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Just a taste of the incredible hardware in OPTIMA Alley

SEMA, formed in 1963 by Roy Richter, Willie Garner, Bob Hedman, Robert E. Wyman, John Bartlett, Phil Weiand, Jr., Al Segal, Dean Moon, and Vic Edelbrock, Jr. and now consists of 6,383 companies worldwide, bringing together aftermarket manufacturers, original equipment manufacturers (OEM), media, car dealers, specialty equipment distributors, installers, retailers, and restoration specialists.

A diverse field makes up the competition at the OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational

After an evening of meet and greet the invitees need to focus on their competition, OUSCI, that takes place at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Cam Douglass, Director of Marketing at OPTIMA Batteries, Johnson Control, had this to say about the OUSCI, “We created this event nine years ago, and although the industry has changed, the reason we created this event still stands – to see what the incredible cars from garages across the country and the SEMA show floor are really capable of using the show’s high performance parts.”

Rich Wilhoff on the hunt with Danny Popp never being one to give up an inch!

Saturday saw the field divided between the Detroit Speed Autocross and PowerStop Speed Stop Challenge in the morning with a switch after the noon hour. Saturday evening for the Lucas Oil Road Rally the competitors would cruise the Las Vegas Strip to the Shelby Museum for a little dinner and music. Sunday our competitors would each receive four fifteen minute run sessions in the Falken Tire Road Course Time Trial. This afforded them a chance to lay down their fastest lap time. Scores would then be tallied and added to the Lingenfelter Design & Engineering scores to flesh out the Ultimate Street Car and crown the victor.

Jake Rozelle and Rich Wilhoff lined up for the Lingenfelter Design & Engineering Challenge

Each competitor received points as they competed in the challenges. This year, Ken Thwaits took second place overall competing in a 2006 Mitsubishi Evo and Rich Willhoff came in third place in a 2006 Chevrolet Corvette.

2nd Place finisher, Ken Thwaits and his EVO, overcame major setbacks Sunday to make the podium

3rd Place finisher, Rich Wilhoff at the POWERSTOP Speed Stop Challenge in the Bull RIng

OUSCI Winner, Danny Popp, makes the Falken Tire Road Course Time Trial look easy!

Our 2016 OUSCI Winner, Danny Popp, with 2nd place Ken Thwaits, left & 3rd place Rich Wilhoff, right

The increase in horsepower can be credited largely to the oversized conical air filter

The 455 horsepower LT1 is similar in architecture to the LS family of small-block engines which it superseded, but with a unique aluminum block casting and aluminum cylinder heads, oiling system, and an aggressive 11.5:1 compression ratio. It also incorporates advanced technologies such as direct fuel Injection and continuously variable valve timing. And unlike many other auto manufacturers, GM believes there is plenty of development left in the traditional two valve push rod V8 and proves it with each new engine.

To draw an adequate volume of air an entirely new intake manifold design was developed, which provides a straighter path into the combustion chamber. With as much time and development effort that GM engineers put into the LT1, one would assume that the intake system would leave no opportunity for improvement. But it does. There’s an additional way to improve the performance of your 2016 Camaro SS: the K&N 69-4534TP air intake system, which has been chassis dyno-tested proven to deliver an estimated 15.16 rear-wheel horsepower gain over an otherwise stock 2016 Camaro SS.

The K&N 69-4534TP air intake system replaces the restrictive factory air filter and air intake housing on the 2016 Camaro SS. K&N AirChargers significantly improve incoming air flow as well as reduce turbulence in the intake tube.

Installation of the K&N 69-4534TP is a snap and can be completed in less than a Saturday morning

Air is then directed through an aerodynamically-verified polished aluminum intake tube into the engine’s throttle body for an estimated 15 horsepower gain. The intake tube includes fittings for the factory mass air sensor and crank case vent hose. Best of all, the K&N 69-4534TP air intake system can be installed in 90 minutes or less with simple hand tools

In addition to more power, this air intake system improves engine sound with more aggressive and deeper acoustics during acceleration.

And once you’ve installed your K&N cold air intake system you’ve eliminated the need to buy another air filter for the life of your covered 2016 Camaro SS. The only maintenance is a service you can do yourself in no time at all. At intervals of 100,000 miles (depending upon your driving conditions) use the K&N 99-5000 recharger kit to clean and refresh your air filter, preparing it for another 100,000 miles of driving. The K&N air filter you purchase is designed to last for the lifetime of your vehicle, which K&N guarantees will perform for up to 10 years or 1,000,000 miles without requiring replacement.

The K&N 69-4534TP cold air intake is designed for the following vehicles:

2017 CHEVROLET CAMARO SS 6.2L V8 Fuel Injection - All Models
2016 CHEVROLET CAMARO SS 6.2L V8 Fuel Injection - All Models

K&N's Jesse Spungin awards the check to Robert Moeller who accepts it on behalf of Fallen Patriots

Fallen Patriots was founded in 2002 to honor the sacrifices of our fallen military heroes by assisting their children with the funds necessary to attend college. Since their inception, Fallen Patriots has provided more than $15 million in aid, including scholarships, grants, and counseling to young men and women who have lost a parent in the line of duty. K&N Engineering is an avid supporter of our military and over the years has supported multiple organizations.

The Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation helps send the children of fallen soldiers to college

The cost of a college education is now more expensive than ever and to be able to assist with that is a goal that is extremely important to Fallen Patriots.

“With the average college cost gap totaling $32,000, the need for financial support is significant,” according to a spokesperson for Fallen Patriots. “Partners’ continued dedication, in ways ranging from financial support to creating awareness, has helped Fallen Patriots continue to fulfil their mission to ensure a future for surviving military children.”

K&N is proud to be a part of this effort in helping give the children of fallen patriots a chance to go to college and further their education. For more information about the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation, visit them at fallenpatriots.org.

Every year, brave men and women are killed in action overseas, leaving their loved ones behind

It is important to not forget about the children of our fallen heroes and their struggles in life

The Supercheap Auto Ford Falcon, with Chaz Mostert behind the wheel, took home a win in the final

The Australian Grand Prix is the opening round of the Formula One Championship each year, with F1 supported by the marquee local race classes, Supercars and Australian GT.

Racing the Supercheap Auto Racing Ford Falcon in Supercars, Chaz Mostert ended his weekend with a win in the final of the four sprint races over the weekend, cementing third in points for the weekend.

While no Supercars title points are on offer at the Australian Grand Prix, it is always a fierce battle at the Albert Park circuit and a chance for Prodrive Racing Australia to develop their Falcons for the second round of the championship in a few weeks.

“This weekend is all about building momentum and making our cars better and better,” Mostert said.

“I’m really happy with how we ended up. The crew and my engineer Adam De Borre all did an awesome job to get the car together and working like it did.”

With the championship heading to the tight Symmons Plains track in Tasmania for round two of the title, Mostert knows there is still hard work ahead for Prodrive and his Supercheap Auto Racing crew and admits his #55 Falcon still has some weaknesses.

“To get the race win and then third for the weekend is awesome. There are still a few little things that we need to work on but I feel like we have a good direction for the next few events.”

Audi Sport Racing Australia announced a partnership with K&N Filters before the Australian GT races

The team remained the benchmark for the remainder of the weekend, with a 1-2-3 in the weekend’s opening race, a victory in race three and an overall round victory for #73 Valvoline Audi R8 LMS of Kelvin van der Linde and Geoff Emery.

"Kelvin did an awesome job this weekend," Emery said.

"Really it was just up to me to keep it on the black stuff and bring it home! It was a great weekend!"

The Supercars Championship resumes in a week and a half’s time for round two of the title at Symmons Plains in Tasmania.

Our Australian GT team on the other hand has a few weeks off before heading to the opposite side of the country to compete at Barbagallo Raceway, outside of Perth, Western Australia for the third round of the title.

K&N Filters being installed on the Audi Sport Australia R8 LMS GT based on driver feedback

Audi Sport Customer Racing Australia, operating out of the Melbourne Performance Centre, runs the GT3-spec Audis in the Australian GT as one of only a few customer sports programs for the marque outside of Europe, and also supports more than 20 Audis being raced across Australia and New Zealand.

Powered by an all-aluminum DOHC 5.2L V10 engine, the Audi R8 LMS GT race car puts out up to 553 horsepower and boasts 369 lb-ft of torque. Similar R8 LMS GT race cars brought Audi the GT Daytona Manufacturer’s Championship in 2016, beating Ferrari and Porsche.

Australia has one of the most competitive GT racing scenes in the world, with three seperate series

As well as the quality air filters, Audi Sport Customer Racing Australia has also turned to K&N Power Kleen to ensure their filters are always in prime condition. "Because our products are washable and reusable, Audi Sport Customer Racing Australia will be able to go a whole racing season on the same set of filters, instead of replacing them each race,” K&N Engineering's Business Manager for the Asia & South Pacific regions, Richard Smith said.

GT Racing in Australia has taken off in recent years, with three separate championships taking place in 2017, the Australian GT Championship for sprint races, the Australian Endurance Championship for longer races with driver changes, and the GT Trophy series, shorter races for older spec cars. The shortest GT race runs for just 25 minutes, while the marquee endurance event in Australia is the punishing Bathurst 12 Hour at the four-mile Mount Panorama Circuit west of Sydney.

The K&N badge is there for all to see, just above the filters created especially for Audi Sport

Owners of Audi R8 models with V10 engines can see the same type of increase in response and performance as the professional race team by installing a pair of K&N E-0669 air filters on their German supercars.

To find additional K&N upgrades for cars, trucks, semis, karts, scooters, motorcycles, motorhomes, lawn mowers, chain saws, or almost anything with an engine, use the K&N search by vehicle tool.