The World's Fastest Civic

Last August's Bonneville Speed Week gave way to the World's Fastest Civic to date. Richard Holdener piloted the record-setting, Lucas Oil Honda across the salt posting a two-way average of 207.5 mph. Running in the Blown Gas Competition Coupe class, the turbocharged Civic bettered the 1991 record of 196.124 mph by over 11 mph. Bonneville records call for two runs, with the official speed being the average of both. The Lucas Oil Civic ran 206.2 mph in the first run and 208.7 mph in the second. The Civic was clocked at nearly 210 mph exiting the fifth mile. Holdener was quick to credit extensive dyno and top-speed testing in preparation for the Bonneville event. "We spent hours on the dyno making sure the motor was both powerful and reliable," Holdener says. We also made numerous 200-plus mph speed runs at our top-secret Nevada test facility (appropriately labeled Area 52). Running BFG street tires, Eibach coilover suspension and 17 psi of boost, we ran over 211 mph at Area 52. That was an exciting ride!"

A turbocharged B18C built by Killer Bee Racing powers the World's Fastest Honda Civic. Though it has posted as much as 728 hp at 29 psi of boost on the dyno, the boost was kept between 13-14 psi for the record runs. "We purposely ran the boost, air/fuel and timing at conservative levels. The aero package on the car worked so well that it took very little power to achieve these impressive speeds," Holdener says. "Of course, the 1999 Civic Si was also a good car to start with." In addition to the use of Lucas 5W-20 synthetic oil, the 1.97L engine buildup features a Dart head and block, Skunk2 camshafts and intake manifold and a Hondata S300 management system. Internal engine components come from Eagle and Coast High Performance. Boost is supplied by a Turbonetics T72 turbo feeding a dual-core Spearco air-to-water intercooler. Ice water is used to reduce the air intake temperature, but further cooling is achieved with the use of a water/methanol injection from Snow Performance. Ignition chores are handled by MSD while the custom 4-inch oval exhaust is from Borla. Holdener was quick to credit Bernie Vanhamond and Tom Habrzyk for their fabrication of the rollcage, full belly pan and other aero and safety equipment. "Driving a race car, even a 211mph Honda Civic, is always the easy part," Holdener says. "The real talent behind this car comes from the guys who built it."