While sliding through a turn, the squeal of tires provides the best soundtrack to panning windshield visuals. But when parked trackside or rolling out to a show, even the most performance obsessed could use a little A/V stimulation. AEM, a company that knows performance, did not ignore the A/V when building this drifter. After completely redesigning its suspension with input from RSR, outfitting it with their latest products and stripping extra pounds from the interior, AEM dropped it off at Wired-up Custom Autosound in Hemet, CA. With weight concerns a priority, the install team kept the system simple, though installation methods were far from basic.
AEM wanted video, so this drifter has one 6.5-inch monitor in the Accele LCD2DINDR receiver. With no room in the factory location and no intention of relocating the new gauges in the center console, the installers had to fit the double-DIN elsewhere. Showing blatant disregard for passenger safety (you won't need a navigator on the track anyway), installer C.J. Larimer proposed the passenger airbag compartment. He motorized the receiver to pop out of the dash using a 6" linear actuator and handmade brackets. Larimer's solution maintained the "stock" look of the dash while adding a little zing. Just press the hazard switch and factory roof switch for A/V deployment.
The speakers, provided by Memphis Car Audio as part of their AEM sponsorship, have less fanfare (i.e., no nifty buttons to push), but still required some of that installer magic. The fat (as in wide) roll cage sits right against the doors, so baffles for the Memphis 15-PRCS5 component set had to be thin. While the tweeters are in the factory locations at the top of the doors, the bottom half of the panels were rebuilt to hold the midbasses. Using a jigsaw, some masonite and fiberglass, the installers made slim enclosures that fit.
Component speakers and head units don't tip the scale much, but subwoofers and amps can lay on the poundage. Rather than messing with carbon fiber and puny woofers, the team chose the equipment they wanted (a Memphis 16-MCH1300 Memphis Belle and an 15-M3124D subwoofer) and put them in a removable amprack/subwoofer enclosure. Constructed of MDF and fiberglass, the amprack attaches to the 1 1/4ft3 enclosure beneath it. Though the entire assembly weighs about 50 pounds in all, one person can pull it out in about 15 seconds. To make this possible, the installers used Deutsch quick connectors for the Memphis speaker, RCA and power cables.
Just as the assembly lifts out quickly, Wired-up Custom Autosound got this drifter out of their shop in a rapid 10 days. AEM received the system they wanted without sacrificing anything in weight, a necessity since the Honda, with driver Stephan Papadakis, has done more than a few laps at Formula D events, D1 and Drift Showoff. The rest of us, whether we're drifters, racers or wannabes, can take home some cues on lightweight A/V.
DRIVER PROFILE
You may know Stephan Papadakis as a drag racer. Last year he piloted the 1,800 hp AEM Honda Civic drag car through the quarter mile trap in 6.52 seconds at an astounding 213.5 mph. Determined to learn other aspects of racing, this year he tried his hand at something different with AEM's Honda drifter. "I suck at drifting," he reveals, "and it took me a while to get up to speed." The S2000 didn't start out as a drifter either, but with the upped hp and new suspension, it does very well according to its driver. As for himself, Papadakis finds talking to other drifters (once you ask the right questions, he adds) and that old standby, practice, helps. "Next year I plan to be a lot more competitive." We don't doubt it.
TECH
•Honda Optional Equipment lip spoiler
•Honda Formula Red paint
•Modern Image Signworks graphics with graphic design by G Cube Designs
•Motegi TRAK LITE 2 wheels, 17x8 front and rear
•Toyo Proxes T1-S 225/45/17 front and Toyo Proxes T1-S 245/45/17 rear tires
•Rotora brakes and brake lines
•Ohlins suspension components
•Comptech sway bars
•SPC adjustable ball joints
•ACT 6-puck clutch