One of the key differences between Honda Challenge and other brand-specific race series within NASA is the sheer variety of cars available for the choosing. No doubt it’s what makes the class so appealing to Honda enthusiasts across the country.
If you insist on rear-wheel drive, an S2000 is the hot ticket. If you like front-wheel drive, there is an abundance of platforms between Honda and Acura. The recipes that balance weight and horsepower are varied and interesting and challenging.
Powertrain swaps are allowed, and updating and back-dating are allowed within the rules structure. At the heart of the class is a line of legendary Honda engines that scream like nothing else on track. Even though the rules structure is tight, you still have the freedom to be creative in the garage.
We reached out to a number of Honda Challenge competitors across the country to find out what spares they bring to the track. One trend that should emerge from reading this story is that a lot of those spares never leave the trailer, which is a testament to the reliability of the cars.
Name: Spencer Anderson
Region: NASA Northeast
Car: 1994 Honda Civic Si
Years Racing: 14
Spares List
I brought a spare engine and transmission to nationals once and we used both. The engine went in my car. The transmission went in Jan Wang’s car.
Brakes: front pads (rears if your car goes through them), fluid (enough to bleed the car a few times), front rotors (usually one set will do), brake line (one front, one rear).
Suspension: control arms (front, mainly), spindles ready to go with bearings and ball joints, (mainly just in case the wheel bearing goes out), axles (at least one pair) Once you get good ones, you don’t have to worry, but it’s still good to have one, sway bar end links, rear.
Wheels and Tires: One set of Toyo RA1 rain tires. Two sets of dry tires mounted.
Aero: Splitter blades and brackets, or the tools to build a new one. Home Depot is never far away.
Engine: Distributor if you are running an engine that has one, or at least spare internals, coil and ignitor as well as coil wires. If you’re a coil-on-plug setup, spare coils (at least 2). If you’re a single external coil setup, I like to have a spare coil even though they rarely go bad. Oil and a filter (just in case) transmission oil also, Water Wetter or whatever your water additive of choice is, spark plugs. I used to carry a spare B series radiator. It’s actually still in my trailer, but I haven’t got a spare for the K series yet.
Misc: Hondabond, brake cleaner, tape, zip ties, assorted nuts and bolts, towels, glass cleaner, general cleaner, shaving cream (those who know, know), Nomex socks, gloves, balaclavas. I even bring spare shoes.
I’m sure I’m forgetting something, but I didn’t forget it in the trailer.
Q: How do you determine what spares you need to bring with you?
A: I have enough room in my trailer to carry all this stuff around, but if you are limited on space, bring the absolute essentials and get with a buddy with a similar setup. You can split who brings what.
Q: What is one spare part you have needed at the track, but didn’t have with you?
A: Rear brake pads. Twice. I miscalculated on a new brake setup.
Q: What have you always had on hand, but never had a need for?
A: A rear brake rotor, but I refuse to take it out of the trailer.
Q: How have you built up your supply of spare parts?
A: I started with basics, and over the years, whatever we needed on a regular basis, I started carrying. Once I got an enclosed trailer, I started to carry more because it’s either in the way in the garage, or it’s in the trailer. For national events, I bring everything, engines, transmissions, engine hoists, you name it.
Q: How many times have you provided a part to competitors so they can get their car back on track? Please explain.
A: More often than I’ve used my own spares. Anyone who knows me, knows if I have it and you need it, you now have it. I’ve given people clutches, loaned my spare transmission multiple times, wheels and tires, axles, brake pads, fluids. I loaned my truck to a Honda Challenge racer when he was still in HPDE so that he could go home and get his other engine since his new one was knocking — and I removed his old one while he was in transit. I’ve worked on so many HC cars at the track because I want to beat you or be beaten by you on the track, not in the paddock. We’ve changed competitors’ transmissions, we built and swapped axles at least twice in Jose’s S2000. Whatever it takes to get everyone back on track and racing!
Name: Holden Metzner
Region: NASA Mid-Atlantic
Car: 2000 Honda Civic
Years Racing: 4
Spares List
Starter, alternator w/belt, axles, pads and rotors, clutch, ECU, ignition coils, misc. sensors/fuses/relays, studs, lugs, wheel bearings, kill switch, splitter, all fluids, fuel pump.
Spares for NASA Championships: extra transmission w/ spare components, front knuckles.
Q: How do you determine what spares you need to bring with you?
A: My spares list has grown over time, having experienced failures of my own as well as watching other racers’ failures. The latter is very important in avoiding DNFs. There are also some known weak links with the specific cars run in our series.
Q: What is one spare part you have needed at the track, but didn’t have with you?
A: A fuel tank strap and fuel tank. I had a fuel-tank strap fail at summit point. Needless to say it’s not feasible to bring every possible part you may need, but it did help improve my prerace checklist.
Q: What have you always had on hand, but never had a need for?
A: I haven’t had to use many spares, including my clutch, starter, kill switch and fuel pump.
Q: How have you built up your supply of spare parts?
A: Over time, as I’ve added to my spares list, I’ve gone to salvage yards, Facebook marketplace and ordered new what I’ve needed.
Q: How many times have you provided a part to competitors so they can get their car back on track? Please explain.
A: I’ve loaned competitors spares many times. My favorite is the set of pads and rotors I keep in my trailer. I’ve given them to competitors at least four times, they replace them with a new set after the race weekend. I run a different brake setup now and can’t use them. However, I keep them in the trailer knowing they will likely help a competitor/friend make it through another race weekend.
Name: Greg Karr
Region: NASA SoCal
Car: 1995 Honda Civic EG
Years Racing: 6
Spares List
Extra set of wheels/tires
Brake pads
Brake rotors
Oil/oil filter
Drive shafts
Distributor
Fluids
Q: How do you determine what spares you need to bring with you?
A: We are lucky with Hondas. They are relatively stout cars and can take a beating if they are properly prepared with quality components and maintained after every race. As such, I don’t need to have a large spare parts bin with me for each race. Basically, the distance from home determines what spares I bring to the track. For the local racetracks that are within an hour’s drive of my house, I will bring only extra wheels, oil and fluids. If something happens during the race, I can go home and bring the parts I need with me when I come back. For tracks that are a bit farther away, I will bring brake rotors, brake pads and extra drive shafts. For Nationals, I will bring three sets of wheels, brake pads, rotors, distributors, drive shafts, oil, fluids, oil filter and assorted nuts/bolts. I spend significant time between each race making sure all the parts are in proper working order to avoid having issues during a track weekend.
Q: What is one spare part you have needed at the track, but didn’t have with you?
A: The Honda Challenge guys are really a great group of competitors. They race hard but also have fun together. Hence, if someone’s car decides to break, they will all lend a helping hand, or parts, to get you back on track. As such, it is hard to not have a part on hand between all the guys who show up. However, at Nationals in 2018 at COTA, I did break a tie rod and could not find it anywhere in the paddock. Luckily an auto parts store near the track had the tie rod I needed, and I was able to get it on the car right before the main race on Sunday. It was close, but we made it happen.
Q: What have you always had on hand, but never had a need for?
A: I carry spare drive shafts to every race. They are known to go out on Hondas, but I have yet to break mine. Well, there goes my luck … better take them to the next event.
Q: How have you built up your supply of spare parts?
A: Over time, based on what I’ve seen my competitors and myself break at the track, I’ve made a note of spare parts that I should have on hand. I try to have a spare for all my consumables and will reorder parts as soon as I use my last spare. I usually do my inventory the weekend after the race, so I have plenty of time to order parts that aren’t readily available. This way it ensures I received the spares before I need them. And a little prayer and luck goes a long way when I break a part that I didn’t anticipate breaking. Usually one of my competitors has that part and is more than willing to share.
Q: How many times have you provided a part to competitors so they can get their car back on track? Please explain.
A: As previously stated, Hondas are relatively stout cars if built properly, and there are so many competitors who have huge parts bins with them, so I haven’t had to share too many parts myself. I believe the only part I did provide to a competitor once was a drive shaft. The rest of the time they either had their own parts or were able to find it from someone else in the paddock.
Name: Morgan Zeger
Region: NASA Mid-Atlantic
Car: 1998 Acura Integra
Years Racing: 5
Spares List
Brake pads, front and rear
Brake rotors, front and rear
Brake fluid
Engine oil and filter
Transmission fluid
Injectors
Starter
Alternator
Distributor
Spark plugs/coil packs
Thermostat
Axles
Clutch
Wheels/tires
Accessory drive belts
Multiple different gaskets and O-rings for the motor in case of a coolant leak
Assortment of bolts and nuts
Extra weight for ballast
I’m sure there are a few things I’m forgetting, but this is a pretty good list of what spares to bring for our Hondas.
Q: How do you determine what spares you need to bring with you?
A: Through my years of racing Hondas and seeing what parts have failed/broken/worn out on other people’s cars as well as my own, I’ve learned what spares to keep on hand. I always used the philosophy that it’s better to have spare parts and not need them versus needing a part and not having it. So any part that I thought could possibly wear out during a race weekend or common failure parts, I made sure to have spares of in the trailer. Most of the time I ended up not needing them, but it’s nice to know that I have them if needed.
Q: What is one spare part you have needed at the track, but didn’t have with you?
A: At the 2018 NASA Championships at COTA, my car threw the alternator belt off during one of the qualifying races and I did not have a spare with me so I had to run into town to the auto parts store to buy one.
Q: What have you always had on hand, but never had a need for?
A: So far, I have not needed to use my spare alternator during a race weekend, but I always make sure to have an extra one in the trailer. I’ve also never had to use my spare axles during a race weekend, but they are a very common part that can fail on FWD road race cars, so it’s smart to have a spare set on hand.
Q: How have you built up your supply of spare parts?
A: I have been into Hondas for a long time, so I’ve acquired a lot of my spare parts by hoarding. If I have a part that I think I could possibly use/need in the future, I will hold onto it. I’ve also run a few different engines in my car and I’ve kept some of the parts from the old engines and I even have a spare engine and transmission at home in case I end up needing to replace the engine in the car.
Q: How many times have you provided a part to competitors so they can get their car back on track? Please explain.
A: The Honda Challenge community specifically is a giant family. We are all willing to lend a hand or parts to a fellow competitor without hesitation to make sure they make a race. In 2019 at the NASA Championships at Mid-Ohio, I let a competitor borrow my spare distributor so that he could make the race after his failed. He then returned it to me the following race weekend. Multiple times I have had extra bolts or tools or something small that another competitor needed and I would let them use anything that I had on hand. That’s just what we do for one another.
Name: Rob Oxford
Region: NASA Southeast
Car: Honda S2000
Years Racing: 10 years
Spares List
Brake pads and rotors
Brake calipers, lines and brake fluid
Oil drain/fill bolts and washers for the rear differential, transmission and engine
Rear axles, knuckles with fresh hubs and bearings, axle nuts and 36 mm impact socket, axle to differential nuts and bolts, differential to drive shaft nuts and bolts
Differential, if you have one.
Q: How do you determine what spares you need to bring with you?
A: Consider the space available to store/transport all the parts and prioritized by how much work I’m willing to do while lying in the dirt or on hot asphalt.
Q: What is one spare part you have needed at the track, but didn’t have with you?
A: I must admit I’ve had to borrow a brake rotor because I packed the wrong box. Something that broke and I needed a replacement but didn’t have was a water pump, pulley and bolts.
Q: What have you always had on hand, but never had a need for?
A: Spark plug and coil pack. Not that they go out, but you can use a known good one to help troubleshoot.
Q: How have you built up your supply of spare parts?
A: New parts are OEM from a Honda dealer or Honda Performance Development. Used parts are from part outs on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist.
Q: How many times have you provided a part to competitors so they can get their car back on track? Please explain.
A: The most recent was almost a year ago and it was a few nuts and bolts connecting the axle to the differential. But over the years I’ve given, sold or loaned brake pads, rotors, knuckles and drain bolts.
Special Tips for the S2000
Front upper control arm mount brackets need support welds because they are too weak for race-compound-tire g forces, and will start to tear. Do the rear ones while you’re at it.
Alignment bolt tabs will flatten over time so before they do, weld the back side so they will not flatten.
Check the front lower control arm alignment bushing for failure. When this happens it’s time to consider spherical bearings.
Check your OEM motor mounts because tracking tends to wear out the passenger side quickly. If you notice upshifting or downshifting not lining up as it should, that is the first sign. You can replace with new OEM or upgrade for a stiffer, polyurethane solid mount kit.
Hubs and bearings should become a scheduled replacement item before a failure happens just like brake lines and calipers. The frequency depends on your number of races per year. Check oil, add gas and send it!
