Christopher Sorge
2000 Honda Civic Si

Some things just go well together. Peanut butter and jelly, hot chicks and alcohol, and the internet and porn are all examples of this. They just work. Two things that, when viewed separately, have nothing to do with the other. Put them together, and somehow it just works perfectly. They compliment each other; fit each other "to a T," as the saying goes. On the other hand, some things just don't fit right at all. Oil and water, Ike and Tina, and Honda-tech and intelligence are good examples. They just don't go together. You can't think of the two and not think, "why would anyone think that these two would be associated with each other?" It's just a fact of life, and there are examples of it all around us.
 
 

Take the Honda tuning "scene" today. What's big, what's not, what's gay, what's cool. What's cool to like, what's cool to hate, what's cool to hate because everyone else likes it. All of these "anti-anti-anti-anti-anti-anti-anti-anti-anti-anti-JDM" people who live their lives off of Honda-tech and myspace yet claim they hate both. Making life decisions off of advice from myspace buddies and building their cars with Honda-tech approved parts. How can you tell who's who anymore? It's easy... the ones making the biggest ruckus about being "unique" and "JDM before it was cool" are the ones who probably just jumped the JDM 'wagon. Those who hate "JDM" usually can't afford it, or don't understand it, or even worse, hate it because everyone else likes it.
 
 
This "JDM" thing is pretty gay these days. I saw a quote a while back, "emo was cool back when it wasn't cool." The same can be said about "JDM." It was cool when it wasn't "JDM." When it was just a bunch of people who liked quality parts and clean looks that happened to find that, coincidently, in parts made in Japan. Its been around forever, from the beginning, through all the "rice" trends, till now. It'll always be there, because people will always like subtle looks and quality parts. JDM isn't going anywhere. It won't end up in automotive obscurity like the Veilside kit and widebody trends of the 90s. Why? Quality parts and subtle, clean looks. It never goes out of style. From the first car ever produced until we start transporting our molecules through space, quality parts and clean looks will always be in style. I just wish they had never come up with a damn name for it.
 
 

The point is, people were doing it way before Honda-tech made it cool. It was all they had. We were lucky enough to grow up in Southern California and see all of the cool stuff, RnRs and BBRs, FF-squad and a lot of today's pro racers rolling around the street races. Then the JDM fad hit, and a collective sigh and sad shake of the head was put out by all of those who knew what it would mean.
 

 
This is where it all comes full circle. So far, the theme has been, things that don't go well together and "JDM" blowing up (messing up) the scene. What blew up? "JDM wheels!" MF8s and SW388s and Regamasters and GAB sports were all sought after. Bronze became the new silver and everyone ditched their 18" Racing Hart C5s for 15" Desmonds. Rota got smart and saw that they could make billions off of the "cheaper is better" American market. Smart guys.
 
Then, the new rage hit, ushered in by the Honda-tech generation: RED. Red became the new silver, more JDM than you could ever be with bronze... and with the help of Rota quickly became the biggest market saturation the world has ever known. Black slipstreams, bronze C8s, and red GT3s were everywhere. Still are. At least now they're painting them all sorts of uglier colors to be "unique" since they were "JDM before it was cool."
 

 

So you take two things, cool in their own right. Say, an electron blue pearl 2000 Si, and red 16" GAB sports. They don't go together. Blue car... cool. Red wheels... cool. Blue + red... Compton gang war. Doesn't make sense, does it? It doesn't to me either. I still can't figure out why it works, but it does. Hell yes it does. I know a few people with blue EM1s... all nice in their own right, but all distintly different. I can't say I like any of them more than any of the others, but they're all excellent and each have their own look that makes them unique in their own way. No need for stupid spray can wheel colors or homemade lip spoilers to accomplish it either. Less is more right? Another one of those cars to put into the "I don't know why, but I like it" category.
 

 
If you've ever met Chris Sorge you know he's a pretty goofy guy. Not being mean, he's just one of those guys that's always joking around and able to laugh at himself. He has that "I don't give a shit" attitude that I wish more people had... I think that's why we get along, because I don't give a shit either. He has his share of anti-blue/red combo haters, as do I with certain things I do or say... but we sit and talk about it, and its funny as hell because we love what we do, and how we do it. He's one of those people that doesn't need acceptance to enjoy what he's doing. Another trait I wish more people possessed.
 

 

How does this apply to how he built the car? Just look at it. Blue car, red wheels, green seat belts, yellow valve cover. It looks like someone left a box of crayons in the sun and made a car of what was left. People make faces, and Chris makes 'em right back... because at the end of the day, there's only one person that has to walk outside and be happy with this car in their driveway, and Chris is definately happy with it. He built this car to be what he wanted it to be, and look how he wanted it to look, and if it happened to piss a few people off or make some cringe at how ugly they thought it was, then I guess that was just a bonus.
     
You kind of have to have that attitude driving a car like his around. Like I said, it's bright blue with red wheels, green seat belts, and blue seats. People don't really have a choice but to notice. If you're driving a primered/multi-colored EF with ebay coilovers and painted hubcaps, you'll probably be in awe. "DAMMN! Nice car! I love those GT3s!" is something commonly heard when driving around. If you're an older guy who hates Hondas because they're rice burners and wastes of metal, you probably think that its the stupidest thing you've ever seen. All in the interpretation, I guess, but I like it. Most people I know that aren't into Hondas hate it. I don't really care. Looks good to me. Maybe Ike and Tina can work out their problems too? Maybe not, but at least some things that don't go together can co-exist in the world nicely.
 
Chris originally had a white 1996 EX coupe. When that was totalled in an accident with a semi-truck, the blue Si was found. "There were probably 10 different sets of wheels on the car before I settled on the GABs," Chris said. Within 4 hours it was slammed on Skunk2 coilovers. Since then its been pushing the limits of how low Skunk2s can go on the GABs, and I don't think it'll ever see its stock height (or even normally dropped) days again. I have to admit it looks damn good with the OEM front and rear lip, tucking the tires on the GABs. Nice and simple, can't go wrong with that. Yellow OEM fog lights and CTR headlights and mirrors add a nice touch to the outside, providing a bit of individuality amongst the USDM Civic commonfolk. Something semi-rare on blue Si's these days: OEM blue hood! I like it... lots of blue and and a bit of red to piss off the masses.
 
The blue theme continues on the inside, with limited production Avus Blue Recaro SRDs. The rear seats and all panels are also redone in Avus Blue fabric sourced from Recaro. Everything about this car is blue, with a couple of WOW points being added for green Takata MPH 340 harnesses, complete "with one set of tittie pads." An Alpine in dash motorized monitor, TV tuner, glove box mounted 6 disc changer, and Type S speakers all adorn the interior of Chris' car to provide the entertainment. When there's nothing on TV, Chris can watch any DVD he wants on his Quaster DVD player or play Gran Turismo on the Sony PS2. Judging by how much fun this car is to drive around, you're not going to be spending much time playing games or watching TV or movies... so for those leisurely cruises there's two 600 watt Memphis amplifiers and two Rockford Fosgate 12" HX2 subwoofers to keep the brain occupied and killing cells.
 

 
A while back Chris was watching TV in his car and saw one of those old Mazda commercials, and decided he wanted to try it out on his own. But, his HONDA Civic didn't take to well to being given Mazda orders, and instead responded by giving him a nice "zoom zoom BOOM!" out of the B16A2. Left with a blown motor, the decision was made to "go big," since he didn't really feel like "going home." Now, the B18C5 and its 1797cc of displacement can't really be considered "going big," but coming from a 160 hp, low torque platform, its definately going to make a difference. The 2001 Acura Integra Type R longblock was purchased brand new from Acura, and came in a fancy Acura crate. The original S4C transmission was reused with the plan of adding an LSD eventually. An ITR clutch and flywheel were added, as was a Japanese P73 ECU from a 98 spec ITR. Air comes in through the OEM airbox, passes over a Spoon Sports drop in air filter element, through a Spoon Kevlar Direct Flow Pipe, into the ITR intake manifold, where it is prepared for the honor of being combusted by the B18C5 combustion process. Whatever the engine has no use for gets passed through a DC sports ceramic header and out through the limited production AEM cat back exhaust. A Spoon valve cover, complete with kevlar spark plug cover and Spoon oil cap, completes the "OMG I'm more JDMxorz than you!" look in the engine bay.
 

This car is meant to look good and be fun to drive. Looking at it from the internet e-tuner perspective, its too low, has a bunch of needless parts for JDM bling, unsafe harnesses, and a stupidly overdone entertainment system... and that's just the way that Chris likes it. I'd venture to say this car can out hard park almost ANY car out there, and has set several lap records in appearance/cosmetic forums worldwide.

 
 

Props, shout outs, thanks, apologies: I'd like to thank first and most importantly, my parents because without them, this car would be in some other kid's hands. All of my family & friends that are at my house everyday, and Donney for all his hard work and knowledge. Last and definetly not least, God for putting me here on this planet.

Plans, regrets, wishes, hopes: This car will be boosted one day. All it takes is time and money.
 

 

Name: Christopher Sorge (Mouse_Si)
Hometown: West Covina, CA
Occupation: Warehouse Manager

Vehicle: 2000 Honda Civic Si

Exterior Modifications: Civic Type R headlights, OEM Honda Lip kit, OEM Honda Fog light kit, Civic SiR mirrors, front and rear red tow hooks.

Interior Modifications: Recaro SRDs in Limted Production Avus Blue, Rear Seats and all panels upholstered in Avus Blue fabric sourced from Recaro, Takata MPH 340 harnessess, Civic Type R air vent w/pocket, Civic Type R carbon fiber gauge cluster overlay, Civic Type R shift boot, Spoon Sports duracon shift knob(black).

Stereo Modifications:

Alpine CVA 1003 in-dash motorized monitor, Alpine 6 disc CD changer (in glove box), Quaster in-dash DVD player, Alpine TV tuner, Sony PS2, Alpine Type S speakers, (2) 600 watt Memphis amplfiers, Memphis digital capacitor, (2) 12" Rockford Fosgate HX2 subwoofers.

Suspension Modifications: Skunk 2 coilover sleeve kit, Integra Type R front upper strut tower bar, rear upper strut tower bar, DC sports rear lower tie bar.

Engine Modifications: 2001 Integra Type R B18C5, 2000 Civic Si S4C tranny, Integra Type R clutch and flywheel, Spoon Sports valve cover, Spoon Sports reservoir covers, Spoon Sports kevlar spark plug cover, Spoon Sports spark plug wires, Spoon Sports radiator cap, Spoon Sports thermostat and fan switch, Spoon Sports kevlar direct flow pipe, HKS drop in air filter element, AEM limited production catback exhaust, DC sports 4-2-1 ceramic coated header, Koyo SiR full aluminum radiator, JDM P73 Integra Type R ECU.

Wheels/Tires: 16x7 +38mm offset GAB Sports wheels (red), 205/40/16 Ventus HR2's, Power Slot sloted rotors, AEM pads.