Ken Chitwood's S2000 might look pretty, but he's not afraid to get his car dirty. The car was built for both the street and track. And when Ken says that, he really means it. He is not one of those car builders whom build show cars with track parts, only to never follow through on plans of taking it to track. Ken has taken his car to the track too many times to remember. At the same time, he hasn't gone overboard to the point where he can no longer enjoy the car on the street.
Just this past November, Ken's S2000 was at our Super Lap Battle Finals at Buttonwillow Raceway. The car took second place in the Street FR class, losing by only 0.6 seconds to a high horsepower turbo Supra. Not too bad for a stock engine, all motor, 4-cylinder. How did he do it? Ken says his main objectives are aero and chassis. A lighter chassis with more manipulation of the air definitely helps reduce track times. Believe it or not, Ken has no plans of building the engine. That's kind of a backwards approach for car builders in the US. But after seeing N1 races in Japan, I can really appreciate this leveled-ground of car building. There's something smart and gentlemanly about it, rather than building a car with just massive power. "A good balance in terms of track and street reliability." He built the car so it could be driven to the track, compete on the track, and then driven back home.
On the outside, you'll notice the ASM front bumper paired with the ASM-vented hood to help out with downforce, keeping the nose of the car down. Out back, you'll notice a Voltex Type-4 carbon GT wing, to help keep the rear end planted in those turns. That and a set of bright white Volk RE30 wheels are about it as far as exterior mods go. Simple, nice, and straight to the point. At the track, minor modifications to the car include, Toyo R888 tires, custom built front splitter, custom side diffusers, and either a Voltex Type-4 or Type-7 wing, depending on the course and other factors. Other than those very few modifications, his car remains fairly close to its street trim.
Having a stock engine reinsures that renowned Honda reliability for the street and on the track. Ken's only modifications under the hood are a J's Racing Tsuchinoko carbon intake and an Evasive 70R muffler with custom 70mm piping. These well help the engine breath better without sacrificing any reliability. Going inside the cabin, he's gutted everything behind the two seats. No tent-like soft top is ever going to be used on this car again. Hard top or no top, as some would say. The factory rollbar was replaced with an aftermarket, and just as well the heavy factory seats were replaced with lightweight fiberglass Recaro SPG bucket seats. Other interior modifications include a Momo suede Mod 31 steering wheel and TEIN EDFC controllers, to help make quick adjustments to the TEIN SRC coilovers.
Ken Chitwood proves that you can make a streetcar track-worthy, and a trackcar streetable. You don't have to drive a ridiculously uncomfortable racecar on the street, and you don't have to have a weaksauce stock car on the track. Furthermore you don't have to throw out street reliability just because you want to take it to track and compete with it. We give Ken much props for doing what everyone else claims to do.