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Amazing Comeback Victory For K&N-Supported 2017 Australian GT Championship Winner

Sep 20, 2017

Emery was a strong contender in 2016 only to have a crash cut his season short

After a devasting crash ended his 2016 season, Geoff Emery came back to win 2017 Champsionship

K&N-supported driver Geoff Emery has clinched the Australian GT Championship in his K&N-equipped Audi R8 LMS. In order to do so, Emery had to overcome a points deficit to Liam Talbot in his Porsche 911 GT3-R in the final race weekend of the season. But that’s not the most remarkable part of the story, which started back with a gut-wrenching crash in the middle of the 2016 season.

It wasn’t the sort of crash that you see in a highlights reel. There was no barrel roll or pirouetting on the nose of the car. Instead, on the opening lap of round 8 of the 2016 Australian GT Championship Geoff Emery’s Audi R8 LMS was in a tussle with a group of cars when he was nudged off track.

Normally that sort of incident would result in only the loss of a few positions. But the steering arm of his Audi had been damaged after contact with a Lamborghini. That sent Emery over the large curb at turn seven of Barbagallo Raceway in Perth. Once Emery struck the curb it sent him head-on into a lightly-protected and immoveable barrier. The race was red flagged and Emery has to be extricated through the rescue hatch in the roof of his Audi.

Once out of the car Emery complained of back pain and was rushed to the Royal Perth Hospital where physicians confirmed that he’d fractured his L1 vertebra and could expect to be out of the driver’s seat for some time. 10 months, as it turned out.

The taciturn Emery showing little emotion after his comeback victory

An ebullient Emery (center) after his Australian GT championship-clinching win at Sandown

Emery finished the season watching the races on television from his home in Melbourne. “It’s been pretty frustrating watching all the racing going and have just been focused on my rehab,” he told the Australian GT organization. “I’ve been doing a lot of personal training sessions, Pilates and pushbike riding five or six days a week. It’s been a hard road,” he told the group.

After surgery, rehab, and plenty of exercise, Emery was fit and prepared to take on the 2017 Australian GT season in the Valvoline Jamec Pem-sponsored Melbourne Performance Centre-run Audi R8 LMS, equipped with K&N filters, rejoining the team with which he competed for the opening three events of 2016.

Emery was on course to challenge for the 2016 championship, taking three pole positions in three races prior to his accident. If fully recovered he figured to be a front-runner again in 2017.

As expected Emery picked up where he left off with two poles and three wins heading into the final round. The last event was held at the historic Sandown circuit, not far from Emery’s home. Five drivers headed into the weekend with a mathematical chance of winning the championship, with drivers in Audi, Lamborghini, Porsche, and AMG-Mercedes in contention.

The Sandown race circuit was home to the Australian Grand Prix in the 1960s

Emery leads the field at Sandown, winning the race and capturing the Australian GT Championship

“To come back and potentially have a chance of winning the Championship, I’m actually pretty happy with how it’s gone,” Emery told series organizers.

Typical Australian understatement, as Emery was second in points, trailing Liam Talbot by just 28 points. Finishing just a few positions ahead of Talbot in each of the three races that weekend would easily hand Emery the championship.

Eager to settle things quickly Emery took a win in the first race, thereby clinching the championship. It is the first Australian GT Championship for the Queenslander. “I came into this weekend pretty casual, to be honest,” Emery told Audi Sport. “It was Liam’s championship to lose.”

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K&N Air Intake Adds an Estimated 11 Horsepower to 2017 Ford Super Duty 6.7L Powerstroke

Sep 20, 2017

Get more power with a 2017 Ford Super Duty Powerstroke cold air intake from K&N

When Ford engineers started working on the fourth generation Ford Super Duty back in 2012, there was a lot at stake. General Motors and Dodge had already stepped up their heavy-duty truck game, so Ford needed to redefine the segment. The original Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty were known for their prodigious capabilities, comfort, and style. In order for the new one to break new ground, they used an all-aluminum body so that the weight savings would negate the heft of a fully boxed high-strength steel frame. To simplify future repairs, the cab and many of the interior components were shared with the Ford F-150. Then loads of luxury amenities were added to the options list, like a panoramic roof, massaging seats, multiple exterior cameras, and a trick new variable-ratio steering system that combined the reliability of hydraulic steering, with a steering wheel mounted electric motor to reduce the steering input required at low speeds. Under the hood, the 2017 Ford F-250, 2017 Ford F-350, and 2017 Ford F-450 get a revised version of the 6.7L Powerstroke diesel V8. A larger turbo, new injectors, and a more powerful fuel pump increased the torque from 860 lb-ft to 925 lb-ft, making the Ford Super Duty one of the quickest and most capable heavy-duty trucks on the market. But even Ford’s new trucking perfection can be improved on when you add an estimated increase of 11 horsepower and 23 lb-ft of torque.

The K&N 63-2597 AirCharger intake boosts low-RPM torque on the 6.7L Powerstroke

Diesel engines, like the Powerstroke in the 2017 Ford F-250/F-350/F-450, creates power by compressing a mixture of fuel and oxygen until it explodes. To intensify the horsepower and torque output, more oxygen-rich air is injected into the cylinders via a turbocharger. In the case of the 6.7L Powerstroke, a massive Garrett turbo is nestled in the ‘V’ of the motor, where the exhaust gases can more quickly spool up the turbo’s air compressor and pump air into the engine. The air that it compresses, comes from the stock Ford Super Duty air intake, which has to pull in outside air through some rather restrictive components. For example, the OE air box can only ingest air through a small opening in the bottom, and the ‘surface loading’ paper air filter can actually block airflow as the miles increase and the filter gets dirty. A K&N 63-2597 AirCharger performance intake on the other hand, virtually eliminates these airflow restrictions, so your big Ford can work much more efficiently. Here’s how it works:

Getting Air In

Increase performance & reduce maintenance with a Ford Super Duty cold air intake from K&N

Increase performance and reduce maintenance with a Ford Super Duty cold air intake from K&N

In place of the factory 6.7L Powerstroke air box is an oversized K&N high-flow performance air filter, surrounded by a self-sealing heat shield. When the hood is closed, a specially designed gasket on top of the heat shield prevents warm engine air from being drawn into the intake. This allows the low restriction K&N air filter to take in a high volume of cold outside air. Its proprietary cotton gauze material is then able to remove up 97% of the airborne contaminants, thanks in large part to a unique oil treatment that causes the cotton fibers to become sticky and hold onto the dirt for up to 100,000 miles (depending on road conditions).

Getting Air to the Motor

Once the air has been cleaned, it travels to your 2017 Ford Powerstroke through a wide diameter intake tube. The narrow OE intake is made from corrugated plastic, which can cause the air to become turbulent and heat up. When this happens, the heat buildup reduces the oxygen content and can ultimately reduce the amount of power the engine makes. To reduce air turbulence, the K&N 63-2597 AirCharger performance intake utilizes a roto-molded intake tube that's been aerodynamically designed to provide a direct path to the compressor. This keeps the air temperature low, that way the oxygen content remains high. And there's even an integrated fitting for the factory mass airflow sensor, so the system can be installed without reprogramming the ECU.

Benefits

A K&N 63-2597 AirCharger installed on a 2017 Ford F-350 6.7L Powerstroke

To most people, the most important benefit of installing a K&N 63-2597 cold air intake would be getting an estimated increase of 11.4 horsepower & 23.01 lb-ft of torque. But that's only part of the story. You see, the additional air that it provides helps your turbo to spool up faster so that 6.7L Powerstroke can deliver power lower in the rev band. This can also reduce engine strain and allows the throttle to respond much faster to your inputs. You're also going to save money, because that K&N performance air filter is reusable, and it's backed by the K&N 10-Year/Million Mile Limited Warranty.

The K&N 63-2597 is designed to fit the following vehicles:

2017 FORD F450 SUPER DUTY 6.7L V8 Diesel Engine - All Models
2017 FORD F350 SUPER DUTY 6.7L V8 Diesel Engine - All Models
2017 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY 6.7L V8 Diesel Engine - All Models

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NASCAR Driver Chase Purdy Sits in Third Place in the K&N Pro Series East Series

Sep 20, 2017

Chase Purdy and his Number 17 car racing during the race at Dover International Speedway

Chase Purdy, a Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender, sits in third place in the K&N Pro East Series Standings. Purdy is still looking for his first career K&N Pro Series East win and has four runner-up finishes.

After a slow start to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, rookie driver Chase Purdy has emerged as one of the top drivers in the series. He has four runner-up finishes in his rookie season, but is still looking for that elusive first win. With three races remaining in the 2017 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East schedule, he is running out of time.

In his 11 starts this year, Purdy sits in third place in the K&N Pro Series East standings with 406 points. His four top-5 finishes, all second places, go hand-in-hand with his six top-10 finishes. Purdy has been selected to be in the NASCAR NEXT class, a prestigious group of drivers hoping to one day be racing in the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series.

Purdy enters the NASCAR NEXT class as the 2016 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Rookie of the Year and is on the cusp of taking home the 2017 Sunoco Rookie of the Year award in the K&N Pro Series East.

Purdy won his first K&N Pro Series East '21 Means 21' Pole award at Memphis International Raceway in June and added three more poles in a row. He won the pole position at the races at Berlin Raceway in Michigan, Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park in Connecticut, and New Hampshire International Raceway.

One of his runner-up finishes came at Iowa Speedway in July. It was a race that combined the teams and drivers from the K&N Pro Series East and West and had a field of 34 cars.

“All day I felt like we didn't have enough speed, but during the final segment of the race we got our speed, picked off a few cars and finished second with five laps to go after a restart,” Purdy said about his second-place finish at Iowa. “That’s when I threw my marbles into a bag and we just came up short from that and just could not get it done.”

Purdy finished second in the K&N Pro Series East races at Berlin Raceway, South Boston Speedway, and New Hampshire International Raceway.

When asked if he could have won any of the races he finished second in, Purdy said, “I threw away South Boston myself and I really put that on my shoulders as something that slipped away from me in the end.

Chase Purdy and his crew discussing strategy before a race

“We have all the ingredients and made the milkshake, we just have not put the cherry on top, but I think we will get there by the end of the season,” Purdy said when asked if he believes his team is close to coming out with a win.

Purdy is sponsored by Bama Buggies and races for David Gilliland, father to Todd Gilliland, who races in the K&N Pro Series East and West. Todd Gilliland is the reigning K&N Pro Series West champion and leads the West Series standings after 11 races in 2017.

At 17 years old, Purdy is shaping up to be one the up-and-coming drivers in NASCAR.

“Just stay consistent and not focus too much on that stuff, and stay smart,” he said when asked about the Rookie of the Year Award.

Purdy did not expect to be third in the K&N Pro East Series Standings. He said he expected to be in the top 10 in the standings, though.

“I am third behind the series elite, Harrison (Burton) and Todd (Gilliland), and to be a rookie and sit in third place is pretty outstanding,” Purdy said

“It’s huge, several guys in the big leagues came through the K&N series which really puts you on the map. It prepares you for the big leagues and gives you the ability to drive some of the big cars that they use up there,” Purdy said on the sponsorship of K&N and how much it has helped his career.

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K&N Calendar Model Jacey Marie Works the Oscars in Hollywood

Sep 20, 2017

Jacey attended the Oscars, the biggest night in Hollywood, rubbing elbows with A-list celebrities

The Oscars is one of the most exclusive, star studded events in Hollywood, bedecked with beauty and glamour. Every glimpse is gorgeous from the high-end fashion to the glowing actresses strolling down the red carpet. K&N model, Jacey Marie, added another spark of beauty to this event; she worked in the VIP Oscar’s Gift Suite at the W Hollywood Hotel. With the bright lights and endless parade of celebrities, it’s no surprise Jacey listed this event as her favorite modeling memory.

On this night, Jacey met Melissa McCarthy, Colin Egglesfield, Kevin Nealon, Teri Polo, Cloris Leachman and Dermot Mulroney. She remembers the stars passing through the suite, recounting, “The atmosphere was rather uplifting and lively throughout the entire event.” Beautiful gowns and black tuxedos peppered the walkway; Jacey's attire was no exception. She describes her outfits: “For the 2 day VIP Oscar’s gifting suite which was held at the W Hollywood Hotel, I wore two sequined dresses. First day, I wore a brown dress with sheer sleeves and gold sequins all throughout the dress. The second day, I wore a one-shoulder nude dress with silver sequins all throughout the dress.” Besides meeting celebrities and getting glam, Jacey landed some other perks admitting, “I got a bunch of high-end gifts that were left over on the final day of the gifting suite as well as getting gifts during the event.”

In her youth, Jacey was selected to participate in the Snow Princess Pageant, in Aberdeen, SD

The Oscars was a magical night for Jacey. The modeling industry offers a lot of unique opportunities, but you can get burned in this business. Literally. When asked about the worst modeling memory, Jacey quickly quips, “Worst memory is when a company didn't provide shade or reasonable sunscreen causing me to get third degree burns on the job.” She went on to say, “The experience was for a small event outside in the sun next to water, without any shade for the girls working whatsoever. Unfortunately, I was out in the sun for anywhere between 8-10 hours, without any waterproof sunscreen.” Conditions can be cutthroat in the modeling world, but she was strong enough to shake it off and get the job done.

Whether baking in the sun or standing in a beautiful gown, Jacey shows a lot of poise. Growing up in Aberdeen, South Dakota, she learned these skills at a young age. She was hand selected to be in a beauty contest: a compliment to her style. Jacey reveals, “Where I grew up in Aberdeen, South Dakota, the Snow Princess Pageant girls would get picked to compete and have their images published in the newspaper. I found out I was chosen to compete when my family got the newspaper one morning and saw my image in the competition section.” This picture was proof of Jacey's beauty. Even as a child, she showed great potential. The pageant was a charming surprise—a glimpse into Jacey's future career in the industry.

Jacey is going on my second year of working with K&N

Jacey has modeled for various clients. Her first job was in the world of racing— “working a promo at the 31st Progressive International Motorcycle Show for Two Brother's Racing.” She has also modeled for DOLL Swimwear, Nintendo, Anheuser-Busch, Thinkthin, BEBE, Panache Bridal, fifty1fiftyracing, and of course K&N. Thankfully, she’s never been burned on K&N’s set. She shares, “It has been a joy to work with K&N Filters thus far, and I am going on my second year of working with them.” Her future plans also involve life on the big screen. She comments “As for acting, I am hoping to get into both T.V. and movies. I love acting overall, so whatever I can get my hands on, I will do it.” She would also like to be published in more magazines.

Because of the industry Jacey works in, her life is fast-paced, but this fits her personality. She admits, “I am a very adventurous person who loves to skydive, snowboard, go to the shooting range, drive fast, and even go hiking.” At the end of the day, Jacey Marie is an athletic, active model. She has held her own at the Oscars and excelled under tough conditions. With poise and grace, she is fit to succeed in Hollywood and the world over.

Follow Jacey Marie on Instagram to keep up with her latest adventures, @missjaceymarie

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K&N Gearing Up for the 2017-2018 Progressive International Motorcycle Shows

Sep 18, 2017

K&N display at the Progressive International Motorcycle Show

K&N will display the latest in filter and intake technology at the Progressive IMS

The traveling moto-extraganza known as the Progressive International Motorcycle Show (IMS) will commence with its first stop in Long Beach, California in November. From there, the IMS will make its way around the country with a total of 7 stops from coast to coast. As always, the show will feature exciting products, new motorcycle models, entertainment, and education.

“This year we are planning to deliver the most in-depth and immersive experience yet for our attendees,” said Tracy Harris, Senior Vice President of the Progressive International Motorcycle Shows. “We will continue to support the powersports industry through our events while cultivating a place for motorcycle enthusiasts to gather and share a one-of-a-kind motorcycling lifestyle experience.”

Test ride motorcycles at the Long Beach, California Progressive International Motorcycle Show

Major motorcycle manufacturers will have new models lined up for test rides

Once again, K&N will be a major sponsor and a ubiquitous presence at the premier national motorcycle event. K&N will display an exciting array of motorcycle performance and filtration products on the event floor of every stop of the IMS. Additionally, K&N will return as a major sponsor of the J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show.

New Motorcycles and Products

Every motorcycle manufacturer knows the impact that IMS has on exposure to the industry’s customer base. New motorcycle models from American, European, and Asian marquees will be displayed on the event floor and many will be available for organized test rides.

BMW, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, Can-Am, Ducati, Indian, KTM, Royal Enfield, Slingshot, Triumph, and Victory, are some of the companies that will be present at the IMS. There is not a better event for someone in the market for a new ride.

Vintage bikes at the Progressive International Motorcycle Show

Vintage bikes and custom builds will grace the floor of each stop of the IMS

For test rides, the manufacturers require a motorcycle endorsement, helmet, and appropriate riding clothing. So come prepared and sample the new 2018 models.

Parts and accessories companies will also be unveiling new and exciting products. Apparel and safety gear can be tried on, maintenance items can be studied, and performance products can be compared. Of course, the folks at the K&N display can show you what’s new in performance intakes and high-flow filtration.

Bike Shows and Displays

The J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show is the signature custom motorcycle event at the IMS. The biggest names in the elite level of custom bike building will compete for cash and product prizes in several classes and categories. The major classes are Freestyle, Modified Harley, Modified Retro, and Custom Street.

Once again, K&N will sponsor portions of the major classes and will be the title sponsor of a special category. The prestigious K&N category competition proved to be popular with spectators and builders alike in the last IMS season.

K&N Honda at the J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show

K&N will again sponsor the J&P Cycles Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show

In addition to the custom bike shows, the IMS features one of the largest classic and vintage motorcycle displays in the world. Attendees can study the motorcycles that defined and changed the sport.

Entertainment and Education

In most cities, the IMS will offer up stunt and aerial shows by Metal Mulisha Fitz Army, and every stop will include some form of high-octane entertainment. There will also be music on the Progressive Main Stage, and various visual artists will display their talents throughout the venue as well.

Copious opportunities for education will be offered up at each stop of the IMS. That same Progressive Main Stage that will feature musicians, will be the podium for a wide range of special speakers and presenters on motorcycle safety, riding technique, adventure travel, and other information relevant to motorcyclists.

Check the schedule below for a show in a city near you, and stop and say hello to the nice people manning the K&N display.