The Roadster Has Played A Big Role in validating the racing merits of car manufacturers worldwide. Audi, BMW, Lamborghini, Mercedes, Porsche, and Jaguar: A venerable who's who of major manufacturers, all of whom have not only solidified their places in automotive history, but have also helped satiate the needs of automotive enthusiasts with enjoyable rides. Each has foregone practicality and focused on excitement by featuring a roadster at one point in their automotive history. Honda was also in the roadster mix earlier in their history. So early, that in 1963 its first production car was the S500, a lightweight roadster that helped produce quality successors including the S360, S800, and of course the S2000. The Honda S2000 came in its own in the year 2000, featuring an amazingly superb balanced chassis, a high-revving four-cylinder engine, and an unforgettable exterior contour that can be spotted miles away. All of which are the main reasons why tuners gravitate to this car, perpetuating the rich connection between enthusiast and roadster. The S2000 is agreeable to modification and a thrill to drive once the VTEC hits its mark. So, when a tuner decides to purchase an S2K, it's a decision to separate oneself from the herd, and to experience one of the better roadsters in history. In Gency Galarce and Darci Naboa's case, there's no other ride best suited for their hometown of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, than the S2000. Owners of this '03 S2000, Gency and Darci, invested five years into making their S2K stand out from the rest. "I was always into cars since high school," Gency explained, "seeing the high schoolers constantly change their cars or modifications attracted my attention. Darci also got into it because she supports me completely. We started with simple changes such as side markers. But after all the little things were changed, there was nothing left to do so we went crazy and changed everything we could afford. Our main purpose was to set us apart from the other S2000s." From the onset, their S2000 catches the eye with its menacing stance, featuring a Tracy Sports molded widebody kit, bulking up 40mm in the front and 50mm in the rear. Gency and Darci were so particular with the body kit's fitment that they ordered two of the same kit and let GX Auto, a Honolulu-based shop, pick which kit fit the best-a move that cemented the duo's commitment to modification. They accented the setup with Tracy Sports custom-made carbon-fiber canards, a Seibon hood, Aloha Signs, and Robo-Art graphics. But it's the paintjob that pieces everything together. Using a custom-blend three-stage procedure, the car sports a blue hue that can make the discerning eye look twice. They followed up the exterior mods by changing up the interior with a set of Sparco Torino 2 seats, a Spoon Sports steering wheel, and an ARC shifter knob. The most impressive cabin feature is the carbon-fiber custom center console that holds a NESA DVD entertainment unit, which controls the MTX amplifiers, 6.5 speakers, and a 10-inch subwoofer. These are venerable sources of audio power for such a small interior. Naturally, they made room in the interior to comfortably fit the sexy Defi gauges. Underhood, the team kept the F20C naturally aspirated, since it holds great power when kept that way. The S2000 moves like a jet fighter when driven to the limits with its 2.0L motor redlining at 9,000 rpm. It's a pure sports car that's bred to race, which bodes well for any type of performance modification. Gency and Darci added a Comptech header, Toda individual throttle bodies, and a Veilside titanium teardrop exhaust system, all of which help push the S2000 into more abnormal speeds. Along with a Koyo radiator and Walbro fuel pump, the engine rides with a mission, getting from point A to point C faster than most cars get to Be
photographer: Steve Demmitt
The under-chassis setup showcases a strong combination of quality, look, and feel; its team effort is reflective of the owners.
Gency and Darci made sure they each had a hand in picking the right parts. They had some differing ideas that were quelled with a simple concept of trial and error. They didn't go through with a part unless both agreed that it was right. That's the beauty of this car-the owners themselves. "We learned that without friends and family, or their support, things would be much harder on our own," Darci explained. "It took time, dedication, and sacrifices to be where we are. We just didn't let it take over our lives and that's why we succeeded as a duo. Even now, we're not done with the car. Like the tuning culture and even our own tastes, it will always be evolving."
Behind The Build
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Name.
Gency Galarce & Darci Naboa
Age.
25 & 24
Hometown.
Ewa Beach, Hawaiii
Occupation.
Insulator & Owner of Robo-Art
Hobbies.
Fishing, lifting weights, MySpace, Yahoo! Games, car cruises
Build Time.
Four Months
Feedback.
nohea2187@hotmail.com
Quote.
"We built our car for personal gratification."
'03 Honda S2000Output N/A
Engine Toda individual throttle bodies; Veilside titanium teardrop exhaust; Comptech stainless steel header; J's Racing valve cover; Koyo radiator, Samco radiator hoses; Cusco radiator cooling plate, catch can; AEM EMS, fuel rail; Walbro fuel pump; Spoon Sports motor mounts
Drivetrain Cusco six-puck hyper clutch; Exedy flywheel
Suspension
TeinType Flex coilovers; Cusco front and rear strut brace, four-point rollcage, subframe connectors, cross bars
Wheels/Tires Work Emotion XD9 (18x9 front; 18x10 rear); BFGoodrich KDW2 tires
Brakes Spoon Sports monoblock brakes; Power Slot rotors; Hawk brake pads
Exterior Tracy Sports wide body kit, custom-made carbon-fiber canards; Seibon hood; DuPont chrome premier paint
Interior Sparco Torino 2 seats; Spoon Sports steering wheel; ARC titanium shifter knob; custom carbon-fiber center console
Electronics Defi gauges; Nesa Vision NSD-362T head unit; MTX amplifiers, speakers, subwoofer
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