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K&N Calendar Model Karol Martin Glides Through the Modeling World En Pointe

Model Karol Martin trained in classical ballet for 15 years which has helped her modelling career

Model Karol Martin trained in classical ballet for 15 years which has helped her modelling career

Modeling requires discipline. It is an art form. To be a model, a woman must be physically fit, but more than that, she must maintain a certain mental composure: sticking to a strict diet, having the will to train, and being organized enough to meet a hectic schedule. K&N model, Karol Martin, does all of these things. Her strength stems from a background in classical ballet. For 15 years, she danced. The grace she learned in the studio influences her still. Karol says, “Ballet influenced my entire life, not just modeling. It taught me dedication, structure, and elegance. While other kids were partying, I was training. My favorite memories were performing: the butterflies were always amazing.” She learned discipline in dance, and this has carried her into a successful career.

In her youth, Karol also played golf and ran track. Her whole life centered around fitness and competition. Being in these sports taught her time management skills and healthy eating habits. Karol confides, “I was a very busy kid, always training. I never grew up playing video games or eating junk food.” Even in adulthood, when she can buy crunchy, sugary snacks for herself, Karol avoids the decadence. When asked if she has a favorite treat, she responds, “I don't have any ‘treats.' In-N-Out or a big carne asada burrito would be my guilty pleasure, I guess. Never been a candy or soda person.” This diet allows Karol to maintain a model-like physique and perform her job to the best of her abilities. She also focuses on fitness, listing her hobbies as, “work, work, gym, and more work.”

Keep up with Karol Martin on Instagram with @karol.priscilla

Keep up with Karol Martin on Instagram with @karol.priscilla

This tiny dancer was born in San Diego, California. Spanish is her first language; she learned English in third grade. Karol went to Otay Ranch High School. From there, she attended Santa Barbara City College before transferring to San Diego State as a communications major. Her modeling career took off when she was just 20 years old. She was referred to an agency, and the rest is history. Karol has worked for numerous name brand companies like “Adidas, Reebok, Asics, Lululemon, Harley Davidson, Coors Light, and of course K&N.” She’s also worked in TV, appearing in Hit the Floor on VH1. Filming for this show is Karol’s favorite modeling memory: “Getting to shoot the TV show felt like I was in a dream. I always wanted to start modeling, and I can't believe my dreams became a reality.”

Karol models full-time, traveling back and forth between London and the United States. She is committed to her career and focused on building her brand. Modeling, though glamorous, can be a difficult profession. It requires high energy levels: there is lots of traveling and long hours on set. However, it’s like a cake walk for Karol. She is determined and disciplined. With her ballet background, she glides through the modeling world en pointe.

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Add Airflow to your 2017 Subaru Impreza 2.0L with a K&N Replacement Air Filter

K&N replacement filters increase power without causing addtional engine wear

The pleated K&N replacement filter provides extra intake surface area for your 2017 Subaru Impreza

The award-winning 2017 Subaru Impreza has been named an IIHS Top Safety Pick + and a KBB 10 Best. It’s powered by a well-proven Subaru engine design: 2.0L DOHC direct injection aluminum-alloy 16-valve horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine with Dual Active Valve Control System that produces 152 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 145 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm.

And yet there’s still an opportunity to improve your Impreza with a K&N 33-5064 high-flow replacement filter designed to increase power and responsiveness.

And it doesn’t matter whether your Impreza is a 2.0i or 2.0i Sport model, or whether equipped with the fully-synchronized five-speed manual or the Lineartronic CVT transmission, the K&N replacement air filter is the same part number.

K&N replacement air filters have been developed to increase airflow by more than 50%, which adds power as the engine management system recognizes the incremental air flow and feeds additional fuel into the engine, the result being an increase in power.

A single K&N Air Filter can replace a pile of discarded filters headed for the landfill

Everything you need to install a K&N replacement filter in your 2017 Subaru Impreza 2.0

K&N air filters are manufactured from multiple layers of oiled cotton filter media, rather than air flow-limiting and easily-clogged paper used in many OEM and replacement filters. The oiled cotton construction not only allows for increased airflow but also provides excellent filtration properties to ensure your Subaru’s long engine life.

K&N filters incorporate three well-proven scientific principles to effectively trap harmful dirt and dust. One is interception, another is impaction, and the third is diffusion. The first traps large particles as they first enter the filter, the next two capture smaller particles by different means. The result is a high degree of filtration without the risk of clogging inherent in a paper filter.

The effectiveness of the K&N filtration is well-proven by the company’s sophisticated in-house efficiency testing laboratory. The facility adheres to strict International Standard Organization (ISO) 5011 protocols, confirming that K&N replacement air filters provide a high degree of airflow without sacrificing engine protection.

The Recharger Kit comes with an 8 oz bottle of oil and a 12 oz K&N pump bottle of Power Kleen

The K&N filter care service kit restores air flow and brings your filter back to like new condition

The only maintenance required for your K&N replacement filter is a service easily completed by yourself. At intervals of around 50,000 miles (depending on your driving conditions) use a K&N Air Filter Cleaning Kit to clean and re-oil your air filter. The process cleans the filter bringing it back to brand-new condition and ready for another 50,000 miles of driving.

Your one K&N 33-5064 replacement air filter is designed to last for the lifetime of your vehicle, which K&N guarantees with the K&N 10-Year/Million Mile Limited Warranty.

The K&N 33-5064 is designed to fit the following vehicles:

2017 SUBARU IMPREZA 2.0L H4 Fuel Injection - All Models

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NHRA Mello Yello Racing Series Continues to Grow in Popularity in 2017

Antron Brown's Top Fuel racer exhales fire as it competes in 2017 Mello Yello Drag Racing event.

Antron Brown navigates his Top Fuel racecar in 2017 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event

The National Hot Rod Association Mello Yello Racing Series continues to grow in popularity in 2017 ever since its first event of the year in Chandler, Arizona in February. Fox has been broadcasting events every week, which has built upon its initial number of viewers for the first event of more than 1,224,000, which made it at the time the most watched NHRA event in the association’s 57-year history.

The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series is a succession of drag races sanctioned by the NHRA and consisting of four professional classes of competition - Top Fuel Dragster, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycles. The racing schedule begins in February with races scheduled every week through the middle of November. Cities where events are held include Pomona and Sonoma, California; Phoenix, Arizona; Las Vegas, Nevada; Houston and Dallas, Texas; Charlotte, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; Epping, New Hampshire; Bristol and Norwalk, Ohio; Topeka, Kansas; Englishtown, New Jersey; Chicago, Illinois; Denver, Colorado; Seattle, Washington; Brainerd, Minnesota; Indianapolis, Indiana; Reading, Pennsylvania; and St. Louis, Missouri.

The tracks used in the series are members of the NHRA track program, which includes 120 tracks across the country. This ensures that the tracks use NHRA rules for each event as well as include events that are part of the NHRA program including King of the Track, National Dragster Challenge, and Junior Dragster programs. According to Scott Smith of NHRA, tracks can be added to the Member Track network.

The Top Fuel Dragster class consists of the fastest racers who run speeds of up to 335-mph (539-km/h). The competitors race to a distance of 1,000-feet in length with runs of 3.64-seconds give or take. Vehicles that race in this category accelerate from a stopped position to 100-mph (160-km/h) in as little as 0.8 seconds and reach speeds greater than 280-mph (450-km/h) in just 660-feet (200-meters).

The Funny Car class involves drag racing cars with tilt-up fiberglass or carbon fiber bodies over a custom fabricated chassis and engines placed in front of the driver. Funny cars commonly reflect the production cars being offered during a particular period of time when that car was built. So, in the 1970s, Chevrolet Vega, Plymouth Barracuda, and similar models were represented as funny cars.

The Pro Stock Class consists of drag racing vehicles with engines that do not include turbochargers or superchargers or other enhancements including nitrous oxide.

The Pro Stock Motorcycle Class includes drag racing motorcycles also known as Pro Stock Bikes.

The NHRA-sanctioned Mello Yello Drag Racing Series has 24 events a year across the country. The association works with each individual track to make certain that the race date is accommodating to all parties. Race dates do adjust and change from year to year depending on the demands of the track and what is necessary to satisfy needs.

Rules

Each category has specific rules. The NHRA has a technical department that is in charge of the rules and they are constantly working with all racers to ensure there is a level playing field and the rules are being followed.

Point System

Each of the four categories has a season-long point system. The regular season runs from the first event in Pomona until the 18th event held in Indianapolis. After the Indianapolis event, points are reset for the top 10 racers who have qualified for the Countdown to the Championship. All races prior to Indianapolis are scored as follows:

• The winner receives 100 points

• Runner-up collects 80 points

• Third round loser is given 60 points

• Second round loser receives 40 points

• First round loser garners 20 points

All racers who make a qualifying run receive 10 points. Then 20 points are given for each round win.

In addition, points can be collected for the best three runs in four qualifying stints. The breakdown of points is as follows:

• Low e.t. of each session collects 3 points

• Second-quickest gets 2 points

• Third-quickest acquires 1 point

Breakdown of points also takes into account the position in which a racer qualifies. Thus:

• A racer who qualifies in first receives 8 points

• A racer who qualifies in second gets 7 points

• A racer who qualifies in third garners 6 points

• A racer who qualifies in fourth is awarded 5 points

• A racer who qualifies in fifth and sixth wins 4 points

• A racer who qualifies in seventh and eighth gets 3 points

• A racer who qualifies in ninth through 12th receives 2 points

• A racer who qualifies in 13th through 16th collects 1 point

Jeff Arend races funny car in 2017 Mello Yello Drag event.

It's obvious why the racer that Jeff Arend launches in Mello Yello Drag events is called a funny car

The point system is then revised giving more weight to the Indianapolis event, which is the last race of the regular season. In that race, points are worth 1.5 times more than they are during the regular season.

In addition, competitors in the Indianapolis event who participate in five qualifying heats earn points. The best run receives 4 points, the second-best run gets 3 points, the third-best run is awarded 2 points and the fourth-best run gets 1 point.

This point system also pertains to the World Finals in Pomona. However, there are only four qualifying rounds in that event.

The 10 top racers in each class after Indianapolis qualify for the Countdown to the Championship. It is these racers who end up competing for the title. Points are reset for the Countdown in all four classes as follows:

• First place wins 2,100 points

• Second place receives 2,080 points

• Third place is awarded 2,070 points

• Fourth place gets 2,060 points

• Fifth place garners 2,050 points

• Sixth place collects 2,040 points

• Seventh place achieves 2,030 points

• Eighth place gets 2,020 points

• Ninth place receives 2,010 points

• 10th place wins 2,000 points

The Racers

NHRA cultivates relationships with racers who compete in the Mello Yello Racing Series.

“We, as the sanctioning body, work with our racers on an ongoing basis to build relationships and to help them achieve success in and out of the car,” said Scott Smith, Director of Media Relations for the NHRA. “We pitch the drivers to publications to gain coverage of not only the sport but also the drivers.”

The association promotes drivers who participate in the series as well as the series itself through a number of different mediums including television and radio advertising and taking drivers to television and radio stations for interviews. The NHRA also holds Fan Fest events in which local fans meet the drivers up close and personal.

Smith also pointed out that new racers are encouraged to compete.

“As the series continues to grow, more people can easily become involved. Many can start at the member tracks and begin to hone their skills and learn the sport,” he said.

Troy Coughlin guides his Pro Mod racer in competition at 2017 Mello Yello Drag event.

Racer Troy Coughlin is behind the wheel of his Pro Mod car as it competes in Mello Yellow Drag event

The association also uses social network sites including Facebook and Twitter as well as YouTube to promote the series as a whole, events, and racers.

K&N has been a major sponsor for the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series for several years.

“K&N has long been a staunch supporter of NHRA drag racing and the racers in many varied categories through their involvement with the sport,” said Brad Gerber, NHRA Vice President and Chief Development Officer. “Their current involvement with the K&N Horsepower Challenge held annually at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is the ultimate bragging rights for Pro Stock and is one of the most anticipated specialty events during the year,” he concluded.

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Idaho Truck Builder, RTech Fabrications, Builds a Custom Truck That GM Never Did

1970 Chevrolet crew cab truck built by RTech Fabrications, in Hayden, Idaho

"Cowboy", a 1970 crew cab Chevy, was Randall's first crew cab, but he needed to go bigger

Early Years

Every once in a while, a vehicle comes along that turns the whole industry on its head. These vehicles are created by visionaries who are always pushing the limits of what is considered the norm. One of these builders is Randall Robertson of RTech Fabrications in Hayden, Idaho. Randall had a fairly normal childhood, riding around the neighborhood on his bike, hanging out with friends, fusing chunks of metal together with a welder. Ok, so maybe normal doesn’t quite fit. Randall has been welding in one way or another since he was about 9.

“There was this big biker dude down the street, tattoos up both arms, scared the crap out of me, but he took me under his wing and taught me stuff that I still remember today,” explained Randall. One of those things was that if you were going to do something, do it to the absolute best of your ability.

Over the years, Randall has moved around the country, owned several companies, built his own on and off-road race vehicles, and made a living with his hands. But has always remembered what his mentor taught him.

Hobby Turned Career

1969 Chevrolet C50 truck built by RTech Fabrications in Hayden, Idaho

Randall's next truck was a 1969 Chevy C50 that he made bigger and better than "Cowboy"

“Building vehicles was always a hobby to me,” said Randall. “I had three companies when all that happened in 2008.” When the economy collapsed, so did Randall’s way of life. But instead of throwing in the towel, Randall doubled down and turned his hobby into a career. RTech Fabrications started about 7 years ago and the best way to describe what they do is right on the front page of their website: “We build trucks to do truck things”

Specifically, they build 1967-1972 Chevy trucks. And by build, we don’t mean they take a C10 and put wheels and a suspension on it. The first truck they built was a 1970 Chevy crew cab dubbed “Cowboy”. As many of you know, Chevy did not offer a crew cab truck from 1967-1972. However, this wasn’t the first attempt at it either. Where this one differed from all the rest, is you would be hard pressed to tell that this thing didn’t roll off the assembly line in 1970 exactly as you see it.

1972 Chevrolet C50 built by RTech Fabrications in Hayden, Idaho

After building a few trucks, Randall wanted to build the biggest and best one yet, "The Duke" is it

“Cowboy” garnered Randall and his crew international fame and admiration. From there, Randall wanted to go bigger. So, he picked up a 1969 Chevy C50 3/4-ton truck and turned it into a custom K50 off-road pickup that he called “Drill Sergeant”. This conversion included a custom bed, custom roof, handmade fender flares, lifted suspension, power steering, 4-wheel-drive, and the list of options goes on and on. Randall even molded a jerry can into each side of the bed, forward of the rear wheels. “Drill Sergeant” was bigger and meaner than “Cowboy”, but Randall wasn’t satisfied. He wanted to go bigger.

Enter “The Duke”

Seats out of a 2010 GMC Sierra reupholstered to match the look of the 1972 Chevy C50

Randall used the seats out of a 2010 Sierra for Duke for comfort but wanted them to look the part

This would be the truck that Randall would put everything he had learned up to that point into. Remember what he was taught early on about doing things the right way, well this truck proves that he still lives by that guidance. "The Duke" started life as a 1972 Chevy C50, until Randall got his hands on it. Since these trucks didn’t come from the factory as crew cabs, Randall’s first modification was to put the truck in a jig, cut the cab and frame and extend it. This would make the truck even bigger than “Cowboy” and “Drill Sergeant”. A custom lifted suspension and 40-inch Nitto Trail Grapplers on 20-inch Fuel wheels brings the truck up to a total of eight feet tall. After all of this work, the truck couldn’t be just a two-wheel-drive. Once again, Randall fixed that and converted the truck to a 4x4.

On the body side of things, Randall wanted “The Duke” to look more like a regular pickup truck that rolled right off the GM assembly line than the C50 does. To accomplish this, he removed the front bumper and made his own. He then modified the front fenders to end at the top of the bumper and at the running boards, instead of going past them like on the C50. The rear fenders are duplicates of the front and the bed is a factory 8-foot bed. Randall converted the bed to a tilt bed to relocate some of the stuff from under the hood to under the bed. Being that this truck is supposed to look like it rolled off the assembly line, Randall had it painted in factory two tone Ochre and white.

12 valve Cummins turbodiesel engine in a 1972 C50 built by RTech Fabrications in Hayden, Idaho

The 12 valve Cummins pulls air through a K&N air filter and custom intercooler setup

Under the hood is a 12V Cummins 5.9L. Yes, you read that right. Rather than the stock 350ci engine, or even a Duramax, Randall dropped a Cummins turbodiesel into “The Duke”. According to Randall, this choice was because he wanted the truck to be able to get up and go when he wanted it to. And when it breaks, he doesn’t want to have to mortgage his house to have to pay for fixing it. It is well known that the Cummins is a very reliable engine that is capable of producing gobs of stump pulling torque and relatively inexpensive to modify and fix. When you are trying to move a truck that weighs 8,500 pounds, you need as much torque as possible. To get all of that torque out of that Cummins, Randall built a custom intercooler to cool the aircharge as much as possible before it enters the upgraded Borg-Warner turbo. Part of that intake equation is a K&N oval clamp-on filter. This allows the turbodiesel to breathe in as much air as it needs. From the engine, the power enters an NV4500 transmission, NP205 transfer case, and out to a GM 14 bolt rearend.

Tilt bed on a 1972 C50 built by RTech Fabrications in Hayden, Idaho

The tilt bed gives Randall access to the relocated battery, custom built HVAC system, and more

Inside the crew cab, Randall modified bucket seats and a bench seat out of a 2010 GMC Sierra to look OE in the K50. He then had the seats upholstered with a plaid insert that matches the exterior color. While cruising around town, Randall and his passengers stay cool (or warm) thanks to a custom designed A/C system that is fully integrated into the factory HVAC system. Audio is courtesy of a Pioneer double din head unit that, once again, Randall has integrated into the factory dash and made look completely OE. All of these upgrades give “The Duke” the comforts of a modern truck with the classic look and styling that the older GM trucks are known for.

Randall did a fantastic job making “The Duke” into a modern truck that still looks like GM built the truck back in 1972. This truck is truly a one-of-a-kind and it shows in every detail from the custom cab to the HVAC system. Randall has big plans for his next few builds and we know that he will do everything in his power to make them the best they can possibly be. K&N wants to thank Randall Robertson and the entire crew at RTech Fabrications for including us on such an incredible vehicle.

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Amazing Comeback Victory For K&N-Supported 2017 Australian GT Championship Winner

Emery was a strong contender in 2016 only to have a crash cut his season short

After a devasting crash ended his 2016 season, Geoff Emery came back to win 2017 Champsionship

K&N-supported driver Geoff Emery has clinched the Australian GT Championship in his K&N-equipped Audi R8 LMS. In order to do so, Emery had to overcome a points deficit to Liam Talbot in his Porsche 911 GT3-R in the final race weekend of the season. But that’s not the most remarkable part of the story, which started back with a gut-wrenching crash in the middle of the 2016 season.

It wasn’t the sort of crash that you see in a highlights reel. There was no barrel roll or pirouetting on the nose of the car. Instead, on the opening lap of round 8 of the 2016 Australian GT Championship Geoff Emery’s Audi R8 LMS was in a tussle with a group of cars when he was nudged off track.

Normally that sort of incident would result in only the loss of a few positions. But the steering arm of his Audi had been damaged after contact with a Lamborghini. That sent Emery over the large curb at turn seven of Barbagallo Raceway in Perth. Once Emery struck the curb it sent him head-on into a lightly-protected and immoveable barrier. The race was red flagged and Emery has to be extricated through the rescue hatch in the roof of his Audi.

Once out of the car Emery complained of back pain and was rushed to the Royal Perth Hospital where physicians confirmed that he’d fractured his L1 vertebra and could expect to be out of the driver’s seat for some time. 10 months, as it turned out.

The taciturn Emery showing little emotion after his comeback victory

An ebullient Emery (center) after his Australian GT championship-clinching win at Sandown

Emery finished the season watching the races on television from his home in Melbourne. “It’s been pretty frustrating watching all the racing going and have just been focused on my rehab,” he told the Australian GT organization. “I’ve been doing a lot of personal training sessions, Pilates and pushbike riding five or six days a week. It’s been a hard road,” he told the group.

After surgery, rehab, and plenty of exercise, Emery was fit and prepared to take on the 2017 Australian GT season in the Valvoline Jamec Pem-sponsored Melbourne Performance Centre-run Audi R8 LMS, equipped with K&N filters, rejoining the team with which he competed for the opening three events of 2016.

Emery was on course to challenge for the 2016 championship, taking three pole positions in three races prior to his accident. If fully recovered he figured to be a front-runner again in 2017.

As expected Emery picked up where he left off with two poles and three wins heading into the final round. The last event was held at the historic Sandown circuit, not far from Emery’s home. Five drivers headed into the weekend with a mathematical chance of winning the championship, with drivers in Audi, Lamborghini, Porsche, and AMG-Mercedes in contention.

The Sandown race circuit was home to the Australian Grand Prix in the 1960s

Emery leads the field at Sandown, winning the race and capturing the Australian GT Championship

“To come back and potentially have a chance of winning the Championship, I’m actually pretty happy with how it’s gone,” Emery told series organizers.

Typical Australian understatement, as Emery was second in points, trailing Liam Talbot by just 28 points. Finishing just a few positions ahead of Talbot in each of the three races that weekend would easily hand Emery the championship.

Eager to settle things quickly Emery took a win in the first race, thereby clinching the championship. It is the first Australian GT Championship for the Queenslander. “I came into this weekend pretty casual, to be honest,” Emery told Audi Sport. “It was Liam’s championship to lose.”

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