N1Concepts Blog: September 2009

N1 Concepts was started by Norman Tong, an enthusiast who has been in the racing and motor sport culture since 1995. His first car was a 1995 Acura Integra GSR. The car was a great daily driver and a good platform for a fast street car. Norman not only wanted a fast street car, but something that would break track records. With more extensive research in building a lighter and faster car, Norman acquired a 1992 Civic Si hatchback along with a 1996 B18C1 GSR motor. With the help of magazine articles and literature before the internet was readily available, Norman had built an all motor set up in his own garage and ran consistent 13 second runs at the season opener CMI race in Sacramento, April 1997.

Shortly after, Norman joined Dimensional 1 Racing, a race team consisting of 8 highly respectable fast cars. With the help of D1 and Dave Shih (Silver Bullet 10 second CRX in 1996), the Civic received a custom T04E/T3 turbocharger by mid summer of that year. With a stock GSR setup and 12psi, the car ran a 12.5 second quarter mile @ 110mph at the following CMI race that season. Already well respected as a fast front wheel drive car at the time, Norman’s next challenge was to get the car into the 11 second bracket in the same season. A new chassis with cut doors, lexan windows, and stripped interior received the race motor. Within 2 weeks of running 13 second, 12 second passes, Norman achieved his goal by getting the car into the 11 second club with a 11.58 @ 117 mph run in the same season with the help of his teammates and friends.

In the next few years, Norman also participated in the growing scene of import car shows including the legendary Showoff EXC show that pioneered the import car culture and shows. While juggling to finish his degree and building a faster car, Norman was already focusing his efforts in building a business in the industry. In 2003 Norman started N1 Concepts straight out of college. N1 Concepts at the time focused on building cars from theft recovery salvaged Hondas. At the same time, his Civic ran faster times getting into the 10 second range. In 2006, N1 Concepts began importing Japanese parts. N1 Concepts became your source for used Japanese Honda OEM parts and accessories. A new project such as the Honda Fit received a K20 (current 2.0 liter motor found in the RSX and Civic) engine that broke records at the track and was featured on the cover of Super Street magazine in October 2006.

In late 2007, N1 Concepts became the North American distributor for J’s Racing Japan. N1 Concepts in collaboration with J’s Racing imported the J’s Racing S2000 to race and compete on the U.S. shores in time attacks and road course events.

With the extensive background in street, drag, and track racing, N1 Concepts will continue to grow and provide USDM and JDM parts and the best service for the motor sport industry and culture.