RIP Homer.
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 4,224
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas, NV
RIP Homer.
First, I think it's best to put this loss into prespective for my non-car friends.
Cars, to the general public, are a simple mode of transportation. They amentities aid in the travel and make things that much more comfortable.
For car lovers, a vehicle can be a family member. Our vehicles can give us grief, can make us smile, they cost a lot of money, but can also generate money. They gripe about being pushed too hard, they pur when they are treated properly.
My CRX, dubbed "Homer", started life first, as a 1989 Honda CRX Si, purchased in the fall of 1999. The CRX was my first manual. Years prior, Brenda had taught me some basics, but I didn't get the hang out of it until the night I drove it to work for the first time. It was a 10mile trip to and fro, and I learned on the way. I stalled a lot. The CRX would be later dubbed Homer for it's compulsive behavior to not run right.. and it was yellow.
Homer's life would be cut short, three weeks after I got a fresh new paint job on him, when a truck would pull out in front of me and I tee-boned him. Homer was a complete write-off. Months later after driving my newly acquired Maxima, I began looking for another CRX to put the heart and soul of Homer into. I strolled onto a 1990 CRX HF which a guy was selling cause his wife rear-ended a truck. It was white, and the hood was crumpled, but other than that, looked good.
Over the next few weeks, I would transport everything from old Homer into new Homer. I spent countless hours wrenching on the two cars to get everything transferred over, along with Eric's help in dealing with some of the larger tasks.
Old Homer was never really a "race" car, per se. I raced it a handful of times at an autocross and a drag strip, but it was far from spectacular.
Celso waving me on at one of my very first autocrosses, during an autocross at Texas Station, 7/11/99.
Homer, always with it's hood up, 2/5/00.
The new Homer would have a purpose. To be built as a solid Autocross car, with the ability to be taken to an open track event, and do ok at drag racing. I began removing anything I didn't need from the car, heater controls, ac, carpet, etc, etc, etc. then we took it to an autocross to see how it would do:
Eric racing Homer, 1/16/01
Over the next few years, I would work on making the car handle better, make it faster, and learn how to drive the car to the limit. I would enroll in several "High Performance Driver's Education" (HPDE, aka Open Track) to see how well I could handle high speeds.
Las Vegas Speedway Autocross, 2001
Then, Homer would experience his next paint job. Prowler Yellow was the choice, and Maaco was more than willing to take my $300 to have him sprayed. I would also make some more minor changes, mainly cosmetic (like removing the tint)
Las Vegas Region Call Show (To get more people to autocross), 2001;; the tape was to keep the headlamps aligned, as I didn't have the tabs on the headlamps to properly mount them!
Las Vegas Speedway Autocross, 2/17/02
Texas Station Autocross, 7/7/02
Texas Station Autocross, 8/4/02
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 9/22/02
Eventually, I would start taking safety as a serious subject and installed a rollcage. This would help allow me to race it on a road course at higher speeds without the fear of killing myself...
Rollcage
Video of me taking a lap around SMMP
Autocross set up at SMMP
As always, I tried to keep the car clean for each race, in case any photographers were around to snap some pictures. As luck would have it, during one such autocross, I was approached by Grassroots Motorsports magazine and they wanted to feature my car in an upcoming issue. Me, seeing that the fruits of my labor were being identified by others, was more than happy to share.
LVMS Autocross, where I was approached for an article
GRM Page1
GRM Page2
GRM Page3
GRM Page4
I was always ok with letting people drive my car. It gave me an opportunity to help people see that Hondas can be made to perform and be a very fast "Racecar". It was also a way to get feedback about the car... if it's pushing too much or not enough.
Ray Berlo or Spencer driving Homer, 12/1/02
Fabrizio Leone driving Homer, 3/9/03
Between 2004 and 2006, I slowed down a bit on Autocross and began to focus more on open track days. The speeds were higher, passing was allowed, and it was more of a challenge to both the car and me. Autocross benefitted Homer much better than track days. Track days allowed other cars to stretch their legs... which Homer didn't have a lot of. A friend and I also came up with this weird challenge to see who could build a car that could do drag racing, autocross, and time trials... thus came about the ***** Challenge.
SMMP during the 1st ***** Challenge, 9/25/04
LVMS Inside Road Course, 11/03/04
CalSpeedway, NASA TT-D, 3/14/05
CalSpeedway, NASA TT-D, 3/14/05; I took 1st in my class both days.
SMMP, see my head tilting? 4/30/05
SMMP #2, drive those curbs, 4/30/05
During the spring of 2006, I thought it was high time that I got Homer a new face lift, going with a color scheme i saw of another guy's CRX... yellow with black hood, roof, and trunk. Prep took about a two-three weeks, while the engine was being rebuilt to push the car at a much higher rate of speed. This tear down would be the most costly, but also the most ambitious, as I was shooting for a very stout 200whp in a car that weighed under 2000lbs, as well as make it look like a prize fighter.
Homer was torn down again, and stripped of his essentials.
Being torn down, 2006
Doorless, 2006
A friend offered to paint Homer in his garage, if I paid for the materials and helped with prep.
Being towed to the "paint shop"
Doorless, 2006
After:
Sunrise Mountain, 2006
And some race shots of Homer dressed in his Sunday best.
LVMS, 6/10/06
BC Police Lot, Autocross, 6/11/06
Drag Strip, 6/9/06
and the last track day I had with him:
SMMP, 10/28/06
Then... some rapists took him... doing what they pleased with him...and then kicking him to the curb (and next to a fire hydrant in hopes it got towed quickly).
The Aftermath:
I did what I could do to keep him from being molested from thieves. I did my best to avoid the street races, and other high crime places that would grab the wrong attention...Over the eight years that I've had a CRX, building this car from pretty much nothing, into what was a Magazine Feature, a competitive race car, an underdog in the realm of racing, to almost iconic in it's ability to perform...
Some people have cars as a form of Transportation... Homer was a child I nurtured for eight years. I've lost him....
So long Homer, the CRX...
indeed. (the thieves wrote that).
Modified by Driven at 6:27 PM 8/29/2008
Cars, to the general public, are a simple mode of transportation. They amentities aid in the travel and make things that much more comfortable.
For car lovers, a vehicle can be a family member. Our vehicles can give us grief, can make us smile, they cost a lot of money, but can also generate money. They gripe about being pushed too hard, they pur when they are treated properly.
My CRX, dubbed "Homer", started life first, as a 1989 Honda CRX Si, purchased in the fall of 1999. The CRX was my first manual. Years prior, Brenda had taught me some basics, but I didn't get the hang out of it until the night I drove it to work for the first time. It was a 10mile trip to and fro, and I learned on the way. I stalled a lot. The CRX would be later dubbed Homer for it's compulsive behavior to not run right.. and it was yellow.
Homer's life would be cut short, three weeks after I got a fresh new paint job on him, when a truck would pull out in front of me and I tee-boned him. Homer was a complete write-off. Months later after driving my newly acquired Maxima, I began looking for another CRX to put the heart and soul of Homer into. I strolled onto a 1990 CRX HF which a guy was selling cause his wife rear-ended a truck. It was white, and the hood was crumpled, but other than that, looked good.
Over the next few weeks, I would transport everything from old Homer into new Homer. I spent countless hours wrenching on the two cars to get everything transferred over, along with Eric's help in dealing with some of the larger tasks.
Old Homer was never really a "race" car, per se. I raced it a handful of times at an autocross and a drag strip, but it was far from spectacular.
Celso waving me on at one of my very first autocrosses, during an autocross at Texas Station, 7/11/99.
Homer, always with it's hood up, 2/5/00.
The new Homer would have a purpose. To be built as a solid Autocross car, with the ability to be taken to an open track event, and do ok at drag racing. I began removing anything I didn't need from the car, heater controls, ac, carpet, etc, etc, etc. then we took it to an autocross to see how it would do:
Eric racing Homer, 1/16/01
Over the next few years, I would work on making the car handle better, make it faster, and learn how to drive the car to the limit. I would enroll in several "High Performance Driver's Education" (HPDE, aka Open Track) to see how well I could handle high speeds.
Las Vegas Speedway Autocross, 2001
Then, Homer would experience his next paint job. Prowler Yellow was the choice, and Maaco was more than willing to take my $300 to have him sprayed. I would also make some more minor changes, mainly cosmetic (like removing the tint)
Las Vegas Region Call Show (To get more people to autocross), 2001;; the tape was to keep the headlamps aligned, as I didn't have the tabs on the headlamps to properly mount them!
Las Vegas Speedway Autocross, 2/17/02
Texas Station Autocross, 7/7/02
Texas Station Autocross, 8/4/02
Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 9/22/02
Eventually, I would start taking safety as a serious subject and installed a rollcage. This would help allow me to race it on a road course at higher speeds without the fear of killing myself...
Rollcage
Video of me taking a lap around SMMP
Autocross set up at SMMP
As always, I tried to keep the car clean for each race, in case any photographers were around to snap some pictures. As luck would have it, during one such autocross, I was approached by Grassroots Motorsports magazine and they wanted to feature my car in an upcoming issue. Me, seeing that the fruits of my labor were being identified by others, was more than happy to share.
LVMS Autocross, where I was approached for an articleGRM Page1
GRM Page2
GRM Page3
GRM Page4
I was always ok with letting people drive my car. It gave me an opportunity to help people see that Hondas can be made to perform and be a very fast "Racecar". It was also a way to get feedback about the car... if it's pushing too much or not enough.
Ray Berlo or Spencer driving Homer, 12/1/02
Fabrizio Leone driving Homer, 3/9/03
Between 2004 and 2006, I slowed down a bit on Autocross and began to focus more on open track days. The speeds were higher, passing was allowed, and it was more of a challenge to both the car and me. Autocross benefitted Homer much better than track days. Track days allowed other cars to stretch their legs... which Homer didn't have a lot of. A friend and I also came up with this weird challenge to see who could build a car that could do drag racing, autocross, and time trials... thus came about the ***** Challenge.
SMMP during the 1st ***** Challenge, 9/25/04
LVMS Inside Road Course, 11/03/04CalSpeedway, NASA TT-D, 3/14/05
CalSpeedway, NASA TT-D, 3/14/05; I took 1st in my class both days.
SMMP, see my head tilting? 4/30/05
SMMP #2, drive those curbs, 4/30/05
During the spring of 2006, I thought it was high time that I got Homer a new face lift, going with a color scheme i saw of another guy's CRX... yellow with black hood, roof, and trunk. Prep took about a two-three weeks, while the engine was being rebuilt to push the car at a much higher rate of speed. This tear down would be the most costly, but also the most ambitious, as I was shooting for a very stout 200whp in a car that weighed under 2000lbs, as well as make it look like a prize fighter.
Homer was torn down again, and stripped of his essentials.
Being torn down, 2006
Doorless, 2006
A friend offered to paint Homer in his garage, if I paid for the materials and helped with prep.
Being towed to the "paint shop"
Doorless, 2006
After:
Sunrise Mountain, 2006
And some race shots of Homer dressed in his Sunday best.
LVMS, 6/10/06
BC Police Lot, Autocross, 6/11/06
Drag Strip, 6/9/06
and the last track day I had with him:
SMMP, 10/28/06
Then... some rapists took him... doing what they pleased with him...and then kicking him to the curb (and next to a fire hydrant in hopes it got towed quickly).
The Aftermath:
I did what I could do to keep him from being molested from thieves. I did my best to avoid the street races, and other high crime places that would grab the wrong attention...Over the eight years that I've had a CRX, building this car from pretty much nothing, into what was a Magazine Feature, a competitive race car, an underdog in the realm of racing, to almost iconic in it's ability to perform...
Some people have cars as a form of Transportation... Homer was a child I nurtured for eight years. I've lost him....
So long Homer, the CRX...
indeed. (the thieves wrote that).
Modified by Driven at 6:27 PM 8/29/2008
Re: RIP Homer. (Tyson)
dang that sucks saw when it got posted as stolen, hoping it would come back in one piece. Sorry for your loss, and this car was an inspiration to me, and for sure many others 
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 17,227
Likes: 2
From: Illinois
Re: RIP Homer. (Tyson)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tyson »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">wtf they repainted it????
sorry to see.
id look for a lot of black overspray on the ground in its vicinity...</TD></TR></TABLE>
Cars are repainted to try to throw off cops. They are often put the car back on the streets with crappy parts in place, so if a cop drives by they think nothing off it. Giving them enough time in between to sell, or get rid of any parts. When a cop rolls up to they don't think much about it, rather that its an abandon car. Unless there was a look out for the car, I doubt that. An example is, they will normally steel the headlights, and tail lights but in return they put crappy ones back on, either cracked, or clear ones, or altezza. A cop rolls by it ( if its parked legally ) and really just go on his day.
The fact that they wrote that on the car, pretty much indicates to me, they are on this forum. And the fact that is has no engine, tells me it was pushed back there, so I would bet the thieve lives pretty close to that area.
Sorry to see your lose
sorry to see.
id look for a lot of black overspray on the ground in its vicinity...</TD></TR></TABLE>
Cars are repainted to try to throw off cops. They are often put the car back on the streets with crappy parts in place, so if a cop drives by they think nothing off it. Giving them enough time in between to sell, or get rid of any parts. When a cop rolls up to they don't think much about it, rather that its an abandon car. Unless there was a look out for the car, I doubt that. An example is, they will normally steel the headlights, and tail lights but in return they put crappy ones back on, either cracked, or clear ones, or altezza. A cop rolls by it ( if its parked legally ) and really just go on his day.
The fact that they wrote that on the car, pretty much indicates to me, they are on this forum. And the fact that is has no engine, tells me it was pushed back there, so I would bet the thieve lives pretty close to that area.
Sorry to see your lose
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 18,961
Likes: 76
From: I am Tyson
Re: RIP Homer. (RCautoworks)
or read the article. but yeah. that blows.
my racecar was stolen and stripped, but only of the flashy stuff. it was a difficult experience. but i still had all the stock parts to replace what was taken and destroyed and able to be put it back in use at least.
my racecar was stolen and stripped, but only of the flashy stuff. it was a difficult experience. but i still had all the stock parts to replace what was taken and destroyed and able to be put it back in use at least.
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Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 17,227
Likes: 2
From: Illinois
Re: RIP Homer. (Tyson)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tyson »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">or read the article. but yeah. that blows.
my racecar was stolen and stripped, but only of the flashy stuff. it was a difficult experience. but i still had all the stock parts to replace what was taken and destroyed and able to be put it back in use at least.</TD></TR></TABLE>
I skimmed over it, I'm just stating why thieves do what they do. They are not the brightest ones either though.
my racecar was stolen and stripped, but only of the flashy stuff. it was a difficult experience. but i still had all the stock parts to replace what was taken and destroyed and able to be put it back in use at least.</TD></TR></TABLE>
I skimmed over it, I'm just stating why thieves do what they do. They are not the brightest ones either though.
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 17,227
Likes: 2
From: Illinois
Re: RIP Homer. (Driven)
After reading the other thread, I would really start to investigate more, there is only so much the police will do, and half of the time its not a lot.
Some of the things you said in the other thread, and then in this thread really caught my eye.
Some of the things you said in the other thread, and then in this thread really caught my eye.
An Hero
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 897
Likes: 0
From: California
Re: RIP Homer. (mra4886)
Man i honestly dont know what to say. I was writing some long *** rant about
expletive thieves and how they should be exicuted and blah blah blah.
But i just became overwhelmed with this frusterated angry feeling.
Its like that dream people have when something is going on but you cant scream.
I have never met you, But reading this and the last post i felt like i knew your car
and i see the dedication and time and everything. Its terrible man.
Now i can honestly say i understand why in some countries the cut off thieves hands.
Im sorry for your loss man.
expletive thieves and how they should be exicuted and blah blah blah.
But i just became overwhelmed with this frusterated angry feeling.
Its like that dream people have when something is going on but you cant scream.
I have never met you, But reading this and the last post i felt like i knew your car
and i see the dedication and time and everything. Its terrible man.
Now i can honestly say i understand why in some countries the cut off thieves hands.
Im sorry for your loss man.
Rainman
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 6,979
Likes: 0
From: Kills, Utah
Re: RIP Homer. (brandoom)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by brandoom »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Man i honestly dont know what to say. I was writing some long *** rant about
expletive thieves and how they should be exicuted and blah blah blah.
But i just became overwhelmed with this frusterated angry feeling.
Its like that dream people have when something is going on but you cant scream.
I have never met you, But reading this and the last post i felt like i knew your car
and i see the dedication and time and everything. Its terrible man.
Now i can honestly say i understand why in some countries the cut off thieves hands.
Im sorry for your loss man.</TD></TR></TABLE>
I honestly shed a tear. Driven, I can totally relate to your loss my friend.
I hope you can find it deep inside to stick with it and find another "Homer"
Don't give up. The fiends who expletive around like this end up getting what is
coming to them. Trust me. It may take some time, but things like this have a
way of working out.
The tard who even TRYS this with my cars will end up at the business end of
this:
expletive thieves and how they should be exicuted and blah blah blah.
But i just became overwhelmed with this frusterated angry feeling.
Its like that dream people have when something is going on but you cant scream.
I have never met you, But reading this and the last post i felt like i knew your car
and i see the dedication and time and everything. Its terrible man.
Now i can honestly say i understand why in some countries the cut off thieves hands.
Im sorry for your loss man.</TD></TR></TABLE>
I honestly shed a tear. Driven, I can totally relate to your loss my friend.
I hope you can find it deep inside to stick with it and find another "Homer"
Don't give up. The fiends who expletive around like this end up getting what is
coming to them. Trust me. It may take some time, but things like this have a
way of working out.
The tard who even TRYS this with my cars will end up at the business end of
this:
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,807
Likes: 0
From: Dottie's house
Re: RIP Homer. (Driven)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Driven »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
indeed. (the thieves wrote that).
</TD></TR></TABLE>
makes me want to stay off H-T
indeed. (the thieves wrote that).
</TD></TR></TABLE>
makes me want to stay off H-T
Rainman
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 6,979
Likes: 0
From: Kills, Utah
Re: RIP Homer. (Pee Wee)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Pee Wee »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
makes me want to stay off H-T </TD></TR></TABLE>
Exactly.
makes me want to stay off H-T
</TD></TR></TABLE>Exactly.
MEAT PATTY
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,633
Likes: 2
From: White Suburbia, PA
Re: RIP Homer. (SIred91)
I never heard you call your car Homer, but you might of mentioned it in other threads. The criminals knew the name of your car which even gives me a peg of anxiety and this didn't even happen to me.
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 17,227
Likes: 2
From: Illinois
Re: RIP Homer. (SIred91)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SIred91 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Depending on the state you live in, you would be facing life in jail if you used that. Is your car, really worth your life ?
</TD></TR></TABLE>Depending on the state you live in, you would be facing life in jail if you used that. Is your car, really worth your life ?
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,024
Likes: 0
From: A racetrack near you, CA, USA
Re: RIP Homer. (EL Vap133)
once again mahn this really sucks.....this car was the car that inspired me to focus soley on turning my car into a track *****....and after all this time i have decided to leave the honda scene cuz of **** like this...i hate having to worry about my car
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 4,224
Likes: 1
From: Las Vegas, NV
Re: RIP Homer. (EL Vap133)
this all happened in Vegas. Car was parked in front of my girl's place, which is rare.
I post on a local forum where i posted that someone had "stolen homer". so, I'm sure the thieves frequent there or H-T (or both).
I can't say what I know or what will be happening (due to legality issues)... but karma, whether it's forced or naturally, has an interesting way of handling things.
thanks everyone for your kind words. Just keep an eye out for you and yours. GPS tracking, etc, etc.
I post on a local forum where i posted that someone had "stolen homer". so, I'm sure the thieves frequent there or H-T (or both).
I can't say what I know or what will be happening (due to legality issues)... but karma, whether it's forced or naturally, has an interesting way of handling things.
thanks everyone for your kind words. Just keep an eye out for you and yours. GPS tracking, etc, etc.
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: Fort Walton Beach, FL, usa
oh gawd.... *sob* That paint scheme was exactly how i wanted to paint my 91hf. yellow is my fav color too :'(
I jsut bought another crx and was thinking aobut posting it up in a thread a build and show off...now im reconsidering until i get my alarm systems in it (yes, more than 1)
I jsut bought another crx and was thinking aobut posting it up in a thread a build and show off...now im reconsidering until i get my alarm systems in it (yes, more than 1)
