COVER FEATURE
Interview with Norris Prayoonto
Steve Ingels
Launch pad
K-Series.com interviews Norris Prayoonto, owner/driver of the K powered, Clutchmaster Honda Insight.
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| Name: | Norris Prayoonto |
| Team: | Type R Racing |
| Class: | All Motor |
| Hometown: | Springfield, Va. |
| Birthdate: | Jan. 7, 1976 |
| Car: | 2004 Honda Insight |
| Engine: | K-20 |
| Crew chief: | Jeremy Law |
| Sponsors: | Clutchmasters, Hondata, R&D Dyno, KW Suspensions, Crower, CP Pistons, Driveshaft Shop, Z 10 motorsports, Circa, Speedesign, Ultimate Performance, Quaife, Mickey Thompson Tires and Autometer. |
K-Series: Congratulations on your win at MIR (and to your team mate for coming in second). I see that you ran a 9.77 at 136mph breaking the all motor sport compact record, while you weren't able to back it up, how confident are you that you'll beat
or meet that time again?
Norris Prayoonto: Unfortunately, we weren't able to back the time up, but I'm confident with our current setup that we'll be able to beat it and back it up.
[Fact] In order to ensure the validity of all new records, a backup performance of within 1 percent of the new mark is required at the same event. In the event that two runs exceed the existing record but are not within 1 percent of each other, the quicker time or faster speed will be acceptable as the backup for the slower time, which will stand as the new record.
K: As I'm sure most readers want to know, why did you decide to go with the Insight platform?
NP: We've been wanting to use an Insight for a while. It has the lowest drag coefficient achieved by any mass produced car, .25.
[Fact] In comparison, the Honda Civic Hatchback, with roughly the same 1.9 square-meter frontal area as the Insight, has a drag coefficient of 0.36, and needs around 32 percent more power to operate at the same speed as the Insight.
K: What made you go with the new K-Series powerplant when B-Series seem to be the motor of choice and their parts are so abundant?
NP: The K20 is the next generation Honda motor. We have been doing testing on [K-Series] cylinder head flows. The stock cylinder head flows better than a ported B-Series. We're running a modified K20A2 with Hondata's K-Pro.
K: Did you run into any challenges with your inital tuning of the K20?
NP: 2004 was spent working out the bugs. We went through a few motors and didn't spend a lot of time tuning the suspension, launching techniques, etc. We actually ended up running the same configuration this year that we started with in 2004.
K: It's great that you got most of that worked out. What about your transission and what modifications do you have?
NP: It's a stock 6 spd trans mission with a Quaife LSD and twin disk Clutchmasters clutch.
K: You mentioned suspension tuning. What suspension are you basically running?
NP: KW supplied our suspension. These are components that anyone can get off the shelf. I just gave them the spring rates and vavle specs and they sent them over.
K: How much hp are you currently making.
NP: I can't really get into specifics, but in the 300 range.
K: All of that from an all motor A2, very impressive. Will you be attending all of the Nopi events and any others?
NP: We'll definitely be at all of the Nopi events and we're considering running at a few other major events.
K: Will Loan still be running the EP3 in the Nopi Chic Bracket Class?
NP: Loan is now driving an EK with a K20A2 with a few bolt ons and she's already running mid 12's.
K: Wow, that's great! Do you have any other projects that you're currently working on?
NP: We're pulling the H out of our Integra and dropping a K motor in. It's going to be the exact same set up as the Insight. We'll be running K-Series motors in all of our cars for the rest of the year.
K: Thank you again for taking time out to talk with us and good luck in the season, we're pulling for you to back up that 9.77 and hoping that you'll beat it.
NP: We hope so, Thank you.
GALLERY