus helping Kevin make some adjustments
“Ass, ass, ass…” -Big Sean
Hip…ster.
Anthony’s little tree collection
“…Ass, ass, ass”
Red IS300/Altezza on polished CCWs
This guy was walking around with his daughter… Animale
IDGAFOS…
Having attended Wek’Fest San Francisco a handful of months ago reality struck and the idea of ever getting featured in a magazine given the caliber of cars in attendance and the slow extinction of print was killed. And it didn’t really matter but the thought of magazines truly disappearing considering the quality of information the medium communicates is tragic to say the least. Yes there is heaps of information on the internet in the form of “DIYs,” reviews and such but few times are they as informative, suggesting tips and insight, as let’s say, HondaTuning. Many times I’ve encountered incongruences with user write ups on forums and I’m sure you have as well but the point is magazines of which we/I discovered JDM tuning and all things related are vanishing. Do yourself and the industry a favor and subscribe to whatever tuning magazine you read while sipping your large latte at Barnes and Noble with your girlfriend as it is about 25% the cost of the yearly subscription. It’s not about the money though, it’s about the reach and without that we are doomed to read poorly written posts, such as my own (you know this is a joke my posts are award winning), about how someone’s family member or friend inspired them to begin modifying cars so he/she stanced the shit out of there Suby. Derp
FRENCH
photo by Sean Bradford Photography
Follow Your Heart
“When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: “If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.” It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.
Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.” - Steve Jobs
FRENCH
Vyets S2000 from Felix A. Lim and Simon Nguyen
Opportunity
Today marked the last day of my employment at NoLimitMotorsport. Not because of a vicious “blow out” or maltreatment but because I’ve grown as a person. Upon reception of the news some have apologized but I quickly silenced their concerns and expressed to them that my time is another resource that I’m able to utilize in pursuit of my dreams and goals.
With Evo Vs STi scheduled for this weekend as well as First Class Fitment the team has been split. Huy and Brian Arthus will be present at FCF and Amodei, Spliner, E and Your’s Truly will be in attendance at Evo Vs STi, and Atlantic City shortly after 
…To a new beginning.
FRENCH
Kris (auto) Kross
As the world anticipates the release of the I-phone 4s and repeatedly reminds us of the death of Steve Jobs through the social medium, the usual suspects and I sought sanctuary in the form of an auto-x. With Nassau Coliseum having just repaved their lot, the “million plus” square feet gauntlet transformed into a some what decent venue and little consideration was required to determine whether or not we were attending.
FRENCH
Pocono Raceway 2011
Just how many track days can we get in before the season concludes is the game that many of us are gambling on. As much as we admire the fine art of hardparking, it requires a great amount of restraint for many of us at IvyLeagueEast to pass up on a circuit day, auto-x or the classic, a quarter-mile. Having managed to put enough coin aside to hit Pocono Raceway with the PCA once again, E, Jamie and I met up with a few other S2000s owners to add a bit of color to the usually monotone roster 
FRENCH
Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance
With Fall officially here as of today it incurs serious angst as few track days remain and Winter build plans begin. Having managed to destroy my Amuse front fascia within a few weeks of painting the OEM AP2 look and fitment is again looking very appealing. With a shopping list consisting of a super charger, hardtop and wing (for racing… smh and hardparkers with wings) it’s going to be a very, very costly few months.
FRENCH
photo credit unknown
Chillin’ In The Cut
Working at a local speed shop has provided me with the opportunity to meet just about anyone in the community. From tuners to locals celebs, my database of faces and names is detailed and extensive to say to least. Often the location for impromptu meets after hours I managed to take a few shops of Artie’s new project.
FRENCH
New roller’s!!
Once again I switched up my wheel setup… I found myself not being able to hold onto a set of wheels for longer than a month to a month and a half… Sure I sold my Work XD-9′s and picked up a set of replica’s (Varrstoen’s), but truthfully…. I was totally over the look of my car with the Work’s on it, so I bought an affordable, more aggressive wheel.. Spilner has not stopped breaking my balls about it, hopefully he stops soon, but knowing him… he probably wont.
The rest of the photo’s can be found here!!!!
-Chris Amodei-
Ryder’s DC5
One can’t complain about seeing the progress a car had made, at least not one that looks like Ryder’s DC5 Acura RSX.
FRENCH
photo credit: unknown
V1: Regular SSM with Volks CE28ns
V2: Flat White Glacier Pearl Frost Mica with Works VS-XX
photo credit: C Tang
V3: Current
Spotted: Dirty’s Old S2000
Dirty’s old S2000 has managed to find its way back to the pages of ILE via Franco in New Jersey. Looking super clean on the popular XXR wheels, it always a pleasure to see cars of this caliber survive.
FRENCH
Photographer and current owner: Franco R
Media Hype – S2000
While the East Coast reconstructs from Hurricane Irene, I’d like start the week off on a similar point. As Summer ages into Fall and most of us have enjoyed our builds alongside the warm temps, some are quick to tear our cars apart as soon as it permits, I being one. Having owned my S2000 for almost a year now it has made a number of changes and this Winter, having experienced the circuit first hand, will subject the bad broad to yet another.
FRENCH
stage 1 (minus mugen wing)
Ap2 bumper and lip
rpf1s with ventus v12s
Hard dog roll bar
Amuse front bumper with SS brake lines and Rs3 tires
Destroyed Amuse
…to be continued
Batten down the hatches!
Hurricane Irene has come and gone, and thankfully we not only maintained our cars (and our own personal well-being), it was actually a pretty good time. On Saturday afternoon we decided a keg of beer would be a great way to weather the storm, and so the ILE crew plus friends spent the evening at my apartment making good times happen. Despite weakening significantly before hitting us, the wind and the tides did their damage. But fortunately we didn’t lose power at any point, which not only kept the party going into the morning, but facilitated a well deserved day of recovery with nothing to do but scour forums. Here’s a few highlights:
Problem East Coast?
Track’d Integra
Insert wordy literary piece about how much I appreciate this car and something unrelated that has happened to me or will happen.
FRENCH
please don’t insert a comment about the wing. Yes, I know the car is FWD but it is used to neutralize steering, derp.
Influence
First and foremost the staff at ILE are friends before anything and that being so the truth which hurts so much is communicated to the fullest of detail. Most of us owning an s2000 before or currently know how capable the platform is, but few of us know more than E. Having had 2 AP1s and a turbo AP2, his newest and 4th s2k will live its unnatural life along side mine gracing the circuit. WINNING
FRENCH
PHOTOS BY THE TALENTED: Sheldon Tran Photo
problem?
Cuatro Loko
As many readers may already know, the Nissan 370z was short lived. I’m hard pressed to describe flaws in the car- overall it’s a very nice platform. Tight handling, responsive, very sexy and the auto rev-match downshifting was pretty trick. But there was always something missing with it, that in the end was pretty straight-forward, but took me a while to figure out: it wasn’t an S2000. Plain and simple. There is something about the Honda S2000 that just connects with me. So I sold the Z to a gentleman in Texas. I only made it 888 miles with the car. Here’s a picture of that very last mile:
And so, the hunt was on for another S2000. I decided that the next S2000 (number 4!) would be one of two platforms: An S2000 “CR” or Club Racer if you’re not familiar, or an older model AP1. The reason being: FRENCH has me hooked on hitting the circuit. I got a small little taste of it earlier this year at an auto-x. I realize the season is winding down here in the Northeast, but there are few months (and track days) left. I really can’t wait to get out there.
The car is a pretty much bone stock 2001. I picked it up for a very reasonable price from a gentlemen in North NJ over the weekend, who seems to have taken good care of it. It may actually be in a little better shape than my late 2004 S2000, despite having almost double the mileage. I looked at a few prior to this, and every one in this price range seemed to have been previously wrecked, or had well over 100,000 miles on it. I think I did pretty well with it.
So now the fun begins. I am scouring the internet for a good set of square 17×9″-9.5″ track wheels for a good price, while waiting for the Tire Rack to come back in stock with Hankook Ventus RS-3′s. French is lining up my Koni and Ground Control setup, while I source out a front sway bar, stainless brake lines and good set of pads. A Hard Dog roll bar will top it all of, and that’s it. Until next season anyway.
~E~
Here’s a few shots before the transformation begins:
And here’s a few inspirational photos courtesy of the s2ki.com “Your S in track trim” thread:
Pick Your Poison
The TSX is a platform that many people are beginning to consider buying as the prices are dropping into the 9k to 15k price range. Although, it’s a FWD 4 banger (K24) which you may or may not want, you can go any which way with modifying the car. You can go ricey (lol), sporty (because racecar?), OEM+, OEM JDM-style, VIP, or full on Race; it’s all up to your budget and taste. Oh… and it has a nice interior 
but I might be biased.
With that being said, check out Benson’s TSX out from Canada and a couple of the TSXs/wagon in the tristate. His car has gone through many phases, from Mugen to Wald to OEM to Spoon/Phase, sporting many rare and hard to find parts like the front bumper, P. Mu BBK, and a handful of other parts.
Pick your poison….
j.hwang
PSA!! : HONDA DAY PART 2 IS THIS COMING SUNDAY AT ENGLISHTOWN!
Meaty RSX
As if every post required some dramatic theme that has no relation to the car featured.
FRENCH
photo by Michael Elizondo
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