Lessons learned and applied en route to success
Twelve years ago, the name Evasive Motorsports didn’t
command the type of respect that it does now. Over a decade of race development
based on countless track hours, a business that continues to progress
incredibly quickly, and a loyal customer base that's grown exponentially year
after year has undoubtedly helped to foster their current status that goes well
beyond the Honda aftermarket.
In fact, some might argue that their successful campaign of
a highly developed and competitive FR-S that Evasive built in-house was their
breakthrough build. For the Honda community, however, the Evasive name was
elevated to a household level long before the Scion project.
In August of 2012,
Ken Chitwood's aggressive Voltex-equipped S2000 appeared on the cover of Honda
Tuning.
In August of 2012, Ken Chitwood's aggressive Voltex-equipped
S2000 appeared on the cover of Honda Tuning. Working with Evasive Motorsports
from the very beginning, the team had set the Street FR class record of 1:56.7
after besting the former champ, a Supra that had produced a 1:57.711. The
achievement was remarkable, especially when it was revealed that the car’s
power plant had never been opened and sported mere bolt-on upgrades along with
a healthy mix of aero and suspension tuning—both areas that the shop excels in.
The secret to Evasive's success with the first S2000 really
wasn't much of a secret at all. Theory, research, development, and testing had
culminated in a potent performer that, other than a few custom touches, was
comprised almost entirely of parts you'd find on the inventory shelves of their
Santa Fe Springs, California, storefront. Having reached their initial goal of
earning the record, the next step was, of course, to progress and go even
faster. Working in conjunction with HKS to help develop their supercharger
system for the U.S. market, the team jumped into the forced-induction realm and
when all was said and done, they topped their own record with a 1:53.9. The
icing on the cake was an announcement that Hot Wheels was to immortalize the
car in die-cast form, and they even designed an additional red version of the
S2000 to accompany the original on toy aisles everywhere.
But what comes next, after finding so much success with a
build? Mike Chang of Evasive says, “We felt we had accomplished all of our
goals with the car, so it was put up for sale and we moved on to the next
project.” It sounds simple enough, but, not surprising, the Evasive crew felt
like something was missing not long after the blue car had been shipped to its
new owner overseas. “We just started to miss having a fast
S2000 around the shop, so we figured why not build another one? The color this
time around is to mimic the red version that Hot Wheels put out. We thought it
would be cool to have two cars that looked exactly like the toy versions.”
“We just started to miss having a fast S2000 around the shop, so we figured why not
build another one? The color this time around is to mimic the red version that
Hot Wheels put out. We thought it would be cool to have two cars that looked
exactly like the toy versions.”
When the idea of the V.2 build came about,
Evasive relied on the very attributes that had brought them this far, never
veering away from the group's theory of obtaining a proper balance. Mike says,
“We're always about building cars that represent an entire package. Our focus
has always been on aero, suspension, and chassis setup above all else.” Not
unlike the original build, V.2 starts with an AP2 chassis and internally stock
F22C heart. The same HKS supercharger kit that Evasive helped develop is bolted
on, as is an HKS header, and EVS Tuning 70-SSP exhaust system. Power output
comes in at under 350 whp, which, in today's “peak number drunk” import
community, doesn't sound like much, but it's more than enough to push the
roadster around the track at breakneck speeds.
Behind the 18x10 Volk Racing ZE40s and
Advan AD08R rubber lie Eibach R2 coilovers with ERS springs built specifically
to Evasive specs. Standard Eibach S2000 sway bars, J's Racing roll center
adjusters, and Mugen bushings round out a suspension package that's been proven
on track time and time again. With the added “go” and side-to-side defense come
crucial braking needs, which have been met by a newly installed AP Racing
four-piston brake kit.
Standard
Eibach S2000 sway bars, J's Racing roll center adjusters, and Mugen bushings
round out a suspension package that's been provsn on track time and time again.
