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K&N displayed a black ZR1 Corvette with their carbon fiber intake installed
As the 2012 SEMA show came to a close recently in Las Vegas Nevada, nearly all the attendees were treated to seeing some of the most amazing vehicles, products and services that the aftermarket industry has to offer. One such company with an abundance of new products and custom vehicles in the booth was K&N Engineering. The K&N booth this year was a showcase of new products including air filters, intake kits and parts for nearly any engine. K&N staff were equally pleased to be present teaching customers about what the company had to offer for the new year.
If you are in the automotive industry, SEMA is a must attend event
"I feel like a kid in a candy store," reported K&N product specialist Daniel Shoemaker. "This is my first time at the SEMA show and being here with K&N is a great experience. I am very honored to work with our customers, and help them create new business strategies of how K&N could help grow their business," reported Daniel. "That, and the amount of new products, cars and excitement everywhere for the whole week is great to finally witness in person."
Performance Machine displayed this custom Harley Davidson Sportster in the K&N SEMA booth
With two custom motorcycles, a ZR1 racecar and a completely redesigned 1967 Camaro, K&N had plenty of horsepower to brag about in their booth before even getting to the new performance intake systems. Many visitors were also interested in viewing the large air flow demonstrator in the booth which simulated airflow performance of K&N air filters amongst other types of filter media on the market.
East Bay Muscle Cars was knid enough to loan their 1967 Camaro for the K&N SEMA booth
"K&N's presence at SEMA was excellent this year," said K&N's director of sales Tim Stewart. "SEMA enables us to connect with many customers and dealers that are located around the world." Tim Stewart went on to say that he was excited to see many of the visitors stopping by the booth taking note of the new products on display. "K&N works hard to keep up with market demands for new and better products for their vehicles. Whether those products are oil filters, air filters or intake kits, you can expect K&N to be a leader in performance and application coverage."
Performance Machine also lent a custom Harley Davidson Softail to K&N for the SEMA display
With such a strong showing, K&N is sure to excite with more innovative and high quality performance products for the upcoming year.
Another year... Another great show... Time to get ready for next years SEMA show
The K&N sponsored Deaknbuilt race team competes in the High Desert Racing Association series
The 2012 off-road season was a strenuous one for Chuck Deakins and his Deaknbuilt/K&N Filters team. Deakins and his Ford Ranger competed in the new High Desert Racing Association series with varying degrees of success, all while facing some of the toughest competition and conditions ever seen in off-road racing. The result was a season full of memories and positive experiences.
"2012 was a real stretch for our team," Deakins said. "The new series took us to El Centro in California as well as to Primm, Reno and Laughlin in Nevada. The logistics of getting a team of volunteers to these events was amazing. We carpooled, doubled and tripled our trailer loads, and in some cases probably had way too many guys in a single hotel room just to make it happen.
"The trade-off of running the new series though allowed the team to grow and learn to count on each other more and work better together. For us, that's a successful year."
The most trying moment of the year for the Deaknbuilt team was undoubtedly the Reno 500. The race had everything you want and don't want in a race, mixed into one long day. From fights in the pits, to track changes, mechanical breakdowns to a shortage of gas, the race seemed like one destined for doom for the Deaknbuilt boys. Instead, they rallied, never lost faith, and found a way to win the 12-hour marathon.
"It wasn't so much that we finished first, I was just happy we finished at all," Deakins said. "The entire team was exhausted, dirty and hungry, but when it was over, there we were standing on top of the truck at the finish. Not only had the team members that were at the race stayed with it for half a day, but all the family and friends that were watching and following us all day stuck with us as well."
"All the hard work, all the race prep, all the late nights for this one moment in time, looking out over the team raising their arms, cheering like a bunch of crazy fanatics, practically by ourselves in the middle of the night. I'd say it was worth it."
Eduring the challenges of off-road racing is tough but K&N products help the Deaknbuilt race team reach the finish line
Deakins said the team is focused on the season finale in a few weeks, where they are all but assured a second place finish in points. The team is looking forward to the offseason, where some long awaited upgrades to the truck should put the Deaknbuilt team in prime position for a championship in 2013.
One area Deakins said won't need an upgrade are the filters on his Ranger. Instead, Deakins praised K&N for their innovate, high-performance filters.
"We have been running K&N products since our first year of racing. For five years, they have provided extra horsepower with an easy to replace air and oil filter, a real benefit. We carry spares in case we ever over-dust the filters, but so far, even at the Reno 500, it has not been necessary to change them. This was the first year that we have run the K&N fuel filter and it worked flawlessly. The off-road pounding and punishment is intense on all of the equipment. Two things we can say for sure are one, if it was easy, everyone would do it, and two, you can always count on K&N."
Jeremy Parr held nothing back in his season ending routine
It seems perfectly normal for a guy devoted to working at NASA to spend as much of his down time as possible attempting to launch a jet ski into orbit. Jeremy Parr works as a Mechanical Engineer in the Prototype Development Branch at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. He was also the defending 2011 International Sports Jet Boating Association (ISJBA) Champion. Parr understands a thing or two about overcoming initial inertia. Newton's First Law of Motion states that a body at rest tends to stay at rest, so in his mind-boggling ISJBA season finale, Parr did everything but rest, unquestionably breaking several laws of physics in the process.
I watched your video several times, that was one sick routine, you clearly let it all hang out, what was your mindset going into that performance?
"That routine is without a doubt one of the best I have ever pulled off. It was the end of the season and I was feeling really comfortable on my ski, and it was dialed in and running perfectly. I was in a heated battle for the national tour overall championship so I knew I was going to have to bring my ‘A' game to win the last round, and make my case for the title. I was so busy for those two minutes out on the water that I never heard my 15 second warning horn, or the final horn. I think I went for an extra 30 seconds or so before they got my attention. I was about to die from exhaustion. I gave every ounce of energy I had. After winning the last round I ended up tied for the championship, but after the IJSBA tie-breaker rule was invoked I settled for 2nd place overall."
You obviously need to be fit to pull off what you did, what does your fitness routine consist of?
"I am in better shape now than ever; I have been working out with conviction this year. My fitness routine involves much more than just practicing on my ski. I do High Intensity Interval Training 4-5 days per week, picking random workouts from a specific website that I follow. I also added in interval sprints several days a week, with a day or two of 2-3 mile runs. And then in preparation for the World Finals, I also added in some weight training. That all happens Monday through Friday, then the weekends were filled with practice time on the water. It was a busy season, but stepping up my fitness level helped tremendously. As of now, it's already ‘next year' and I've got some plans to get better yet." (He said with a wink, as though he had a secret weapon)
You mention wishing you had sorted out your ski earlier, what sorts of things do you dial in on a ski to make it fit right?
"Like any motorsport, when you're trying to compete with the best, there are countless things that must work together. To start with, I got a pretty late start this year building my new ski.
Clearly some laws of physics were broken during Parr's last performance of 2012
This hull and engine package was brand new to me, so it took a few rides to really get in sync with it and get the bugs worked out. I got a ton of help from Team X Scream (they built the hull and engine), Full Spectrum Racing carburetors, and Power Factor Products exhaust along the way. Now that everything is working with me, I can't wait to see where we end up."
How did the 2012 World Finals work out?
"I just got home from the World Finals. I'm pretty excited with my results. I finished 8th in the world. There were 17 of us in the Pro class, and I definitely held my own against the other big guns. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to make a few more guys nervous next year!"
How are things going at NASA?
"I'm still working at the Kennedy Space Center, and LOVING it! I really don't see myself ever leaving this place before retirement. Work is busy and exciting, and we are still doing great things in the US Space Program that make life better here on earth."
Will you be doing anything different next season?
"My plans for 2013 are to start pushing forward. I made huge strides this year, and hope to keep up the pace. I'll slow down a little through the winter on the water but keep charging in the gym, and sprinting across random parking lots. My wife has put her focus towards coming up with new trick combinations and having a good presence on the water, so I'll be working on that too. You know what they say, happy wife, happy life." (Big smile)
The team of Danny Prather and Dave Scott took 1st overall Pro Quad at the 2012 Best in the Desert Vegas to Reno race
The Best in the Desert (BITD), Las Vegas to Reno race is the longest, and arguably the toughest off-road challenge in the U.S. Doing well here is mandatory for anyone entertaining championship hopes, as the event is worth double points. CT Racing’s Danny Prather and Dave Scott took a huge step forward toward defending their overall 2011 title by taking first in Pro Quad at this year’s BITD contest. For CT Racing this is their fifth year in the row atop the Las Vegas to Reno podium.
"To win Vegas to Reno was great!" said Prather. "For two guys to ride one bike almost 550 miles in 10 hours over some of the most brutal and scenic terrains in the U.S. was awesome. With my family chasing us all the way to Reno, it was one of my most memorable races I've competed in."
"Memorable" seems like a humble understatement when you consider the context, and being that Prather and Scott had to put together one of the more impressive rides in recent race history to get it done. Prather began the race in 5th and had a quick 30 mile ride to the first pit, before handing over the controls to Scott at the first pit. Scott rode the next 65 miles and managed to work up into 4th place before turning the bike back to Prather at the third pit stop. Shortly after the exchange Prather came upon a pack of about 30 motorcycles heading backwards on the course. The race course markers had been taken out by the lead motorcycles and almost everyone behind them got lost.
A couple of klicks later Prather realized he was lost too, and that’s when he found Josh Row and another motorcycle who had collided head-on while going the wrong direction. Prather stopped to assist the riders and make sure they were alright. Row appeared to have a minor concussion but was otherwise alright, the rider on the motorcycle had broken his wrist pretty badly though and needed help. Prather created a makeshift splint out of two sticks and some zip ties so he could ride out and find help. That random act of kindness put the team back in 8th place and a full 20 minutes off the lead.
The duo then remarkably disproved the theory that no good deed goes unpunished, as they powered through the pack, made up the time deficit, and inched out a win by a mere 20 seconds after 534 miles. The team in fact finished the race an impressive 8th overall. The win put Prather and Scott into a solid points lead with the final contest of the year, the Henderson 250, coming up this December.
The BITD win put Prather and Scott into a 36 point lead in the championship heading into the final contest in December
"We had a great race," said the K&N sponsored rider after the race. "Our CT Racing Honda ran strong the whole race with no flats at all, and we went the entire race on one set of Maxxis Razr tires. It was exciting towards the end with how close the competition was. Thank you so much to all of our sponsors who made it possible for us to pull off this win. Our team and sponsors have been working hard this year to defend our number 1 plate and win another championship."
Prather and Scott have been racing together for two years. Prather adds, "Dave (Scott) and I have very similar riding styles and we like the same bike set-up, which has made it nice, since Dave lives in New Mexico and it's not often we can get together."
The dynamic duo ignited their 2012 season with a full-head of confidence by winning the Parker 250. "We also finished in a very close 2nd place at Silver State 300, and that gave us a narrow points lead over the factory Can-Am team," added Prather. "And with Vegas to Reno being a double points race, the win gave us a 36 point lead for the championship! It's nice going into the final round with a little cushion."
"Our next race for the Best in the Desert series is December 2nd at the Henderson 250. Dave and I both do local desert and grand prix races in between the BITD schedule to keep our skills sharp and stay in shape. My next race is the famous Lake Elsinore Grand Prix on November 10th."
Roughly six klicks north of Brainerd, Minnesota, on Highway 371, is where you'll find Brainerd International Raceway(BIR), the fastest quarter-mile drag strip in the world. It earned that honor after Tony Schumacher set a world record there in his Top Fuel Dragster in 2005. This year for the 31st Annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, BIR once again offered up ideal conditions for racers, and with temperatures in the mid 70s and low humidity, new track records came in bunches much to the delight of the huge throng of spirited fans.
Bruno Massel currently has the lead in both the Divisional and National points standing
The BIR Nationals is the 16th of 23 events on the 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series calendar and doing well here is on everyone's must-do list. The final duel in Competition Eliminator came down to Addison, Illinois' Bruno Massel and David Rampy. When the thunder faded it was Massel piloting his 1400 plus horsepower Turbocharged Chevy Cobalt that took the victory with at 7.001ET at 179.40 mph. Massel now has a 4-0 record against Rampy this year alone.
As wins go, how does winning the 31st annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals rate for you?
"It was a big win for me in terms of the national points chase as well as on a
personal level. Brainerd has always been special to me. I was at the Inaugural
event with my dad when he was running Super Gas back in the day, and the late
August stop in Minnesota, became a family tradition. We'd come into town early
in the week and stay a few days at a cabin on the lake and make a mini vacation
out of it. So it was really special to be able to stand up on stage in the
winner's circle with my two sons, my wife and my dad, and celebrate the victory
together as a family. As far as the National points chase, the win was critical
as it gave me a perfect score on the National level with three national event
victories for the season."
You are now 4-0 against Rampy, why do you figure that is?
"What can you say about David that hasn't been said before? He's a great racer
and an all around great guy. I guess I've just been part lucky and part good
alongside of him over the years. I really can't explain it, but I was told by
someone from NHRA after Brainerd that I've beaten David now 12 straight times in
Comp. I think I should get a lifetime achievement award for that record. (LOL)
The thing is, he is more than capable of beating me the next 20 times we race!
I'm a realist, I know the streak can't last forever, but I'd love to squeak out
a few more along the way."
How did the 2012 season treat you overall?
"It started about as bad as it could. Second round at the Charlotte National
event I lost to the timing system. I was told that something tripped the Guard
beam at the starting line and I received a red-light without my car ever moving.
It was tough to swallow and made for a long ride home. Definitely not the kind
of mojo you want to have to start the season. Once the warm weather came around,
so did our performance on the track. We won the Brainerd points meet to lock us
into our fourth straight All-Stars race by a single point, which emotionally
really turned the season around. From there we won the Topeka National and than
doubled-up at our home track in Joliet, Illinois, winning the Jegs All-Stars and
Route 66 Nationals the next day. As we speak, I'm trying to hang onto our lead
in both the Divisional and National points standing with just three races to go,
it's a bit nerve racking to say the least!"
So when and where do you race next?
"Not sure, where debating on hitting a few heads-up Sport Compact Races in
Florida or towing out west to try and act as a spoiler for the other
Championship hopefuls. I just want to add how important the support of
Autogeek.net and Detailer's Pro Series waxes and polishes have been to my racing
program. Without them and the support of K&N and my other sponsors, we
absolutely wouldn't be racing this season."
