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The STAR Late Model Series is designed as a cost-effective, entry-level racer
Have you had a hankering to start racing but can't find an affordable racecar dealership? We can hook you up with exactly the right guy. Hank Scott from Concord, North Carolina owns Real Race Cars, a company that successfully quells the spousal inquisition, "You wanna buy a what?" Interestingly enough, Scott is also irrevocably linked to the founders of K&N.
The three-quarter-scale cars are capable of running with the big-boys in some scenarios
The STAR Late Model Series is designed as a cost-effective way for entry-level racers to run on both dirt and asphalt. STAR is an acronym for, Scale Two Application Racecar, although the platform is based on a dirt late model, with few minor changes it will run on asphalt as well.
This particular series is designed to transition the "up and comer" into a full size Late Model, and give racers a venue to compete competitively on a weekly basis while still on a budget. With similar four-bar suspension geometry to its big brother, the three-quarter-scale dirt late model is powered by a 1250cc Yamaha motorcycle engine, which produces 150hp. This is the same power plant used in similar scale car applications, and they are also readily available brand new, or used from RRC.
Cars can be purchased as kits, rollers, or in turn key form. A turnkey car from Real Race Cars (RRC) can be custom built with optional equipment installed. Base cars start at $19,500.00 race ready, and a loaded car fitted with a full gauge cluster, three-stage oil system, coolers, fans, and a Butler seat is $22,500.00. Frames are powder coated black, and bodies come in black or white.
Yamaha motorcycle engine equipped with K&N filter produces 150hp
"The STAR series is great for all regions of the country, and its application can be conducive to the tracks in your area," explains Scott. "On tracks of 4/10ths and smaller the STAR car will rival the times of any full-size car, and in some cases it will run faster."
"Short Tracks around the country are looking for something new and different to add to their weekly programs. The STAR series offers both a dirt late model that runs on asphalt, and on dirt, that will rival lap times of cars three-times the cost. We anticipate not only regional divisions across the country, but local tracks, that will have there own weekly division with track champions," says Scott.
Scott and RRC have committed this year to traveling to various racetracks with their two house cars and running demo races. "Many local tracks in the North and South Carolina area are interested in starting divisions, or running select shows for the end of 2010, and full seasons in 2011," adds Scott.
As for Scott's long running relationship with K&N he says it reaches all the way back to 1967, when he first raced with Norm and Kenny's (K&N founders) kids on his Honda 50. In 1973 Scott became the number one Junior in the nation. He followed that up in 1974 by becoming Rookie of the Year, finishing eighth in the points and winning his first of 17 Nationals at the Syracuse Mile.
"My brother Gary raced for K&N back in 70's, at Ascot, on a Yamaha Twin," says Scott. Scott actually began his involvement with racing more than 40 years ago. Hailing from California, Scott began traveling with his older brother, Gary, as he raced flat-tracks all across the country. That year, Gary finished 2nd in the nation.
"My relationship continued throughout those years, more with Kenny than anyone else. I even had my own handle bar bent for me and sold as the K&N number 24 handlebar," reflects Scott.
"I can tell you with certainty, that everyone of my National wins came with me using K&N air cleaners, and of course the handlebars. Even though K&N has changed hands, I still carry on my relationship with the company, because it has always been so committed to the racer, by first manufacturing a superior product, and all the while maintaining it's commitment to the racer in support. K&N has Bob Harris to oversee the operations of racer support and I want to thank him."
As far as where Real Race Cars is headed down the road Scott says, "We will continue to build engines for the sport of Legend Cars, we have already built over 7000, as well as a host of performance items for serious Legend racers."
"The Star Late Model is our latest project, and we are committed to it, because we believe it's a great product that will be instrumental in producing the next generation of great racers to a sport in which has seen my involvement for 40 plus years. Thanks K&N for all the great years and a product unmatched in the racing industry."
When reporting on racers it's often unavoidable to make the connection to family racing lineage, that's not the case with San Antonio, Texas drag racer Marty Ladwig. We want to note his roots simply because they're cool. Marty's dad worked as an intelligence analyst for the National Security Agency (NSA). Yeah, that's right, Marty's father works to keep us all protected so we can continue to race on.
Marty putting the personal touch on pre-race preparations
When Marty was ten he moved with his family from Okinawa, Japan, to the United States. For the next two decades, because of his father's job, the family continued to relocate, going from California to Illinois, then El Paso, Texas, finally settling in San Antonio.
Marty didn't start racing until after graduating from high school, racing his suped-up Firebird and various motorcycles, at tracks like Alamo Dragway, San Antonio Raceway and Temple Academy Raceway. In '01 Marty decided to stay strictly with racing cars, for the time being, and wouldn't change until he won two AMA/Prostar National Championships.
The Intel analyst gene appears to be paying huge dividends for Marty when he hits the dragstrip, rewarding him with success wherever he runs. "We were really happy with last season," says Marty. "We finally decided to try NHRA Comp Eliminator racing and qualified number one at all three events we attended, two National events and a Divisional."
An engine shakedown between passes
"It was fun, but we found out there is more to winning in the class than having a fast car. This year we will have radios, so we can communicate about letting off the gas, or staying in it. We are used to running all out in heads up, pro-tree classes, but we'll get it. Also, it was cool to set a NHRA National record in our class in Las Vegas at 7.23 @ 199mph," adds Marty.
Marty also ran at an Import Face-Off event in San Antonio and won the Outlaw Class, setting a personal best record of 203.90mph. "Our car is a front wheel drive, four-cylinder Chevy Cobalt. It has a full-tube chassis and full carbon fiber body," explains Marty. "It is powered by a 2.2 liter Ecotec engine with a single TiAL turbo, running on methanol, and it puts out about 1500 hp. We hold the ET records with the last three major Sport Compact Series (NHRA, NOPI and BOTI) with a 7.16 ET."
"My ultimate racing goal is to compete in a NHRA Top Fuel or Funny Car," says Marty. "Every time I see one go down the track I try to study what's going on and what the driver is doing." We suspect that's the Intel gene at work.
"The next best thing is Pro-Stock Motorcycle. I'm putting one together and hopefully I'll be able to bring it out this season," adds Marty.
"Working with K&N has been great, their support has been the difference in us being able compete at the level we do. More importantly though is that K&N has products that we can rely upon. The HP-3001 oil filter that we use has provided us with 100 percent reliability through four seasons of multiple race wins and records set. It has done an awesome job of enduring 100psi+ of oil pressure and filtering the oil so that we have had zero engine problems in four years of racing."
"No amount of support is worth it unless a product helps you win, and with K&N we have won 11 races, hold four current records, and we were the first front-wheel drive to set a record over 200mph in drag racing," adds Marty confidently.
For the 2010 season Marty's main goal, for now, is to be the first to run a six-second pass with a front-wheel drive. "We are really close and we learned a few things last season, so I am really looking forward to making some passes in this year," concludes Marty.
K&N manufactures a wide variety of air filters designed to fit numerous applications. K&N air filters feature a washable and reusable cotton media designed to supply increased airflow while providing excellent filtration.
K&N 14" round custom air filter
K&N has released a round custom air filter E-1650 with a 14" (356mm) outside diameter, 12" (305mm) inside diameter and a height of 3.063" (78mm). This air filter is designed to achieve high, virtually unrestricted air flow while maintaining filtration levels critical to ensure long engine life.
The E-1650 can be used with many 14" custom assemblies. K&N manufactures many 14" outside diameter air filters of differing heights. Use K&N's round air filter search by dimension on KNFilters.com to find the perfect 14" air filter for your needs.
K&N stock replacement air filters for street vehicles are covered by the K&N Million Mile Limited Warranty. K&N air filters used for racing or off-road use come with a one year limited warranty.
K&N booth at the 2010 Autosport International Show
In January, 2010, over 85,000 visiters attended the world's largest motorsport show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, United
Kingdom. The Autosport International 2010 offered auto enthusiasts a closer look at some of the rarest and most impressive racing cars from around the world. Jenson Button, Martin Brundle, Allan McNish and Sir Stirling Moss were some of the big motorsport names in attendance.
The
Gumpert Apollo Sport
was used in 2009 to set the BBC Top Gear lap record of 1 minute and 17.1 seconds.
All categories of track and off-road motor racing were represented at the Autosport International show. The show featured a variety of sections providing easy access to information
on different aspects of the sport. These sections included historic racing, karting,
oval racing, national motorsport and careers in motorsport.
This annual motorsports show offered something for all aspects of the trade. From industry professionals
to automotive enthusiasts actively involved in the sport to motorsport fans who simply wanted to follow their favorite car or driver,
the Autosport International show had something for everyone.
The Gumpert Apollo Sport is a street-legal race car with a base of 700 hp.
K&N set up a booth at the 2010 Autosport International Show to answer questions
and offer visitors information on K&N performance air filters and induction
kits.
The Gumpert Apollo Sport car was the centerpiece of the K&N booth
The centerpiece of the K&N stand was the Gumpert Apollo Sport used in 2009 to set the BBC Top Gear lap record of 1 minute and 17.1 seconds. It was also the fastest production car around the Nurburgring,
a famous motorsport race track in Germany, at 7 minutes and 11.57 seconds. The car is equipped with K&N filters as factory fit.
The Gumpert Apollo Sport is a 1100 kg (2425 lb), street-legal race car with a base of 700 hp and 687 lb/ft of torque. It was designed to take on the Porsche 911 GT3. The Apollo is a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive two-seater, constructed on a tubular Chromoly frame, with fiberglass or optional carbon fiber body panels.
Over 85,000 visiters packed the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, UK
An Audi 4.2L V8 700 hp bi turbo engine is joined to a six-speed sequential gearbox with Formula 1 influences. Top speed is 224 mph with 0–62 mph reached in 3.0 seconds and 0-120 mph reached in 8.8 seconds, making it the 9th best accelerating production car in the world. A new 800 bhp version is also being created.
"He (Carter) was really impressed with the winged Midgets and told us he would like to return," said owner Tim Bertrand.
In the not too distant future you will be able to insure that your offspring come fully loaded with the decoded racecar-driver genome sequencing, for now we'll have to go about it the old fashion way. That's how USAC Open Wheel Divisions driver Cole Carter came about his knack for racing - he inherited it. Cole is a third generation racer, his father is Duane "Pancho" Carter, Jr.
Bertrand Motorsports and Cole Carter team for winning combo
Born in Racine, Wisconsin, Pancho was a Sprint and Midget racer and is most noted for his participation in CART Races. Pancho is also the son of IndyCar racer Duane Carter. The story goes that Pancho was born while his parents were on the way to a race at the Milwaukee Mile.
"My father owns my USAC Midget, and we co-own the USAC Sprint car together," explains Cole. "He is at most of my races when he's not at the IndyCar Series events that he works as a driver development coach for Panther Racing. I also spot at the oval IRL races for Luczo Dragon Racing. He plays a big role with the team because of his years of experience, and he is a great attribute for me to have as a driver."
From the driver's point of view, the season went reasonably well, according Cole. "Last season went relatively well. We didn't run that many races compared to our competition, but we finished in the Top Ten in half of the races we ran," says Cole. Carter Racing concentrated on the portion of the USAC schedules, in both Sprints and Midgets, which were close to Indianapolis. They also competed in as many local Sprint shows as possible.
"Although the season had its low points and DNF's, we consistently were in contention for local Indiana sprint wins, and in the hunt for the USAC shows. In addition to driving the Carter Racing entries, I also ran three races aboard the Tim Bertrand, Bertrand Motorsports K&N sponsored NEMA Midget, finishing in the top five at the World Series at Thompson International Speedway and runner up at the Boston Louie Seymour Memorial at Seekonk Speedway."
"The cars ran well last year, except for a few motor issues," continues Cole. "The new Maxim Sprint chassis was fast all season, no matter where we went. The Midget side of things was where the motor issues arose. Although the K&N oil filters we used did their job, the sensitive nature of the four-cylinder saw some engine failures on larger tracks. Still, at Iowa Speedway, we managed a sixth place finish on the 7/8th mile track."
Cole sees his relationship with K&N growing nicely. "Their products are second to none, and they are a company focused on racing and performance in a big way. I'm happy to be with them for a second season and look to do bigger and better things in the future. Currently we are using the Sprint Air Filters, Pre-Chargers, and the K&N Oil Filters."
For 2010, the Carter Racing season is shaping up pretty much the same as last year. They will compete again in USAC Sprint and Midget races, along with a few select races with Bertrand Motorsports in the NEMA Series. "I'm also looking to run for some other Sprint teams in the 2010 season," adds Cole.
