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The very first time a Polaris 850 XP EPS Sportsman took a podium spot at an AMA/ATVA Sanctioned event it was equipped with a K&N air filter (PL-1003) and a K&N oil filter (KN-198).
Daryl Rath of the Polaris Rath Dunlop Team won the first AMA ATVA Heartland Challenge
The Heartland Challenge took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Drivers in the 10-hour ATV endurance race faced dropping temperatures and wet snow. The course was designed to test the riders and their ATV’s against the elements and obstacles. There were no rest periods or breaks for competitors.
Polaris Rath Dunlap Team ready for the 2009 GNCC National Cross Country Utility Class Season
Daryl Rath, Frank Batista and Jason Dunkelberger were part of the Polaris Rath Dunlop Team. Rath clocked in the first session just after noon. The Polaris 850 XP EPS Sportsman with K&N air and oil filters did well on the course and quickly moved up to first place.
The team had a minor mechanical setback due to a broken belt. Even though they lost 23 minutes they managed to retake the lead with two hours to go. They won and are now ready for the 2009 GNCC National Cross Country Utility Class season.
2009 twin supercharger Challenger made it's debut at PRI Show in Orlando, Florida
1967 Ford Cortina is the World's Fastest Cleveland Powered Streetcar
Dyno Steve of RDP Motorsport uses K&N on race cars, show cars and regular builds worldwide
Dyno Steve of RDP Motorsports uses K&N on his performance builds
2007 Twin Turbo Ford XR8 Ba Falcon Ute Modified by RDP Motorsport
1972 Torana is Australia's Highest Awarded Show Car
There is a global love affair with vehicle performance products and RDP Motorsport, one of the largest performance shops in the world builds race cars and top show cars for that market throughout the world.
Steven Leerentveld, aka Dyno Steve, founded the company in 1997. He has shops in Australia, Dubai and most recently America. He has always used K&N products. “It’s the best product on the market and it’s presentable,” said Leerentveld. “The last thing you want to put on any
custom build is something ugly. K&N provides performance, reliability and good looks.”
Since 1969, K&N has designed, manufactured and enhanced high-flow air filters and air intake systems for the automotive enthusiast interested in maximizing horsepower and acceleration. K&N has more applications than any other manufacturer of similar product. Leerentveld puts K&N on all of his builds.
“I use K&N on my 1967 Ford Cortina race car,” said Leerentveld. “It is currently the World’s Fastest Cleveland Powered Streetcar running 8.32 @164.77 mph. I tune the motor to 9500 rpm.” Dyno Steve also runs K&N on his yellow twin turbo pickup, a 2007 model BA Ford Falcon Ute along with his 1972 orange Torana. His RDP Motorsport Torana is Australia’s Highest Awarded show car.
Leerentveld’s custom 2009 twin supercharger Challenger with 1000 horsepower made its debut at the PRI (Performance Racing Industry) Show in Orlando, Florida. The RDP Challenger is powered by a one of a kind Twin Bullet/RDP Harrop Supercharger system.
Other modifications include:
Arrington 440 stroker motor with custom RDP camshaft
Backed by the factory transmission with a RDP TCM 4000 RPM RDP Street/Strip Torque Convertor
Quaife rear end with RDP 1200+rwhp ½ Shafts
Chrome Moly ½ roll cage from Big Daddy
Kooks long tube headers with RDP Custom race exhaust system and RDP mufflers
Billet Technology dress up kits
Nitrous Express with RDP Nitrous Plates for an extra kick
K&N universal air filters
Leerentveld is a global traveler but currently makes his home in Painesville, Ohio where he has a new state of the art workshop and fully stocked performance shop. “To live, work and play in America is a dream come true,” said the Australian native. “My home is now in one of the largest car communities in the United States. There are also eleven racetracks and I simply like the cooler weather out here. I love cars, though. My dad was a mechanic and I’ve been doing this for 23 years.”
Dyno Steve is known in Australia as a television star, and is about to hit the American television screens. His new show, Ballistic Builds will show him building cars, testing them on the dynamometer and the finished products. “It will be funny and serious,” he said. “K&N will continue to be on my cars.”
Michael Beard is preparing for the 2009 IHRA Racing season with his 1980 Plymouth Volare and his 1974 Duster.
Plymouth Volare is powered by a Mopar 350 Magnum Crate Motor
He wrapped the 2008 season with the $20,000 Footbrake Nationals at Piedmont Dragway near Greensboro, North Carolina. “I had not been in the Volare for over three weeks,” said Beard. “The whole first half of November was devoted to the celebration of my wedding.”
1980 Plymouth Volare at Piedmont Dragway near Greensboro, North Carolina
1974 Plymouth Duster piloted by bracket race winner Jacob Rutedge
At the track, Beard had problems in the third round with his tires. “I knew they were old, but thought they would get me through the weekend of racing,” he said. “I finished with my Volare recording an unreal 1.40 60’ time even with cords showing on the tires. They were really good to the bone."
Beard’s Plymouth is powered by a Mopar 360 Magnum crate motor and weighs about
3600 pounds. Beard uses K&N products on and off the track. “I use K&N’s air
intake system (57-1516) on my 2000 Dakota Quad Cab with a 4.7 liter engine,” he said. “We save gas and notice improved performance. We also use K&N air and oil filters on all our vehicles. You can’t beat K&N for reliability on and off the track.”
Beard’s friend and former $20,000 bracket race winner Jacob Rutedge piloted his
Plymouth Duster at Piedmont Dragway. “Jacob made it to the third round in one entry and the fourth round in another race,” said Beard. “He did well even though it was his first time driving the Duster.”
Beard’s 1974 Duster was on loan throughout the 2008 season and in competitions at Jefferson Pageland Dragstrip in Jefferson, South Carolina, Farmington Dragway in Mocksville, North Carolina and Mooresville Dragway near Mooresville, North Carolina.
“We had a good season and had a winning quality combination with K&N,” he said. “Our K&N products are well made and easy to install. We gain a lot of power with K&N.”
A 2009 Chevrolet Colorado with a V8 engine rolled off the production line and made its way to one of K&N’s dynamometer rooms in Riverside, California. GM has a small fleet of test vehicles in the Los Angeles area. Vehicles are available to journalists who write for various publications.
2009 Chevrolet Colorado with a V8 engine on the dyno at K&N
John Stewart is writing an article for pickuptrucks.com and wanted a road test, fast. He drove from Pasadena, California about sixty miles east to K&N’s facility in Riverside, California. “K&N has a long standing policy that if you have something new and want to get it tested, just bring it in,” said Stewart. “It’s a win-win situation because I get absolute horsepower and torque numbers and K&N gets a look under the hood.”
2009 is the first year GM has produced a Chevrolet Colorado with a V8 engine
2009 Chevrolet Colorado with a V8 engine was tested for absolute horsepower and torque numbers at K&N in Riverside, California
Chevy’s new Colorado has a 5.3 liter V8 engine which is available on extended and crew cab models. “This truck is different, it’s also the first year GM has offered a V8 in this model,” said Stewart. “It appeals to the family who wants a truck with comfort.” The Colorado can seat up to six, is quiet and has a lot of interior space.
“K&N is the premier testing facility in the Los Angeles area,” said Stewart. “The crew at K&N is knowledgeable and we can learn a lot about a vehicle in a short time. Also, the data we received on the Colorado is reliable.” K&N did a dyno run on the 2WD with the OE filter and then put on a washable, reusable lifetime K&N air filter.
“It’s interesting how much power you can gain with small changes on a stock intake system,” said Stewart. “In this case, simply by replacing the stock Chevrolet filter with a K&N air filter we noticed an 8 horsepower increase and a 9 ft. lbs increase. That’s a big deal.”
Other features new on the midsize pickup for 2009 include:
Improved brake system which features four channel ABS with yaw control for flatter, more controlled stopping during panic stops and improved control on slippery surfaces
StabiliTrak electronic stability control system, standard on all models
Fuel system control module for improved fuel economy
New ZQ8 sport suspension
Z71: higher stance, larger wheel/tire combination for improved appearance and off-road maneuverability
16-inch steel wheels replace 15-inch steel wheels on Work Truck models
New family of 16-inch, 17-inch and 18-inch wheels for LT models
Standard bedliner with Fleet Delete package
Exterior trim revisions
Two new exterior colors: Deep Navy and Aqua Blue Metallic
XM Satellite Radio standard on LT
Carpet and cloth seats now standard on Work Truck
1VL Value Package on extended and crew cabs
There are also a lot of revisions to the exterior including a ride height that is “slammed.”
That means the pickups can ride on unique 18 X 8 inch aluminum wheels and low-profile sport tires. As a result the handling and maneuverability are crisper.
Mike Lavallee is an airbrush artist who started custom painting vehicles after someone asked him if he could paint fire on a car. He said yes, and the rest is history. Now, he has a studio named Killer Paint in Snohomish, Washington.
2002 Ford F-150 Lightning shows of flames, skulls and skeleton designs of Killer Paint Airbrush Artist Mike Lavallee
K&N air filter is on supercharged 5.4 liter Ford F-150 engine
“I don’t have a job,” said Lavalle. “But I do go to work every day wanting to go, not having to go. There is a big difference.”
Mike Lavallee demonstrates air brush art in the House of Kolor Booth at the 2008 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada
Hemi-powered 357 Dodge Magnum painted by Mike Lavallee for SEMA Show is equipped with K&N air filter
Lavallee was demonstrating how to airbrush designs for vehicles at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) in Las Vegas, Nevada. He worked in the House of Kolor booth right next to its tattoo artists. People came to watch his demonstrations and to get tattoos in the House of Kolor
booth. The lines were so long for a free tattoo at the Las Vegas Convention Center the artists were booked for the entire show.
Some of Lavallee’s favorite works of art were on a 2002 Ford F-150 Lightning and a Dodge 357 Magnum. “I put K&N products on these cars,” said Lavallee. “I also use K&N every day on my personal vehicles. I like the guaranteed power and filtration from K&N.”
The Ford was a showcase vehicle for his custom paint shop. They mixed House of Kolor Orange with Euro Red to get the right
base color. Once that was applied, Lavallee took out his airbrush gun. He filled
it with Tangelo Pearl, Sunset Pearl and Sunrise Pearl to make his air
brush designs pop off the base colors. “I put flames, skulls and a skeleton,” said Lavallee. “There is also a mural of my girlfriend Nicole.” Killer Paint provided the looks
and Exile Audio provided the sound. The F-150 sits low over the Foose Nitrous 20-inch wheels. The
Ford F-150 also has Baer rotors and of course a K&N air filter.
Lavallee pays close attention to details. “My father was a taxidermist and I learned to paint by watching him,” he said. “I love taking something from its base and turning it into a piece of art.”
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Mike Lavallee and Killer Paint.
