One thousand three hundred and forty-seven. That's the number of days the US was involved in WWII. Last November 26th we tied that number in Iraq and now, we're still there. Well not us per say, but our brothers and sisters in the armed forces, acting as global proxies for us freedom-loving pansies still here in the Western Hemisphere.
And while no war is a walk in the park, imagine being stuck in Iraq for one day, let alone 1,500. Sand, sun, Shiites, Sunnis (a simple act of alliteration, my Muslim friends), super-sized bugs and sizzlin' hot temperatures, it's a far cry from home.
So while we're here at home griping over losing a race to an old Dodge, or dodging five-o to avoid a fix-it ticket, they have real worries-like dodging roadside IEDs. So as a teeny-tiny token of appreciation, we dedicate this month to you, soldiers. And until you all come back safe, all our first toasts go out to you. Cheers. Fisehatak. And kampai.
This month, Dean English's very memorial Civic won an ARC shiftknob courtesy of Mackin Industries (www.mackinindustries.com; 562.946.6820).
Carter's Ride of the Month
Dean English, Marines
Rocks an '00 Honda Civic
See it rolling in MCAS Cherry Point, NC
Peep the Civic Type R Recaro seats, MOMO steering wheel, interior, mirrors, emblems, glass, wing, grille, lip, headlight; Skunk2 short shift, shift knob, coilovers, strut bars, rear lower tie bar, billet spark plug cover, oil cap, battery tie down; Mugen pedals, socks, radiator cap; Kenwood head unit; Defi VSD heads-up display; RS-R Exmag exhaust; OEM foglights; Volk TE-37 wheels; Spoon front lower tie bar; EM Racing C-Pillar bar; B16B motor; Comptech Icebox intake; Vision hood dampeners
Dean says, "Ever since I bought my car I wanted it to look and feel like a Civic Type R so I made it my 'mission' to do just that."
Carter says "mission" accomplished. Very clean.
Jim Elsinger, ARMY
Rocks a '04 Saturn Ion
See it rolling in some place nice
Peep the Andy's Auto Sports body kit; 17-inch Zinki Z rims; Kumho tires; Magnaflow exhaust; Street Glow under body neons; modified Civic short ram intake
Jim says, "I was really intrigued when I saw the Readers' Rides service members and I was wondering if you were going to do it again. This is my work in progress."
Carter says glad we could intrigue. Wonder no more.
Cordney Anthony, ARMY
Rocks a '97 Mitsubishi Eclipse RS
See it rolling in Fort Hood, TX
Peep the built engine; Crane cams; JE pistons; Eagle rods; ARP bolts; Driveshaft Shop axles; Hahn Racecraft 20G turbo, portfueler system; 3-inch exhaust; nitrous; Fidanza cam gears; Spec clutch, aluminum flywheel; LSD; Turbo XS boost controller, AFX ECU; C&R radiator; VIS carbon fiber hood, tail; GReddy blow-off valve; Tokico shocks; Shogun springs; 17-inch Enkei RS6 rims; Federal tires; projector headlights; Bomex body kit; MSD coilovers
Cordney says, "Thanks to my wife for putting up with the BS and for all the help with building my ride."
Carter says with such an aggressive body kit, you need bigger wheels. Get a nice set of 19s.
Brian Edwards, MARINES
Rocks a '93 Honda Civic
See it rolling in Florence, KY
Peep the B18C Type R motor; Hasport motor mounts; Mercedes Blue paint; Wings West body kit; APR carbon fiber canards, mirrors; Seibon carbon fiber hood, spoiler, trunk; 17-inch RSL RS rims; Yokohama tires; Skunk2 lug studs, nuts; Corbeau seats, harnesses; Auto Meter tach; A'PEXi exhaust, VTEC controller; MOMO steering wheel; DC short throw shift; Tein coilovers, EDFC; Energy Suspension bushings; ST sway bars; DC Sports tie bars, headers; AEM brake rotors, cold-air intake; Earl's lines; ACT clutch; Nitrous Express kit; Fluidyne radiator
Brian says, "I built this Civic when I came back from Iraq for my three boys and I to enjoy."
Carter says I like how you parked your car in front of a sign that clearly reads "No Parking." High-larious.
Kyle "Falcon" Hornbaker, USAF
Rocks a '05 Dodge SRT-4 Commemorative Edition
See it rolling in Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, AZ
Peep the GP T3/T04 ball-bearing turbo kit; HKS blow-off valve; AGP cold-air intake, DTEC fuel kit, intercooler, engine mounts; Turbo XS boost controller; Centerforce clutch; Mopar short shift, exhaust; AEM UEGO; eyelids Custom Graphics here and there
Kyle says, "I have tried to go with both style and power on this car, while keeping the design tasteful and not too over the top."
Carter says the one thing you can never go too over the top with are your wheels-should of went a li'l bigger.
Robbie Esplana, ARMY
Rocks a '91 Honda CRX Si
See it rolling in Copperas Cove, TX
Peep the ZC motor swap; RevHard turbo kit; Aeroquip lines, fittings; handmade engine bay covers; Tanabe exhaust; Hasport engine mounts; Centerforce clutch; HKS boost controller; Tokico shocks; Skunk2 springs, coilovers; 18-inch Racing Hart C2 rims; Falken tires; Ground Designs body kit; Ferrari Red paint; Sparco seats, harnesses; Grant steering wheel; DC Sports short shift, shift knob, e-brake; Auto Meter gauges; SPL head unit; Audiobahn system
Robbie says, "I'd like to thank my brother for his help, my daughter Maison and the rest of my family; Team Synergy; Drew at Deepstage; Killeen News; Scion Slam and Super Street."
Carter says earn your stripes. Hit up one of our Time Attack events and get a number plaque. You can wear it like a badge of honor, if you can call anything we do honorable.
Jose Luis Alonso, NAVY
Rocks a '98 Mitsubishi Eclipse GST
See it rolling in Mayport, FL
Peep the Ross pistons; Manley rods; 4G64 crank; Clevite main and rod bearings; Cometic high pressure head gasket; ARP head studs; Power kevlar timing belt; Unorthodox racing pulleys; HKS adjustable cam gears; ported Evo 3 16G turbo and manifold; 3-inch down pipe and full cat back; A'PEXi S-AFC; Walbro 255lph fuel pump; front mount intercooler; GReddy blow-off valve; Optima battery; Eibach springs; KYB shocks; Auto Meter gauges; Shepard tranny; ACT clutch; Fidanza aluminum flywheel
Jose says, "I've united my love for cars and the military by dedicating my car in memory to those who gave their lives protecting this country."
Carter says if I drove my cars on the beach, Greenpeace would have to clean the oil drippage off the local marine life. Exxon Valdez, eat your heart out.
Anthony Santos, USAF
Rocks a '99 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX
See it rolling in Ramstein Air Base, Germany
Peep the GReddy intercooler; Hahn Racecraft Super 16G turbo kit; ported intake manifold, Skunk2 cam gears, Mach V manifold; Blitz blow-off valve, Hallman boost controller, Thermal exhaust; RRE oil catch can; JM Fabrications exhaust manifold; Thermo Tec heat wrap; B&M short shift; GReddy shift knob, radiator cap, turbo timer; Symborski shift kit; ACT flywheel, clutch; 18-inch Centerline Excel rims; Pirelli tires; Ground Control coilovers; Tokico shocks, sway bar; A'PEXi S-AFC; Defi gauges; Nordskog A/F gauge; JVC head unit; monitors; Sony speakers; Hifonics amp, subs
Tony says, "I built my car on my own with limited companies willing to ship to an APO address."
Carter says I'll take driving on the Autobahn over shipping issues any day. Despite lingering Nazi embargoes, nice list of mods.