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The cars appointments are minimalist and flawless.
Like a mysterious black night blanketing an azure sea of rolling silver tipped waves, mystified gazers were lured in for closer assessment. Seriously. The 2005 Nissan 2.5L Altima that Tracee Hiler created for the 2010 SEMA show was like poetry for your eyes.
Hiler's Nissan Altima has 22 inch Helos and with the fully adjustable suspension it's able to lay the cross member to the ground.
For those familiar with Hiler's vehicular exploits this latest creation comes as no surprise. While most toddlers are still trying to get the hang of their toddler-walkers, Hiler was already attempting routine maintenance on mom and pop's car.
"I have been into cars since before I could walk," said Hiler. "My parents told me the story that when I was about six months old, I was in my little walker with a wrench in my hand, and I was trying to put it on the lug-nuts of our car. It probably doesn't help when you have a father and grandfather that totally passionate about cars too - so it was completely expected that I would be as well.
The custom paint work is stunning from any angle.
Regarding the work done to the 2005 Nissan Altima SEMA show car Hiler says that it rides on a fully adjustable suspension (air-bags), the cross member is capable of laying on the ground, while the car rolls on four 22 inch Helos.
"I have full custom paint work done, rear suicide doors, full black leather and black suede interior, full custom audio/video system, which includes Fusion components and two 12 inch Subwoofers," adds Hiler.
The car garners attention wherever it parks.
"Also, there's an Alpine DVD/CD deck and a 10.5" monitor in the dash, cross drilled slotted and vented rotors, upper and lower billet grilles from TRex Grilles, and a full cold-air intake system from K&N Engineering."
Hiler says K&N has been the go-to choice for as far back as can be remembered. "Being into the car scene, K&N is everywhere, and that's because it's such a great product. I have had many K&N cold-air intakes on other vehicles over the years. I love the intake system on my Nissan, not only does it sound and look good, its added horsepower."
Over the years Hiler has managed to remain automotively well rounded by refusing to be limited by any one particular style.
"I can appreciate all sorts of cars from the hotrod scene, mini truck scene, import scene, and low-rider scene," explained Hiler. "I have friends that are into each one of those categories. I do have a full-time job that I enjoy, but aside from that, my major hobby is cars."
"I live in Arizona and I would have to say that it is a perfect state to live in for car shows, along with all other things that involve being outdoors. I would like to thank Steven Burkett with Show Cars Inc., if it wasn't for him I wouldn't have gotten in touch with the majority of my current sponsors, such as K&N, which in return made it possible for me to bring my car to SEMA. I had a blast and hope to go to many more in the future!"
The SCORE Baja 1000 race is probably the most well known race in the western world. This year, veteran racer Nick Nelson took first place on his class 24 450cc ATV. He raced with the MXN Nutrition Team of Brandon Brown, Jorie Williams, Mike Bender, Kenney Sanford, and Michael Kelley III. ATVs have been part of the Baja racing line up since 1986. A lot has changed on ATVs since then, but this year the thing that got Nick the win was K&N's ATV power lid.
Nick Nelson preparing for the SCORE Baja 1000 race
"We won't race without at least 8 of them for the 1000" said Nick "it allows you to bury the quad in silt without damaging the motor or clogging the air filter at all."
Baja may be famous for its vehicles, teams, technologies, and drivers, but the race itself is well known by racers for dangerous conditions, both human and geographically. The race uses open highways and crosses the peninsula five times almost shore to shore. The 1000 features 17 pit stops. This product lets you change the box filter without shutting off the motor or removing the air filter. A huge plus in dusty conditions as other racers pass. Not to mention the time you could lose with a temperamental restart.
Nick Nelson getting fuel at the SCORE Baja 1000 race
This was Nick's fourth point to point and tenth Baja 1000. Determined to make it one of the best and safest he came up with a plan to layout the logistics of the race and pre-running, using his whole team. "We decided that Brandon, Kenney and I would be pre-running the southern half with my wife driving chase. Michael Kelley and Jorie would handle OJOS to Bay of LA, and we would appoint Mike Bender to ride the Bay of LA to San Ignacio."
Nick has spent thousands of miles getting to know Baja with his friends. Just the pre running alone can be as challenging as the race itself. "The best part of finishing a great week of pre running in La Paz is finishing and the worst part is the 1000 miles of 2 lane highway back to Ensenada for the start. On the return trip the K&N Power Lid paid for itself once again "In Baja you can never let up no matter how big your lead or deficit is, because anything can and does happen down there." Despite having no first gear he was just a few minutes behind the next racer. Hammering through the terrain, it soon threw him into another dreaded silt filed river bed. With sand a fine as talcum powder and with nowhere to downshift too Nick was suddenly buried and stopped in the middle of the track. He kept the motor running, and 30 miles from the nearest town, got help lifting the ATV out of the silt from several locals camping to see the race. "Then I pulled the completely clogged K&N Filter lid off, beat it on the tire to clear it as much as possible, reinstalled it, and was off."
"I love coming down to Baja, everything slows down and gets simpler here around the race itself." It was an extremely close finish, but after times, pits, and penalties were added Nick the MXN Nutrition Team came away with the overall win for the ATV class.
Outlaw Racing Kart Chrome Class Champion Collin Thomas
In the Pacific North West there is as dirt go kart racing class for kids. Collin Thomas won his first racing event at 10 years old. The Outlaw Racing Kart Chrome Class is a dirt oval track race, 12 race season with about 14 other racers to compete against. He took first 11 times this year.
Collin Thomas' 6.5 horsepower kart with honda clone motor
The vehicles feature a 6.5 horse power "honda clone" motor to be used without any modification. Winning the season in Kettle Falls, WA was fun enough, but Collin also won Rookie and Sportsman of the year. His father was extremely proud, seeing as how these two awards are not won, but given by teammates' votes. It's great to see that some sports and sports figures still have the moral integrity to acknowledge sportsmanship. Given Sam's racing career and stories, it's clear to see where his son learned how to be recognized for these awards.
Collin Thomas took first place 11 times this year.
"We live in a town of about 1,800 people; if you don't do well in practice you won't be around long," Said Collins dad, Sam. Collin's dad, Sam Thomas, is an established mud drag racer and his grandfather Rodney Thomas, drag raced as well. So he was all too eager to start racing himself. He started at 5.
Having saved and bought one to practice at home, him and his dad spent months practicing on a dilapidated hand-me-down kart until they were able to restore a newer model with a more modern motor, out of their small auto-garage business in Canada. "The proper filtration is what lets us win," said Sam, "it is especially important in dirt racing, and that's why we use K&N filters."
Collin entered the race and instantly started building a great rapport with the community aiding other racers and teams at every event. He will start jr. drag racing soon, and plans to apply what he learned in his first race there too. A good filter like K&N makes for a good motor, and words from his grandfather "relax and enjoy it, it's just racing."
Vaughn throwing it sideways leading Fredric Aasbo in Irwindale, CA
2010 has been Vaughn's year. He won the 2010 Formula DRIFT season, got engaged to his girlfriend and now fiancée Abigail, and built and debuted the heavily anticipated RTR-X Mustang. The RTR-X Mustang as well as Vaughn's K&N Sponsored Monster Energy/Falken Tire Ford Racing Mustang were on display at SEMA and drew lots of attention throughout the entire show.
Vaughn's 2011 Mustang drift car in the Falken Tire booth at SEMA 2010.
Vaughn drove a 2005 Mustang in the Formula DRIFT series prior to the 2011 beast of a ‘Stang that helped propel him to become the 2010 Formula DRIFT Champion. This 2011 Mustang is no ordinary pony by any means, and anyone who stopped by the Falken Tire booth this year at SEMA saw that first hand. An entirely carbon fiber body and Ford Racing 302 V8 motor give the machine a great power to weight ratio, and a full Tien suspension, Falken tires, and HRE wheels help to put that massive power to the ground.
The RTR-X had to have the floor raised 5 inches to get the car to sit that low
And of course, K&N filters provide excellent filtration and flow for the air, oil, and breather systems on the Mustang. Vaughn's Mustang was one of the meanest sounding rides on the Formula DRIFT circuit and never failed to provide a great show for the fains.
Kinsler throttle bodies sticking up through the hood add a nice aggressive touch to the lines of the Mustang.
While Vaughn's 2011 Mustang is definitely an impressive machine, the Need For Speed RTR-X Mustang was the ‘Stang to see at SEMA this year. The build story and build quality behind this car are epic to say the least. The RTR-X began as a '69 Mustang body from Dynacorn, received a custom Art Morrison sub-frame and control arms, and chassis work courtesy of the masters at Steen Chassis. The team incorporated a throw-back style cantilever rear suspension from Maier Racing, Watts rear linkage, JRI shocks, and Falken tires wrapped around Work Meister wheels.
Custom flared fender wells and rear spoiler help to give the RTR-X a sleek look.
All of this impressive suspension and tire work perfectly matched the MoTeC tuned Ford Racing Boss 302R V8 with custom Kinsler individual throttle bodies that the team put at the heart of the beast, which was mated to a Ford Racing Boss 302R1 six-speed transmission. K&N filters were used in each throttle body and the oil system. The performance of the RTR-X is exquisitely matched by the custom metal work done by Mark Delong out of San Diego, and the custom interior courtesy of Stitchcraft. The list goes on and on, and passersby the Ford booth at SEMA this year stopped dead in their tracks when they saw the beauty first hand. The attention to even the smallest of details is evident in every aspect of the RTR-X, and Vaughn and the people involved in the build of this piece of art definitely deserve every accolade they receive for bringing the concept into reality.
SEMA 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada was a phenomenal show and the custom builds only get better and more detailed as the years go by. Vaughn Gittin Jr. and the two Mustangs he brought to the show detail the nitty gritty, bare bones performance needed for racing as well as the beauty and artwork that can go hand-in-hand with that performance. The Need For Speed RTR-X has set the bar for custom retro Mustang concepts, and with imagination, passion, and dedication, who knows what road-ripping masterpieces will be unveiled at SEMA in 2011.
The win at the 46th Annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals gives Fletcher his 70th NHRA event victory, moving him into seventh on the all-time NHRA winner's list.
Pomona, California is about as far away from Dan Fletcher's Churchville, New York home as he cares to get. But, the K&N sponsored driver likes it there, at least long enough to polish off another drag race. Last month Fletcher put the shine on the 46th Annual Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA Finals, by taking the Competition Eliminator victory.
Fletcher nailed the tree and took the Competition Eliminator victory by only six feet over Vinny Barone.
Piloting Rick Braun's 2008 Chevy Cobalt, Fletcher nailed the tree with a 0.002 RT and managed to take the win by a mere six feet over Vinny Barone.
"Yes, Pomona has been quite good to me," admitted Fletcher. "I have won there often. I think I've won one class or another in five out of six events there. My overall season was a mixed bag though."
And by "mixed bag" Fletcher illustrates that he has positioned the bar exceptionally high for himself. He reached a total of nine finals in 2010 winning over 60 percent of those he entered. The win in the 46th Annual Automobile Club finals was Fletcher's fifth win for the season, and the 70th NHRA event victory in his storied career. With the win in Pomona Fletcher has now passed legendary nitro racer Kenny Bernstein, moving him up into the number seven spot on the all-time NHRA winner's list.
So what does a drag racing legend do with his time off from racing? "I've been more than a little busy plowing snow, and we just bought all new computers, and have struggled to get everything up and running."
Fletcher will return to Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in the spring of 2011 to kick off his next history making season. "For now, I'm just plowing snow and hoping that the firewood holds out," said Fletcher.
