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K&N’s Kim Madrid Wins 2013 Formula Vee Race at Roebling Road Raceway

22 May 2013

Madrid was so dominating that she was passing lapped traffic by second lap.

Heading into Roebling Road Raceway in Georgia for the 50th Anniversary Formula Vee race, Kim Madrid had made peace with the notion of settling for a top-10 finish, and simply enjoying the celebration. Although, after the competitive juices started flowing during her first practice session on Friday, that outlook got a significant upgrade. Talking with Dietmar Bauerle, her engine builder, she boldly remarked “I think I may be able to win this race."

Kim Madrid driving the hot-pink Formula Vee, and sporting her trademark pink Mohawk helmet, won the race in Georgia.

And how sweet a victory would that be for the woman from Rancho Cucamonga, California, coming to a track in the south and thumping the hometown boys in the biggest race of the year. The woman driving the hot-pink Caldwell Formula Vee D-13, sporting her trademark pink Mohawk helmet, absolutely fed off that inspiration.

Saturday morning didn’t start out as promising as Madrid had hoped for. After completing only three laps during the first qualifying session, a cracked trailing arm ended things prematurely. She still qualified third, and initially she again considered settling for that, but it passed.

“We had a one hour break before a second chance at qualifying. Everyone in our pit was working like crazy trying to get the suspension part welded back together so that we could get back out on the track to try a qualify even better,” Madrid said. “We were able to fix it. I made it out for qualifying a little late, but still had time to get a few laps in, including a couple of clean laps with no traffic.”

The win at Roebling Road Raceway is another huge entry on Madrid’s already impressive résumé.

After that session, when she drove back to her pit she could see her family and engine builder celebrating, and they were all running towards her car. Madrid figured she must have qualified better than her friend, race rival, and fellow Californian, Bob Hatle. The first thing she heard was “You not only out qualified Bob, you’ve got the Pole Position!”

That evening there was a huge dinner and birthday party with 450 people all celebrating 50 years of Formula Vee racing. A number of speakers addressed the partying crowd, including 1998 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year, Steve Knapp. Madrid and her entire team, motivated by her pole position, celebrated with a little extra verve.

“On Sunday morning while sitting at the pole position on grid and waiting for the race to start I was so nervous,” Madrid admitted. “I thought I was going to throw up in my helmet. This was going to be a 15-lap race on this 2.2 mile track, regardless of the time.”

“It was a great race with Bob and me dominating the field. We were running into lapped cars by lap-2. We put on our usual great show, trading positions like we always do, going side-by-side, into and out of corners. You have to really trust the people you’re racing with to do that, especially in an open wheel car.”

The two did indeed make it a thoroughly entertaining contest, with only seven laps remaining there was an incident when two cars touched tires, and one ended up off the track uninjured. “At this point I was getting nervous,” said Madrid, with Bob in the lead at that point. “I was beginning to think that the race may finish under the yellow flag, which would have given Bob the win.”

The K&N sponsored driver remarked that she could not have won without the support of her family and engine builder.

The cars completed six agonizing laps under the yellow flag before the pace car turned off the flashing lights, leaving a dramatic one lap dash to the checkered flag.

“I knew that I was going to have one green flag lap to get around Bob and win the race. Then if I get by him I was going to have to drive a perfect lap to keep him behind me. When we saw that the green flag waving we took off as fast as we could and we were side-by-side going down the front straight-a-way just seeing who would get to turn one first. Well, low and behold, I pulled it off. I out-braked him going into turn one. I was in front the whole lap to take the checkered flag. I was the overall winner in the race. I was so excited that I could barely hold onto the steering wheel while taking the cool down lap.”

“It was a great experience, but it’s really funny, because the good ole boys in the South were not happy,” Madrid adds. “I just loved it! I felt like a celebrity. So many people wanted pictures of me and my car. I could not have done any of this if it wasn’t for the support of my family and my engine builder, Dietmar. They are my rock.”

Madrid recently took another huge step forward in her racing, purchasing a newer version Vee called a Laser MK 2.5. “I have been doing some SCCA Majors races along with some regional races. I am still running mid-pack due to not being comfortable in the car yet. But just give me time and I will be the thorn in the other driver’s side just like I am in the vintage group.”

May 18-19 Madrid will host her annual Formula Vee race; she will also be racing her vintage D-13 at the SVRA West race at Auto Club Speedway on the weekend of June 21-23. The K&N racer’s next big race will be defending her title at the West Coast Pacific Championship race at Buttonwillow Raceway Park with the SCCA Cal Club on October 26th and 27.

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.

Related K&N News Articles about Kim Madrid: Formula Vee Driver, Kim Madrid, Leads the Points Race in VARA; K&N's Kim Madrid Wins the VARA FV1 Championship for Fourth Straight Year; Kim Madrid Gets Win at Vintage Auto Racing Association Route 66 Classic Race

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Vaughn Gittin Jr. Takes Second in North American Professional Drifting Season Opener in Long Beach

22 May 2013

Gittin’s second place finish marks his first event as a team owner and driver.

In any discussion regarding drifting, or the Formula Drift Championship, invariably one of the first names that comes up is the iconic Vaughn Gittin Jr. In 2010 Vaughn kicked off the start of the North American professional drifting season by winning the opening event at Long Beach, California. He went on to become only the second-ever Champion with a strictly-drifting résumé that year. For the next couple of seasons Gittin continued to collect accolades and podium hardware in the states and internationally. In 2011 he competed in China’s premier drift series, WDS, and took home the Championship. And last year Gittin missed the Formula D title by one spot, taking second place overall.

In the semi-finals Gittin met his Drift Alliance teammate and fellow Formula Drift "Iron Man" Chris Forsberg.

For the past two seasons though it appeared like the Long Beach event had cast a curse over him. He didn’t make the top 32 in qualifying in 2011, and he knocked himself out of the top 32 last year. Legendary college basketball coach, John Wooden, taught his players that if a game plan isn’t working – change it. He also said, “To win a championship once you must have talent, but to win again you must have character.” Gittin put his character on full display this year, sparking the beginning of the sold-out and bigger-than-ever 10th season of Formula D, by claiming the second tier of the Long Beach podium. Making his potent 2013 season opener even more significant is that it marks the first time that Vaughn competed as both a driver and as the RTR Drift Team owner.

His K&N sponsored Monster Energy Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR is every bit as identifiable as Gittin.

How rewarding is it put together a 2nd place finish in your first event as a team owner?
“I am super pumped that we were able to come out of the gate swinging. It’s just amazing to see that what we have all been working so hard towards – worked. From our activation pit area to our performance on the track it was 100% success and I couldn’t be happier with everyone’s performance. I am super appreciative for everyone that chooses to work hard to support me and the RTR drift team!”

Talk a bit about the new team and your expectations for the 2013 season?
“The RTR Drift Team is made up of about ten people that are very dedicated and committed to the efforts we are involved in. The crew from ASD Motorsports, who are supporting our Formula Drift and some overseas efforts, are some of the most experienced, hard working, dedicated badass dudes on the planet. ASD Motorsports manages all aspects related to our car on the competition circuit and I couldn't be happier with them. I have another group of amazing people that support all of our activation and Demo efforts. The passion of the crew as a whole is just epic and I feel it will continue to lead to success on and off the track.”

The side-by-side, smoke spewing, tire chunk tossing drama that is Formula D continues to draw larger crowds with every event.

“As for expectations, it’s hard to have expectations on the track in any motorsport, as there is so much that cannot be controlled. I would say overall I just expect us all to give 100% at everything we are doing. If that can happen we will be in good shape, as the results will speak for themselves. We work hard and play hard!”

Address some of the challenges you had to overcome in putting the team together, and was it tougher, or easier than you had expected?
“My transition from being a driver, to team owner/driver, has been a lot of work to say the least. I wouldn't say it was easier or harder than expected though. I really had no expectations, so I approached it with a, whatever it takes to do this the right way is the way we are doing it attitude. The priority was making sure my partners and I were represented in the way we expect to be on all fronts. We have a great group of people that work hard for the team and make it as easy as possible on me. Some sick part of me enjoys all the challenges that everything I am involved in brings along with it. Nothing that is worth anything is easy that’s for sure!”

The top-three finishers at Long Beach get together with a show of mutual respect.

Give us a couple of insights into your final run against Daijiro Yoshihara, and what was that slight bobble in the first run that cost you the win?
“Running against Dai is always a great battle. During the battle I felt like I was in the right place on Dai's door, however as the smoke was lifting, I clearly saw I was not, and ran right into the clip which is considered a big mistake. If I was only a few feet further off the clip we possibly would have won that battle. Overall I am happy with our finish. I drove as hard as possible and unfortunately made a mistake.”

Round 2 of Formula Drift Championship brings the action back to Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, May 10-11. Road Atlanta was the home of the inaugural Formula D event back in 2004.

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.

Related K&N News Articles about Vaughn Gittin Jr.: Formula Drift Driver Matt Field Challenges Vaughn Gittin Jr. at Evergreen Speedway; Vaughn Gittin Jr. Leads Formula Drift Championship After Second Win in a Row; Vaughn Gittin Jr. Earns Formula Drift Victory in "The Gauntlet" at Wall Stadium; Vaughn Gittin Jr. and RC Drift Car Spread Viral Automotive Video Fever;

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K&N Reusable Air Filter for Mitsubishi Fuso, GM W-Series, Isuzu NPR, NQR & NRR Trucks

21 May 2013

K&N Heavy Duty Air Filter

When it comes to the cost of owning and running a trucking company, they can add up very quickly. Some of these costs include fuel, maintenance, windshield wipers and air filters. To help with truck owners save money and reduce the amount of air filters being thrown away, K&N offers the 38-2017S heavy duty diesel air filter. Anything that owners and operators can do to help reduce these costs, even small things like not replacing the air filter on a regular basis, can help. On the surface, a single air filter may not seem like much, however in the long run, replacing multiple air filters can be very expensive and adds more waste to landfills. As with any engine, filtering the air is important in helping an engine last for a long time, so they need to be replaced.

K&N Heavy Duty Filter Cleaner

The K&N 38-2017S heavy duty air filter uses a dry synthetic air filter which uses a washable and reusable media that can help dramatically lower the cost that comes with constantly replacing and throwing away disposable paper air filters.

K&N's 38-2017S heavy duty diesel air filter fits some Mitsubishi Fuso trucks, GMC W-Series / Forward trucks, Chevrolet W-Series / Tiltmaster trucks, Isuzu NPR, NQR & NRR commercial trucks, Case excavators, and several other large diesel vehicles but to be sure you should cross reference your existing air filter using our cross reference air filter search.

Servicing the K&N 38-2017S heavy duty air filter is fast and easy. Simply spray the K&N Heavy Duty Air Filter Cleaner on the dirty side of the filter allowing it to fully soak in. Then, use a low pressure, pressure-washer to rinse the filter off, from the white side towards the red, pushing the dirt out the same way it came in. Once the air filter is clean, use low-pressure compressed air to blow the water out of the filter and dry it. It just doesn't get any easier than that. To top everything off, K&N's 38-2017S heavy duty air filter is backed by K&N's 3 year or 300,000 mile limited warranty.

K&N Heavy Duty Air Filters For Semi Trucks

For more on K&N heavy duty air filters go to the heavy duty diesel air filter page. Find K&N products for your street 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.

The 38-2017S heavy duty diesel truck air filter replaces the following air filter manufacturer part numbers:

AC Delco A1393C
Baldwin PA2761
Carquest 88506
Chevrolet 94430250
Donaldson R804759
Fleetguard AF4697
Fleetguard AF4739
Fram CA6696
Hastings AF2070
Isuzu 2906469100
Isuzu 8944302500
Luber-Finer LAF1947
Mitsubishi ME033717
Napa 6506
Purolator A64506
WIX 46506

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International Trucks and Busses Get a Washable Reusable Heavy Duty Air Filter with Commercial Grade Design

K&N Heavy Duty Air Filter for GMC, Chevrolet, Kenworth, Sterling and Isuzu Diesel Trucks Available

Peterbilt, Mack and Kenworth Get Reusable Heavy Duty Air Filter that is Easy to Clean

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K&N 38-2000S Reusable Heavy Duty Diesel Filter Replaces Disposable Air Filters

21 May 2013

K&N Washable Heavy Duty Air Filter with Canister

K&N's 38-2000S washable heavy duty air filter comes with a 90 degree canister housing that is removable for easy cleaning. This heavy duty diesel air filter is designed to have the same efficiency as the OEM replacement air filter. The 38-2000S cross references with Baldwin part PA4653, Napa part 2818, WIX part 42818 and others listed below. When it comes to efficiency, this K&N air filter is designed to do the job of protecting your diesel engine and your investment.

In addition to the protection, K&N heavy duty filters are also designed to help reduce restriction and allow more air into the engine helping to eliminate the parasitic draw wasting horsepower. By having a less restrictive air filter, the lower restriction translates to more available horsepower and useable torque for those uphill climbs or long flat hauls.

K&N Heavy Duty Canister Air Filter for Semi Trucks and RVs

K&N's Heavy Duty Canister Air Filter for Semi Trucks and RVs

K&N's HD air filter hybrid media does not require the use of air filter oil which makes cleaning a breeze. Providing additional performance, longer service intervals and the much needed engine protection is K&N's main goal when developing the 38-2000S canister air filter. This Heavy Duty air filter mounts horizontally with a supplied 90 degree canister. The canister has a metal side flange for the air inlet and a metal base flange for connecting it to the engine air intake. This filter can be used on multiple applications and setups so it is best to use the K&N heavy duty air filter cross reference to determine if this K&N air filter will fit your RV or diesel rig.

K&N Heavy Duty Air Filter Cleaner - 1 Gal

When it comes to servicing this heavy duty air filter, just watch for when the restriction gauge reaches 20 inches of restriction (in the red), or once a year, depending on driving conditions. Once this happens, it is time to clean the K&N heavy duty air filter. K&N's 38-2000S heavy duty air filter is very easy to clean using 99-6038 heavy duty air filter cleaner and following the simple cleaning instructions or by watching the heavy duty air filter cleaning video. Simply disconnect the hose connection from the canister and remove the air filter from the engine compartment for servicing.

Once the 38-2000S air filter and canister are removed, spin off the wing-nut holding the canister to the filter and remove the canister exposing the filter. With the air filter removed from the canister, spray on K&N's Heavy Duty air filter cleaner 99-6038 and let it soak in to break up road grime and dust in the air filter. Once the cleaner is all soaked in for a few minutes, but before it dries, use water to spray the air filter from the inside (clean side) outward to rinse out the old dirt and cleaner. The use of a low pressure pressure-washer can be helpful to get that little bit of extra-stubborn dirt out of the filter material. Remeber the outside is red, which means the dirty side is on the outside of the air filter. The clean side is white.

Once the filter is dry, the canister can be put back on and the air filter can now be reinstalled. To assist in the drying process, the use of a low pressure air supply can help save time. One aspect that makes this filter so easy to clean is that it does not use any kind of air filter oil, meaning less work to service and less downtime to clean the air filter. K&N's 38-2000S is the clear choice the next time you need to replace that old, restrictive, one-time use air filter from the list below.

The K&N 38-2000S Heavy Duty Air Filter replaces the following air filters:
Baldwin PA4653
Carquest 87818
Farr 400820014
Hastings PA4653
Napa 2818
Racor 400820014
WIX 42818

Find K&N products for other vehicles 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.

Check out these other great stories about K&N"s Heavy Duty Filter Line: K&N Heavy Duty Air Filter for Isuzu, Chevrolet & GMC Diesel Trucks Offers Reusable Performance. Peterbilt Trucks Get Reusable Heavy Duty Air Filter Upgrade for Better Performance. K&N Reusable Heavy Duty Air Filters Save Diesel Truck Drivers Time and Money.

2012 to 2016 Toyota Tacoma 4.0L Gains Additional Performance From K&N Air Intake System

21 May 2013

K&N Air Intake under the hood of Toyota Tacoma 4.0L

Dyno Chart for K&N Toyota Tacoma Air Intake 77-9037KP

By the time Toyota released their 2012 to 2015 Toyota Tacoma 4.0L V6 pickup trucks, the brand and name already had a very positive reputation for outstanding reliability and quality. This has helped the Toyota Tacoma keep pace with many of the full-size trucks on the market. 2012 to 2015 Toyota Tacoma models have an available 236 horsepower 4.0-liter engine as an option. This truck and engine combination really stands out with power, efficiency and a "look at me" appearance. Owners and onlookers alike will agree that the Toyota Tacoma is one truck to look at. It is with all that, that K&N was proud to produce the 77-9037KP performance air intake system for the 2012 to 2015 Toyota Tacoma with 4.0 liter engine.

Toyota Tacoma 4.0L K&N Air Intake System

K&N's 77-9037KP air intake system is designed to be a direct bolt on setup that is an easy to install performance modification, only needing a little time and some simple tools to get the job done. The K&N 77-9037KP air intake system includes all the necessary pieces and hardware required to slap on an estimated gain of 7.8 ft-lb of torque at 3578 RPM and 7.6 horsepower at 4976 RPM making this truck stand out even more.

The 77-9037KP air intake system includes a mandrel bent aluminum tube that has been engineered for the Toyota Tacoma's specific mass air sensor calibration and powertrain control module setup. By designing the tube to work with the stock sensor and computer, you do not need to re-program the computer and you will not get a check engine light. The tube's setup also includes a sensor specific adapter making it easy to transfer the stock mass air sensor to the new tube easily.

Also included with the 77-9037KP air intake is a powder coated heat shield and K&N's RF-1042XD reusable air filter. The heat shield has been engineered to block the hot under-hood air from getting to the air filter and making sure that the engine only sucks in that nice cooler outside air. The intake tube has crank case vent hose fittings, all of the connection hoses and hose clamps, as well as the installation hardware and application specific brackets needed to install the air intake on your truck.

Side View of the K&N Air Intake for the Toyota Tacoma 4.0L

Engines can work better when they are able to breathe with less restriction, however you do not want to sacrifice air filtration for air flow. This is where K&N's high flow air filter shines. K&N's air filter design provides outstanding filtration while it allows air to flow with little restriction. K&N's oiled cotton media is the secret. The tiny oiled cotton fibers grab particles as they try to weave through the layers of cotton. K&N air filters are washable and reusable and this intake air filter can go up to 100,000 miles before cleaning is needed, depending on outside driving conditions. When it is time to clean the air filter, it could not be easier with the 99-5050 K&N air filter recharger kit. Cleaning is as easy as following the 4 step cleaning process or watching the air filter cleaning video found on KNFilters.com.

In addition to all of the long lasting and high quality parts that come with the K&N 77-9037KP air intake system, this Tacoma air intake is also covered by K&N's world famous Million Mile Limited Warranty, meaning that your new air intake will last for the life of your Toyota Tacoma.

To see all K&N air intakes for Toyota Tacoma go to the Toyota Tacoma Air Intakes page on KNFilters.com. Find K&N products for any 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.

Related stories: Simple Performance Upgrades for Toyota Tacoma Pickups. 2005 to 2011 Toyota Tacoma 4.0L V6 Gains 10HP With K&N 63-Series AirCharger