[Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the November 2008 issue of Grassroots Motorsports.]
For years we have all been told that getting on track costs money—lots of it. But does that have to be true? Sure, the top race teams burn through cash with reckless abandon, but what about just getting out there and clicking off some laps?
Day 1: Steering Wheel Swap
There are reasons so many pro race teams use Momo wheels—they’re comfortable and solid. We went retro and found an old Benetton model (above). A proper steering wheel puller helped remove the old wheel.
The first thing we had to do was rid the car of the world’s worst steering wheel, a flexible no-name aftermarket piece that was starting to come apart. The diameter was also too small for our tastes. The wheel’s quick-release mechanism also failed to impress us. Obviously we weren’t the only ones who detested the wheel, as the mounting hub bore the scars of a failed removal attempt.
Here’s a tip for removing a steering wheel that just won’t come off with brute force: Get a steering wheel puller. We borrowed one from our local AutoZone, and a few turns of a ratchet freed the once stuck wheel.
We’re fans of Momo wheels, but new ones start at more than $200. While that’s a fair price for its level of quality, we wanted to spend less. Hello, eBay. We bought a new old stock 350mm-diameter Momo Benneton wheel for about $150. The multicolored look might not be for everyone, but it feels great and gives the interior a ’90s-era vibe. To mount the wheel to the car, we purchased the required adaptor from LTB Motorsports.
Day 2: Suspension Surgery
A good suspension maximizes handing, tire wear and the all-important fun factor. We went with Progress coil-overs plus some SPC lower rear arms and alignment goodies.
At first encounter, we knew that something was up with our car’s front suspension. We had positive camber at one corner along with an unsettling clunk. Since a quality suspension goes hand in hand with safe, controlled laps as well as low tire wear, we decided to just go with new, proven hardware.
Just about everyone in the aftermarket offers suspension hardware for the Honda Civic and CRX—another benefit of going with a popular chassis—so we first…
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