Part One – First Shakedown, Stock Power
Every good build needs a starting point.
After selling his S-chassis drift car, Mike wanted something different — a car that would see more road miles, more track days, and less time sitting between events. The answer was obvious: a Honda S2000. Light, balanced, and built around one of Honda’s most iconic engines, it was the perfect base for a new project.
But before talking swaps, turbos, or power figures, the plan was simple: drive it as Honda intended
Keeping the F-Series (For Now)
Yes, the S2000 will eventually be K-swapped.
Yes, it will definitely get boost.
But not yet.
Before rewriting the redline, Mike wanted seat time in stock form — to feel the chassis, understand the balance, and experience the strengths and shortcomings of the original F-series engine on track. There’s value in knowing exactly what you’re improving on, rather than jumping straight to the end result.
This first track day is about baseline impressions... And actually having some fun!
Fixing the Obvious Weak Points
The car didn’t need a full rebuild, but a few issues had to be addressed before it was ready to be pushed.
Intake
The factory intake was already damaged, so it was replaced with a simple pod filter setup. Nothing exotic — just reliable airflow and one less problem to worry about on track.
Exhaust: From Painful to Purposeful
The exhaust, however, was another story.
In Mike’s words, it was the worst sounding exhaust he’s ever had. Loud in the wrong places, unpleasant on the road, and doing the car no favours.
Out it came.
In its place, a custom stainless steel cat-back exhaust was fabricated. The result was:
- Significantly lighter than the old system
- Better flow
- And, importantly, far better manners for a road-driven car
A Helmholtz chamber was built into the system to help control drone and harsh frequencies — keeping the S2000 enjoyable on the street while still freeing it up at higher RPM.
It’s a perfect example of doing things properly, even at the “temporary” stage of a build.
Safety, Seating & Sensible Prep
With the basics sorted, attention turned to the driver and reliability:
- Full Service and Safety checks
- Custom seat mounts fabricated to suit sparco race seats
- Basic brake upgrades to handle track abuse
The factory seating position is good, but proper support makes a huge difference once the car starts working hard.
A Small Detail That Matters
One final touch before heading out: the cam cover.
A fresh coat of race-ready red gives the engine bay some much-needed pop and sets the tone for what’s to come. It’s not about power — it’s about intent. This car isn’t staying stock forever, and the visual cues are starting to reflect that.
Now...Time to Beat on It.