1997 Acura Integra Type-R #237

CHASSIS: Custom cage by Piper Motorsports Sabelt 5pt harness Kirkey Intermediate seat Removable Sparco steering wheel ENGINE: SGT built engine SMSP adjustable header J's Racing intake Mocal oil cooler and remote filter SUSPENSION: JIC race valved coilovers Skunk2 front camber kit Saner performance fabrication 1 and 1/16" (27mm) adjustable rear swaybar BRAKES: Hawk Blues front Axxis Ultimates back TIRES: Hoosiers from Curry's Automotive

Driver: Warren Wang
www.wangspeed.com

My track addiction began back in early 1999 after I bought an Audi Quattro A4 2.8. A few friends of mine in Dallas talked me into heading to the track with them. It took maybe 5 minutes on the track to decide this was for me!

I gave up the A4 in December of 2000 for an S4. This became a track,auto-x, and daily driver. Quite a machine, especially with the time and modifications that I put into it, but it wasn't quite enough. In the summer of 2000 I picked up 1997 Integra Type R #237. I was eventually going to turn that into a race car. I continued with plenty of track and auto-x events, but fate and stupidity would change my timeline. I ended up crashing the car on the street, just badly enough that the insurance company totalled it. I realized immediately that it was the dumbest thing I had ever done. Ironic too, since I am an advocate of keeping it on the track.

I showed the pictures of the crashed car to some racer friends and they advised me to buy it back, and so I did. I fixed it back up, for the most part, and turned it into a full blown race car. I sold the Audi, and picked up a 97 Dodge Ram 2500 with the Cummins engine. Knowing that man cannot live with only one race car, I also picked up an 1989 E30 M3.

I entered a NASA race school in 2001, which was my first brief taste of close driving. I thought this was as good as it gets. Little did I know...

I received my SCCA provisional late in 2001, which was also my first wheel to wheel race. To complete the school, we had to run a short race at the end. That memory will be with me forever! I thought driving schools were fun, but this was another level!

Finally, in 2002, the Honda Challenge series was born. It's great because I feel like I was a part of this from the very start. It was just an idea on Honda-Tech, which turned into a real race series. Cool! This season has started out a little rocky for me as I'm still trying to sort out the car, but that's okay. I still have fun out there, and the feeling of racing with a bunch of guys that you can trust is great.

Every time I head out the track, I learn something new about myself, the car, or the track. It's an amazing sport, and the only problem with it is that it requires so much time, dedication, and money.