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High Xpectations Builds 2012 Caddy CTS For the 2012 SEMA Show

14 Dec 2012

Scott Lowe's 2012 SEMA show vehicle of choice was a matte black Cadillac CTS

Scott D Lowe, president and founder of High Xpectations, is no stranger to SEMA, as he attended his first event in 1999, and was obviously bitten by the bug. In fact Lowe and his restyling company recently built a 2012 Cadillac CTS with the 2012 show in mind.

“We have been building rides for SEMA for about ten years now,” explained Lowe, “and even won the award for Best Interior Design, presented by Chevrolet at the 2000 Light Truck and Tire Expo held in Detroit, Michigan.”

Referring to the theme behind the build, he continued, “The vision, initial color rendering, and the final product is exactly what it should be. Matte black exterior with touches of machine and chrome finishes set off with big red brakes on a lower suspension. I really like the matte look, and adding matte black wheels to the car really helps the other details pop out at you.”

One would be right in suspecting that hours of thought went into the project before the first wrench was turned. With all of his ducks in a row, Lowe first focused on providing a little extra "umph" to the Caddy’s overall performance. The Luxury CTS came off of the showroom floor with a single outlet exhaust. Opting to upgrade the exhaust, Lowe turned to MagnaFlow, who provided a dual stainless cat-back system.

This 2012 Cadillac CTS was not Scott Lowe's first SEMA show vehicle

Although satisfied with the stock JE5 brakes, the owner chose to powder coat the rotors matte black to improve aesthetics. Adding a little more punch to the looks, he added MGP caliper covers in a red finish with silver Cadillac CTS accents.

An E&G Classics, two-piece mesh grill fit perfectly into the theme. Lowering the stance of the ride with Road Magnet performance lowering springs lent to the specific look he was after.

This 2012 Cadillac CTS was wrapped and ready to show just in time for SEMA 2012

Of course, the appearance, overall feel and performance of any ride can be swayed by tires and wheels. That in mind, Lowe opted to go with Advanti Racing 15th anniversary 20X8.5‘ wheels. Their matte black finish, with a machined undercut, complimented the chrome package on the car and accentuated every detail.

The final modification of the car’s exterior was as important as any other change the vehicle had undergone, if not more so. Lowe opted to wrap the entire vehicle in a black matte 3M vinyl.

Confident that attendees of SEMA 2012 would find the car’s exterior stunning, he then focused on sprucing up the interior. Once setting his sights to the inside of the vehicle, Lowe turned to VizuaLogic to rig the vehicle with the latest innovations in electronics.

The wheels are on this 2012 CTS complete a show car look worthy of the SEMA Show 2012

Although the Cadillac CTS already sported a classy interior, the owner could still include a few more touches to the build that would separate it from the rest. In fact, he added a one-off floor mat set from Auto Custom Carpet. The new rug added punch to the remainder of the build - a silver mink loop material, with the Cadillac logo in black scriptwriting.

With the interior and exterior of the vehicle meeting Scott D. Lowe’s standards, it was time to crawl under the hood. Lowe opted to install a Triple Threat Ny-Trex wet full nitrous system by Design Engineering Incorporated.

That extra boost of power was welcomed by the owner, but he also understood that no modification was more important than keeping the internal components of his engine contaminant free. That in mind, he finished the build off with a bang by installing K&N oil and air filters.

“Adding K&N to the car was a no-brainer. When thinking of upgrading our air system, the first name that came to mind was K&N,” recalled Lowe. “I began using products on our first project car back in 1998. We noticed performance benefits, as well as fuel cost savings. Basically, the overall drivability of our vehicles has improved.”

Much preparation went into this 2012 Cadillac CTS for the 2012 SEMA Show

With SEMA 2012 behind them, Scott D. Lowe and High Xpectations are already looking forward to the future. “I am already looking forward to the new C7 2014 Corvette in January, as well as the newly redesigned Silverado,” he explained. “I am hoping to add both of these vehicles to our stable for entrance in SEMA 2013.”

In closing, Lowe said, “I would like to thank my wife, Jean, for all of her love and support. We were just married in June, and she has been very understanding during the build. I would also like to thank the unbelievably talented High Xpectations Graphics designer, Mark Cisney. Without him, I would have a vision in my head, and no design on paper.”

Also check out these related Cadillac news articles articles:

Performance Upgrades for Cadillac CTS
Land Speed Cadillac XLR

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.

Red Lion Motorsports Brings Extremely Rare Nissan Skyline R33 to the SEMA Show

14 Dec 2012

RLM wanted to keep the factory look of this 1995 Nissan Skyline R33 for SEMA 2012, because they are so rare

Red Lion Motorsports(RLM) is a family owned business in Flagstaff Arizona that supplies stock and aftermarket parts and accessories from 1920 classics to newer vehicles on the market. The owners Ben (father) and Shane (son), are huge fans of K&N air filters. Ben said, "K&N is also the only filter that we recommend for our customers. I started using K&N filters in 1973 on our flat track bikes. It was the only filter that could keep the dirt out. K&N has proven itself time and time again over the last 40 years. We will only use K&N on every motor that we have."

A creative touch found on this 1995 Skyline R33 is the inverted decals on the passanger side

Ben and Shane have a passion for performance and have been working on project cars since 2001 and attended SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) for fourteen years. RLM has won numerous awards from their local car shows to SEMA shows, Goodguys events, Import Face-offs, Extreme Autofest events, Hot Import Nights events, and Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational to name a few.

This 2012 SEMA Show car is a 1995 Nissan Skyline R33 with a 2.5 liter turbo motor

Ben and Shane found the 1995 Nissan Skyline R33 on Craigslist, bought it and transformed it in time for the 2012 SEMA show. There are only a handful of these cars in America being that they were banned after failing crash test standards shortly after their introduction to the U.S. The cars that were already on American soil were "grandfathered" in and given a separate VIN number from the Department of Transportation which made them legal. Not only is this 1995 Nissan Skyline R33 a rare sight to see, so are finding car parts for it. Ben says "We rewired the whole car, put on a new body kit, rebuilt the engine, added new wheels and tires, and tried to keep the car as stock appearance as possible."

Red Lion Motorsports and their never ending online access to over 500,000 parts allowed them to transform the 1995 Nissan Skyline R33 right hand drive inside and out with any parts that where compatible and here are the spec's:

Engine:
RB25DET twin cam 2.5 liter

Engine Mods:

This 1995 Skyline R33 was not just part of the 2012 SEMA show it also attended the 2012 Optima Street Car Challenge

-K&N Air Filter
-Greddy intake manifold
-Greddy intercooler
-Upgraded mass air flow sensor from a 350Z
-CP turbo forged pistons
-Eagle rods
-Clevite bearings
-Cometic gaskets
-Supertech oversize valves and titanium keepers and springs
-Port & polish
-NGK plugs
-NRG catch can
-Garett GT3076R turbo
-Deatsch Werks 300 fuel pump and 820cc injectors
-HKS wastegate
-Tial blow off valve

Drivetrain:
-Spec Stage 2 clutch and flywheel.

Suspension:

Green is a great color for theis 1995 Nissan Skyline found at the 2012 SEMA show

Green is a great color for this 1995 Nissan Skyline found at the 2012 SEMA show

-Tein suspension driving spec control master type flex
-Tein pillow ball tension rods.

Exhaust:
-Buddyclub 3" turbo-back Exhaust

Brakes:
-Brembo dual piston calipers
-Stock rotors

Wheels:
Enkei RPF1 18 x 9.5 all the way around with NRG lug nuts

Tires:
Falken Azenis RT-615

Exterior:
-Carbon Creations carbon fiber hood
-Vertical Doors Lambo Doors
-Custom green metallic paint color

The RB25 motor in this 1995 Skyline was build the way they should be for a SEMA show

Interior:
-NRG carbon fiber steering wheel with NRG quick release
-Apexi on board electronics

Gratitude to: "K&N, Vertical Doors, NRG Innovations, Foose Design, Falken Tire, Extreme Dimensions, Mothers Polish, Deatsch Werks, FAT/Snail performance, Optima Batteries. If it wasn't for these company's taking us under their wing and believing in us over the years, RLM would not exist! THANK YOU ALL!!!"

You should also read about Red Lion Motorsports' SEMA 2010 Turbocharged Chevy Cobalt SS and these two highly custom Nissan 350z at SEMA show 2011.

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.

Nikki Dunn Makes the Switch from Drag Racing to Dirt Track and is Hooked

14 Dec 2012

Drag racing since a young age, nursing student, Nikki Dunn , has recently acquired a burning passion for dirt-track racing

While attending nursing school in her home town of Hot Springs, Arkansas, Nikki Dunn appears as a typical young female with typical aspirations. When class is over though, Dunn enters a world where few women dare to go - the world of racing!

Growing up in a drag racing family, Dunn is no stranger to the mindset of spending the weekend at the track. In fact, Dunn also acutely understands what it takes to line up against a fellow driver and embark in a little friendly competition, as she has been drag racing for several years.

Although a passion for drag racing is instilled in the young driver, she recently turned over a new leaf. You got it, she experienced her first taste of dirt track racing. And it didn’t take many laps for Dunn to become hooked.

“I’ve always loved dirt track racing,” explained Dunn. “Dirt track racing is way different from drag racing. In drag racing, there are only two cars, but in dirt track there are up to seventy-five cars on the track at once. The hardest thing for me to learn is how to drive the turns right.”

Racing in the Enduro class, Dunn will have ample opportunity to practice navigating turns. In fact, she and her passenger begin each race with 200 laps in front of them or as many as they can complete in two hours.

Nikki Dunn and her crew “freshens the motor” and prepares her car with a new coat of paint prior to every race

The driver has competed in two enduro races thus far, and has already learned how the rigors of dirt track have an adverse effect on one’s car. Seventy-five laps into her premier event, Dunn’s engine overheated, and in turn had to be rebuilt. The following race was also tainted with mechanical problems in lap eighty-five, when her car died and wouldn’t start.

When asked her strong point as a driver, Dunn said, “Knowing how to control the car. I feel like my drag racing career taught me to control the car easily. My drag racing experience has been good for me, because it has taken my nerves down. When I get in the car, I’m not as scared as I used to be. Also, with drag racing, I’ve learned how to work on cars more and I know more about them.”

With any endeavor, success comes to those who realize their faults and strive to conquer them. Although new to the sport of dirt track racing Nikki Dunn is perfectly aware of her weak points as a driver and is eager to improve.

“I feel like I have so many weak points right now. I am still new to the dirt track world,” she commented. “I just need to learn more about how to drive in a turn, and not to get scared when I’m in turns with other cars. I think the key to success is to just work hard and practice my driving skills as much as I can, so I can get the driving pattern down, and know how to race well.”

Although new to the dirt track scene, Nikki Dunn’s experience as a drag racer has taught her important aspects of the sport, other than driving. Referring to the importance of her crew, she said, “I consider my team a very important part of my racing. If I did not have them, I would not be where I am now. They’ve helped me keep my car together, and also were the ones who gave me the car. They are responsible for me being able to run at the races.”

Dunn is also aware that maintenance is an essential element of the game, and is a strong advocate of using K&N products for her filtering needs.

“I feel that maintenance has played a huge part in my racing,” she explained. “Before each race, we always have to freshen the motor and put a fresh coat of paint on the car. I have always had a K&N filter on my race car and have loved it,” Dunn continued. “Their products have made a huge difference in my daily driving as well, because it has improved my gas mileage.”

Nikki Dunn is still young in the sport of racing and has many years of fun and excitement waiting in the future. Referring to her plans in the world of racing she said, “I plan to keep dirt track racing. We are getting a mini-sprint, so I will be driving that next year, as well as my enduro car. My dad has also talked about getting another drag car, and letting me run it. I would love to be able to do both, but I love dirt track racing so much more, because it’s a longer race.”

When asked what her fans can expect in the future, Nikki Dunn said, “Fans can expect so much from Nikki Dunn in the next few years! I will be racing a mini-sprint next season. Hopefully, in the next few years, I’ll be racing worldwide, and hope to one day make it to the “Chili Bowl” and race with the big-time drivers.”

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.

Speedtec Motorsport Closes 2012 Dutch Supercar Challenge Championship Second Overall

14 Dec 2012

The BMW Zilhouette Z4’s proved that they have the speed to be a serious championship contender in 2013

Holland's K&N supported Speedtec Motorsport team took the Dutch Supercar Challenge Championship down to the last race at TT Circuit Assen, in Assen, Netherlands. Last season the team’s consistency produced nine podiums in the 16 race series, and they clinched the championship before the last race. This season the team didn’t just have to contend with competing on the track, and with being the marked defending champions, but they also battled with various mechanical issues. Yet, despite those challenges Robert de Graaff and Philippe Ribbens, driving the ETEC-Dodge Viper, finished the Supercar Challenge Super GT Division in second place.

Philippe Ribbens qualified the Viper into a respectable fourth place in Assen, but he felt that the car was capable of much more. "During the second free practice I noticed that there was something not quite right on the car," said Ribbens. "After an inspection, our engineers found that a connection in the differential was going bad.”

The team put together a huge effort and had the Viper ready to race in time for the first race on Saturday. Ribbens started the race and said it felt a bit “nervous” at first. After another quick adjustment the Viper was running near its capabilities, and when Ribbens brought the car in the pits for the driver change, he was in third place. The pit crew then managed to send de Graaff back on the track in second place. After some intense back-forth racing the duo of de Graaff and Ribbens finished the day on the second tier of the podium.

Leo Van der Eijk and Bas Schouten drove their BMW Zilhouette to third place in the last TT Circuit Assen race

Although the racing eventually went relatively smoothly for the team on Saturday, Sunday’s race seemed destined to be plagued by problems. During Sunday’s contest the Speedtec team once more battled to get the ETEC-Viper in the second spot and pressuring first place. However this time an electrical failure in the traction control system surfaced and the Viper immediately dropped back into sixth place.

"That was difficult to adjust to in the final laps,” said Ribbens, “Because you normally rely very much on such a system. Now I had to press very gently on the gas, because otherwise I would wear out the tires within a few laps.”

The electrical problem was later traced back to the onboard Live Stream camera. It was the first time the team used the system to broadcast live to the local TV station. “We must have hit some cables during the pit stop,” added Ribbens.

It wasn’t a trouble-free weekend, or year, for Robert de Graaff and Philippe Ribbens, nevertheless the two drivers looked back at the season as being highly successful in the long run. “It just wasn’t our weekend,” remarked de Graaff. “But we still finished with second and fourth place, and that’s something the whole team can be proud of.”

The Dunlop Supercar Challenge in Assen also completed the first season for the pair of Speedtec Motorsport BMW Zilhouette Z4’s driven by Leo Van der Eijk and Bas Schouten and the van Vliet brothers Nico and Peter. For Van der Eijk and Schouten it was the first time racing together in the Zilhouettes and they finished their Saturday contest on the podium in third place. The TT Circuit Assen race was a truly impressive first outing for the duo.

Even though the driving team of Robert de Graaff and Philippe Ribbens had several mechanical problems during the season they still finished second in the Supercar Challenge Super GT Division

Things didn’t go as well for Nico and Peter on Sunday though. "The engine temperature ran too high, towards the 140-150 degrees (Centigrade). That's just too much, because that should be approximately around the 110 degrees," said Nico. Before the overheating problem the brothers were running comfortably with the lead cars. They eventually finished the race out of the points. Nico and Peter van Vliet still managed to cap their 2012 season with a solid sixth place in the overall point standings.

"It was a year with ups and downs, but we have shown that the Speedtec Zilhouette is a car with potency,” said team owner Peter van Vliet. “Next year the cars will definitely be in the fight for victories in the Supersport-Division, and we will decide this winter to see how we are going to get the seats filled in again in 2013."

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.

Samantha Kenny Makes Strides Towards Successful Career in NHRA Super Comp Class

14 Dec 2012

Samantha Kenny got her drag racing license as a birthday present from her father

Samantha Kenny reached the fifth round in the Super Comp division at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series season finale at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona.

Her dad and her brother were hoping she could add another Wally trophy to their collection. But she fell a little short.

Alan Kenny, Samantha’s dad, won the Super Comp national championship. Jason Kenny, her brother, won the Super Comp event in Las Vegas two weeks prior to the season finale in Pomona.

Of the three, Samantha Kenny was the only one to reach the final day of eliminations at Pomona. She had the whole family pulling for her on the final race of the season.

“It’s actually been my best season as well,” the 30-year-old Samantha Kenny said. “Went rounds a lot divisionally. Trying to help dad out and go rounds here was incredible. Seem to get in a rhythm when the pressure’s on, I seem to do better.”

She was put in a bit of a pressure situation at Pomona. Her dad was knocked out early and his nearest competitor in the Super Comp standings, Stephan Kondolay , was still alive. Samantha Kenny and Kondolay were supposed to meet in the fifth round of eliminations.

But Kondolay was knocked out in the fourth round, lifting some of the pressure off of Samantha and securing the championship for Alan Kenny.

Samantha Kenny drives the black dragster in the NHRA Super Comp class

“I always had a feeling he was going to win it no matter what," Samantha Kenny said. "It was nerve wracking and Stefan kept progressing rounds. I had my game face on and I was ready to face him if I had to.”

Samantha Kenny beat Shane Molinari in the fourth round at Pomona. She had a reaction time of 0.007 seconds and won the race with a time of 8.943 seconds. She lost to Matt Constant in the fifth round.

“It was a good finish, nothing to hang our head about,” Alan Kenny said. “Looking forward to next year already.”

Kondolay lost to Constant in the fourth round when he jumped the start 0.002 seconds too soon.

“Winning first round is the biggest thing for me,” Samantha Kenny said. “It’s always the most nerve wracking for everybody. I’ve been driving really good, making some decent decisions at the finish line, which has helped.”

Samantha Kenny started drag racing about nine years ago. She earned her drag racing license as a birthday present from her dad and brother, but she admits it took her a while to warm up to the idea of racing full time.

“I competed in figure skating for 13 years,” said Samantha Kenny, who grew up in Canada with her family and lives in Ohio. “It was a birthday gift to go get my drag racing license at Frank Hawley’s in Florida. I wasn’t really excited about going. They’re good at it and that’s what they do. I was just, like, oh well, whatever.”

Family and friends make drag racing full time easier for Samantha Kenny

After her second run at the driving school, Alan Kenny said his daughter took off her helmet and had the biggest smile on her face. He said, “We got another one.”

Racing with her dad and brother has another advantage. It keeps the family close.

“I guess it’s something I never thought I’d want to do, but we live in three different places, two different countries, we see each other probably more than some families see each other when they live in the same city,” Samantha Kenny said. “Every weekend we race together, we support each other. We’re up there fighting for each other. With dad in the championship this year, Jason and I got to help out, trying to take some contenders out made a team effort out of it. It’s been incredible.”

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