My heroic father drove all the way to D.C. for me to take over and drive up to NYC. I say heroic because you have to imagine a +60 year old gentleman driving a speced-out civic half way across the country. That adventure either put years onto his life or took some off, but by no means was Buick therapeutic.

My dad and I have taken great care of the Honda over the years with engine and suspension modifications, countless hours waxing and impeccable service records to make it an almost criminal act bringing such a well kept car to NYC.

Fugetaboutit! It wasn’t as if the Honda was going to appreciate! I’m trying to make myself feel better. After the first week and roads that make the unpaved roads in Ghana look and feel pristine, I was ready to sell the car. The advert would go, “Help, 94’ Civic Si stuck in NYC and needs good home anywhere else. Please SAVE!”

With two weeks on the odometer, I’ve pretty much mapped out the worse of the manhole holes, gritting grates, expansive expansion joints and did you know iPods can skip? I’m partially to blame here. LA’s pavement friendly roads let me put some serious suspension kit on the Honda with HR lowering springs and KBY adjustable sport shocks. Adjust all you want, a CD skips all the way through by the time I reach the end of my street.

There are still times when you just can’t avoid the impending misalignment job by the city of New York. You cringe, brace and close your eyes. In the time it takes Captain Kirk to yell, “Shields!” a moment too late before a Klingon torpedo causes the set to shake, the damage is done. The F1 inspired wishbone suspension gives up, the steering goes numb and the Edelbrock headers take another for the team. I wonder how many more plays they have in them before I have an immediate muffler downgrade?