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Alexander Motorsports Takes 3rd in Debut Race at the 2012 BITD Parker 425

20 févr. 2012

The ICON Vehicle Dynamics shocks made the car handle much better and actually smoothed a lot of the bumps out according to Alexander.

The residents of Parker, Arizona were pleased as punch in welcoming the estimated 2000 plus fans that visited their town last weekend. The Best in the Desert (BITD) series Bluewater Resort & Casino Parker 425 made a huge impact on the area's economy, as race fans looking to get a close look at big time racing machines, poured in for the "Downtown Experience" before the start of the race. Early estimates indicate that not only were there more fans than at the last year's race, race entries were up as well.

(Left to right) Gavin Ferguson and Steve Alexander chilling on their new official KC HiLiTES race vehicle.

Steve Alexander and his Alexander Motorsports team debuted their new look at the Parker 425 as one of the official KC HiLiTES race vehicles. Alexander and co-pilot, Gavin Ferguson, started the race second out of five in Class 5000. The team suffered a 20-minute set back during the second lap due to a nut coming loose on the lower link pin. Once the crew from Las Vegas Dissemination identified and rectified the problem Alexander and Gavin continued to chase the leaders.

At the end of the second lap Alexander was so impressed with the handling of the car he made the decision to stay in the car and drive the last lap. With the sun setting and visibility down to zero they clipped a rock with the rear tire suffering their only flat for the entire race. Just under 10 hours and 425 miles later the brand new Bill Shapley racing engine, which never missed a beat, no matter how deep the washes or silt got, crossed the finish line in third place. "The 2332cc power-plant, protected by K&N had plenty of torque to get the job done," remarked Alexander.

The K&N protected Bill Shapley racing engine, proved to have plenty of torque to get the job done at the Parker 425.

You obviously enjoyed the feel of your new vehicle, as you made the decision to drive the last lap, what is the most significant difference in handling as you see it?
"To start, the ICON Vehicle Dynamics shocks made the car handle much better and actually smoothed a lot of the bumps out. We also changed up our Mickey Thompson tires from a 31" tire in the front to a 33". Between the two, the car was so much more enjoyable to drive."

Is there one moment of the race that stands out?
"The only thing that comes to mind as a highlight is when Robby Gordon's helicopter got in front of us and flew backwards to let us know that Robby was coming up on us. We were able to get out of the way without either one of us losing any speed." (Gordon went on to win the race).

Even after a nut came loose on the lower link pin, and an excessively long tire change, Alexander still managed to land on the podium in third place.

Are there any lessons you learned in 2011 that you would like to change or improve on during this season?
"Being that the Class 5s weakest point is the front arm, we are in the process now of developing a new front arm design for the car and plan on debuting this for the Silver State 300 in May 2012."

How much did the flat tire slow you down?
"Normally it only takes about 4 to 5 minutes to change a tire but due to some very ambitious older spectators/course workers and a very old floor jack it cost us about 15 minutes. I just didn't have the heart to tell them we can just do it ourselves, but it was the last lap, and we were only 15 miles from start/finish, and I really think it made their day to know they did their part to help a racer."

When and where do you race next?
"BITD Mint 400 on March 24th, 2012."

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Drag Racing Legends and Historians John and Don Ewald

20 févr. 2012

Don Ewald's Mastercar dragster

We did it for love. It's a line that many athletes from sports yesteryear have uttered. But for drag racing legends and historians John and Don Ewald, the phrase takes a whole new meaning. The brother's website, www.wediditforlove.com, is the Internet's ultimate visual encyclopedia for drag racing enthusiasts.

John Ewald's John Buttera built BankAmericar dragster

The brother's involvement in drag racing dates back to the sports glory days in Southern California, at places like Lion's Drag Strip. Don got John interested at a car show, and the two would embark on a journey that continues today.

"Don got to be the hero driver and my roll with the dragster was financial and publicity," John said. "After going regularly to Lions with the car club I started shooting photos of our members cars, this led to CJ "Pappy" Hart offering me the position of track photographer."

That's where John's career took off. As the Internet began to explode in popularity, John and Don decided to start a website, a place that could become a meeting ground for legends and fans to come together and share stories and memories. The site started in 1998, and has since added more than 180,000 photos. While membership to the site has struggled in the down economy, We Did It For Love remains a popular meeting ground for racers.

Over the last decade, nostalgia racing began to make a meteoric ascent in popularity, and the Ewald brothers decided it would be a good chance to get back to working on cars as well. They have since restored three cacklefest cars, cars built to fired up at exhibitions and put on display.

"The last one I restored was Gary Ritter's Blood, Sweat & Nitro," John said. "This full bodied car was built in 1968 by Jim Davis and is the only surviving car of its type. Gary won several races at his home track of Freemont Drag Strip in it."

Ewald added this car to his collection that includes the BankAmericar and Mastercar. Blood, Sweat & Nitro has been on display at the NHRA Museum in Pomona, Calif. and is for sale.

When asked about the people who have meant the most to the brothers over the years, they both rattled off lists of drag racing legends that could hardly be rivaled.

"John Buttera built us the best car we've ever had, the BankAmericar," Don said. "Working with Keith Black (of Greer-Black-Prudhomme dragster fame) for six years was invaluable. C.J. "Pappy" Hart, who gave me a job, or in other words let me volunteer, when I was first starting in racing. There are so many that come to mind that I've been lucky enough to know in my 45 years in racing."

John echoed Don's sentiments on Hart. "I would have to agree with Don and put Pappy Hart at the top of my list. He gave me the opportunity to be the Lion's Drag Strip photographer, which set up my successful career. Pappy also was a great teacher in the way he brought out the best in everyone. He taught us values, sportsmanship, fairness and patriotism."

For the Ewald brothers, Auto Club Raceway at Famoso has now become their home away from home. The historic March Meet and the California Hot Rod Reunion are can't miss events that allow the brothers to get together with their racing friends and share great moments.

"For us, the Hot Rod Reunion is the one event we'd have to be dead to miss," John said. "It is truly a reunion intertwined with a race. The reunion has reunited hundreds of old friendships as teams for racing and cacklefest. Sadly each year it is the last time we see some of our old friends as time takes it toll."

K&N Filters is proud to have partnered with the Ewald's restored cackle cars. When asked why they choose to be affilitated with K&N, John had an easy answer.

"Simply every product K&N makes is the best way to get the most out of our engines while protecting those expensive parts from damage. We proudly display the K&N logo."

Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.

TUF Racing's Jeff Gibson Nabs AMA Arenacross Series Points Lead in Madison

16 févr. 2012

With one race remaining TUF Racing is in second place overall in the AMA Arenacross Series. Photo by smugmug.com.

Rivalries in sports are pure money. They're the gold standard for drawing fans by creating drama. The 2012 AMA Arenacross series has a dandy growing with each round like a snowball rolling down mountain. As with most good rivalries they originate organically, they're not contrived, and the combatants often share the same skill sets.

Jeff Gibson retaliated in Madison by taking the hole-shot and leading the main event from green to checkered flag. Photo by smugmug.com.

For TUF Racing's Jeff Gibson things heated up in Madison, Wisconsin at the Alliant Energy Center. Gibson started off great on Friday night easily winning his heat race. However, the controversy began in the dash-for-cash event as Tyler Bower intentionally knocked down Gibson on the last lap going for fourth place. Being that this race only pays the winner that came off as a total bone-head move.

"I have no problem with aggressive racing, that's what Arenacross is all about. I do have a problem when a rider is intentionally trying to hurt another rider, TUF Racing's team manager Dave Antolak told K&N. "The AMA has warned, fined and taken away points from Bowers and since then there have been no other incidents. So I would have to say the AMA did a great job in dealing with this situation. The sad part is Tyler is a very talented rider he doesn't need to resort to such behavior to win.

Gibson retaliated in the main event in the most significant possible way, he grabbed a massive hole-shot, then led every lap before taking the checkered. Saturday night started out as a carbon copy of the first night with Gibson easily winning his heat. Only then he won the dash-for-cash too. Gibson donated those winnings to a local teen center. Bowers was not allowed to participate in the dash as a punishment for his shenanigans in Friday's race. In the Saturday's main Gibson slid out halfway through the race going for third place. He got up and managed to finish fifth. Although that was a little disappointing for TUF Racing, they did make up 16 points on the leader and took over the points lead.

We spoke with Antolak again after round nine in Lexington, Kentucky at Rupp Arena. "Kentucky didn't quite go as well as we would have liked. Jeff was sick, but he still pulled the hole-shot in the main event and led for over half the race before it caught up to him and he dropped back to 3rd at the end. We also think we found a problem with Cole's (Siebler) suspension that we have already corrected and we are going into Fresno like we do every week expecting to win."

We asked Antolak how team's spirit and focus was at that point. "Not a lot changes in the TUF Racing camp whether we win or lose. We have had the same mechanics for the last 8 years in ,Andy Brannon and Tracin Seng, and it doesn't matter if their rider is in the championship hunt or not. They love to go racing and have the best bikes on the track and they work their butts off to do that."

"We have two riders in Jeff Gibson and Cole Siebler that are not only great riders, but are also great people to work with. As long as everyone is giving 100% effort the spirits are always high. This is our 16th year in the Arenacross series and we have had a lot of success, but if it was easy to win all the time it really wouldn't mean as much. Being in second just motivates us to keep trying harder.

Antolak's Round 10 Fresno, California prediction proved to be prophetic, as Jeff Gibson held off Bower to take home his third victory of the 2012 season at Fresno's Save Mart Center. With that win Gibson has now closed in on Bower's points lead going into the last race at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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Colten and Caleb Moore Claim Winter X Games 2012 Gold and Bronze Respectively

16 févr. 2012

Walking away after a 120-foot spill is good - winning 2012 X Games Gold - priceless. Photo by Todd Williams.

In case anyone forgets what the "X" in Winter X Games stands for, Texan brothers Colten and Caleb Moore, have an online video archive visually pinpointing a host of definitive clarifications. During Colton Moore's second run in Snowmobile Best Trick at the 2012 Winter X Games, brother Caleb joined him to throw-down a two-man back-flip. The judges were left dazed and confused, but the pump-up crowd went batty.

At 22-years-old Colton Moore has spent nearly half his life on a snowmobile. Photo by Todd Williams.

They're called extreme sports because you best come large, or stay home and go bowling, and the line between mind-tweaking excellence and OMG catastrophe is razor thin. That particular cold reality was displayed on every video site, sport channel and even crossed over onto network news channels, where millions have now seen Colten flying the distance of a twelve-story building.

During his semifinal run in the freestyle championships at the X Games, Colton couldn't find the handle of his snowmobile after a double grab maneuver in the middle of a 120-foot jump. As the 22-year-old began his descent, he flailed his arms urgently searching for his ride to no avail. Colton thudded hard on the packed snow and slid down the hill behind his snowmobile, as stunned onlookers stood motionless. Astoundingly, Colton got up and walked it off. He even fired up the crowd that had only seconds earlier anticipated the worst.

Colton shared the X Games podium with brother Caleb who earned the freestyle bronze. Photo by Todd Williams.

"The fall I had was definitely not good! It's a horrible feeling to be flying 120 feet through the air without your sled, just preparing for impact," Colton told K&N. "But after the impact, it was a really good feeling to know that I was still okay and able to continue riding. Better than that, it was the greatest feeling ever winning the Gold!"

Just another day hanging out at work for Colton. Photo by Todd Williams.

Most fans at Buttermilk in Aspen, Colorado were surprised to see Colten competing in the finals at all after the crash, but all that training over a foam pit and more than a decade of experience as an ATV quad rider, prepared him perfectly to fulfill his X Games destiny.

"I knew I had to come bring everything I have, plus some," Colten remarked after securing gold. "For a few months I've been training as hard as I could, and I knew I had to come out here and stomp the best run of my life, and that's just what I did. I've never ridden so well in my life. I'm so pumped right now I can't even breathe."

When the snow settled on the16th Winter X Games, Colten and Caleb both shared the Snowmobile Freestyle podium with Joe Parsons taking silver and Caleb claiming bronze.

While standing atop the podium Colton explained "I was just thinking how happy I am, not only to make it to the podium, but to also have my brother right there with me."

This begs the question; do you think the inventors of the snowmobile ever expected one day their sleds would fly? Photo by Todd Williams.

As brothers, they spend a good deal of time riding together, and we wondered what sort of the wacky pranks they dared each other with during practice sessions?

"Every time we go ride, we are constantly challenging each other," answered Colton. "It's like a constant competition. I really don't know what the craziest stuff we do would be, because we tend to make everything we do a bit crazy."

"I'm getting right back on my quad and heading out to the Nuclear Cowboyz tour," adds Colton. Thanks for the support K&N!"

Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.

K&N's Greg Ventura Grabs 2012 Winternationals Super Gas Championship

15 févr. 2012

Bob Harris' Maui Style Pontiac Grand Am

Greg Ventura knocked out Jimmy Lewis at the 52nd annual O'Reilly NHRA Winternationals to gain the 2012 Winternationals Super Gas Championship title running 9.926 seconds at 141.12 mph in his Ventura Motorsports 1966 Chevy Nova.

While much of the country is still hunkered down for the winter, K&N employees Steve Williams, Bob Harris, Greg Ventura, Greg Boutte and Kevin McClelland geared up to compete against one another, at one of the more prestigious events on the NHRA calendar, the O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, California. As many are familiar with, K&N Engineering is greatly involved in a vast variety of motorsports and that includes many of its employees who actively participate in one or more classes on the NHRA circuit each season. With a near perfect weather forecast for the southern California event, the crew from K&N who work together side-by-side on a daily basis look forward to getting back to the action and the sport of drag racing that each are so passionate about.

Steve Williams' 1963 Corvette Sarmento chassis roadster

Steve Williams, K&N's Vice President of Product Development and Engineering, was more than looking forward to the event and taking care of some unfinished business. "The last three years I have been Runner up twice," he pointed out. "It's time to put this one to bed and win it!"

Williams was once again be behind the wheel of his well-known 1963 Corvette Sarmento chassis roadster powered by a 565ci Brodix BBC in Super Gas and his 2008 T&T dragster with a 622ci Brodix BBC in Super Comp. "We just freshened the motors, put on new Hoosier tires and otherwise no changes made from last season," he said. "It's great that so many people race here at K&N because we are all looking to improve our products and their performance along with making sure they fit. I am running our new lifetime oil filter on both cars along with carbon K&N hood scoops and air filters."

Greg Ventura's 1966 Chevy Nova

Also competing in the 9.90 index class was K&N's Bob Harris, who was chomping at the bit for that first pass down the quarter mile. "I've done well at Pomona in the past," said K&N's Corporate Race Accounts Manager. "I have been to the semis a couple of times and won the K&N Winternationals back in 2004. We have a brand new Vrbancic Bros Racing 572 bullet under the hood. The motor is making more power and torque, so that should be good. I'm just excited to get back in the driver's seat after having the motor break on our very first time trial last year."

Harris competed in his uncle's 2002 Gary Hansen Race Cars Pontiac Grand Am with hopes to not only do very well, but stay away from his co-workers as long as possible. "It's great to work with a bunch of guys here at K&N that are passionate about racing. Unfortunately, we all compete against each other in the same classes, so that is the downside. Bottom line, we're all there to win and win for K&N."

Greg Boutte's 2002 Worthy dragster

K&N Product Specialist, Greg Boutte was looking to secure a Super Comp win in his 2002 Worthy dragster, but not with the familiar 598ci motor that he is accustomed to competing with. "Last year at the World Finals, I broke a tip of a valve," he noted. "The valves that I want are not quite available yet, so a friend of mine loaned me a 565 to use until I get my motor back together. I will be using Wayne's motor for Pomona, Phoenix and the Phoenix divisional. Even though I won't be using my motor, I still will be protecting the engine with the brand new K&N reusable, washable oil filter along with K&N air filters on everything I own and drive, right down to the rig that gets me to and from the events."

Boutte is no stranger to the winner's circle at the famed facility and he would have loved to add a win at the Winternationals to his victory during the 2009 World Finals. "I average about four rounds at Pomona," he said. "Most of the K&N crew compete in Super Gas, so it's only Steve Williams that I need to worry about staying away from in Super Comp. In twenty years, I've only met up with him three times."

Another Super Gas entry for the NHRA Winternationals was Kevin McClelland, Special Projects Manager for K&N. McClelland has been hitting the NHRA scene with his current 1927 Ford Davis built roadster since 2000 and just prior to the commencement of last season, completely updated the car and chassis to kept it not only current, but safe. "The car was completely rebuilt with lots of new upgrades, new engine last year, but during this off-season I had to replace the transmission and I made lots of upgrades to make it pretty much bulletproof," he explained.

McClelland was looking forward to the opportunity to repeat history with a shot to win not only the season opener at Pomona, but to come back and do it again during the World Finals, as he did in grand style winning both events in 1997. "It's a great race for myself and my family because we live here and lots of our friends are here," he explained. "Working together and then racing together with so many of the guys from K&N is a great thing. With Super Gas being random pairing first round, we do a good job of staying away from each other, but after that, all bets are off. Should we come up against one another, we race it straight up. I don't care if it's Williams or any one of them, we are going to do whatever we can out there to cut each other's throat."

Greg Ventura is yet another K&N employee who was looking for a Super Gas National Event win at Pomona and got it. Ventura's 1966 Chevy Nova is equipped with a 565ci BBC and he has been racing in the car since the 1999 season. The Material Lifecycle Analyst for K&N also has a car that he has competed with since 1993 in Super Street [10.90 index class]. "Since last year, we have just done the typical off-season stuff to both cars, freshen the motors, trannys, new tires and things like that," he said. "The cars are completely protected with K&N products, the oil filters, the air filters, which even have the K&N dry chargers on them."

"It's really fun to go to events like this and get to see everyone away from the office," he continued. "For all of us to be able to get out there and do our thing, it's kind of a way to release and do the things we all love to do. Yes, we are able to not meet up first round, but if we do get paired up once we are on the ladder, [laughs] you are bound to find some hurt feelings come Monday morning."

Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.