3g preludes like the one you raced are 16-17sec 1/4 cars. the 2.0si you raced came w/130-135 hp. i have a 91 2.1si -140hp. your car must have been running pretty crappy. ;p i seriously doubt that a z w/stock suspension will totally maul a stock prelude in the twisties... it's a prelude, not a civic. the prelude was honda's most potent handler (nsx aside). what it didn't have in straight line speed/power, it more than made up for in it's rock solid handling. preludes are very easy to drive at the limit. i'm sure a z will edge it out, but it won't be that easy. did he really drop his clutch @ 7k? his car redlines @ 6750, i think the revlimiter is at 7.2k. i think the guy you raced fed you a load of bs. if you get your engine running the way it should, you should take him.