Another Patrick Callahan Post:
In the automotive world there is a perpetual frustration that some of the most desirable parts shown on concept cars or factory race cars never become available for public consumption. One of the easiest names to see doing this is Mugen. It’s somewhat ironic, then, that another Honda subsidiary, HRC makes many of its best parts available to anyone.
HRC offers complete kits to turn several Honda models into purpose-built AMA or club racing machines. They even offer versions of their entry level racing bikes up to and including their machine for 250 GP racing, the RS250. The RS250 is more like an F3 or Nippon car than anything for the street in four wheeled terms and it produces over 90hp while weighing something like 225lbs. Another example is the HRC kit for the 2009 CBR1000. Besides the usual radiator, exhaust and other goodies it includes an ECU that allows the user to program a different ignition map in each gear. This is so far beyond something like a Mugen Civic and closer to something like the Mazdaspeed MX-5 Cup kit. Companies like Nissan and Ford have proven that Porsche isn’t the only company that can offer race ready cars from the factory. Will Honda ever join the fray with four wheels?
