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ATV Pro Class Team H&M Motorsports Takes Victories at Buffalo Bills in Primm, Nevada

Apr 10, 2013

H&M Motorsports teammates, Beau Baron And David Haagma have already both earned victories early in the 2013 season.

The H&M Motorsports team recently embarked upon a drive to Primm, about 45 miles south of Las Vegas. There was a casino within eye shot of their destination, but the crew's goal had nothing to do with feeding the slot machines. In fact, A WORCS event is held behind the Buffalo Bill's Resort every year, and they were eager to test their skills against other riders at the annual event.

According to team manger, Alan McCostlin, they arrived with a highly important aspect of racing on their side - recent success. "The Buffalo Bill's race was only the second of the year," he explained. David Haagma (H&M team member) was able to win the first race of the season."

H&M rider, Beau Baron, recently walked away from the Buffalo Bill's race, at Primm with two wins under his belt.

Continuing, he said, "We always try to be confident heading into every race, but Primm is a brutal track and is very challenging, both physically and on the bikes, to come out of there on top. We did a lot of off-season suspension testing with Elka and Jay Gobel, from Impact Solutions, and Doug Roll, from Roll Design. It helped us tremendously, and we were able to come away with a win."

With the first race of the day came the opportunity for Haagma to line up against his teammate, Beau Baron in the ATV Pro class. When the race was deemed underway, Baron managed to take an early lead, and never even considered looking back. He held a fast pace, striving to put distance between himself and the field of riders. He was never challenged once taking the front position, and his efforts were rewarded with a victory.

Beau has something that not a lot of people have, when it comes to racing," explained McCostlin. "He has a lot of heart and does not have any give up in his mind. He can get a bad start or a crash, or something else may happen, and he just keeps working and pushing through it. At the end of the day, he is usually on the podium. He's tough as nails and always gives 100-percent."

H&M team member, David Haagma earned a victory during the first event of 2013, setting standard that they hope to follow throughout the remainder of the season.

Although he already had one win under his belt, that was no reason for Baron to let up or call it a day. That's right, he had another race ahead of him. Lining up in the ATV class, the rider had already managed to muscle his way into the lead going into the third lap.

Again determined to win, the rider focused on the finish line. Through the remainder of the race, no rider was able to work their way close enough to Challenge Baron. When the dust had settled he was the clear winner and had earned his second podium of the event.

Haagsma, on the other hand, entered the race with less swagger in his stride than his teammate.

"David is usually confident, but this is one of his worse tracks," recalled McCostlin. "he does not care for Primm, and just tried to come out of there with a top-five finish. He ended up placing fourth in the race, so that was good."

Anyone who has participated in team sports will be quick to agree that unity is essential. Well, team H&M Motorsports is no different. "I think we have the best group of people surrounding our team for sure," stated McCostlin. "From riders to sponsors, and all in between, we have a great group of people with the same goal in mind - winning. We try to prepare ourselves the best we can for each event, and it paid off last year. We were able to win the 2012 WORCS ATV pro championship (Beau) and the 2012 Quad-X ATV Pro championship (David)."

The team is acutely aware that maintenance is often the deciding factor between failure and success. When asked if his team finds keeping their bikes in tip-top condition of importance, he said with a laugh, "I am very picky and try to make sure everything is one-hundred-percent all the time. It is a ton of work. But it the bikes don't finish races, we can't win championships. I try to keep on top of everything and make sure the equipment is prepared the best it can be for every event."

That in mind, the team manager and his crew are strong advocates of using K&N products for their filtering needs. "We've been using K&N filters since starting our team two years ago," explained McCostlin. "We use their air and oil filters on all of our ATVs and side-by-sides. David and I even have the K&N air intake systems on our trucks. K&N products are the best out. We have never had a failure and K&N played a huge part in my team winning two championships last year."

Anticipating what lie in store for the remainder of the season, Allan McCostlin concluded, "We are doing our best to win both ATV championships again, and David and Beau are going after the RZR championships also in Separate classes."

With high aspirations and a taste of previous championships, one might suspect that H&M Motorsports is capable of meeting their goals.

Other K&N Pro ATV news stories include H&M Motorsports' Pro ATV Racers Haagsma and Baron Win 2012 Quad-X and WORCS Championships, A Podium Filled Weekend For Pro ATV Sand Drag Racer, Gary "Gee" Armstrong and Danny Prather & David Scott Crowned BITD Pro Quad and ATV Grand Champions.

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.

Red Bull/Menzies Motorsports Truck Racers Finish First at SCORE International Series in San Felipe

Apr 9, 2013

Bryce Menzies finished the race at San Felipe only four seconds ahead of the second place driver.

The Menzies Motorsports crew recently rolled into San Felipe with high expectations of what would transpire in the hours to come. The SCORE International series was under new ownership, and in turn, sported new rules and regulations.

Although the change of ownership brought with it uncertainties, there was one thing that hadn't changed. Bryce Menzies was there with one thing on his mind - victory.

Leaving the starting line in one-minute Intervals, Menzies tackled what had traditionally been known as the "roughest" section of the Baja immediately with three drivers in front of him. Experience would obviously prove essential during the entire race, but the years under his belt would prove key during this first section of the course. The decisions of when to push his Red Bull/Menzies Motorsports truck and when to lay back early-on would inevitably be huge at the race's end.

Team Menzies Motorsports recently found themselves the subject of a controversial call at San Felipe, when Bryce Menzies was penalized for straying off of the designated course to avoid a drivers dust.

Menzies and his co-rider, Pete Mortensen, had already managed to pass B.J. Baldwin by the mile-38 marker, and had the others leading the field in their sights. In fact, Menzies found himself in a heated battle with Mark Weyrich for the physical lead148 miles into the race.

Nearing the dry lake bed, Weyrich had a flat, and Menzies took the lead. In front of the field of competitors, the driver proceeded forward, never looking back.

With only 30 miles left in the event, Menzies was challenged by Gustavo Vildolosa. Not willing to accept anything but a win, the driver made a mad run, crossing the finish line as the "unofficial winner" and less than four seconds ahead of Vildolosa.

But "unofficial" was the key word on this particular day. Unfortunately, the higher-powers slapped a five-and-one-half minute penalty on Bryce Menzies for straying off course to avoid Dan McMillin's dust as he neared mile 89. It was rumored that several other drivers took the same route without any repercussion, but the decision had been made, and Menzies Motorsports officially had to settle for second place.

Menzies Motorsports has managed to earn their share of victories throughout the years and is anticipating another stellar season in 2013.

Referring to the call, Director of Team Logistics/Marketing Office Manager, Dane Raney, said, "It's in the past, but we wish the rules were more clear and concise. We took this as fuel for our competitive fire. We won't lay down. We're going after the championship. We try and prepare for every scenario with our crew that consists of employees and volunteers. It takes more time and effort, but that, and a good driver help us win races.

Referring to the importance of the team, he continued, "They are important to everyone who is involved... We work hard to win races, but also respect everyone and help anyone who needs it along the way."

When asked what separates them from their competitors, he said, "Practice - practice - practice, preparation - preparation - preparation. Not to mention, an incredible driver really helps."

With a strong work ethic and an "incredible driver" on board, Menzies Motorsports is also a firm believer in the importance of keeping their rigs in tip-top running condition. That in mind, they are strong advocates of keeping their engines running free of dust and other foreign debris.

"Maintenance is key," ensured Raney. "These trucks have to be meticulously maintained if you want to run up front with the fast guys. The Trophy Truck class will not have a winner with a truck that hasn't been prepared correctly. The races are far too hard on the vehicles. We are lucky to have Pete Mortensen, who is one of the best in the sport."

Referring to their filtering needs, he continued, "We use a bunch of K&N products. Desert uses a 16-inch filter with filter oil, seal grease, pre-wraps and power cleaner. Short-course uses a 14-inch filter with filter oil, seal grease, pre-wraps, as well as carb gaskets. We've been using K&N products since Bryce's first buggy in 2007.

K&N has been an industry leader for as long as I can remember," he explained. "Brands come and go, but K&N has hung around. And that is a testament to having great products year-in and year-out. K&N has aided Menzies Motorsports in gathering both desert and short-course championships in years past. These trucks are constantly beat up, and K&N's product never fails."

When asked what fans can expect for Menzies Motorsports throughout the remainder of the season, Raney, replied, "First and foremost, we would like to thank our fans for all of their support over the years.We wouldn't be doing what we're doing if it wasn't for them. Winning races leads to our ultimate goal of winning championships. In the words of Ricky Bobby,'If you're not first, you're last'."

More K&N SCORE desert racing news is available on KNFilters.com including Nick Nelson Wins the SCORE Baja 1000 Race With His Class 24 450cc ATV, Roger Norman Makes Podium at the SCORE Baja 1000 with a 3rd Place as Iron Man, 2011 Win for K&N Sponsored Bryce Menzies SCORE Baja 1000 and All German Motorsports Builds SCORE International Series Off-Road Trophy Truck from BMW X6 SUV.

K&N has performance products for many on and off-road vehicles. Use the K&N application search to find the right performance part for your vehicle, then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.

Jon Crowley and Team UTVGuide Finish Second in the 2013 HRC King of the Hammers UTV Race

Apr 9, 2013

Jon Crowley's King of the Hammers co-pilot/winch operator was Blake Van de Loo.

If King of the Hammers were a Jeopardy game show question surly the answer would be - what is Thor? Mjolnir is the hammer weapon of choice for superhero Thor. And, if it is indeed made of a star, as the legend holds, it would weigh as much as 300 billion elephants. Astrophysicist, Neil deGrasse Tyson, took the time to cipher up an answer to that truly perplexing, albeit fictional, scientific question. Yet even the wrath of Thor and all the might of his pachyderm dense star-hammer couldn't have battled any tougher, or more successfully, than Jon Crowley and his UTVGuide.net team in the genuine 2013 King of the Hammers.

The 2013 King of the Hammers lived up to its billing as toughest one-day off-road race on the planet.

The founders of Hammerking Productions are the force behind King of the Hammers, billed as the toughest one-day off-road race on the planet. King of the Hammers takes place each year in February, on public lands in Johnson Valley, California. Over the years the race has evolved from 12 teams racing for bragging rights and a case of beer, to more than 150 teams competing before thousands of zealous fans, both live and online.

The faintly sadistic folks of Hammerking have also established a racing class known as the Ultra4 class. The defining characteristic of this class is that all cars must be capable of 4-wheel drive. Beyond that, the class is unlimited, meaning these cars come in all shapes and sizes, and are capable of speeds over 100 miles-per-hour. However, they still include gear ratios as low as 100-to-1, in order to even have a chance at negotiating the insanely sick technical rock crawling sections that have become such fan favs.

"The road to the 2013 HCR King of the Hammers UTV Race was a tough journey for me," Crowley remarked. "Although this was my 5th year racing, I have struggled most years and have questioned my sanity many times for coming back to race year after year. The first four years of the UTV race were more like a desert sprint with a few rock obstacles sprinkled in. This year rumors flew all over cyberspace that King of the Hammers organizer Dave Cole was going to step up the game. Those rumors proved to be oh so true and much more."

Crowley and Van de Loo finished only 16 seconds behind the leader at the HCR King of the Hammers Race

We had the opportunity to speak with Mitch Guthrie earlier, so it will be great to get your perspective on the battle you guys shared. How tough is it to get your mind around finishing only 16 seconds behind him?
"If I had to finish 2nd place to anyone, Mitch is the guy. It's very tough knowing though that after almost 8 hours of racing, we were only 16 seconds behind. You second guess the whole race for days afterwards, wondering how different decisions along the course would have changed the outcome, but that is racing."

Care to give a shout-out to your co-pilot/winch operator during the race?
"My co-dog for King of the Hammers was Blake Van de Loo. We had never raced together, but we worked very well together. He is super experienced in the rocks and with the Polaris RZR XP, so I don't think I could have asked for anyone better."

What in your opinion took a bigger hit in this race, your vehicle, or you body and mind?
"I was absolutely spent at the end of the race, mentally and physically. Making sure I took care of the car was paramount to finishing the race. The course was absolutely brutal and it did take its toll on the car, but the RZR XP is a great platform for this format."

What are your thoughts about returning to the King of the Hammers event next year, and how do you plan to stay busy for the rest of the season?
"I am not sure if I will return to King of the Hammers next year. I have raced every year in the UTV class and it takes a huge commitment. It is one of those races that is hard to stay away from though, so I wouldn't count me out. I do race some local short course and possibly some desert races with VORRA in Northern California and Nevada."

More K&N off-road desert racing and rock crawling news can be found in Guthrie Racing's Father and Son Team Win the 2013 King of the Hammers UTV Title.

Find K&N performance products and power gaining air intake systems for your vehicle at KNFilters.com then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.

Pilot Class Buggy Racer Steve Wheels Bucaro is Ready for a Stellar 2013 Race Season

Apr 5, 2013

Steve Bucaro is prepared to compete against drivers in classes sporting larger and faster buggies.

Although only in his third year of racing, Steve "Wheels" Bucaro epitomizes the phrase "passion for the sport." According to the buggy racer, lining up and testing his skills against other drivers was always a dream. But in his case this ambition came to fruition a little later in life than the norm.

A tale of any person who finally reached their dreams, and embarked upon their first race at age 32 would likely interest most readers. But Bucaro's story is even more captivating. In fact, in many's eyes his hopes of entering the world of racing was derailed on April 15, 1998, when he suffered tremendous and life altering injuries in an automobile accident.

An elderly fella failed to stop at a red light at an intersection and turned in front of Bucaro's 1992 ZX7. The results were devastating. Bucaro sustained signifiant injury, including shattered T2 and T12 vertebrae in his back, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.

Steve Bucaro races in both the Lucas Oil Regional Series in Southern California, and the Dirt Entertainment Dirt Series.

But Steve is obviously not one to lie down and quit. With time and determination he learned to perform his daily routine despite his disability to a point that he could continue to pursue his dream to race.

When asked if he was able to use the accident in a positive manner, Bucaro said, "Oh yeah...You wont find a more positive person in my situation anywhere.". Directing his statement toward others in similar situations, he continued, "Don't give up, and there's always a light at the end of the tunnel! I still ride my street-bike, race my pilot, drive like normal, mow my yards, etc. Nothing has nor will anything stop or slow me down. It'll all just make me go that much faster and push harder."

From the seat of a 1989 Honda Pilot, the driver has experienced his fair share of success. In fact, Bucaro earned the title of the 2011- 2012 Lucas Oil Regional Series Pilot Class Champion. With the taste of success and this title already under his belt, the driver has no intentions of letting up. As one might suspect, he has aspirations of reclaiming the championship in the weeks and months to come.

The driver will return to the Lucas Oil Regional Series in Southern California this season, but folks will also notice Steve "Wheels" Bucaro's name on the roster at Dirt Entertainment Dirt Series venues as well.

For the first season, the driver is the only one falling in the Pilot class in the Lucas Oil series, and will be lining up against the adult trophy karts and SR1 Rhinos. In fact, he has already experienced running with these classes and has performed well.

Earlier this year, Bucaro showed up at the Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, California eager to run in a class sporting vehicles bigger and faster than his Pilot class buggy. Although theoretically, Bucaro should not have proved a power in this race, he had no intentions of accepting defeat.

In turn his eagerness to race and unwillingness to back down found him in a heated battle and actually maneuvering around several drivers. At the race's end he crosses the finish line in eighth place out of a field of 18 drivers.

"When asked the key to being competitive regardless of class, Bucaro answered, "Being calm and not rushing the main. We have a lot of laps, plus always having to start in the back makes me push to pass bigger, faster cars that I shouldn't be able to. Throwing down with those guys; making them wonder "What the Heck!"

Referring to his aspirations for the future, the driver said, "I want to win championships in two different series in one year. Although Bucaro obviously has the confidence and mind set to make his dream come true, he is also perfectly aware that his team plays an essential role in his success.

"Without all of their help and support, none of my racing would be possible," he explained. "They're without a doubt what allows me to continue chasing my dream!"

He is also conscious of the importance of maintenance. "It is very important," he ensured. "You can't just thrash on your car every weekend without making sure before each race it will hold up."

With proper maintenance in mind, Steve "wheels" Bucaro depends upon K&N products to meet his filtering needs. I've been a die-hard K&N user since my first car, when I was 15-years old. I have a K&N filter kit and their oil filters on every vehicle I own. I use their universal air filter and a new inline fuel filter on my buggy, he continued. "They are hands down, without a doubt, the best products you can use. I will never use any other."

Referring to his burning desire to participate in the sport of racing, Steve "Wheels" Bucaro said, "You will not find anyone with a bigger will or passion for wanting to be a racer. I get in my car with a huge smile and have even a bigger one afterwards. The first Lucas race was a blast...there was a huge crowd rooting for me. The first Dirt Series race of the season was even better!"

When asked what fans can expect from Steve "wheels" Bucaro , his answer was short and to the point. "150% all of the time and showing people I can really drive."

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.

GPz550 Motorcycle Racer Corey Clough Won AFM Formula Vintage Race at Buttonwillow Raceway

Apr 5, 2013

Corey Clough's Kawasaki GPz550 Motorcycle

Racing is all about the competition and pushing the limit, but sometimes the competition isn't another racer; for motorcycle racer Corey Clough, the competition is often the clock.

Motorcycle racer Corey Clough at Buttonwillow Raceway

Clough races in various divisions with the American Federation of Motorcyclists, and while the races include fierce wheel-to-wheel competition amongst the riders, Clough instead focuses on improving as a rider at each event. This was precisely the case in round one at Buttonwillow Raceway Park in central California.

"I race against faster and newer bikes, so it is usually me against the clock," Clough told K&N via email. "The faster guys make me chase them, and also make me push harder to catch them."

Clough had two highlight moments at Buttonwillow. The first happened when Clough, on a bike he admitted was a little quicker than the rest, won the Formula Vintage race. The win was the first podium of Clough's three-plus year motorcycle racing career. The second highlight came on the final lap of the weekend.

"After crossing the finish line, I looked at my lap timer, which I never do in the race or while I'm on the track, and I see a best lap of 2:10.3," Clough said. "People probably thought I won the race, and it was definitely the highlight of the weekend. I was very happy."

Corey Clough won the AFM Formula Vintage race at Buttonwillow Raceway.

Clough has three bikes already and is working on a newer, faster bike to be unveiled next year. After a stint racing in cars, Clough made the move to motorcycles in 2008. After a few track day events, he enrolled in a new racer program. 2010 marked the beginning of his racing career, and Clough has been at it ever since.

Clough looks at racing as a much safer alternative to riding on the streets. "To me racing is fun, and much safer than riding on the back roads," Clough said. "Everyone is going the same direction, the tracks have run-offs, and the camaraderie with the other racers. All the protective gear I wear makes me feel safe, and road riding with cars and trucks actually scares me at times. "I feel much safer out on the track."

Still, racing isn't without risks, and Clough knows that. During the final race of the weekend, 12-year-old Kenny Anderson lost his life following an accident. Anderson was well regarded in the American motorcycle racing community and had broken a track record earlier in the weekend. The tragedy hit Clough hard.

"This really bummed me out," Clough said. "He was an up-and-coming racer, he was fast. He loved racing. It still chokes me up."

Incidents like Anderson's are a reminder that it's not always about winning. Clough takes pride in improving as a rider with each passing race weekend, and is focused on enjoying life on the bike.

"If I don't win another race, as long as I can whittle away at lap times, make more power with the bike, and be competitive, I'll be happy," the 48-year-old said. "But there will be more trophies to come."

Round 2 of the AFM series is still over a month away. The series travels to wine country and Sonoma Raceway on May 4th. Clough plans on adding a few minor upgrades to his current bikes between now and then and has a goal of chopping three seconds off of his personal best of two minutes even.

"There is a lot of times in between now and the race," Clough said. "You know about idle hands. I don't want to do anything to the bikes, but I will do the usual checks and I might add a quick shifter. Sonoma is a tight track like Buttonwillow, so I don't have to change much."

A longtime and dedicated user of K&N Filters, Clough explained how they help him both on and off the track.

"My late brother got me into using K&N Filters, and I have been using them in all of my vehicles ever since," Clough said. "It's just common sense to run them. K&N Filters last a long, long time."

Clough has a unique way of describing K&N's performance advantage to others.

"I explain K&N Filters to people this way: 'When someone walks, they breathe through their nose, but when they jog or run, more air is needed. K&N Filters allow this all weather breathability without fiber swelling or restricting like the paper filters.' I ask them if they have ever breathed through a wet paper towel, because that's what it's like without K&N.

"Using K&N Filters is just the right thing to do. I like them, and will continue to always use them."

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.

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