The store will not work correctly when cookies are disabled.
Wir verwenden Cookies, um Ihre Erfahrungen besser machen.Um der neuen e-Privacy-Richtlinie zu entsprechen, müssen wir um Ihre Zustimmung bitten, die Cookies zu setzen. Erfahren Sie mehr.
The BITD (Best in the Desert) Henderson Desert Classic was seemingly simple compared to the challenges of the
Baja 1000, said Torchmate team racer Brad Lovell. “The BITD is still an extremely rough and dusty course,” he said. “It is a 240 mile, 4 lap race and the lap races cause the course to become extremely chewed up. The danger is also increased as the overall leaders will lap around the slower classes.”
Rookie BITD Season put Torchmate Racing in 2nd place overall in the 7200 Class, by Chad Jock Photography
Due to a random draw, the No.7231 with K&N products started nearly last in a field of over 150 in a class of 11 trucks. The first team of Torchmate drivers nailed the throttle but was stuck in the first turn. The silty sand had churned up enough to hamper the best 7200 class trucks. Team driver Greg Jones worked the steering wheel, freed the truck and sped off into the desert near Henderson, Nevada.
Henderson, Nevada BITD course is extremely rough and dusty, by Chad Jock Photography
Torchmate Racing Team had some wins, some championships and some bad wrecks in the 2009 Best in the Desert Season, by Chad Jock Photography
Jones worked his way around the first lap and gained several positions. “Our race strategy only included one stop for fuel and a driver change after lap two,” said Lovell. “The truck held up to the punishment remarkably well and moved at a blistering pace. Others were blowing tires, crashing and having mechanical issues but our team found the right pace. We were still climbing in the field when Bill Kunz and I relieved the first two Torchmate Team drivers.”
The sun dipped behind the mountains and the truck lights came on. “Racing at night is easier in some ways but it also creates a bigger challenge,” said Lovell. “The field thinned and plumes of dust still hung in the air which caused light to reflect in our eyes.” The No. 7231 truck soaked up huge bumps, but the even larger ones bounced the Torchmate Team uncontrollably in the air.
“We were careful in the rough sections and still fast in the smooth stuff,” said Lovell. “Other class 7200 trucks could be seen moving slow, fast or not moving at all in the cold desert night. Our confidence grew and we knew our truck would make it. Our K&N air filters keep the debris out of our engine and keep our sensors from clogging up. We need K&N on these difficult courses.”
At the finish, the Torchmate Team was 4th in class and 39th overall. The strong finish also secured their 2nd place position in the 2009 BITD Series. “That was not bad for our rookie season in class 7200,” said Lovell. “We are proud of our 2009 campaign. We had some wins, some championships and a couple of rollovers. We also had some bad wrecks and two trips to the hospital but fortunately no lasting damage. Best of all, we have a pile of trophies that memorialize our hard work and fun.”
Monster truck drivers Greg and Zach Adams took home their share of awards in St. Louis, Missouri at the Monster Truck Racing Association’s annual awards banquet.
Monster Truck Racing Association Rookie of the Year Zach Adams debuted Defender in May of 2009
The father and son team stepped up their game in 2009 which earned their Truk Wurks group the 2009 Most Improved Team award. Zach Adams also won the MTRA’s Rookie of the Year honors.
Monster Truck driver Greg Adams and Eliminator will be back in 2010
“I’m very proud of our team, and it means a lot to bring home these two awards,” said Greg Adams, Bar’s Leaks Eliminator driver and Truk Wurks general manager. “We went from a very Spartan one-truck team to a full blown two-truck operation. We’ve also upgraded to a fully vinyl wrapped 18 wheel transporter and moved our team and off-road shop into a new state-of-the-art facility.”
The Defender Monster Truck made its debut in 2009. “We had to work hard just about every night we were not at an event to get the truck finished in time for the outdoor season,” said Adams. “It took its toll on us, but when the truck drove onto the track for the first time in May, it was a total relief.”
Zach Adams steadily improved over the summer, despite the normal problems with a new rig. His career peaked in Albany, New York during his first indoor arena show. Adams piloted his machine to the final round of racing both nights, and lost out by a margin to veteran driver Rick Long in Bigfoot. He also defeated his father in the semi-finals of racing each night.
“I’m very proud of my son,” said Greg Adams. “Learning to drive a monster truck back when I started 21-years-ago was a lot easier than it is today. It may have been a bit more punishing physically, but the trucks were not doing the kinds of things we ask them to do these days. Zach really stepped up in a high-pressure situation and made it look easy. I didn’t cut him any slack.”
The Truk Wurks team is looking forward to a very busy 2010 schedule with their Eliminator and Defender monster trucks which are equipped with K&N products. “The performance of K&N products gives us one less thing to worry about through the racing season,” said Adams. “Our K&N air and oil filters are awesome.”
The Eliminator and Defender Monster Trucks will start up again January 8-9 in Guthrie, Oklahoma.
Steve Waldman isn't just the man behind the Silver State Classic Challenge series, he is also an accomplished, multidimensional, rally and endurance event driver. Waldman, along with Felipe Arguelles, recently took on the challenge of La Carrera Panamerica.
Day 1 at Oaxaca Zocalo
"Felipe Arguelles is my navigator in all Mexico rallies and occasionally at the Silver State Classic Challenge. He is an architect in Mexico, originally from Mexico City, and now resides in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. He has been my navigator racing with me for 12 years" says Waldman.
The Basic game plan going into the La Carrera Panamerica is to survive and complete all seven days, and to not miss any speed stages, or transit stages along the way.
"You have to be gentle on the equipment and at the same time fast. Besides the driver and navigator, the support team consists of a team manager and two mechanics in the first support vehicle. That vehicle runs in front of us and meets us at service stops. The second support team follows behind us, in case we break down, they would pick us up and take us to the first support vehicle for service. We have a total of 8 people in the support teams," continues Waldman.
159mph 1954 Crown Victoria
La Carrera Panamericana is not an off-road race, all the roads are paved. The event originally got its start in the early 50´s, by the President Aleman of Mexico, promoting the new road that was built between Guatamala and the United States border – called the Panamerican Highway. The original event ran until 1954 and then in 1988 it was resurrected. It is viewed by over 2 million people along the roads, and in the major cities, and is televised nationwide. Many foreign countries also cover it. Participants ship their cars from as far away as the United Kingdom, Norway, Germany, France, Canada and the United States. Total race mileage is 2,054. It begins in Southern Mexico about 100 miles north of the Guatamalen Border (Tuxla Gutierrez) and continues north until the drivers reach Nuevo Laredo.
Steve Waldman at La Carrera Panamerica
The car that Waldman and Arguelles race is a 1954 Crown Victoria, and it's entered in the Tourismo Mayor class. Top speed of the car is approximately 159mph.
"It is extremely modified with a Camaro front clip and an engine that produces approximately 540 hp and 225 lbs of torque. It has a 9" Ford rear end and truck arms. It also has double coils, double MSD ignition systems, double gas pumps and double fans," adds Waldman.
This is not Waldman's first time at this event. "I have been doing this particular event since 1997 but have been racing in Mexico since 1985. I have also participated in the Media Noche, Acapulco Rally, La Carrera Ensenada and currently participate in the Chihuahua Express, which is a 3-day rally around Chihuahua. I drive a 2006 Mitsubishi Evo IX MR for that event."
The car isn't the only thing that has to be in top shape to compete in this event. "The better physical shape you are in the better you will be able to cope with the event. It is a grueling race due to the length and also because of the different altitudes and temperatures. We go from sea level to as high as 10,000 feet. You have hot, humid, conditions, to icy cold conditions," reflects Waldman. And, it is precisely this combination of challenges that will attract Waldman back for many years to come.
Jeremy Teasley of Adams Performance took his second BST Real Street championship at the AMA Dragbike National Finals at South Georgia Motorsports Park near Valdosta, Georgia. Teasley beat team boss Coby Adams in the final round. It was the second time the two and their Kawaskai ZX14s squared off at an event.
Coby Adams in his Kawasaki ZX14 at the AMA Dragbike National Finals in Valdosta, Georgia
“The all ZX14 Supersport final between Jeremy and I was classic, with Jeremy earning the winning margin at the tree,” said Adams.
Kawasaki superstar Rickey Gadson won Dragbike.com Supersport on ZX14 at South Georgia Motorsports Park
Jeremy Teasley took his second straight BST Real Street Championship at the AMA Dragbike National Finals in Kawasaki ZX14
Teasley also took second place to Kawasaki superstar Rickey Gadson in the Dragbike.com Supersport event. Gadson won by a very slim margin. “The weekend turned out pretty good,” said Adams. “Jeremy’s ZX14 came within a hair’s breadth of a double up win.”
The Adams Performance Team uses K&N air (KA-1406) and oil filters (KN-303C). “I’ve been using K&N since 1987,” said Adams, who also owns Adams Performance in Mooresville, North Carolina. “I use K&N on the motorcycles we build for our customers. It is the best product out there, on and off the track.”
Overall, the 2009 season was dominated by the Kawasaki ZX14s in the AMA Dragbike’s Supersport, Real Street and Super Street Classes. “The Real Street championship meant a lot to us,” said Adams. “It was great.”
MODE Racing was established in February 2009, with the goal of becoming a leader in aftermarket automotive parts design. They specialize in custom intakes, short shifters, cooling, fundamental suspension modifications, racecar setup and track support. They also build show cars that showcase many of their designs.
2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe on Display at the 2009 SEMA Show
K&N met with Billy Brooks of MODE Racing at the 2009 SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, where his 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe was on display. A lot of work goes into preparing a vehicle for the SEMA Show. "We installed a few more prototype MODE Racing pieces," explained Brooks, "as well as some APR Performance pieces and a new Seibon prototype hood and trunk. Then we re-decaled the car and had it detailed."
Billy Brooks shares his experience in after-market modifications. "I have been modifying vehicles since 2000," he said. "I have done many projects including a Nissan R35 GT-R, Mitsubishi Evo X, 2008 Subaru Impreza STi, Mazdaspeed 3, Carbon WRX and a 2006 Impreza STi. I have been a part of other vehicle builds for friends and other companies." Brooks has been going to SEMA for 3 years but this was his first year representing his own company.
Billy Brooks says K&N gives MODE Racing intakes a power gain of 5-10 HP
A custom 2010 Genesis Coupe was featured in the Seibon Carbon booth at SEMA and it was equipped with a K&N cone air filter, part RU-4740. "K&N cone filters have performed very well during our initial testing on our prototype intakes," said Brook. "The Genesis is a race car and has been driven hard most of its life. K&N filters are proven to perform well both on the track and on the street. We prefer to use them with our intakes for both their versatility and performance."
MODE Racing has been using K&N air filters since its conception. "K&N filters give our intake systems a net gain of between 5 to 10 horsepower with proper tuning," Brook said. "We use K&N for our prototypes and any future production intake designs. I use K&N on my personal vehicles as well."
Future plans for Mode Racing include creative products and quality service. "We plan on releasing new and exciting products for a variety of platforms, while campaigning both of our vehicles in various racing series and other events," concludes Brooks. "The intent is to involve a choice few title sponsors for our vehicles including K&N."
Billy Brooks' modifications list for his 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T Base, Manual Transmission is as follows:
MODE Racing Intake w/ K&N Filter (RU-4740)
MODE Racing Airbox
MODE Racing Small Battery Kit
MODE Racing Front Mount Intercooler Kit
MODE Racing Oil Cooler Kit
MODE Racing Oil Catch Can Kit
MODE Racing Turboback Exhaust
MODE Racing Radiator Cap
MODE Racing Radiator Hoses
MODE Racing Seat Brackets
MODE Racing/HB Speed Custom Tune via PowerAxel software
JRZ Triple Adjustable Race Coilovers
Deatschwerks Fuel Injectors
Motul Fluids
Cusco 1.5 Way Rear Limited Slip Differential
StopTech 6-pot Front, 4-pot Rear Big Brake Kit
Walbro 255lph Fuel Pump
Seibon carbon fiber trunk lid
Seibon SC-style carbon fiber hood
APR Performance Rear Wing
APR Performance side skirts and front lip
Koyorad Aluminum Racing Radiator
MXP Chassis Braces and Rear Strut Tower Bar
Race Technologies Dash 2 and DL-1 with water temperature, transmission temperature, rear differential temperature, and boost pressure sensors
AEM Gauge-Type Wideband UEGO Controller
Defi BF Series Oil Temperature Gauge
Defi BF Series Oil Pressure Gauge
Sparco Steering Wheel
Prodrive Splash Rapfix Quick Release
Sparco Circuit Seat (Driver) and Sparco Evo Seat (Passenger)
Schroth 6-point Racing Harness
Custom Rollcage
Enkei NT03+M 18x9.5 Front and 18x10.5 Rear Wheels, Powdercoated White
Toyo R888 tires, 255/40/R18 Front and 285/30/R18 Rear
