S3 Magazine // Issue 36

Dennis bought this particular hatchback from Mikey
at Profunction. The car is #1282 of the 1989 year of
hatchbacks, making it one of the lighter, stiffer, more
desirable Japanese-built shells. Mikey is a renowned
Honda tuning pro, the real deal. He can usually work
his magic to extract every last possible horse from a
build. He’s also well practiced at the art of the Internet
troll, and can simultaneously upset someone dumb
between dyno pulls, while eating a hoagie. This car’s
current mostly-stock B16 made 165 whp and 123 wtq
at the hands of the Mikey “the ninja”.
165 hp might not seem earth shattering, but it is for
a stock B16 with bolt-ons. It’s also more than plenty
for what Dennis does with the car. On nice days he
fills the hatch with the tools of his black-magic-voodoo
trade… paintless dent removal, and usually works on
cars that cost more than houses. While the EF sees
some street duty, the majority of the miles are to, from,
and ON Midwest racetracks. This lil’ black oddball gets
thrashed, and thrashed, and thrashed again - and
loves it! Dennis has been driving with groups like West
Michigan Honda Meet, Gridlife, ITRexpo, and GPS Track
Time for 8 years - and has recently started instructing.
It isn’t uncommon to see multiple drivers in this thing
on track, as everyone needs to feel a super close-ratio
Synchrotech trans, LSD, and just the perfect amount
of crisp HP.
I have adored this car since the first time I saw it. It’s
affectionately called ‘Ugly Ed’, and it’s a simple car really;
there is nothing extravagant, expensive, or rare
bolted to it. Anyone could build something like this if
they could think it up. But it’s so unique to see a cheap,
capable little car with so much thought and passion
put into every detail, which is why it gets so much attention
in the paddock. The photos show how unique
& different it is, with inspiration clearly taken from Mad
Max movies, hot rods, and touring racecars, with a little
old school Japanese tuner influence in the mix.
The custom louver-punched steel hood was hand built
and I love it. I feel it makes the car. Whilst it is an eyecatching
part of the Civic build, it is also full of function.
The louvers pull air from the engine bay, allowing the
radiator to work more efficiently. Quite the opposite of
the ‘JDM hood lift’ mod you so commonly see, which
can actually be detrimental to cooling airflow.
If a car could give high fives, this flat black EF would
make your palm sting with its enthusiasm. Cars don’t
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