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K&N's TK Motorsport's Brothers on Winning, Setting Records and Pleasing Fans

13.01.2011

Kody and Tanner are each other's greatest rivals and supporters, it's clearly a winning combination.

"Man that sure started out to be a great night," remarked Kody Swanson. At 22 Kody is the older half of the K&N sponsored TK Motorsports brothers by nearly three years. Tanner is the other half, and together they make a whole significantly larger than the sum of their parts. They are brothers and allies first, and each other's most competitive adversaries a distant second.

The event Kody refers to was the 70th running of the "Turkey Night Grand Prix" at Irwindale's Toyota Speedway. The occasion featured both Kody and Tanner pulling double-duty in the USAC Western Sprint and National Midget divisions, driving their own TK Motorsports Sprint Cars and the Midget teams of Wilke-Pak Motorsports and Don Fike's RFMS Racing.

Kody and Tanner with their entire 6R racing team celebrating in Victory Lane.

And as they had all year long, in the 2010 season ending race the Swanson Brothers once more stole the show and left fans craving for more in 2011.

"I tested our Sprint Cars earlier that month, and knew that we had a great chance to be fast on race night. I really felt bad after my qualifying effort, I got really loose into turn three, and I thought that we qualified badly. So, when I saw that I was on top of the board, I was excited. But, I knew that Tanner still had to go out, and that I left the door wide open for him. He executed a great lap, and knocked me off the top - but I expected that."

In 2010 Tanner also won the historic "Night Before the 500" Midget race at ORP in his very first attempt.

The "loose" lap that Kody ran broke the 16.37 second track record set in 2003 with a lap 16.17 seconds, and Tanner's "great lap" broke that record with a 16.13.

"We did have a little smack talk going on after that, but it was definitely friendly. We both know that we can be each other's biggest competition and greatest supporters. It really is an interesting combination, but it seems to work well for us."

Kody will be driving the Wilke-PAK Motorsports number 11 at the season opening 25th Annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals.

Next up for the Swanson brothers was the National Midget qualifying lap, Tanner was out first in his Don Fike owned number 3 car.

"Tanner went out in the midgets and tied the track record that had just been set before his run, but lost on a tie-breaker," said Kody. "So when I went out, I knew that if I was going to keep the Toyota Speedway records in the family, I had to get the job done, and did just that. The Wilke-PAK number 11 was great in qualifying, just like our TK Motorsports Sprint Cars were, and I was really excited to end qualifying with two track records in the family. The crowd seemed pretty into it, but honestly, I was so happy for us and our teams that I really wasn't too worried what the crowd thought about it at that moment."

In the USAC Western Sprint feature, Kody won and Tanner ran a close second, pressuring his brother for the lead, until mechanical failure ended his night prematurely. It was TK Motorsports first ever "Turkey Night" feature win.

"Turkey Night is really big event for us, especially since my first Sprint Car race was there," added Kody. "Being the final race of the year, we both know it's our last chance to put one, or even two more in the win column for the year. Tanner and I have always been fast there, and we always give our best effort to focus, and get the job done, no matter what event it is. For whatever reason, it just seemed to work out that night, until both of us were struck with bad luck in the midget feature. I mean, we had great cars in both divisions, and we just tried to capitalize on that opportunity."

The USAC National Midget feature had the Swanson brothers lined up first and third. Kody shot to the lead, with Tanner again running towards the front as well, until his streak of bad luck continued and another engine failure ended his night. Kody continued to battle up front for the first 40 of the 98 lap event until his right rear tire blew, ending his night too.

"Overall, I thought that last season went well. As a driver though you always wish that you had won more races, or did better on off nights, but realistically we had a great year."

"A major highlight was the ‘Great Lakes 150' Silver Crown race in Marne, Michigan. Tanner scored his first career Silver Crown win, and I finished second, making us the first brothers in History to sweep a USAC Silver Crown feature event. In the very next event, the ‘Ted Horn 100' I scored my first career Silver Crown win, and to do it in back-to-back fashion was really special for both Tanner and I."

In 2010 Tanner also won the historic "Night Before the 500" Midget race at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis - it was his first try at the event.

"I won my first race at ORP just two months later, and gave the Wilke-PAK Motorsports team their 134th feature win, making them the winningest team in USAC History, and making it a Swanson Brothers sweep of the USAC National Midget events at ORP. All of those were major highlights for us, and I really think that this season has put Tanner and me on the map, even before our strong runs at Turkey Night."

At the time of this interview Kody and Tanner are already at the first event of their 2011 season. They are running at the 25th Annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, a weeklong indoor dirt midget event that features over 260 competitors, racing from Tuesday through Saturday to crown the event champion. Tanner will be competing for the TK Motorsports 6R Racing team, and Kody will be driving the Wilke-PAK Motorsports number 11.

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.

USAC National Midget Race Team Wilke-Pak Motorsports

11.01.2011

Eldora Speedway4 Crown Midget Nationals Winner Wilke-Pak Motorsports

Wilke-PAK Motorsports had a great racing season this last year and captured second place in the USAC National Midget Car Series. The USAC series ran 29 events at 21 tracks in nine states. Kady Swanson became the 30th different driver to win a USAC National event for the Wilke team and won two events in four starts for the Wilke-PAK team including victories at O 'Reilly Raceway Park, and The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Jerry Coons Jr. captured events at Eldora Raceway, Angell Park Speedway, and Wilmot Speedway.

Driver Kody Swanson with his #11 Wilke Pak Motorsports, Speedway Motors, Toyota, Spike pavement car.

While the name Wilke in racing goes back to the 30s, the Wilke-PAK Motorsports team has had a star studded history of victories on the race track; including, six BMARA Midget championships. Team has won ten Pepsi Nationals victories, with seven different drivers.

The car that the team used to win this latest event at the USAC National Midget Car Series at motor speedway in CA, featured a high output Toyoda Racing Development V-8 small block, balanced on a tubular Spike chassis.

Wilke Pak Motorsports at OReilly Raceway Park Indianapolis, IN

"You're basically just straddling a motor that happens to have wheels." The team has scored USAC victories at 61 different tracks in sixteen states. Needless to say, it's been their focus, ingenuity, and teamwork that keeps them adding to this impressive streak. Next up for the team will be a four-car effort for the Silver anniversary running of the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals. No doubt they will excel here as well, thanks to their highly educated choices in products and honed skills behind the wheel and in the shop.

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.

LOORS Pro4 Unlimited Racer Kyle LeDuc Places 2nd in Seasons Final Race

11.01.2011

Kyle LeDuc at Pro4 Unlimited race

Kyle LeDuc fought through the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing (LOORS) competition in his No. 99 Rockstar Energy Drink / Makita Tools Ford F-150, to win second place in the final pro 4 unlimited race of the season. The victory came from days and weeks of testing their Profiler class all aluminum motors. As well as ever changing customized tread patterns for their Toyo tire sets.

Rockstar Makita Team LeDuc gets Ford ready for CORR series racing

Kyle and his family take the sport very seriously; it has been their career for generations. "Part of the reason why we're so good is we have fun racing." Anything from RC cars to go-karts the LeDuc family breaths racing. No surprise that they excel in this and their any other competitions.

The Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series features a large dirt track with several high speed sections with spectacular jumps, as well as a table top rhythm section and a dual split line. Each race features about 14 other light pickup trucks sporting about 800 horse power each. Needless to say filtration for these conditions is essential for multiple victories like Leduc's.

Kyle started at the back of the pack in the SoCal Super Trucks / Bully Dog Super Lite truck and methodically picked off the competition as the race progressed, utilizing lines that a less skilled driver would never see on the track. He had the know-how and momentum to take home first in the next race with his No. 8 Rockstar Energy Drink / Makita Tools Ford F-150. Unfortunately catastrophic engine failure took Todd out of the race on the first lap, but it was here that the team really came together. "I am grateful that we have such great sponsors," Todd commented. "Our team was up until one in the morning with our Matika tools in hand changing not only the engine but the transmission, overdrive, and rear ring and pinion as well. Basically I had a whole new drive train for the cup race, and Rockstar Energy Drink kept us going throughout the weekend." Kyle not only won three of his four races, with the help of his Dart Machinery engine he also set the fastest lap time of the entire weekend at a blistering 99 miles per hour!

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.

NHRA Top Sportsman/Super Comp Racer Gary Forkner

11.01.2011

Gary Forkner and his Top Sportsman/Super Comp race team

Gary Forkner is a popular name in NHRA sportsman drag racing. On any given weekend you will find Gary and his team out campaigning and winning with his current Top Sportsman/Super Comp ride. But that wasn't always the case, a rocky start in 1991 with a nitrous powered 1967 Nova built for the World's Fastest Street Car Shootout ended in a wreck that completely destroyed the car during a test session. The crash happened at a non-sanctioned track where the conditions were poor. So Gary decided that if he was to race again, it would be at an NHRA track with a certified tech team, plus safety and EMS personnel.

NHRA Division 7 Super Comp and Southern California Super Comp Driver Gary Forkner

Starting over, Gary purchased a used Pro Stock car, installed his own motor, transmission and electronics and entered the Super Comp category in his first race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 1994. Eventually, that car was also totaled in 2001 at the Sacramento event. However, that didn't stop Gary, because in 2003 he bought a brand-new Jerry Bickel Pontiac and was back out on the trail. The Bickel car and Gary must have had good chemistry, since when it was time to purchase a new car, Gary chose another Bickel Pontiac in 2006.

For the next thirteen years, from 1994 to 2007, Gary and his team ran Super Comp in the Southern California Super Comp Association, NHRA Division 7 events, NHRA National Events and big money bracket races in Las Vegas. His numerous top-ten finishes in NHRA Division 7 Super Comp and Southern California Super Comp Association along with his many wins, including the 2009 NHRA Top Sportsman, 2010 Jegs Allstars and the 2010 K&N Shootout in Las Vegas proves that Gary has found his winning combination in Drag Racing. This winning combination includes K&N products and when we asked Gary to tell us why, he stated; "Being a Firefighter for 33 years, I use nothing but the best products. That is why I am happy to use K&N oil filters and air cleaners for my racing program".

You see, Gary has a long relationship with K&N having raced with Steve Williams, VP of K&N, for a number of years. Hanging around with Steve, Gary noticed that the K&N products were excellent and hosted an awesome racing program that really supported its racers through sponsorships and contingency programs.

In 2004 Gary received a product sponsorship and has been a part of the K&N family ever since. Gary also gets help in the pits from his wife, Marilyn and crew, Ted Carlis, Chip Rumis and Joe Roubicek. We also asked Gary about his plans for the future, "My goal is to someday run Pro Stock, and meanwhile I am looking forward to the 2011 season". If you're out at the racetracks in Division Seven, make sure you look for Gary and his Top Sportsman/Super Comp race team; he'll tell you himself why he can't race without K&N products.

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.

Computer Case Filters, Camaro Filters, and K&N!

11.01.2011

The enclosures are patented as no other manufacturer’s enclosure is designed to work with the computer's air flow, or with K&N filters.

A guy walks into a automotive parts store and says I need a K&N air filter for my 1970 Olds Cutlass S and one for my new dream gaming computer enclosure, can you hook me up? The parts guy says, yeah, I can. The next question now has to be, is that a real scenario, or balderdash? And the answer is - it's real.

"One thing that I would like to say is that, without K&N filters, we would not have a product. The K&N filter is the heart of our product," says Pete Maddox, Managing Member at Commerce Technologies LLC.

Clean-Aire Computer Enclosure are used by companies such as Arch Coal, Bell Helicopter, CTS Cement, GE Aviation, Conoco-Philips Pipeline Co., Caterpillar, Georgia Gulf Chemical, Central Hudson Gas & Electric, Chevron, Toyota, Layne GeoConstruction, and Aire Liquide Electronics.

Commerce Technologies is headquartered in Orange, California, they are a full-service IT company. Nearly eleven years ago, two of their customers had significant hardware problems due to extreme dust and dirt. One customer was a distributor of exotic tropical plants, using PCs and servers in their greenhouses, and the other was a sheet metal fabrication company. In order to maintain their systems, CT had to perform a complete tear-down and cleaning of their PCs and servers every six weeks.

"Although this was a great profit center for us," admits Maddox, "we considered it a huge waste of our customers' money. So, we started researching the issue and looking for enclosures that could protect their systems."

What they discovered were huge, ugly metal boxes with HEPA filters. And, not only was the price of the enclosures excessive at over $700 each, the cost of replacement filters at up to $30 per month, per computer, added up real fast.

With the introduction of their new "Little Guy" enclosure Commerce Technologies expects to expand into Australia, United Kingdom and Europe.

"So, we began designing our own enclosures with specific criteria in mind, the filter had to be reusable, the cost of the enclosure had to be reasonable, and they had to look good in an office or a warehouse," explains Maddox.

"One other important factor for us was that the enclosure had to be designed to work with a computer's air flow, so the fan/filter had to be in front of the computer's air intake, and the exhaust holes had to be in the upper back of the enclosure, behind the power supply exhaust fan."

"In testing filters, we used baby powder and we tested every filter we could get our hands on, but none of them could stop the baby powder. Then I went to the auto parts store and picked up a K&N filter. I found the perfect size in the late '80s Camaro filter, it's seven inches square. We emptied an entire bottle of baby powder directly into the filter, with an 81 cubic-foot per minute fan pulling air into the enclosure. What a mess outside the enclosure, but barely a speck of powder made it inside."

"When we installed our enclosures for our first two customers, we immediately eliminated the need for cleaning the computers every six weeks. In fact, the K&N filter worked so great that our cleaning schedule switched to only dusting the systems out every 18 months. In addition, our customers' maintenance costs immediately decreased by 40%, because tape drives, CDs and floppy drives were no longer failing. And, their systems were no longer crashing due to overheating caused by dirt."

Any amount of profit that was initially lost on customer maintenance has been increasingly augmented by the sale of Clean-Aire Computer Enclosures. In fact, in 2010 sales of company's enclosures more than doubled from 2009.

"We saw a significant increase in the number of repeat customers last year too," adds Maddox. "Another reason for our growth is that we are one of the few, if not the only, company that builds custom enclosures to fit large servers and gamers' PCs."

Since creating their first enclosures back in 2000, Commerce Technologies has now shipped their enclosures to every state in the Union, as well as Canada and Mexico. Their enclosures are in use in coal mines, cement plants, oil fields, landfills, chemical companies, recycling plants, electric companies, and any number of other companies, including auto repair shops. And, it certainly wouldn't be a stretch to see them used in a racing environment soon as well.

The Commerce Technologies Clean-Aire Computer Enclosure design is patented, as it was designed around the natural air flow of a computer.

"We create a positive pressure inside the enclosure while maintaining a high rate of air flow. This is accomplished by using a fan that produces 81 CFM of air flow, forcing air into the front of the enclosure. No other manufacturer's enclosure is designed to work with the computer's air flow. Other manufacturers placed their fans in the back and their filters on the sides, thinking that it was best to draw air into the enclosure and force it out. In other words, our design works with the computer's air flow and our competitors' design sucks."

In an effort to continually expand their enclosure applications CT is introducing their "Little Guy."

"Our 'Little Guy' provides the same protection without the huge enclosure," says Maddox. "This is important because we have a huge demand overseas, but the cost of shipping is prohibitive for the oversized enclosures. We've had inquiries from Australia, the United Kingdom, and across Europe. We are also looking at providing these for the military."

"I'm not sure, but I expect that we are the largest reseller of this particular filter in the country. And, if we are not yet, we will be. In fact, we hope to become one of the largest resellers of K&N filters period, even though we will only be selling this one filter."

"One more thing we plan on doing this year is working more closely with K&N, because I believe we have a unique opportunity here. No other auto air filter manufacturer can say that their filters are so good they've been used for the last 10 years to protect PCs and servers in some of the dirtiest places on earth."

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.