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Bob Dietz and Dave Ward began racing together ten years ago. They went to the track prepared. One year earlier they built the Dinosaur. It is a 1948 modified Fiat with a fiberglass body. It resembles a car from the early 1960s, runs on alcohol and has one of the shortest wheel bases on the track in the American Nostalgia Racing Association Series.
1948 Modified Fiat named the Dinosaur is powered by a supercharged small block Chevy motor
The Dinosaur can next be seen at the 2009 California Hot Rod Reunion at Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, California
“We raced in the Goodguys Hot Rod Drag Racing Series with a fuel injected motor for the first five years,” said Bob Dietz. “We switched to a supercharged small block Chevy motor in 2005.”
Team Dinosaur depends on K&N oil filters to keep it's supercharged small block Chevrolet motor alive
2007 and 2008 American Nostalgia Racing Association Champions Bob Dietz and Dave Ward are also leading the points in 2009
Dietz and Ward built the Dinosaur to run at nostalgia events including the ANRA, American Nostalgia Racing Association and the NHRA Heritage Series. They are the 2007 and 2008 ANRA Champions and are the points leaders with only one race left in the 2009 series. “We were also national champions in the 2008 NHRA Heritage Series,” said Dietz. “We will finish in 6th place in 2009.”
Dinosaur Racing has a great crew and takes pride in its racing operation. “Dave and I do all the maintenance on the car,” said Dietz. “In ten years of racing we have only missed one run down the track because of mechanical failure.”
Team Dinosaur uses the best products on its car. “In the end the best products show in performance and reliability,” said Dietz. “The biggest cause of engine failure in this type of racing is oil system related. That’s because of the fuel we use and the amount of horsepower we make.”
One of the keys to keeping an engine alive is making sure your oil is clean, he said. “The K&N oil filters, product number
HP-3002, that we run on the
Dinosaur are the best we have ever used,” said Dietz. “We have run the same engine bearing for at least two years and that is proof positive that our K&N oil filter is doing its job. K&N filters also give us the confidence we need to perform at the top of our race program.”
Dietz and Ward’s next event will be the 2009 California Hot Rod Reunion at Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, California on October 16-18.
Bryan Clauson began racing at an early age. His hard work has been paying off.
On Friday night Bryan Clauson of Noblesville, Indiana won the POWRI National Midget event at Morgan County Speedway - the next evening he took the checkered again at the annual Tom Knowles Memorial O'Reilly event at Spoon River Speedway. One week later, driving a Sprite car in a single race event called the Haubstadt Hustler 50, Clauson made it a neat three for three - collecting a juicy $10,000 check for that effort.
Bryan Clauson wins the POWRI National Midget event at Morgan County Speedway
Winning races is one thing, kicking the stuffing out of the competition by winning 15 overall events in a season (Sprint car and Midgets, dirt and pavement) is totally off the hook and nationally news worthy. Possessing mad natural skills is a solid foundation, but add to that a relentless work ethic and Yoda like, fatherly insights, and you've got the fertile environment that big-time champions sprout from.
Tim Clauson (Bryan's father) is a nationally renowned driver talent scout; he has a well-documented knack for recognizing and honing the right stuff in racers. "Working with Bryan is a lot different than working with most drivers. Bryan and I have been together in a Crew Chief/Driver relationship since he was five years old and I first strapped him into a racecar (Quarter Midgets). I was able to teach him how I perceived he should approach driving racecars from day one. He learned things at a very early age that became habit behind the wheel," say's Tim.
Bryan has been racing ever since, logging 15 years of experience behind the wheel already. Bryan was signed by Earnhardt-Ganassi in September of '05, the next year he won National Midget Rookie of the Year and a host of other accolades, adding additional confidence elements into the already frothy racing mix. Asked when he first sensed that Bryan had the chops to be a racer, Tim said, " two things stick out, the first was before he ever drove, at maybe four years old, he started correcting me behind the wheel. I knew then he had an eye for it and that he would be a student of the sport. The second thing was the first time he drove a sprint car, he was so smooth and his car control just stood out. He was 13 at this point and I figured I might be in trouble."
Bryan Clauson Racing uses K&N Sprint car filters, Midget Filters, and oil filters
Included in his benchmark racing season up to this point is winning three of the Crown Jewel Midget racing events - The USAC Midget Week Championship, The Hall of Fame Classic, and the granddaddy of them all, The Belleville Nationals.
"Really, in the grand scheme of things, winning the POWRI midget events continues to validate Bryan as a student of the sport, as this was the first time for our team competing at both of these venues. Bryan spent a lot of time studying video before we competed. Habsdaudt was a little more personal. We've come up short there on a few occasions and that track is one of the higher profile racetracks here in Indiana."
"We are currently using K&N Sprint car filters, oil filters, and K&N Midget Filters," adds Tim. "It's winning package and we're grateful for all the support, why mess with success?"
What kind of advice does a driver talent scout, crew chief father, give to his phenom son before races? "I try to let him know what I am seeing as far as track conditions and where I have the car and what way to go as far as adjustments, if they are needed. I also tell him to be safe and just do what he does." And, what Bryan Clauson does is win races. Keep an eye on this one.
Find K&N products for your vehicle using the application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.
Brothers Brad and Roger Lovell are known as the best of the best when it comes to rockcrawling, and they have the stats to prove it. Over the past six years they have dominated the Pro-Modified class and they recently won top We-Rock Honors.
Torchmate Ford Ranger with K&N products owned by Brad and Roger Lovell. The brothers are the first to win the National Championships in both XRRA and We-Rock, photo by Chad Jock
The Amsoil/Torchmate Racing Team took home the We-Rock Grand National Championship. The Lovell’s have six Western Series Championships and two XRRA National Titles. “I never dreamed that we could win both the
XRRA and We-Rock Grand National Championships,” said Brad Lovell. “It’s a great reward for years of hard work.”
Roger Lovell spots for brother Brad Lovell in the We Rock National Championship at Farmington, New Mexico,
photo by Chad Jock
The best rockcrawlers from the East challenged the best rockcrawlers from the West in Farmington, New Mexico. “Farmington is known for it’s high bluff and death defying climbs,” said Lovell. “The We-Rock courses were what we expected.”
Many of the Eastern teams were not used to driving on natural rocks and were at a disadvantage. The Western teams were used to it. After a solid start the Lovell’s No. 232 tackled course B4. The course gave competitors the option to risk a horrific fall and climb a 30 foot bluff.
“Our BFGoodrich rubber gripped where others struggled and failed,” said Lovell. “We also
depend on our K&N air filters. There is a lot of silt and fine dust on these courses and K&N keeps the debris out of our engines and keeps our sensors from clogging up. There is also a slight taper to give us the clearance and flexibility we need on these difficult courses.”
Brad and Roger Lovell got a perfect score on the B4 course and moved into the lead. All weekend long the brothers continued to strategize and make smart moves. They carried an 18 point lead into the final round. “After we claimed another huge wall on course A4, I knew we would finish well,” said Brad Lovell. “A lot of people rolled there and we climbed to the top.”
The brothers had a plan for the shootout. Roger Lovell spotted for Brad Lovell and the Torchmate Ranger furthered its lead before reaching the finish line and the victory. “I’m proud of our team, family and sponsors for this accomplishment. No single truck has ever won the National Championships in both XRRA and We-Rock. Between events all we did was change the tires and gearing. It says a lot for the versatility of the truck and the parts we use.”
Brad and Roger Lovell have several races to go before they put their 2009 campaign to rest. In the middle of November they will leave for the Baja 1000.
Jeremy Lookofsky and the DragCartel 2009 Honda Civic SI Drag car were out in full force at the Torco Oils Battle of the Imports in Woodburn, Oregon. The Battle of the Imports is all about organized sport compact drag racing in the United States. It’s also about lifestyle and culture.
The DragCartel Civic SI holds the record for the world's fastest naturally aspirated four-cylinder Honda
“BOTI races are heads-up quarter mile drag races,” said Lookofsky. “It’s similar to NHRA pro stock but instead of rear wheel drive we race front wheel drive cars with 4 cylinders.”
Jeremy Lookofsky and the DragCartel Drag Civic SI at the Torco Oils Battle of the Imports in Woodburn, Oregon
Next Battle of the Imports race for Jeremy Lookofsky will be in Fontana, California on November 22
Lookofsky was excited to get back into his drag car and away from the stress at his DragCartel Industries shop. By the end of the first qualifying session in Oregon, Lookofsky was in the number one position again with his factory backed American Honda
Civic SI.
“We hold the record for the world’s fastest naturally aspirated four-cylinder Honda. “The weekend in Oregon was about setting the bar higher,” he said. “We did that by setting new ET record currently held by ourselves by laying down a 9.19 @ 150 mph and backing it up
with a 9.21.”
Lookofsky captured the win by driving his DragCartel Honda Civic SI to an elapse time of 9.23 @ 146.70 against his opponent.
Lookofsky’s Honda is high tech in the sport compact world. “Our K-series Honda power plant was machined at ERL Performance inc. with the final assembly in house at the Cartel,” he said. “The racecar is the first full tube chassis car in its class built by Red Zone Fabrication. The Civic Platform is based on a carbon fiber body. It’s amazing, fans at NHRA sport compact events voted it best looking car three years in a row.”
Loofofsky uses K&N oil filter, product number HP-3002 on his Honda Civic SI. "K&N is amazing," he said. "We've never had a failure with K&N. K&N oil filters work great and look good on the car. In our sport compact world a car has too look good too."
His next Battle of the Imports event will be at Fontana, California on November 22.
Marine Corps SOS Custom Rock Crawler Equipped with Dual K&N Billet Air Filters
Marine Corps S.O.S. (Show of Support) is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting our military troops. Minnesota resident, and father of 4, Frank Ranallo began the Marine Corps S.O.S. after seeing the need first hand. "In fall of 2003, my son Nicholas had completed his training in boot camp," said Ranallo. "I went to the MPLS Airport to pick him up. Nicholas had been waiting at the airport for a while, and like other soldiers, was very hungry. I took my son and two nearby Navy guys for a Big Mac, Fries and a Coke." Ranallo found that these courageous men and women without money when released from boot camp. He moved forward to eventually create the Marine Corps S.O.S. organization in 2005.
Marine Corps SOS Custom Rock Crawler
For the first two years of this organization, Frank Ranallo would go to the MPLS Airport every third Friday of the month and pass out $10 bills to the troops. "I wanted to make sure they had something to eat," he said. "Occasionally, I would see a soldier who needed a ride home and would get a taxi for them."
Ranallo, a home builder by trade, wanted to do even more. He used his home building skills to help provide protective gear to soldiers. "I gathered donations from several local companies and built a two-story home on an empty lot," Ranallo said. "I sold the home and used the profits to purchase ballistic vests and helmets for our Marine snipers." The Marines provided Ranallo with the proper model numbers and sizes for the purchase.
While Ranallo gathered donations for his project, he noticed some Toys for Tots donations that had not been delivered to the drop-off location. He discovered that the Toys for Tots Foundation relied on participating business to deliver them themselves. Ranallo took it upon himself to gather up the Toys for Tots donations and deliver them to local drop-off locations.
Frank Ranallo has taken on a variety of special projects that show his support for our troops. He built a couple custom motorcycles that were sold. The profits were donated to the Marines.
The latest completed project for Ranallo is his custom built four-seater 4x4 rock crawler / off road trail rig. It took one year to complete this one-of-a-kind vehicle. Over $46,233 and 2400 hours of labor has been put into this crawler. Ranallo's rock crawler is equipped with 2 custom billet 5" oval K&N air filters. "I have used K&N filters my whole life," he said. "They are good quality products. I used K&N on the rock crawler because I only wanted to use top-notch materials." Ranallo also has a Hyundai Tiburon at home that uses K&N air filters.
Donations were not enough to built Ranallo's rock crawler. Ranallo had to add $12,000 of his own money to complete the project. The rock crawler has been for sale on Ebay for months, but the minimum reserve has not been met. "During these difficult economic times, people are just not buying," said Ranallo. "I will not give up. These brave Marines need our support and I am here to help them as I can."
Ranallo has a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split-Window Coupe that is half-built and plans to build a 1969 Ford Big Block with K&N products. The Marine Corps S.O.S. and Frank Ranallo continue to bring support to our Marines in many unique ways.
For more information about the rock crawler or the Marine Corps SOS, contact Frank Ranallo at [email protected].
The full list of Marine Corps SOS Rock Crawler modifications are as follows:
-Frame is Built with 2" & 1 3/4" 120 wall Dom Tubing
-All Alum. Diamond Plate is 1/8" All Bright shine
-Engine is a BBF 468 ci. 2x4 Tunnel Ram with 2 Holly 770 avengers, Heads have been ported and polished. All high end components were used on this motor.
-Motor has been dyno #'s are 525HP and over 600 FPT
-Trany is a custom built C-6, with a Hughes shift kit with a Premium race kit Installed # HP 4289k
-Transfer case is a BW 1356 with all new parts with a upgraded pump kit.
-Rear Axle is a. Ford 10:25 4:10 gears. New spicer trac lok with 35 spline axles. Upgraded 1 ton 3 1/4 " x 12" brakes
-Front axle is high pinion dana 44 4:09 gears with all new bearings & seales with a Spicer true trac, 1 ton 12" Rotors, and warn locking hubs
-Heims Are 3/4" F&K and Aurora
-Brackets are laser cut by blue Torch and Poly Performance ( top of the line companys.)
-Driveshaft in the rear is a 3 1/2 tube with solid & HP 1330 Spicer U joints.
-Front Shaft is a 3" tube, with a upgraded Cv 1330 HP Spicer U joints
-Shocks are Walker Evens series 700 14" coil overs
-Springs are 2 1/2" from Suspension spring co 450LB front & 400LB rear
-Seats were custom made by PRP out of ca.
-Seat belts are 5 point and 4 limited strap's by DJ Safety Co.
-Wheels are 15x14 Black Allied Bead Locks
-Tires are Interco Super Swampers 17/47/15
-Suspension is 4 link Front and rear
-Dual Howe Master Cylinder with ss shields and brake pedal
-Crown All red braided SS brake Lines and fittings
-Steering is Hyd. orbital with power steering pump
-Radiator by Walker with 16" HP Spal Fan
-Fuel Cell is a 20 gal RCI all alum.
-Fuel pump, Filter, and Reg. are by SX Performance co.
-Winches Rear, 8000lb Smitty Built and the Front is 8000lb Black Mountain.
-Batteries 2
-Steering Wheel is a gt. Grant
-Lights are 55 watts, and 100 Watts, all the way around
-Dash panel and winch panel by12 volt guy
-Gauges are Marine grade Isspro ev. series
-Air compressor is a Kilby
-Air tank 2.5 gal by Kilby
-Fitting are AN #6 & #8 all Alum. By Fagonia
-All Bolts used were grade 8
-Hyd. Lines where custom made by Pirtex Co. Mn. 5000 psi
-All Fluids are syn. By Royal Purple inc.
-All steel tubing has been powder coated
-2 Custom billet oval 5" K&N air filters
-Shifter is a Pro Shift by Art carr.
-Headers by Schoenfeld Co.
-Ing. Dist, Coil, and Box. MSD
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