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Gary GEE Armstrong Wins 2012 Pacific Northwest Sand Drag Series Championship

18 Feb 2013

GEE hit the green light faster and more consistently in 2012 than 39 of his rivals.

"The story of G: In school, because of the length of my last name I always signed my name with a huge, scribbled, difficult to copy 'G,' just to save work. It's become my legal signature, so everyone started calling me Gee." That's K&N sponsored pro ATV sand drag racer Gary "GEE" Armstrong's explanation and he's sticking with it. The Florence, Oregon resident wrapped up his 2012 season by winning the Sport Bike 2 Division Championship of the Pacific Northwest Sand Drag Race Series. Armstrong also claimed second place in the Pro 2 Division of the series. Each Division runs 14 races which are scheduled from May through October, and this year the grid was filled with 40 of the most competitive racers from throughout the Pacific Northwest.

The Sport Bike 2 Division Championship of the Pacific Northwest Sand Drag Race Series was Gary "GEE" Armstrong's first title crown.

"In 2011, I finished in fifth place in Sport Bike 2 and seventh place in the Pro 2 Division. But in 2010, my rookie year as a pro racer, I'd won the Oregon Off-road Racing Association's huge western regional Pro Race, so I knew I could perform better. My racing goal and training for 2012 was to finish in the top three in both the Sport Bike and Pro Divisions. It was a bold reach for me."

With so many motorsports to choose from and so little time, it's worth noting that sand drag racing continues to be one of the fastest growing new motorsport options. Like traditional drag racing, sand racing involves two combatants waiting for the green light, only instead of hearing huge tires probing desperately for traction, there's a visual explosion of sand shooting skyward like a massive North Shore breaker.

"Although the competition in both divisions was incredibly intense this season, our K&N filtered, Florence Yamaha YFZ kept us as first place points leader in both the Sport Bike and Pro Divisions for over halfway into the season, like into July," Armstrong recalls. "That's when I realized I actually had a shot at winning both the Sport Bike 2 and Pro 2 championships!"

After winning one title and finishing runner-up in another Armstrong is focused on winning both championships in 2013.

After making that realization Armstrong continued to trade between first and second place throughout championship points chase of both Divisions, and at several points he was tied for first. "It was a great show," said Armstrong. "The fans and promoters loved it. It was what racing should be, suspenseful, nail-biting, tight contests between two of us at the top wanting to claim both division titles!"

During a race in August Armstrong's engine case cracked. "Oil was leaking out of the crack after I won my heats," he said. "It was a potential 'game over' for my season and the end of any hopes I had of winning a championship. But my Florence Yamaha and Redline engine builder sponsors said 'Hey, you've worked your way into a good shot at two championships, let's not give it away!' Yamaha rushed us the parts and Redline worked overtime on the rebuild, finishing it the day before the next race."

During the rebuild they also discovered Armstrong's engine had a cracked cylinder head, but there was no time to get a new one ported and ready for the next race. "The head wasn't leaking coolant yet, so we huddled together again and decided to stay in the championship hunt and risk blowing the engine."

The gamble paid off as Armstrong won the Sport Bike 2 race that weekend and tied yet again for first place in Pro 2. And that's how things set up for him heading into the finals.

"In the finals I won the Sport Bike 2 Championship and ended up in second place in the Pro 2 series. This is my first championship and there's just no greater feeling of accomplishment than winning this! I just want to thank everyone for their support from sponsors to spectators. My dad's always telling me, 'If you can dream it, you can do it.' He's right!"

"I'm already training for the 2013 race season and racing locally, but my first official race of 2013 is April 5-7 at the 36th Annual Central Valley Sportsmen's and Car Show at the Kern County Fairgrounds in Bakersfield, California. In May, the Sand Drag Race Series fires up in the Pacific Northwest. I'm here to race and have fun, but I'm aiming to win both Series' titles in 2013!"

Other K&N racing stories about ATV off road racing include Motoworks' John Natalie and Chad Wienen Go One and Two at Ballance MX, K&N's Can-Am Motoworks Finishes First, Third and Fifth in WORCS Season Opener, Can-Am/Motoworks' Josh Frederick Wins 2010 WORCS Pro ATV Championship and Team MCR Racing's Davi Haagsma and Julie Russell Win WORCS Championships.

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.

Lamb Motorsports' NHRA Drag Racing Team Experience Stellar 2012 Season

18 Feb 2013

Siblings, Justin and Ryen Lamb, were both introduced to the sport of racing at an early age and presently race in the NHRA.

Anyone with brothers or sisters would likely agree that although sporting their own individual characteristics, they share similarities with their siblings; if for no other reason, they were raised in the same environment. Justin and Ryen Lamb are no different in that sense, and one would suspect that their conversations often lean in one direction in particular- racing.

Although inly 25-years-old, Justin Lamb is already solidifying his reputation as a winner in NHRA drag racing.

They were introduced to the sport of racing at very young ages, and have in fact, been manning dragsters for many years. Members of the Lamb Motorsports team, they have both seen their fair share of success, and experienced stellar seasons in 2012.

Continuing his quest to become a household name in the NHRA racing world, Justin Lamb cinched a multitude of wins in a variety of categories during the most previous season. At only 25-years of age, he recently earned his ninth NHRA national event win of his young career while racing in the Super Stock class at the Fram Autolite Nationals in Sonoma, California.

The driver also took four victories last season while on the NHRA Lucas Oil divisional tour. In fact, he walked away from the LOORS event, in Fallon, Nevada, with a rare double victory, after scoring in both the Competition Eliminator and Super Gas classes. At the season's end he was ranked ninth in the NHRA national standings.

Ryen Lamb recently experienced her quickest and fastest career run- 6.93 at 192 miles-per-hour.

As he solidifies his reputation in NHRA racing, Justin's records continue to stack up. In fact, he is a 13-time division series winner and has lined up in nineteen final round appearances.

"I have been racing since I was eight-years-old," recalled the driver. It all started with my father's interest in racing. He had drag boats for many years before he decided to get away from drag boat racing and to get into something new," continued Justin. "I was about seven years old and attending a car show with him when we saw a Jr. Dragster on display.This has all just come from one simple car show."

Looking back at 2012, the driver said, "I would say my most rewarding win of the season came in Sonoma California at the national event. It came after a very bad weekend in Denver, where I lost two close races that I made bad mistakes on. I went into Sonoma a little down and came out winning the event. It really made up for the week prior."

"I am not sure what the key to success was this season," he continued. "But I believe to keep prospering in the future will take a lot of hard work, both on the cars and as a driver, and focus on technology as products and race cars improve."

While Justin Lamb continues to earn notoriety in the sport, his younger sister, Ryen, has quietly been building her resume as well. In fact, the 18-year-old driver experienced her first event win during the 2012 season, at the K&N Super Comp Association event in Las Vega, Nevada. Throughout the season, Ryen also managed to post several late-round finishes, including three quarterfinal appearances. During her first season in Top Dragster, she recorded her quickest and fastest run of her career - 6.93 at 192 miles per-hour.

"I started racing "big cars" right after my sixteenth birthday," she recalled, "so I am going on my third year. Prior to that, I raced jr. dragsters four or five years when I was younger. I have grown up around racing," Ryen explained. "My brother is seven years older than me, and he started racing around the time I was born. So racing is all I have ever known."

"During a race, I tend to forget how fast I am actually going," she shared. "Our races are only a couple of seconds long, but when you are in the car, so much is happening in such a little time that it seems a lot longer. Racing and going fast is such a rush. There are so many decisions and things you must do in a very short distance. You are so focused on the job at hand, you forget about the speed you are traveling."

When asked the key to victories during the upcoming season, she continued, "I think confidence and momentum will definitely bring me success. Towards the end of last year, I began driving a lot better than I had before; I was confident in my abilities and decisions, and began going more and more rounds. By building on that confidence, I plan on having my most successful year to date."

Justin and Ryen Lamb are looking forward to what the future holds and are both acutely aware that their success will depend a great deal upon proper maintenance of their cars. Strong advocates of keeping the internal components of their engines contaminant free they depend upon K&N products for their filtering needs.

"Every product that K&N makes is a great quality product," Justin explained. "We use many of them on our race cars. The air filters do a great job protecting the engine while not hurting the performance of the cars. Their oil filters are second to none, and we have never had a problem with them coming apart and losing oil pressure, as I had with other brands while using light-weight racing oil for competition Eliminator. Also the nut at the bottom, for putting them on and taking them off, really helps also. I have been using K&N products for about ten years now."

With 2012 behind them and the 2013 season just around the corner, Justin and Ryen Lamb are already geared up and ready to roll. With a little luck, perseverance and a skillful eye on the track, they are anticipating many victories ahead.

Other K&N racing stories about Lamb Motorsports Team Drag Racing include Justin Lamb Wins 25th Anniversary Sonoma Nationals NHRA Super Stock Wally, Justin Lamb Adds Sonoma NHRA National Super Stock Victory to His Growing 2012 Resume, 2012 NHRA Competition Eliminator Trophy Goes to Justin Lamb at Firebird Int'l Raceway, Lamb Motorsports - Three Wins, Three Classes, in Three Separate Cars, in Eight Days, Justin Lamb Wins Super Gas at Sonoma NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Nationals and Justin Lamb Wins Super Chevy Show in Las Vegas.

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.

H&M Motorsports' Haagsma and Baron Win 2012 Quad-X and WORCS Championships

18 Feb 2013

K&N backed H&M Motorsports' Beau Baron went 3-3 to clinch third place overall and third in the 2012 Yamaha Quad-X Racing Series Pro Production Championship.

Back in January of 2012, after H&M Motorsports won the opening round of their season, we spoke to Jason Reed, H&M Motorsports' Marketing/PR Rep., and at the time he said "Our goal was to go out and show these guys we are serious about our program and getting both guys on the podium proved that." The guys he refers to are Beau Baron and David Haagsma, and they made good on our forecast that solid beginnings often make for a winning season.

David Haagsma went 1-1 at the final round of the Yamaha Quad-X Racing Series to win the overall.

The H&M Motorsport Team made 2012 an extraordinary first year, as they earned the two biggest championships in the West with Baron earning the WORCS title and Haagsma clinching the Quad X series with amazing flair. Haagsma went 1-1 at round ten at the Glen Helen Raceway event to earn his first ever Pro ATV Championship, and he earned it by winning a remarkable eight of the ten races. At that event teammate Beau Baron earned 3-3 finishes which set him up to round out the top three overall for the season.

The second moto win not only gave Haagsma his eighth win of the season but also secured the Quad X Championship for him and the H&M Motorsport Team. "It just feels great to win this. Great for me and my team," said Haagsma.

Maxxis/H&M Motorsports' Beau Baron went 3-3 to secure third place overall and third in the 2012 Yamaha Quad-X Racing Series Pro Production Championship. Baron's 3-3 finishes for the day not only secured the third position on the podium at the season ending event, but also third place in the points chase for the 2012 Quad X Season.

"I was going fast today," commented Baron after the race. "Everything was working well. My Sparks engine was pulling great and my suspension was perfect."

Maxxis / H&M Motorsports David Haagsma won 8 out of ten races in the 2012 Yamaha Quad-X Racing Series earning him his first Yamaha Quad-X Pro ATV Championship

In the second moto Baron didn't get his best start and had to work his way through the pack. He made his way up to the third spot, but before he could make a move for second his ATV engine began to knock. Not wanting to get sidelined Baron backed off a bit. By riding as wide as he could and rolling the jumps Baron was able to hold off the competition and he rounded out the top three.

"It was a good day. I have so much confidence in my set up. My tires have so much bite you always know what they're going to do and my quad felt awesome," remarked Baron after the race at Glen Helen.

Back in September Baron also earned the 2012 WORCS Pro ATV Championship with his win at the final round at Honolulu Hills, in Taft, California. In that series teammate Haagsma claimed the third spot for the year with his second place finish.

"This championship was super important! You never know when your next championship may be. I had one in 2009 and then set myself up again and had a mechanical. I crossed my fingers for this one because I've had it ripped out of my hands before. I'm happy, but never satisfied so I'll be pushing for it again" declared Baron

The H&M Motorsport team hopes to add more backing and come out swinging for the 2013 season.

Check out these other K&N racing stories on ATV off road racing:

H&M Motorsport's Beau Baron and David Haagsma Rule 2012 WORCS ATV Opener
Team Can-Am/Motoworks Conquers the Mexican Desert in the San Felipe 250
Beau Baron Pulls Off WORCS Championship While David Haagsma Grabs #3 Spot
Team Quad75Dezert Clinches Class 24 and Overall ATV Title at 2011Baja 1000

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.

Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School - Building Dreams and Successful Careers

18 Feb 2013

Two of the school's Super Class cars and their K&N composite scoops

As the world's very first school fully dedicated to training drivers in the sport of drag racing, Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School boasts a nearly three decade history of graduates that have gone on to be some of today's top professional and highly successful sportsman competitors.

Students who participate in the class offerings come from all walks of life, as well as a wide variety of backgrounds. As the graduate roster clearly indicates, neither age nor gender matter when it comes to having the desire to learn the proper way to maneuver the quarter-mile and those who have taken one or more of Hawley's classes have ranged in age from sixteen to over eighty.

Drivers attend Hawley's classes for a vast amount of reasons from checking off an item on their "bucket list", to stepping up their racing program and sharpening their skills. Many students have used the school as a strong foundation in pursuit of a professional drag racing career, such as multi-time Top Fuel Champ, Tony Schumacher plus many other successful NHRA pilots, Larry Dixon, Robert Height, Ashley Force, reigning NHRA Nitro Funny Car Champ Jack Beckman and Top Fuel Champ Antron Brown.

School Founder and Instructor, Frank Hawley

The school's most popular course is known as the "Super Class". This two day course offers drivers the opportunity to learn to drive and even earn their NHRA [7.50 and quarter mile] competition license in one of the school's Chevy powered dragsters or Firebirds. All courses available at Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School are offered year-round, but the Super Class is also offered at numerous NHRA National Event facilities all across the U.S., including the school's home location in Gainesville, Florida, Las Vegas, Nevada, Norwalk, Ohio, Reading, Pennsylvania, Indianapolis, Indiana, Denver, Colorado and Houston, Texas.

For more experienced drivers, Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School also offers courses in Top Dragster, Top Sportsman, Top Alcohol Dragster, Top Alcohol Funny Car, as well as Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Drivers participating in the Super Class spend their time divided between both the classroom and making progressively longer laps down the quarter mile. Hawley, Two-time NHRA Nitro Funny Car Champion, instructs students on not only the vital information needed before heading to the starting line, but also crucial lessons regarding ways to change ones way of thinking, and how to better deal with ones emotions, fears and conflicts. After participating in Hawley's lectures, many note that they learned to be better prepared for both optimum performance at the track, as well as many philosophies that they could use and apply in everyday life situations.

Hawley's Super Class is offered all across the U.S., including "The Strip" at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Hawley not only spends time continuously tweaking and expanding his knowledge to bring to the classroom portion of his school, but equal time in making sure that each of the school's cars are in are in the best condition in order to provide the best experience possible for each future graduate participating in one of the school's courses. In doing so, Hawley has a strict maintenance program in place for each race car in the fleet in addition to only selecting products and parts from the top manufactures.

A big part of Hawley's program is utilizing K&N's line of air and oil filters.

"It's highly important for the experience of each driver, in each of our classes to be the consistent," Hawley pointed out. "Throughout a given year, there is great demand placed on the school's stable of cars to always remain at peak performance and part of achieving that is using K&N oil and air filters. Between the wrench-off K&N oil filters being easier for the guys to take off, they also don't collapse. The high-flowing K&N rechargeable air filters are great at keeping small debris out of our engines without hindering performance."

Right from the first day of their Super Class, Students learn the proper way to implement starting line procedures from the burnout to staging

"From track to track all across the country, we run our Super Class cars in all types of conditions and the K&N filters we use help to protect our investments time and time again," he added.

Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School Super Class cars also sport some very good looking K&N Engineering composite scoops. The school dragsters don the 2nd Generation K&N scoop [100-8512] that come equipped with its own tray and specially designed K&N high performance cone shaped filter and the K&N [100-8506] scoop on the school's Super Gas cars share the same great features as their dragster cousins but it's the shape and size that has chief instructor, Frank Hawley the most pleased with the addition.

"I wasn't expecting it, but once we installed the K&N scoop on the Firebirds, I was surprised by how the driver's field of vision changed and for the better," Hawley commented. "Driver's need as much clear visibility as possible and the design and shape of the K&N scoop broadened the landscape in which drivers can see better for going through the all-important starting line procedure and lining up straight when staging."

"Compared to the scoops we had before, the K&N scoops also seem to get a lot of air in and have a much better directional flow," he added.

Be sure to check out this other article on Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School

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.

Renault Wind and Twingo Performance Air Filter is Engineered to Boost Power & Acceleration

14 Feb 2013

Replacement Air Filter for select Renualt Wind and Twingo models

In the U.S. the only place you'll find a Renault Wind or Twingo is on a list of cars not yet available in the states. The active word here is "yet" which is encouraging. In England, and throughout Europe and parts of Asia, drivers have already learned to embrace these two mighty-minis. Both produce disproportionate amounts of pep and driving joy from a mini car platform, whilst sipping on petro.

The Wind is a uniquely styled roadster that started as a concept car at the Paris Motor Show in 2004. While the Twingo turbo hatchback is one of the cars the French auto maker believes will restore Renault's sporting car mojo. Being that the Twingo's is the offspring of the same minds that created the Clio 197 and Megane R26R, two of the favorite sporting cars of any description, there's no questioning its pedigree.

Restriciton data for part number 33-2993

The 1.2 liter, 16 valve, inline-4 engine produces 100 hp in the naturally aspirated version, and 136 hp in Twingo turbo model, and both versions can increase performance by simply replacing the existing disposable air filter with a K&N 33-2993 high flow air filter. Designed to fit directly into the existing air box, this high performance air filter is engineered to increase horsepower and torque, while providing excellent filtration and engine protection.

The 33-2993 is washable , reusable and servicing is as simple as following the instructions in a K&N Recharger Kit. Depending on your driving conditions, servicing intervals can run up to 50,000 miles before cleaning is necessary. With K&N's renowned Million Mile Limited Warranty , this will be the last air filter you'll ever purchase for your Renault Wind or Twingo.

Replacement Air Filter part number 33-2993 is an easy install

Another view of K&N's replacement air filter part number 33-2993

K&N 33-2993 fits the following Renault models:

2014 Renault Twingo 1.2L L4 - Turbo
2013 Renault Wind 1.2L L4
2013 Renault Twingo 1.2L L4 -Turbo
2012 Renault Wind 1.2L L4
2012 Renault Twingo 1.2L L4 -Turbo
2011 Renault Wind 1.2L L4
2011 Renault Twingo 1.2L L4 -Turbo
2010 Renault Wind 1.2L L4
2010 Renault Twingo 1.2L L4 -Turbo
2009 Renault Twingo 1.2L L4 -Turbo
2008 Renault Twingo 1.2L L4 -Turbo
2007 Renault Twingo 1.2L L4 -Turbo

Looking for even more performance? Check out these awesome products for Renault vehicles: Induction System for the Twingo and K&N Performance Air Filters for Renault models.

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.