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2009 Ford F-150 Freedom Truck is designed to honor the men and women who serve in the United States Military
Phantasmic Entertainment ProVision 3D Holographic Imagery projected images behind the 2009 Ford F-150 Freedom Truck at SEMA
2009 Ford F-150 Freedom Truck will tour NASCAR races, the Pentagon, Walter Reed Army Medical Center in 2010. It will eventually be auctioned with the proceeds donated to the Fisher House.
2009 Ford F-150 4x2 Freedom Truck on display at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada
K&N air filter is part of the specifications on the 2009 Ford F-150 Freedom Truck
Artist Mickey Harris created a series of murals over the dark blue 2009 Ford F-150 to honor American soldiers.
The 2009 Freedom Truck was unveiled in the Ford booth at the SEMA show in Las Vegas Nevada. Malibu Customz teamed up with artist Mickey Harris to modify a 2009 Ford F-150 Supercrew Lariat in a tribute to all the people who serve or have served in the United States Armed Services.
A series of murals painted over the dark blue Ford F-150 features Cobra and Stallion helicopters, a Bradley Fighting Machine, two F-18 Hornets, a destroyer and Apache helicopter. There are also two M1-A1 Abrams tanks, an F-22 Raptor, C-17 Globemaster and a Predator.
Harris is known internationally for his free-hand air brush style also put the faces of the men and women in the Army, Navy, Air Force Marines and Coast Guard. “The faces come from my imagination,” said Harris. “There isn’t enough we can do to honor our soldiers. They are our most precious commodity.”
Harris, the son of a Vietnam Veteran, decided on the patriotic custom finish because of his love for the military. “It’s all about respect,” he said.
The one of a kind custom creation also features a futuristic holographic display by Phantasmic Entertainment Inc., which projects images behind the Ford. A host of vendors contributed to the project, including K&N.
Vehicle Specifications Include:
Base Vehicle
2009 Ford F-150 4X2 Supercrew Lariat
5.4 liter V-8
6 Speed automatic transmission
Powertrain
Borla cat-back exhaust
Hilltop Muffler Install and Customazation of Borla Catback
ProCharger Intercooled Super Charger System
K&N Air Filter, part number
RE-0920
Chassis
McGaughys 2”/4” Lower Kit
Wheels & Tires
Giovanna Caracas 24X10 wheels
Cooper Tires Sport Truck Tires XSTA 295/35/R24
Exterior
Mickey Harris Art- Custom Airbrush
Dupont-Paint & Materials
Malibu Customz- Prep & Finish
Malibu Customz-Carbon fiber bed rail covers, front bumper valance,
stone guards and door aperatures
Phantasmic Entertainment Inc/ProVision-3-D Holographic imagery
SnugTop Tonneau Cover
BedRug Bed Liner
Carriageworks Billet Grill
The truck will be featured at NASCAR events, the Pentagon, military events and the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in 2010. It will also be auctioned and the proceeds will go to the Fisher House, which helps servicemen and their families.
Roland Sands in his booth at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The mural beside him represents the early days of his parents manufacturing business Performance Machine.
Roland Sands Designs sleek custom bike which was featured in the K&N Booth at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada
Roland Sands Designs morph sportbikes and chopper styles and at the same time, are made for performance
Roland Sands vintage design Bombs Away is equipped with a K&N air filter
Bombs Away is a Harley Davidson Softail Standard modified by Roland Sands Design
Custom motorcycle builder Roland Sands and models showcase his builds at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas
Organic flow is not the kind of expression you expect to hear at the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. But national champion road racer and custom motorcycle builder Roland Sands is not your typical. He is an artist at heart.
“Organic flow and things in nature have a way of finding their own path,” said Sands. “And, like any good design on any vehicle there is a good path to get to the finished product. I am an artist, I was also lucky enough to be born into a family that is into motorcycles.” Sands grew up in his father and mother’s shop, PM or Performance Machine. It is an aftermarket automotive firm that manufacturers wheels, brakes and other components for custom motorcycles.
His core values, combined with racing and art have taken him in radical directions within the motorcycle industry. Sands morphs sport bikes with chopper styles that are performance driven. “I want to ride the bikes I make,” he said. “I also miss the adrenaline rush of racing, but I have learned to push myself in new ways mentally by designing custom motorcycles. My crew is awesome and our creative collaboration brings cool stuff to the surface.” Sands ended his motorcycle racing career in 2002 after a series of injuries.
Sands had several bikes on display at SEMA, including one that was in the spotlight at the K&N booth. “K&N has a long history of creating high performance products in the automotive and powersports industries,” said Sands. “I know if I put a K&N product on a vehicle it will increase horsepower. K&N was not a choice but it was the right route to take.”
Bombs Away is one of the Sands bikes featured at SEMA.
Specifications include:
Bike Specs:
Make: Harley Davidson
Model: Softail Standard
Year: 2007
Builder: Roland Sands Design
Fabrication:
Vintage Fuel Injected Gas tank with Gas-It Kit
Vintage Contrast Cut Gas Cap
Vintage Seat Kit with custom leather seat
Black Tracker Front Fork Brace Front Fender
Vintage 200 mm Rear Fender Kit
Engine:
Vintage Fuel Injected Gas Tank with Gas-It Kit
Venturi Speed 7 Contrast Cut Air Cleaner with a K&N air filter
Tracker 2-into1 Exhaust Pipe
Black Anodized Timing Cover
Black Anodized Rocker Box Covers
Transmission:
Stock HD
PM Hydraulic Clutch Slave Conversion (5 Speed Fluted Contour)
PM Contour Belt Drive Primary (Contrast Cut)
Wheels and Components:
Mission 21” x 3.5” Contrast Cut Front Wheel
Mission 13” Contrast Cut Front Brake Rotor
Mission 18”x 5.5 Contrast Cut Rear Wheel
PM 4 Piston Caliper Sprocket-Brake Contrast Cut
Controls:
PM Contour Hand Control Complete Package
PM Contour Mid controls with Round Pegs Foot Controls
PM Contrast Cut Reservoir covers
Font End
PM Softail and Wide Glide
Flat-Out Drag Handle Bars
PM Contour Renthal Wrapped
PM 3 Button Hand Controls
Sands’ is currently finishing a build for Mickey Rourke that will be completed early in 2010. He also has plans to work on some cool singles projects and is looking into doing some work with electric motorcycles.
2005 GMC Sierra by Luck Luciano Custom on display at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada
2005 GMC Sierra Crew Cab is equipped with K&N air intake system for additional horsepower and performance
Colorado Custom Steering Wheel and Rosen Universal Navigation System are part of Luciano Customs 2005 GMC Sierra Crew Cab
Matt Andrews Airbrushing put on the final touches of the beautiful models on the Lucky Luciano GMC Sierra
SEM Bed liner a Missing Link Guitar and four leaf clovers are part of the look for Lucky Luciano body modifications on his GMC Sierra at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada
Four leaf clover and wood show off door panel on the 2005 GMC Sierra Crew Cab modified by Lucky Luciano Customs
Lucky Luciano Custom and Collision is based in Phoenix, Arizona. Owner Lacerda Luciano drove from Arizona to Las Vegas, Nevada with his custom 2005 GMC Sierra Crew Cab for display at the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show.
The candy colors on the truck pop along with the shiny wood and four-leaf clovers. There are beautiful models airbrushed along side of the GMC Sierra. “I’d tell you who the women are but then I’d have to kill you,” said Luciano with a smile. “Seriously, we designed the truck so people would want to come over and see it. Beautiful women and four-leaf clovers are good luck.”
The GMC Sierra was not just another pretty truck at the SEMA Show. It was also designed for additional performance. “I like the look of the chrome on the K&N air intake kit,” said Luciano. “I also notice a difference in horsepower. We get additional performance with K&N.”
Modifications on the Lucky Luciano Custom 2006 Silverado 1500 include:
Exterior:
Gitano Wheels 24 inch
Nitto tires 285/35 R24
Webasto Sunroof
2 inch lowering shackle
Leer 500R series tonneau cover
Chromes by Concours Metal Finishing
Missing Link Guitars
MBRP Exhaust System
Bully Dog Performance GT
SEM Bed liner
Interior:
PlayStation 2
Katzskin Leather Seats
Colorado Custom Steering wheel
Carpet by Bell Upholstery
Auto Style Interior Alteration and Fabrication
Rosen Universal Navigation
DVD
USB and IPOD ports
Optima Batteries
JL Audio 750 140 Mono AMP
JL Audio 600/4HD 4 ch AMP
JL Audio C5-650 6” components (Evolution)
Icon touch screen monitor
AMP rack and woofer enclosure
Custom door panel inserts
Paint:
Luck Luciano Paint
Planet Color Custom Color
Matt Andrews Airbrushing
Ron Hernandez Pin striping
Body Modifications:
Shaved Rear tailgate handle and tail lights
Molded roll pan with water jet logo
Smooth cowl panel
John Winton Custom billet grille
Smooth bed floor with airbrushing
Custom made bed rails
Luciano put in more than 500 hours of work on his custom truck. It will be on display at various car shows throughout 2010.
Three K&N Sportsman Drivers out of seven Sportsman Classes were in the Winner’s Circle at the NHRA World Finals in Pomona, California.
Dan Fletcher, Mike Ferderer, Greg Boutte and Steve Williams at the NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, California, courtesy of Bob Johnson Photography
Dan Fletcher and Jason Lamb had two almost identical lights but Fletcher took the win for the 2009 Competition Eliminator World Finals Championship at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, California, courtesy of Bob Johnson Photography
Greg Boutte won Super Comp in his K&N sponsored Dragster. The Stockton, California racer uses K&N air and oil filters. The win at Auto Club Raceway was his 15th straight round win from Las Vegas to the World Finals. “Racing is about trusting your tune-up and carburetor’s consistency,” said Boutte. “With K&N on my car, I never have to worry. The dirt stays out of my engines and air flow is consistent going into my carburetor. K&N makes excellent products and gives me the edge I need to get to the Winner’s Circle.” Boutte is the 2009 World Finals Super Comp Champion.
Steve Williams and Mike Ferderer in round 7 eliminations in Super Gas at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series NHRA Finals, courtesy of Bob Johnson Photography
Greg Boutte took the win by half a car length over Rick Beckstrom in Super Comp at the NHRA Finals in Pomona, California, courtesy of Bob Johnson Photography
Dan Fletcher won in Comp by taking out Justin Lamb at the NHRA Finals. They had two almost identical lights but Lamb almost crossed the center line and ruined his run. Fletcher took the win and the 2009 Competition Eliminator World Finals Championship. “Thanks to K&N my engines have outlasted and outperformed in Rick Braun’s 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt,” said Fletcher. “K&N helps me win.”
Mike Ferderer is the 2009 World Finals Super Gas Champion. Federer had the better light which helped him earn a double breakout win over Steve Williams, K&N Vice President of Research and Development, a -0.007 to -0.117.
“It was a great race in the final round and the coin toss went to me,” said Ferderer. “This was the best season I’ve ever had. With five wins and two runner-ups it dosen’t get any better than that. I get some of my best speeds and consistency from K&N. It is one thing to get a check from winning but it’s another thing to have an entire company that believes in making horsepower and believes in sportsman class racers, and that’s K&N.”
K&N is proud of its relationship with the top racers in the world of drag racing and is looking forward to the 2010 season.
“A lot of people think it’s time to relax after the NHRA World Finals in Pomona,” said Ferderer. “Racing
is not the movie star life but it is is a lot of miles away from home and it costs a lot of money. It’s also only nine weeks before we head to Las Vegas to test and tune.”
The NHRA 2010 Full Throttle Drag Racing Series begins February 11-14 for the 50th annual Kragen O’Reilly Winternationals in Pomona, California.
This past year was a big one for Kekich Racing from Hermitage, Pennsylvania, a two-car father and son team consisting of Mike and Adam Kekich. For the 2009 season, 16-year-old Adam made the challenging transformation from box carts to the Limited Sprint division and Mike completed his thirteenth year of 410 Sprint racing.
Adam Kekich of Kekich Racing No. 5 Sprint Car
The season was a success for Kekich Racing, with both Adam and Mike finishing in the top five at Sharon Speedway. They combined for 8 top five and 19 top ten feature races, along with 4 heat race wins.
This was the first season Kekich Racing has had more than one car on board, so they quickly learned to tackle the challenges that come with a two-car team. Mike says the biggest challenges were the "maintenance on two cars, keeping them on the track and competitive, and the learning curve with Adam as far as his first year being in a sprint." But the team pulled through and has the results to prove it.
Adam captured Rookie of the Year honors and finished the 2009 season 4th in points with 5 top five and 10 top ten feature races, as well as 2 heat race wins. Adam is keeping the family tradition of racing alive, as not only does his father race, but his grandfather, Paul "Putzy" Kekich, raced modifieds and sprints from 1962 until 1981.
Adam and Mike of Kekich Racing Keep Family Racing Tradition Alive
"I was honored and it felt great to receive Rookie of the Year," says Adam. "I am really fortunate to have been able to make the transition to sprints this year. Luckily, the hard work has paid off. For next year, my personal goals are to run the car even harder and get my first feature win."
Team owner and driver Mike Kekich and the 410 Sprint finished the season 5th in points, with 3 top five and 9 top ten finishes, as well as 2 heat race wins. His 5th place finish marks the eleventh time in thirteen years of racing 410s that he has finished the season in the top five.
Both Mike and Adam's cars are equipped with K&N Filters. "You've got enough worries about car setup, but K&N air and oil filters take the motor situation out of the equation. It's one less thing to think about," says Mike. "The key to a successful season is definitely a good crew, keeping up on maintenance, and getting a hold of the best parts possible."
The Kekich Racing team has already begun preparation for the 2010 season. The team plans to compete with both cars full time next year. Adam also plans to test in a 410 Sprint on pavement in the spring.
