FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ANAHEIM, CA

Special Projects Motor Sports Signs deal with Speed Options /Buddy Club USA/Bomex
Introducing a new car for 2005 S.C.C.A.“HONDA CUP” Series.

A deal has been signed between AAI/Buddy Club USA/Speed Options and Jeff (Kiwi) Owen, partner and manager of Special Projects Motor Sports. Whereby Special Projects will begin immediate construction of the “Buddy Club” Civic Si Coupe. The car will be campaigned primarily in the exciting new S.C.C.A. Cal Club “HONDA CUP Series” but will also be raced in other events promoted by Speed Trials USA, and the Touring Car Racing Association.
The car is being prepared at Special Projects Motor Sports shop in Anaheim where it will be fitted with one of the team’s JG Engine Dynamics prepared, Mugen B18C Type R, B-20 V-Tec, or the latest RSX k-20 Type R engines. The car will be equipped with almost the complete range of Buddy Club Performance equipment available, P-1 Racing Shocks, Springs and Suspension parts, Camshafts, Cam gears, Valves and Valve springs. A.L.T. will provide the lightweight Forged Alloy Racing Wheels and Rotora will be providing a big brake kit, as well as the 3-D2 Carbon fiber rear wing. The well-known Japanese body kit manufacturer Bomex will be supplying Composite body panels and Aerodynamic components for the project.
Special Projects Motor Sports is proud to be associated with Speed Options, Buddy Club USA, Bomex, ALT Wheels, and Rotora, as an authorized distributor of our sponsors Performance Products and as their Racing Team. The companies will be working closely in the testing and development of the performance products through the remainder of the current season, and then at every “Honda Cup” event in 2005, as well as other events coordinated through the Marketing Company “Speed Options”
Although a part of the Special Projects Team, the Civic Si Coupe will retain its own “Buddy Club” identity and livery setting it apart from the two, well-known Stealth Black JDM Integra’s the team ran until recently in the NASA “Honda Challenge”. The new car will benefit from the aerodynamic and handling lessons the team has learned over the last few seasons both in the US Touring Car Championship, and the Honda Challenge.
“This new Honda Cup series recently introduced by the SCCA couldn’t have come at a better time,” said Special Projects lead driver Jeff (Kiwi) Owen. “It will be easy for our team to convert all of our cars, and make the transition to the new more liberal, yet cost effective rules of the “Honda Cup”. Our team will be running up to 4 cars and introducing some new drivers next season, including the well known and talented Northern California Touring Car driver Tom Lepper. The introduction of these cars and drivers will give all of our Sponsors more coverage for their investment., It will be a pleasure to be racing again with S.C.C.A. which is a well established, and well run Motor Sports organization,” he said.
The Special Projects team intends to have the new car completed over the off-season and in time for testing well before the 2005 season opener at California Speedway in February.
“This joint venture between these companies is a stepping stone to a possible future move to the Speed World Challenge National Touring Car Championship. Recent discussions with one or two Motor Vehicle manufacturers indicate the distinct possibility that we may run a Factory backed, 2 Car World Challenge Campaign in 2005 or 2006. The “trickle down” effect of this sponsorship deal for our team could be enormous and is very exciting. We look forward to a long and successful association with all of our great sponsors” Owen said.


Special Projects Motor Sports

 

Nice. When this Honda Cup starts rolling at SCCA weekends, will some1 please take some pics of the looks on your avg SCCA boomer's faces when cars like that roll off the trailer. Those guys will think have entered the twilight zone.

 

wow best of luck sounds like it will be a exciting car

 

BTW - that's KIWI's Press Release, and has nothing to do with me other than that I posted it up for him.

Scott, who gave the Honda Cup rules another look - and they really look pretty damn good - Freedom is Good.

 

Interesting looking car but it needs some Konis

Good luck at getting SCCA to recognize Honda Cup. My bet is that is will be the proverbial "fart in church".

 

Um start building ? when I saw it the car was delivered in race condition. Unless you mean change rims and refresh the motor

 

where can one find the rule?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SPiFF &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Nice. When this Honda Cup starts rolling at SCCA weekends, will some1 please take some pics of the looks on your avg SCCA boomer's faces when cars like that roll off the trailer. Those guys will think have entered the twilight zone. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Your continued underestimation of the typical SCCA racer fascinates me.
I guess you don't figure any of these guys were into World Challenge or the European Touring car stuff long before you ever even heard of it huh??? I know several of these gray bearded "boomers" who take vacations across the pond just to go to BTCC and DTM races.

Just because most SCCA racers (including myself) don't have the time, the liquidity or the desire to race a car like this doesn't mean seeing one is like watching a flying saucer land.

Get a damned grip, and keep working on getting your 1996 Integra anywhere NEAR as fast as John William's 30 year old 240z.

Scott, who loves Zsolt but really gets tired of his fascination with 18" wheels, vinyl, and wings.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">BTW - that's KIWI's Press Release, and has nothing to do with me other than that I posted it up for him.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Perhaps we can find a writer/editor for kiwi and his press releases, too. All his self-promotion and self-adulation might be less irritating if better written.

 

Finally a SCCA series where we aren't penalized for having swapped cars!

 

As opposed to SPU, SPO, GT and ITE?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by phat-S &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">As opposed to SPU, SPO, GT and ITE?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Not that I wanna start another flame war but this is something that I have a hard time with. "More open rules!" people say. But there are classes with more open rules and not many people race there consistently because it is stupid expensive. ITE, SPU, and SPO have been around for quite some time and I don't see a bunch of Honda guys jumping in their with their ultra-badass amped-up swapped motors.

I dunno, maybe what it took is for someone to cater directly to those guys. I just can't help but to wonder who would want an all-Honda class that is closer to World Challenge than H1 already is. You can already spend a boat load in H1 if you wanted to really develop a car, why turn the boat load into a freighter load?

-Confused in Orlando, but next week I'll be confused in LA.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SiRex91 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Finally a SCCA series where we aren't penalized for having swapped cars!</TD></TR></TABLE>

Except that it doesn't really exist except maybe in the Cal Club region and it will be interested to see if and how it makes it there even. The class certainly isn't accepted by SCCA National HQ for running anywhere else. At this point I'd say it is more smoke and mirrors than reality and my bet is mostly smoke.

SPO and SPU are only accepted in some regions of the country. ITE is more common but I don't think the typically accepted rules allow for swapped cars.
If the goal is to have an H1 car and you can convince the SCCA to let you come and play in their yard then great and more power to you. If the car is going to be outside H1 allowances, then building and hoping for the less-than-flexible-to-the-individual-racer SCCA to give our a home is putting your eggs in a basket with big holes.

 

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">BTW - that's KIWI's Press Release, and has nothing to do with me other than that I posted it up for him.

Scott, who gave the Honda Cup rules another look - and they really look pretty damn good - Freedom is Good.</TD></TR></TABLE>

It is pretty damn good if you have the budget. The cost for the build motor to maximize the rules is more than just big IMHO.

 

Club racing? You're joking, right? Why waste your time and money? Just make the jump to World Challenge.

Car looks tizzite. Hopefully it won't be involved in any famed demolition derbies.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jason Franza &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Club racing? You're joking, right? Why waste your time and money? Just make the jump to World Challenge.

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i know. I don't understand what this series is for? I mean H1 does have limitations, but it's expensive enough already. I just don't see why you'd run this series and not run WC. Just seems like you're gonna spend the same money on the car but have less people to run with. I dunno.

s

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by stevel &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I don't understand what this series is for?</TD></TR></TABLE>

the result of a lost power struggle. Seems they want to own the sandbox, not just play in it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Andrie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It is pretty damn good if you have the budget. The cost for the build motor to maximize the rules is more than just big IMHO. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I hear what you're saying Andrie.

I can't afford to build my car to the limit under the rules of any class I can think of. But I'd still rather be free to do more rather than less with the car for the purpose of enjoying both the development and the driving of it. There are plenty of spec classes, and there's always somebody with more money, brains and/or talent.

Scott, who doesn't quite "Get" the Only Race Against Other Hondas thing.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JeffS &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

the result of a lost power struggle. Seems they want to own the sandbox, not just play in it.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thats where my money would be if I were a betting man.

Choice #1 - Spend money to run in WC with TV coverage, big fields and nice prize money.
Choice #2 - Spend the same money to run against a couple of guys, in one part of the country, all in Hondas.

Maybe I'm missing something there??? But I'm apparently not the only one.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I can't afford to build my car to the limit under the rules of any class I can think of. But I'd still rather be free to do more rather than less with the car for the purpose of enjoying both the development and the driving of it. </TD></TR></TABLE>

But if you can't afford it, whats the point?
Thats like spending thousands on joining an exclusive country club and then not being able to afford a set of clubs.
Makes more sense to me to go with a class that fits your budget, and then use your talents to maximize yourself there. But then again, I did say "makes sense" in reference to a Rinde approach, which is immediately all off course. Nevermind.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Scott, who doesn't quite "Get" the Only Race Against Other Hondas thing.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Funny, increasingly as the new IT Advisory Committee makes needed changes in SCCA, the Honda Challenge, as originally intended, makes less and less sense.

The original intent was a place for missclassed or non-classed within IT cars to race on an IT type budget. I even shopped the idea to SCCA first (they weren't interested) before going to NASA.
3 years later, many of the HC poster chassis are now, or will be, classed well with SCCA...
First CRX/Civic Si - Going to ITB
Accord - Going to ITB
Early Prelude - Going to ITB
92+ Civic EX and Si - Going to ITA
94+ Integra RS/LS - Going to ITA
Type R - Competively classed in EP (will never be in IT after the E36 debacle)
GSR - Gets more ITS competitive with a restrictor plate added to the E36 (progress is good)

That pretty much just leaves the Hybrids as homeless, and the new H1 rules have drifted so far away from the original "IT style prep" intent that it isn't really relevant anymore anyway.

If the SCCA had made these moves in 2001, I can state will full confidence that the Honda Challenge wouldn't ever have existed. There wouldn't have been a need.

Scott, who doesn't think it makes much sense to make new race classes for cars that are already properly classed somewhere.

 

I don't understand about this Honda cup thing as well. The rule is pretty much what it will be for building a Honda WC engine. The cost is astronomical.

At first I thought, maybe this guys want to race the cars in local WC races when they come to town. But then, SCCA won't allow any engine swap in WC.

hmmhh....?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">...But then again, I did say "makes sense" in reference to a Rinde approach, which is immediately all off course. Nevermind.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Are you trying to **** me off? You're starting to **** me off!

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
But if you can't afford it, whats the point?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Joo R (I love that word for some strange reason - ARRRRR) missing My point - Name a class and I can figure out how to spend more money. It's easy - all you gotta have is 1) enough money and 2) a ridiculous desire to "win". And obviously it's alot cheaper to beat a bunch of poor slow guys.

That's it - I'm now sooooo pisssssed that I may actually get some work done today.

Scott, who needs to work harder so he can earn more money to waste on his stupid race kaaa...now THAT doesn't make sense!

 

Hey, it says they may go WC. Can't wait to see the "rubbin' is racing" on the tele.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Andrie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">At first I thought, maybe this guys want to race the cars in local WC races when they come to town. But then, SCCA won't allow any engine swap in WC.

hmmhh....?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Actually SCCA did allow engine swaps under certain circumstances. For instance, you can run the K20A in an EP3 chassis and I know that you could run B16A's in the EK or EG. Might have to do with whether the configuration is available in other markets.