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The 2009 Hot Rod Power Tour began with light occasional drizzle in Madison, Wisconsin at the Alliant Energy Center. The seven-day, seven-city tour is considered one of the best automotive tours in the world by many enthusiasts. It is also a passion for Bob Proulx.
Bob Proulx and Larry Holmes with K&N display on the 2009 Hot Rod Power Tour
2009 Hot Rod Power Tour cars line up at a stop on the seven day trek
The St. Louis Missouri engineer has participated in the Hot Rod Power Tour since 2001. He enjoys the various hot rods and meets other car people. “One of the great things for me on this trip was to secure two tickets at the Great Lakes Drag Strip in the Painless Performance Air Ride Technologies Autocross Challenge,” said Proulx. “I made two passes in my 1994 Firebird on the drag strip and it was really great.”
Hot Rod Power Tour driver Bob Proulx took his Firebird for five laps around the NASCAR short track on the Bristol Motor Speedway
1994 Pontiac Firebird with K&N products on the 2009 Hot Rod Power Tour
The next leg of the trip was in South Bend, Indiana where Proulx and the others on the tour watched collectable and vintage automobiles rumble through the streets.
On the way to Mt. Clemens, Michigan Proulx encountered car problems. “My alternator gauge was acting funny and there was a burning smell along with an ugly noise,” said Proulx. “I opened the hood and my alternator was burning up. I caught it in time. There was no damage to my car and I was able to find another alternator with the help of a flat bed driver.”
Proulx said the high point of tour was driving his 1994 Pontiac Firebird for five laps around Bristol Motor Speedway’s NASCAR short track. “It was amazing to be driving on the same banked corners as Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin. We followed
a pace car in groups of ten but were not allowed to pass. I got up to 80 mph and ran the bottom and top of the track. It was the biggest adrenalin rush that I had in a long time.”
Proulx completed the trip with drivers from all over the world. “I averaged 21 miles per gallon for the entire Hot Rod Power Tour,” said Proulx. “One of the things I can attribute this
to is my K&N air filter. With K&N my car breathes better and I get additional performance.”
Proulx plans to attend the 2010 Hot Rod Power Tour.
Big Game Motorsports driver Terry McCarl won at Knoxville Raceway in Iowa, Williams Grove Speedway in Pennsylvania and Eldora Speedway in Ohio to complete “The Triple Crown” of sprint car racing. His latest win is part of the All Star Circuit of Champions in Ohio.
Sprint Car driver Terry McCarl of Big Game Motorsports is ready for the All Star Circuit of Champions
At Eldora, McCarl started things out with the sixth quick time of the night. After the heat race, the Altoona, Iowa driver noticed a problem with the motor and went back to the pits for an engine change. “We were lucky enough to have more than one motor on hand,” he said. “We went out again and the car was perfect.”
Triple Crown Win of Sprint Car Racing for No. 24 Big Game Motorsports Team
McCarl had a plan to get to the front of the pack on the restart. “I wanted to get by Dale Blaney, because he is so good
on the Eldora Speedway,” he said. “I was able to do that on the start and we were in the top five around lap six. The track was perfect and so was the car. I ran the bottom, went up to the middle and ended up on top. I was having a blast.”
On lap 23, McCarl made his winning move. “During the yellow, I knew it would be tough to pass,” he said. “In the end I
was able to pass everyone and won by a straightaway. It was always a dream to win at Knoxville, Williams Grove and Eldora and this was very special to me.”
McCarl uses K&N products. “In order to compete at the level that Big Game Motorsports does in the world of winged sprint car racing we require the utmost performance from our engine program,” said Rich Toews, Big Game Motorsports Team Operations Manager. “To insure that our engines make the most horsepower possible, and to protect our engine investments, we count on K&N air filters. They deliver the performance we need, and on top of it all, they are easily maintained and last us an entire season competing at dirt tracks across the United States."
McCarl’s next race with the World of Outlaws is the US36 Raceway near Osborn, Missouri.
Dan Vance won Round Five of the M4SX Series presented by Mickey Thompson and KalGard
Lubricants at Perris Auto Speedway in Perris, California. There are only three rounds left in the series and Vance is undefeated and
is first in points.
Dan Vance's modified Toyota Truck battled it out at Perris Auto Speedway in Perris, California
Dan Vance competed and won against the largest field of the season at Perris Auto Speedway in Perris, California
He drives a modified Toyota truck that is a desert vehicle. It also works well on short dirt courses and ovals. “I think one of the reasons we’re first in the series is because of my experience with desert racing,” said Vance. “In the open desert, any obstacle can come at you out of nowhere. You also have to be on the lookout for everything that can cause you to roll over or wreck. A race on a track like Perris Auto Speedway is controlled chaos. Desert racing has definitely given me an edge.”
Modified Toyota desert truck can go from a short dirt course to the Baja 1000 and perform well with K&N air filters
Dan Vance is undefeated in the M4SX Series presented by Mickey Thompson and KalGard Lubricants
Vance drives in the 1450 class when he competes in the M4SX Series. Qualifying at every event begins with a random drawing for position on the track. There are also heat races which lead to eliminations. In the final, eight trucks compete for the title.
In Round Five of the M4SX Series, Vance started in the rear of the pack during qualifying. He passed 5 drivers on the first lap. Vance and his competitors traded the lead position back and forth from one corner to the next in front of a full stadium. In the end, Vance took the win by a few trucks lengths.
Vance uses K&N air filters. “K&N protects my engine from the harsh environments in both desert racing and short track racing,” he said. “I also get additional performance and better filtration.”
Vance has won 5 desert championships and is expected to win the M4SX series. He is dominating the series with points. His next race will be at Perris Auto Speedway in July.
Western Speed Racing driver Michael Lewis took his second USAC California Pavement Ford Focus Series win at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bullring in Nevada. His teammate, Cody Gerhardt finished second in the heat race.
Western Speed Driver Michael Lewis drove Ford Focus Midget to victory at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bullring in Nevada
Lewis started the No. 60 Western Speed Ford Focus Midget at the K&N sponsored track inside the second row directly behind Gerhardt. Gerhardt started inside the front row. Both drivers took off in a close one-two formation and built a five car length on the field. Lewis took the lead on lap 14. Another competitor made contact
with Gerhardt and put an end to the chance for a Western Speed one-two finish at the Bullring.
Lewis then led the remaining laps for the win.
Western Speed Racing is owned by Rick Lew and Rick Gerhardt. “Michael has exceeded our expectations as a driver,” said Rick Gerhardt. “We tested him as a driver last year and that test led us to adding a full car to our stable. That car is leading the pack with owner points.”
“The Western Speed group gave us terrific cars for this event,” said Lewis. “There hard work paid off and the cars are really fast.”
Western Speed cars are equipped with K&N products. “Our K&N products give us extra power and excellent filtration,” said Gearhart. “The K&N air filters are washable and reusable and protect our engines from track debris.”
The next Ford Focus event for Lewis will be July 25 at Rocky Mountain Raceway in West Valley City, Utah.
Ryan Gates dominated Round Three of the Redline Time Attack at the Autobahn Country Club in Joliet, Illinois. He captured the Modified AWD Class as well as the Overall Modified Class Championship in his 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X with K&N air and oil filters.
Ryan Gates won is the Red Line Time Attack Modified AWD Class at Autobahn Country Club in Joliet, Illinois, photo by Rich Karbowiak from AMS
2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X set the track record in the Overall Modified Class at Autobahn Country Club, photo by Rich Karbowiak from AMS
Gates time in the Overall Modified Class Championship was 1:30.7 set a track record and was more than 2.3 seconds faster than the nearest competitor.
Modifications on Gates' 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X include an AMS carbon Kevlar roof and JDM RS grilles, photo by Rich Karbowiak from AMS
Ryan Gates will next race at Nashville, Tennessee on July 26th, photo by Rich Karbowiak from AMS
“Saturday was practice day for the Time Attack,” said Gates. “We ran the practice sessions conservatively and focused on the chassis setup.”
On race day Gates was prepared. In Sunday’s first practice session, he made sure the Evo X was running well. He also had to determine his grid position by posting a lap time. “I posted a conservative lap,” he said. “I knew there was much more power in the Mitsubishi, about six seconds more.”
Gates was confident on the grid at the start of the Time Attack session. As soon as he was on the track and up to speed, Gates drove at 100 percent. His first time lap was very smooth and he flew onto the front straight away to cross the finish line with a quick lap time on 1:30.781. Gates next took a cool down lap in preparation for the third and final timed lap. The third lap went
well, but he was conservative and posted a time of 1:32. The next closest competitor was 4 seconds behind.
Gates sat out the second Time Attack session, confident his lap time was more than fast enough to take the win and it was. “My K&N products last forever and help make power,” he said. “The K&N air filter also protected my engine from track debris. The K&N oil filter kept a constant flow of fresh oil circulating through the engine. Oil filters are important in Time Attack because the engines are constantly revving at a high rate and K&N oil filters work.”
Some specifications for Gates 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X are as follows:
