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There is a level of endurance necessary to take a truck on a 425 mile desert race which batters the body and punishes the vehicle. “It’s hard to understand the feel of it without experiencing it first hand,” said Brad Lovell. “The bruises and aches I have are a testament to the difficulty of such a race.”
Ford Ranger fights weather at Parker 425 near Colorado River in Parker, Arizona
King of the Hammers competition in 2008 with Team Lovell
The Parker 425 takes place along the Colorado River which is surrounded by thousands of square miles of desert. Racers drive three laps around a 140 mile course. “Our team piloted the No. 7231 Ford Ranger into the desolate landscape,” said Lovell. “There were four of us, Bill Kunz, Greg Jones and Bradley Bolton rounded up our team.”
Team Lovell is ready for the 2009 King of the Hammers
K&N products help Team Lovell in difficult desert races with extra filtration and power
Kunz and Lovell took the green flag and began their 235 mile leg. “I was a little nervous about the unknown
terrain, but got comfortable quickly,” said Lovell. “I started calling out turns and hazards from our GPS map. This job proved to be very important as we passed multiple trucks and buggies upside down or crashed within the first ten miles
of the race.”
Simple tasks like focusing on gauges was a constant effort for the racers due to the bright sun, dust and constant jarring on the course. Before pit number one the vehicle Lovell was navigating slowed to a stop. The entire wheel and tire were missing and they had to call the chase crew. After about an hour of work they were back in the game.
“We had more hammering and jarring,” said Lovell. “My helmet slammed into my head
when we crashed into an overgrown washboard that was up to five feet deep. The whole process
was extremely violent. This is why people say desert racing is like a 24-hour plane crash.”
After the sand wash, the team made it to the high land. “Bill opened up all 496 horsepower and we topped out at nearly 100 mph,” said Lovell. “It is,
however, very difficult to determine when there is a faster car behind you and
the hazards that can bring to you.”
Vehicles can hide in the thick dust and the loudest sirens are muted. Lovell said the aggressive way to make a pass is to simply crash into the truck in front of you. “We learned this first hand when an unlimited buggy slammed into us,” he said. “We were doing about 65 mph at the time and the buggy was doing about 90 mph. The rear of our truck lifted and slid to the side and we just let him by.”
The next hurdle was a desert downpour. Silt and sand became miles of mud as the low areas filled with water. “Chances were, if we stopped for any reason we wouldn’t get going again,” said Lovell. “We were soaked and cold and our communications went out because of the moisture. We made it to Pit Three and the next crew took over.”
The Ford Ranger was equipped with a K&N. “It was filthy out there but with our K&N air filter we had one less thing to worry about,” said Lovell. “We got the extra filtration we needed
in the desert mud, sand and silt with K&N.”
Eventually a rear suspension link ended the race for the four. Only 76 of the 275 entries finished the race and many teams abandoned their rigs in the desert and had to retrieve them later.
Brad and his brother Roger Lovell are looking forward to their next event, the King of the Hammers Race. “It’s an epic race, and one of the most daring in rock sports,” said Lovell. “We hope to bring home the win for K&N in our FABTECH Ford Ranger.”
K&N is sponsoring six-time Pro Stock Champion Warren Johnson for the 2009 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Season. Johnson has 96 career NHRA national event wins. He is in his 38th year of competition. He has six NHRA Pro Stock championships and 136 No. 1 qualifying positions. He has made his place among the best in the history of the sport and was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in Talladega, Alabama in 2007. Only John Force has more career NHRA national event wins.
K&N Filters Pontiac GXP make it's professional debut at NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Winternationals
NHRA Pro Stock Racer Warren Johnson is known by his fans as The Professor of Pro Stock
His K&N Filters Pontiac GXP made its debut at the Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals in Pomona, California. Johnson’s new K&N colors stood out when he qualified fifth on Saturday afternoon between rain storms.
K&N Oil Filter Design on K&N Filters Pontiac GXP stands out at Winternationals in Pomona, California
Some of the fastest Pro Stock Cars in history are using hood scoops that have been jointly developed by K&N and Warren Johnson Racing
With little zigzag off the line, his incremental times were 60ft at 0.995 seconds, 330ft at 2.785 seconds, 660ft at 4.271/165.58 mph and 1,000ft at 5.551. His left lane runs put him at 6.629 seconds at 208 mph. Johnson's desire to win remains as intense as it has ever been. He has his sites set on firmly earning the 2009 Pro Stock title.
Johnson has been instrumental in the evolution of the Pro Stock Race car from a vehicle based on an actual production vehicle to the competitive thoroughbred used today.
K&N has had a technical relationship with Johnson for many years and has developed some cutting edge products for air intake systems, including new hood scoop technology. “K&N decided to take our relationship to the next level primarily because of Warren’s tireless competitive spirit and unparalleled mechanical expertise,” said Steve Williams, K&N Vice President of Research and Development. "Some of the fastest Pro-Stock cars in history are using the hood scoops that have been jointly developed by K&N with Warren Johnson Racing.”
“It’s great to work with K&N to develop a more efficient hood scoop and supercharge these engines,” said Warren Johnson. “Our development takes us from the dyno room to the race track where we take our power and apply it to the car.”
Johnson will be back on the track in his K&N Filters Pontiac GXP at Pomona, weather permitting, later in the week. “It’s very exciting,” said Johnson. “It’s good to be back in black.”
“The look of the K&N GXP needed to be bold and represent the progressiveness of the company,” said Williams. “I believe it does.
K&N wants to help Warren get to his 100th NHRA national event win.”
Johnson is one of his sport's most visible icons. Named as one of the NHRA's Top 50 drivers during its 50th anniversary celebration, this Hall of Famer continues to be a force at every race entered.
Aaron Cline teamed up with local stunters and performed a couple of shows around the Kansas City area.
27 year old Aaron Cline says his passion for stunt riding began in 2003 after visiting the local stunt spot and watching riders do wheelies, stoppies and burnouts. "I spent countless hours of practicing. I even called into work some days because I couldn't wait to get back on my bike and practice a new trick," says Cline. "In 2004, I teamed up with the local stunters and performed a couple of shows around the Kansas City area. I've always liked to show off, so once I got in front of a crowd I was hooked! The adrenaline rush of stunting, plus the looks on the people's faces as I rode by in a highchair wheelie was awesome! It just fueled my fire to ride more and work on getting more shows."
Aaron Cline uses K&N filters on his bikes
Later that year, Cline partnered up with his current teammate Jeff Schneider to create ILLCONDUCT, also known as Harley Stunts. Their first sponsor was a local Harley Dealership that outfitted them with new Buell XB12Rs. "That was one of the biggest accomplishments in stunt riding at the time. Having a dealership backing us helped us book shows all over the country," says Cline. "That year was our first taste of life on the road and we were loving it!" The pair began performing at big events such as Sturgis while travelling all over the country.
Currently doing around 30 events a year, ILLCONDUCT has even performed in Canada, India and Jamaica. "By far the best thing about stunt riding is the great people I have met in the motorcycle industry, the fans and being able to share the experience with great friends," says Cline.
Aaron and his teammate perform on Harley Sportster XL 1200's and Buell XB 9's. "Our bikes take a ton of abuse and keeping our machines in top condition is always a priority," says Cline. "We use K&N oil and air filters on all our bikes. Even with custom air box modifications on the Buells, we were able to find a K&N filter to fit the bikes and still improve performance. We now use K&N filters on all our vehicles for the increased fuel economy and performance."
Rain changed the course of qualifying at the Winternationals in Pomona, California as the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series tried to get underway. A few Sportsman Class time trials and a round of Alcohol Funny Car qualifying took place before the action was stopped.
Matching 1969 Chevy Camaro entires raced by Dan Fletcher in Super Stock and Stock
1969 Camaro Super Stocker has the most wins in NHRA history
Sportsman Class racer Dan Fletcher was more than ready to debut his matching 1969 Chevy Camaro entries. K&N is the primary sponsor for his Chevys in Stock and Super Stock. “The Super Stocker has the most wins in NHRA history,” said Fletcher. “It was my dad’s car and there is a lot of sentimental value
attached to it. He purchased it as a race car and it was never on the street. It went from Hugger Orange to white and now it’s back to K&N Orange. I’m honored to have the opportunity to represent K&N Filters and I’m digging the color of my car.”
NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Winternationals brought to a halt by rain at Pomona Raceway in California
1969 Camaro Stock car owned and driven by Dan Fletcher, one of the most recognizable sportsman class drivers in Drag Racing
“Dan has been using K&N products to help him win races for many years,” said Steve Williams, K&N Vice President of Research and Development. “He has shown the ability to win on so many different levels of drag racing that we decided to support his racing efforts.”
Fletcher has raced full time for 12 years and his resume reads like a dream come true for any racer. A few highlights include World Finals Winner, a National Champion in Comp Eliminator. He also has three NHRA World Championships and 56 NHRA National Event Wins.
K&N is also the associate sponsor for the Rick Bruan-owned Chevy Cobalt that Fletcher
will drive in 2009. He took it all the way to the 2008 NHRA Lucas Oil Comp Championship. “I’m a one-man-band when it comes to my 1969 Chevys. I take care of my cars, I drive my motor home to and from the tracks and I do the books. In the Cobalt, I just get in and drive for someone else. K&N products have been with me every step of my racing career.”
K&N is a recognized leader in performance air and oil filters along with developing new hood scoop technology. “K&N is a company that develops products for many different forms of filters protecting engines while providing maximum air flow,” said Williams. “We are looking forward to working with Dan and his K&N Stocker and Super-Stocker along with the Competition Eliminator car that he drives. I pick Dan to repeat as a NHRA Lucas Oil Champion in 2009.”
“I’m in Pomona to kick butt, take names and leave with a trophy,” said Fletcher. “I’m ready with my new K&N colors.”
James DeMouy works with computers by day and turns into super auto enthusiast by night. The Houston, Texas resident works after work on his ultimate hobby, vehicle builds.
1971 Chevy C10 has Incubus Wheels and Toyo Tires
K&N custom air filter assembly and 383 stroker motor built by G-Force Motorsports
DeMouy is with his vehicles anywhere from six to eight hours every evening in a race shop he built from the ground up. “I love what I do,” said DeMouy. “I don’t sell my builds because I’ll never make the money or the time back that I put into each vehicle.”
Custom built dash modeled after designs from the early 1960s on 1971 Chevy S10
Graphic leather seats and a right-hand drive Classic Inc. steering wheel are part of the Chevy C10s interior
He traded a 1996 Impala SS for his 1971 Chevy C10 and went to work. “We took it apart from there,” said DeMouy. “We shaved everything and put on a whole new frame. There is nothing stock on this classic full sized truck.”
The 383 stroker motor was built by G-Force Motorsports. “I installed a K&N air filter assembly and a K&N oil filter,” said DeMouy. “I wouldn’t use anything else. K&N makes the best stuff, performs great, has the right name and looks good.”
Everything from the interior was removed and Mike Henderson of Tin Shack started with a bare cab shell. “The interior alone took about five months,” said DeMouy. “Everything on the dash is custom built. It is modeled after designs from the early 1960s. We also converted it to right-hand drive.” Robbie Customs applied graphite leather to the seats and custom kick panels house the Alpine sound components.
Other modifications include:
Full air ride suspension and body dropped 5 inches
24 inch Incubus Wheels w/275/30/24 Toyo Tires
Kinetik batteries
MSD distributor
MSD Coil
Taylor plug wires
Slam Specialties airbags
Suicide doors
MagnaFlow mufflers
Summit slotted rotors
K&N air filter assembly
K&N oil filter
Hedman Headers
Carriage Works billet grille
Grant Kustoms roll pan
Precision Rods Rare LEDs
House of Kolor two- tone Black Diamond and antifreeze paint
Borgeson & Mullins RHD steering box
Classic Inc. flamed steering wheel
Billet Specialties polished steering column
Auto Meter Gauges
Air Zenith compressors
Alpine Head Unit
4-10 inch JBL Sto Sub Woofer
4 Sets of GTO 6 and a half inch Mids and Highs
3 1000.1 JBL Amps
DeMouy said he is currently tricking out a 2007 Hummer. In the meantime, his 1971 Chevy C10 will be on display in about twenty shows in 2009. The next one will be in Texas at the Tex Mex Custom Truck Show.
