In 2015, things were looking up for Kai Her as he was in the middle of his final year of college and his Honda Civic EM1 build was underway. That all changed, however, once his coupe project was scrapped while innocently waiting at traffic lights. It was bad. So bad, that insurance called it a total loss, and instead of taking the salvageable parts out of the car and starting over with another Civic, he decided to use the mishap as a turning point and went after the car that always had wanted: a Honda S2000.
In The Hunt
The search was on, and thanks to his girlfriend Aimee (whom he later married), this AP2 was found on the other side of the country via Carmax. “I paid a non-refundable fee of $900 to ship the car to California just so I could look at it in person,” he recalls. Once he got the call that it had arrived, he went to check it out, but he brought an expert with him, adding, “My older brother Lue was a big Honda enthusiast and he came with me. In fact , it wasn’t the best condition, but since it was the only S2000 I could afford at the time, I made the decision to buy it.”
Initial modifications included A’PEXi N1 EXV coilovers, a rear diffuser, and a set of Regamaster Evo wheels, and after multiple late-night conversations with his brother Lue, the two determined that a show-quality build with plenty of wheel options. be the ideal construction. “Lue and I enjoyed building Hondas, but we never got the chance to finish one,” he says. “This S2000 was the perfect project for that.” Unfortunately, that dream would not come true as Lue passed away suddenly about six months after purchasing the S2000. “It was a hard pill to swallow knowing that I would no longer be able to share the build with him.”
Down time means go time
Over the next few years, new parts were introduced and S2K continued to evolve, but it wasn’t until the pandemic hit and Kai was forced to teach from home that he decided to dig a little deeper. “To keep myself sane from being indoors, I tore down the S2000, removed the engine, sprayed the bay and laid the wires with no prior experience,” he proudly states.
This cleaning initiative included relocating the car’s battery, fuse boxes and ABS system for a tidier look. The A/C system was left intact, but Kai swapped out the factory lines for the Ballade Sports stick-on line kit to enhance the makeover. The process took about six months to complete, but he wasn’t alone in his efforts, as his wife helped make the home renovation happen. He adds: “I never would have completed the tuck without Aimee’s help. She got down and wasn’t afraid to get down and dirty next to me as we pulled the engine and put the whole car back together. I’m really grateful for these moments. as it was these experiences that created unforgettable memories in our relationship and marriage.”
Currently, the lined engine bay features a Schmuck Built titanium intake with a GReddy filter that replaces the massive factory airbox, and the original exhaust was swapped for a GoTuning/GReddy Spectrum Elite dual system, also in titanium . Continuing with the light metal inclusion, there’s a full Titanium Works engine fairing kit on board, Rywire’s Ti coil pack cover and Chasing Js VTEC solenoid cover added for good measure. Kai knows that extracting naturally aspirated power from Honda’s legendary F22C is next to impossible with any set of bolts, so lately he’s been tossing around the idea of taking GReddy’s now carb-legal turbo kit for meet your energy needs.
Mix and match Aero
Instead of going with the exact same aero kit that so many other S2000 owners have chosen, Kai decided to mix and match to achieve the look he was after. Up front, a Spoon Sports S-Tai bumper and First Molding vented hood transform the roadster’s front-end look, and while they look factory, they’re Downforce front fenders that add 30mm of extra clearance. Voltex Version 2 side skirts help match the flanks with the front bumper, and a set of aero Spoon mirrors add a more modern touch.
Atop the titanium wing mounts is a Type 2 carbon fiber Voltex wing with a carbon fiber diffuser that ties the lower part of the bumper. A must-have addition that will get you almost as much performance as an AP1 today, is an optional factory hardtop. All of the aftermarket additions required a full tune-up and that, along with any necessary bodywork, was handled by Rich’s Restoration in Madera, Ca.
Finding the perfect set of wheels is never easy, so Kai picked up several sets. As of this writing, it has eight games to choose from, though that number may have increased by the time you’re reading this. Taking it a step further, he grabbed a set of 17-inch Mugen MF10s and handed them over to Andrew and the Wheelflip crew, who surgically stripped the wheels and bumped them up to 18-inch barrels before re- to finish them The fit is precise and the car sits low, but there are air cups fitted to help you tip toe on pavements and downshifts.
On the road, Kai and his wife Aimee are embraced by a set of bright red Recaro Pole Position seats and surrounded by a Cusco multi-point roll cage. A Momo steering wheel with Spoon horn button replaces the used OEM version, and the final piece of Kai’s titanium rap sheet is an ARC shift knob.
“It’s been a good (and expensive) experience to watch the S2000 evolve through each stage with my friends,” says Kai. “Whenever we get together, we always joke about how much money we’re spending on our cars. And every time we joke, someone reveals that they secretly bought something new for their car or picked up another set of wheels. Almost like a friendly rivalry. , but most importantly, it kept us all close.”
Establishing a group with a passion for building cars, Kai and three of his friends started NnovatioN Car Club and have recently expanded to include three new members. This group and the AP2 you see in the picture have played an important role in his personal healing. “I now see that the S2000 has been a behind-the-scenes contributor to my life story and unknowingly made me who I am today,” he says. “It holds a bigger story than just building a car, holds memories of my late brother’s shared interest in building Hondas, and has played a big part in my love life and in creating the sisterhood I found at NnovatioN. It’s safe to say that this car has been the author of my life for these seven years.”
Honda S2000 2006
engine Schmuck built short ram titanium intake; GReddy air filter; GoTuning/GReddy Spectrum Elite dual titanium exhaust; Koyo radiator; M&M Honda Engine Torque Damper; Cusco catch can, cooling plate; Titanium Works Engine Bay Dress Up Kit; Chasing Js VTEC Solenoid Cover, Fuel Injector Cover; Ballade Sport A/C Hose Relocation Kit; Rywire Titanium Coil Pack Cover; Spoon Sports Radiator Stays, Radiator Hoses, Radiator Cap, Oil Cap, Tank Caps; custom cable, relocated ABS, EPS, battery
suspension Coil overs A’PEXi N1 EXV; Position parts air cups; Hardrace front/lower rear extended joints; EVS Tuning rear anti-bumpsteer kit; Cage of 6 points Cusco
braking Spoon Sports monobloc calipers; Project Mu SCR front rotors; Ballade Sport rear brake kit; Front of StopTech steel braided lines; Rear Russell steel braided lines
Wheels and tires Mugen MF10 Rewound 18×9 +35 Front, 18×10 +40 Rear; Hankook V12 EVO2 215/45 front, 235/40 rear
Outdoor Rich’s Restoration paint and body; Spoon Sports S-Tai Front Bumper, Aero Mirrors; Widened front fenders with 30mm downforce; Spoon-style rear diffuser; Side step Voltex Version 2 Street, Type 2 rear wing 1700mm with 275mm titanium wing supports; First molding hood; OEM Honda Hard Hood
interior Recaro Pole Postion Seats; Buddy Club seat rails; NRG quick release, hub; flying Momo; Spoon Sports Horn Button, Wide Mirror; ARC titanium shift knob
Thanks Shout out to Gio and Kao for my tire needs. I could not have bought and assembled the Mf10s in time without you!
Thanks Wheelflip for putting the Mf10s back together to my desired specs!
Thanks Rich and his crew at Rich’s Restoration for the S2000 spray.
My brothers-in-law: Thank you Shaufeng, Chris, Yeing, Mike and Chueyi for your support from the beginning and always lending a helping hand. Mike, redefining the black trims worked wonders! Thanks for helping me get the S2000 ready before the SS shoot!
My Nnovation brothers: Kong @kongo_nsx; Simon @spoonem1; Xue @chopxuewee; Brian @smurf_eg77; Mee @vang_eh3; You @vou_tang.
I am beyond blessed and thankful to have friends who have become brothers. Thanks for your help, support and always encouraging me to throw more money at the S2000. lol I love you all and appreciate the brotherhood we’ve built around our cars! “Never stop lifting, it’s a timeless pursuit.”
And to my biggest supporter, in my personal and car life, my lovely wife, Aimee, for your continued support with the S2000. It doesn’t go unnoticed and I’m very grateful for your patience, the countless affirmations and the last few nights that my S2000 has been wrecking.
