Corey Poole | 35 | Clinton, MS
@tsp_corey
Meet the Guy Behind the Wheel
I was born in Georgia but have lived all over the southeastern U.S. For the past 22 years, I’ve called Clinton, Mississippi home.
My Instagram handle is @tsp_corey, but I always encourage people to follow @twostepperformance first and foremost as that’s where most of the content gets posted.
From Eagle Talon to FL5: My Turbocharged History
Before the 2023 Civic Type R, I was driving a 2019 Honda Accord 2.0T. Prior to that, I owned a 2017 Civic Si, a 2016 Civic Hatchback Sport 6MT, a 2014 Subaru WRX, and a 1992 Eagle Talon TSi AWD (which was actually my first introduction to turbocharged platforms).
The car has been fun from Day 1, and I’ll always remember the drive home from the dealership after completing the purchase. The Accord I had before the FL5 Type R was a special car in many ways, but it was clear that a new chapter had begun. I was genuinely excited about the potential ahead of us and what this platform could become.
Why the FL5 Was a No-Brainer
For me, the Civic Type R was an obvious choice. I was excited about it on a personal level, but we also recognized how important it was to add the car to our stable for the sake of our business. Even after owning several turbocharged Hondas, the Type R elevates everything to another level; it’s truly in a class of its own.
Built with a Purpose
Modifying cars is just part of who I am. I’ve never owned a vehicle that didn’t get upgraded in one way or another; whether it was performance, appearance, audio, or all of the above...but this car was a special case. We specifically wanted to use it as a test bed for various parts and tuning solutions that we plan to offer to the community through our business, Two Step Performance.
All of the modifications have been installed in-house, mostly by me, though I’ll sometimes call on our team at Two Step Performance when an extra set of hands is needed. Outside of our shop, the biggest contributor has been Derek Robinson at Innovative Motorworks. Derek has handled all the tuning since day one. He shares our passion for pushing the limits and has dedicated countless hours to testing and development all for the benefit of the community.
250 Dyno Pulls Later: Why R&D Comes First
The car is an absolute blast to drive, but what I really enjoy most is the research and development we're able to do with it and getting to share those findings with the community. Having hands-on experience allows us to make informed recommendations that we can confidently stand behind. Most famously, I’ve completed a dozen or more turbocharger swaps and logged over 250 dyno pulls with this car - all in the name of R&D.
On the flip side, constantly pushing the limits with new hardware and software means we’re bound to run into problems. More than once, we’ve installed something new only to find out it was a downgrade in some way. While some might see that as wasted time and effort, it actually helps us shape valuable insights for the community and saves others from making the same mistakes. We’ve also encountered hardware failures and software limitations that set us back temporarily, but ultimately contribute to better support and product development down the road.
Bleeding Edge Development Comes with Challenges
While Two Step Performance does manufacture a small line of performance parts, we primarily rely on our manufacturing partners for the hardware and tuning software we use. Since we’re often on the bleeding edge, we’re usually the first to encounter problems or limitations. When that happens, we work closely with the partner in question to help develop a resolution. It can be frustrating at times (especially when progress is stalled and we’re stuck waiting) but in the end, it always works out and ultimately strengthens the products and support available to the community.
There are too many mods to list without writing an encyclopedia, but we’ve documented the full journey, including all the modifications and a lot of great photos, on our build page:
twostepperformance.com/blogs/tsps-builds/fl5
Tuning Changed Everything
Tuning the car completely transformed it; the FL5 truly became a different animal. Even without any other modifications, tuning the ECU takes the performance to another level. For anyone looking to enhance the performance of their turbocharged Honda, tuning is always the first step I recommend.
A Daily Driver with a Dual Personality
Ultimately, I consider the car my daily driver, so I’ve avoided extreme modifications that would compromise comfort or practicality for my daily commute. It’s important to me that the build stays relatable to the way our community uses their own cars. That said, the car does see time on the track and occasionally ends up on display at shows, so it’s fair to say it’s a balanced blend of daily driver, track car, showpiece, and R&D platform.
Some people are quick to label the FL5 as a track-only car and overlook its potential as a daily driver, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Even with my long list of modifications, it’s still a fantastic daily. In its stock form, it strikes a great balance between performance and practicality, which is part of what makes the platform so special.
The Type R is my daily driver, but we do have a stable of other vehicles to support different needs; whether the FL5 is temporarily down for upgrades or I need something for towing. It’s my main car, but not the only tool in the toolbox.
The Future Looks Fast
Fortunately, budget hasn’t really been a limiting factor, since the build is supported both by our business and our manufacturing partners. But if we’re thinking outside the box, something wild and fun would be an AWD conversion. Having owned several turbocharged AWD cars in the past, I know just how much that can elevate the driving experience...if done right, it would take this build to an entirely new level.
Moving forward, we plan to continue doing what we do best: testing new parts and software as they become available. One of the big things on our radar is a standalone ECU from MoTeC. Once it’s ready, we’re eager to try it out, as it would finally allow us to break free from the limitations of the factory ECU and unlock even more potential in the platform.
Wake the Dragon & Wet Laps: Building Memories
My favorite memories with the car have been the trips to the Tail of the Dragon, especially during the annual Wake the Dragon event. It’s the perfect combination of enjoying the car on legendary roads and connecting with our community. I’m already looking forward to heading back out there next April.
Beyond the annual Wake the Dragon event I mentioned earlier, some of the most memorable experiences have been track days. One standout trip was with the Hybrid Racing team; it was a great time both on and off the track. More recently, we had a track day that ended up being mostly rain. At first, that seemed like a setback, but it turned out to be one of the most fun and educational sessions I’ve had. We spent the day exploring the car’s limits in wet conditions, and I came away with a new level of respect for just how capable the FL5 really is.
Even Setbacks Move the Platform Forward
Thankfully, I don’t have any standout negative experiences or regrets with the car. The only real challenges have come from testing new parts, which occasionally led to delays as we worked through unexpected issues. But even those situations ended up being positive in the long run, since they helped us learn and ultimately benefited the community.
Community involvement has been part of my builds since day one. Back in the day, that meant web forums, but now it’s mostly Facebook groups. I really enjoy working with both our manufacturing partners and the community itself to help shape not only the direction of this build, but the future of the platform as a whole.
Giving Credit Where It’s Due
There are a lot of people and brands who’ve contributed to this build, but the top names that stand out are Derek Robinson at Innovative Motorworks, PRL Motorsports, 27WON Performance, RV6 Performance, Hybrid Racing, and of course, our own team here at Two Step Performance. Each of them has played a key role in helping bring this project to life and push it forward.
Advice to Fellow Builders
Do your homework before investing in parts. There’s a lot of great information out there and plenty of people who are happy to help guide you through your build. A little effort on the front end can save you a lot of time, money, and frustration as you go. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and learn from those who’ve already been down the path.
More Than Metal: Keeping Perspective
I genuinely enjoy this car; it’s a blast to drive, and it’s played a big role in both my personal and professional life. That said, I try to keep a healthy perspective about it. At the end of the day, it’s still a tool: one that helps me get where I need to be while allowing me to have a lot of fun in the process. It’s been an incredible test bed for our business and a great way to engage with the community. I really do love the car, but I don’t tie my identity to it. If it were gone tomorrow, I’d absolutely miss it, but I’d also be excited for whatever comes next.
