WARNING: there are some technical aspects of certain vehicles in this story, try not get lost in them.
Gazing into the engine bay of a silver Honda Civic EK4, sitting inside my one car garage, I pray that this time I can get this damn thing to start. 6 hours of frustration with trying to get this new motor to start, being an Acura RSX 4-cylinder K20z1 model motor, there's some desperation in my mind to get it to start, as i currently have no other motor around that works. I was damn lucky a buddy of mine had totalled his Acura RSX so I could have his engine. Now i know that sounds bad, but the dude was a maniac anyway, and he was willing to give me the still pristine motor, so what the hell, why not?
I walk eagerly over to my toolbox where atop of it the keys to this revamped ride await. Crossing my fingers, I sit in the machines driver's side seat, and crank the key. Then, I'm greeted by the most reliving sound i could possibly hear right now, the engine turning over smoothly, followed by the low purring of an idling engine. "Praise the lawd!" I say aloud, with a dumb grin.
I suppose i Should introduce myself, my name is Travis, Travis Thompson. And I'm a large enthusiast of Japanese cars and the JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) car scene. I suppose i have always admired what machines Japan could whip up, but it's only when i got immersed in the entire scene did i take to loving Hondas, Toyotas, Mazdas, Nissans, Subarus, Mitsubishis, and even Suzukis so much that i wanted to strive to own and build my own. Other factors include badass YouTube videos of drifting, and my all time favorite anime, Initial D. I guess I also love Japan's cars so much because i can relate to them well, usually lightweight, can be underpowered, but nevertheless reliable. Now if only Japan made a car with dark brown hair and equally as dark brown eyes, then i would have a perfect match. Anyway, back to the real story.
A few pumps of the throttle remove any stress I have about the motor not starting, the beautiful noise of VTEC cracking makes my heart beat faster. Well, that's it, there is no way I'm not taking this puppy out for a blast down the road!
Hopping from the machine like a giddy child, the hood could not be slammed quicker, same goes for the door.
With much anticipation, i ease the clutch out and gently push the throttle in, of course not after putting it in reverse that is.
Watching behind as i go, in the warm late night summer air, the vehicle rolls down my gravel drive way and onto the road, where I point the machine right, lining up straight on the road. And thank god my road doesn't have ant typical noise complaint neighbors, i can disturb the peace all i want. A few revs up to about 8000 RPM, I can't help but bask in the sheer beauty of the incredible noise emitting from the motor and exhaust pipe, being a low rumble at lower RPMs, and a screaming monster at the highest RPMs.
I smirk, here we go. Without hesitance, i drop the clutch and slam the gas, causing the car to hit rev limiter a few times, before it finally catches traction in screaming rage getting to 30 mph. 2nd gear is just as intense as 1st, the Honda gives a lurch of acknowledgement as it shifts, but doesn't break traction. Within another few seconds, 3rd gear is slammed into at 8500 RPM, this one holding intensity, but just a miniscule amount less intense than the first two. Approaching 100, I prep to shift into 4th, until the glint of headlights flash in my rear view mirror. I let the throttle out and let the car float back down to a reasonable speed. Then I hear it, the unmistakable sound of another Honda. Now I'm intrigued as the headlights grow closer. When the car is close enough, I realize the headlights i'm seeing are Acura Integra lights, two round ones on each side. The Integra basically riding my bumper now flashes said headlights... ohh so you want a race do ya? Now, the restless vehicle behind me pulls up beside me in the other lane. When it lets off the throttle... I know I'm fucked. The sound of a wastegate valve relieving boost pressure crushes my hopes of winning, but, I must admit, I "ME GUSTA'd" at the sound. Ooooh a pretty color accompanies the pretty turbo sounds! A bright blue cyan color embodies the car, with what seem to be gold WORK equip rims, but since they're spinning, its hard to tell. The Acura lurches forward in intimidation, so, to catch them off guard, I get back into the throttle, only winning for about a second or two until the integra decides to fly by me, to which I laugh, badass... i haven't seen this car around town, so I'm assuming this racer is a new comer, how fun!
The Acura I thought was going to keep accelerating into the night, but instead eases back and lets me follow as both of us enter into town from the outskirts of it, being that is where i live. A red light catches the Integra, and it obliges in stopping, though there isn't a single other soul around. With much wonder as to who is driving this tuned up teggy, i pull up along side of it, and roll down my window. The Integra driver's windows were a dark black tint so i couldn't see who was driving until they rolled their passenger window down... and boy was i sure surprised. Much to my amusement, the operator of the machine wasn't what i expected, usually some random guy, but this was a shocker to me. A girl. And not just your run of the mill girl, a damn rainbow haired one! From what i can see, a skinny posterior and maybe a rambunctious attitude, as detected by the victorious smirk i was receiving. Though I was in a bit of shock, i ask the first question, "So what is that a cheap eBay bought turbo?" I grin like a troll back at her. She just shakes her had and replies with, "nope." Then revs her motor, "Garrett turbo." I contemplate for a moment, seems like she actually knows about her car,that's a fist from what i see around here, most girls can barley tell you the make of their vehicle, let alone the model, chassis code, engine type, etc.
"oh, nice, so you runnin it on the stock B18?" I ask back, taking in the full car for a moment. She nods. "Yep! What about you? K-series maybe?" Wow, she is pretty good. "Actually, yeah, K20z1, how'd you know?" She shrugs, "ehh it was just a feeling, not bad though." A more welcoming expression of friendliness spread on her face, might i add, looks quite beautiful.
"Thanks, you too, kicked my ass, I'll give it that!" She chuckles, "Well, better get used to it." A competitive spark is in her eye, i can just see it. After a moment she speaks up again, "say, are you doin anything dude? I'm going to meet up with my friends and I'm sure another racing enthusiast will be greatly welcomed." Hmm... well i'm sure not doing anything important at this hour, why not? "Yeah I don't have shit to do anyways, I'll follow you." With that, she grins again, and takes off without recognition. Again i smirk, and follow her lead into town. We were both fortunate that this town is almost near dead late at night, because we sat at the red light for a solid 5 minutes.
