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K&N Co-Founder Norm McDonald was active in virtually all aspects of motorcycle racing

Norm was recently named as an inductee into the prestigious Trailblazers Hall of Fame. The Trailblazers Motorcycle Club is an organization of motorcycle enthusiasts that dates back to 1936. One of the organization’s signature functions is the recognition of pioneers of the sport of motorcycling.

Norm’s backstory is deeply rooted in motorcycle racing, promotion, and innovation. He bought his first motorcycle at the age of 17, and the rest is motorcycling history. After serving his country in the Navy, Norm began raising a family with his wife Lucy and racing motorcycles.

Norm spent the mid 1950s working as a surveyor in southern California and racing motorcycles in every event he could. He was a mainstay on the starting grid at such motor parks as Ascot and Fontana, as well as churning up dust at the major desert races across the West. There was no aspect of motorcycle racing that was foreign to Norm as he competed in TT, drag, desert, and flat track.

(L to R) Bryson, Smith, Martin, Jump, Williams, McDonald, Mall, Wilson, and Mahan at K&N

In 1957, Norm met Ken Johnson and the pair of gear heads opened K&N Motorcycles in Loma Linda, California. That’s right, the “N” had met a kindred spirit, and the “K” completed that legendary company logo.

K&N Motorcycles, which started as primarily a service shop, blossomed in 1958 when Ken and Norm saw the promise in a then relatively unknown Japanese motorcycle brand. The visionaries became one of the first Yamaha dealers in the US. Throughout his early career, Norm owned a plethora of other franchises like BSA, Harley-Davidson®, Greeve’s, Hodaka, and many others.

Norm McDonald is the "N" in the iconic K&N logo (Photo: AMA)

K&N Engineering was born in 1965, when Ken and Norm started their innovative parts company by first producing a line of handlebars, fenders, and braces for those spindly 1960s forks. The next year, K&N air filters were born. Over the rest of the decade, K&N filters blossomed into the industry standard for performance and protection.

In 1971, Norm decided to leave the engineering company to Ken. He stuck with the dealership portion of the industry and opened other locations in Oklahoma and Kansas.

Now in his 80s, Norm has not slowed down a bit. The octogenarian started the Motorcyclists Against Cancer Rally with his wife, Lucy. The organization has raised over $300,000 for cancer research. He also runs an MSF-certified training school and also promotes the Oklahoma Gold Rush off-road racing event. Clearly, Norm is set on giving back to society and to the motorcycling lifestyle that he was integral in building.

(L to R) Dennis Mahan, Malcolm Smith, Jerry Mall, Norm McDonald, Gary Bryson, George Wilson

K&N congratulates Norm McDonald on his induction into the Trailblazers Hall of Fame. Norm is a true ambassador of the sport of motorcycling and K&N is proud to continue that heritage into the future.

The Typhoon air intake kit includes fittings for the MAF sensor and other needed hoses

That’s where K&N comes in. With the installation of a K&N 69-3516TTK Typhoon cold air intake system into a 2010 – 2011 PVEZ Ford Focus, owners can enjoy improved throttle response and engine sound, plus the addition of an estimated 5.83 horsepower at the drive wheels.

Cool air makes more power than hot air. So does an increased flow of air. The key is to draw larger volumes of fresh, clean air directly from outside the vehicle, and then isolate it from high underhood temperatures. With the K&N 69-3516TTK Typhoon air intake system, intake air first enters a black rubber topped K&N RU-4960XD high-flow air filter sited within a heat shield that’s installed into the original air box location.

The heat shield isolates the filter from underhood heat, allowing only cold air to flow to the motor

The filtered air is then directed through an aerodynamically-verified textured black powder-coat aluminum tube into the engine’s throttle body for almost a six horsepower gain. The intake tube includes fittings for the factory Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor, crank case vent hose, and a replacement silicone EVAP vent line.

Dynamometer testing verified an estimated increase from 104.28 horsepower to 110.11 horsepower, as measured at the drive wheels, on the same Ford Focus on the same day, with the only change being the installation of a K&N 69-3516TTK Typhoon air intake system.

The tapered cylinder shaped K&N air filter is made from highly-effective oiled cotton fibers

And once you’ve installed your K&N intake system, you’ve eliminated the need to buy another air filter for the life of your covered 2008 – 2010 Ford Focus. The only maintenance required is a simple service you can do yourself. At intervals of around 100,000 miles, depending on driving conditions, use the K&N 99-5050 Recharger Kit to clean and refresh your air filter.

The K&N air filter you purchase is designed to last for the lifetime of your vehicle, which K&N guarantees will perform with a 10-Year/Million Mile Limited Warranty without requiring replacement.

The K&N 69-3516TTK intake system is designed to fit the following vehicles:

2011 FORD FOCUS 2.0L L4 Fuel Injection - PZEV
2010 FORD FOCUS 2.0L L4 Fuel Injection - PZEV

The AirCharger accommodates the OE MAF and crankcase vent hose, so no reprogramming is required

The 2016 Honda Civic EX-T and Touring engine features an aluminum block and DOHC 16-valve cylinder head with direct fuel injection and dual variable valve timing control. But the real key to the 1.5L engine’s performance is the single-scroll turbocharger that produces 16.5 psi of boost. At that rate, the motor develops 174 horsepower @ 5500 rpm and torque of 162 lb-ft @ 1800-5500 rpm.

As the turbocharged, DOHC version of the L-series engine was entirely new when it was introduced in certain 2016 Honda Civics, K&N engineers had to start from scratch to develop the AirCharger intake kit. The Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor was entirely new as well, and became the starting point for development. With K&N in-house Rapid Prototyping capabilities testing began.

Placement of the filter in the car was also evaluated and it was determined to utilize the existing fresh air scoop in the radiator support panel. With the site selected, a new heat shield was designed to seal off the area, allowing in only fresh outside air and rejecting engine heat. To verify performance both on-road testing and chassis dynamometer runs were conducted.

Extensive monitoring of the AirCharger’s compatibility with engine management software assures there will be no “check engine” light faults for purchasers while a number of separate dyno runs were used to finalize the intake shape and diameter to provide optimum power across the engine’s operating range.

The heat shield isolates the filter from underhood heat, allowing only cold air to flow to the motor

The heart of the K&N 63-3516 AirCharger intake system is the K&N RU-5163 oversized high-flow air filter. All K&N air filters are manufactured from multiple layers of oiled cotton, a well-regarded filter media due to the irregular surface of the cotton thread and its ability to grab passing dust and dirt. The RU-5163 not only allows for increased air flow but also provides excellent filtration properties to ensure long engine life. This is verified by K&N’s sophisticated in-house ISO 5011 filtration efficiency testing laboratory, which adheres to International Standard Organization protocols, ensuring that K&N air filters provide high airflow without sacrificing engine protection.

The filter is isolated by the heat shield so only fresh, cool intake air reaches the engine. The heat shield installs into the original air box space using existing mounting points. Air is then directed through an aerodynamically engineered intake tube into the engine’s turbo inlet for a guaranteed power gain. The tube also accommodates the Honda Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor and crankcase vent hose.

This air intake is relatively easy to install, usually in 90 minutes or less using your vehicle’s existing factory attachment points. Tools required are limited to a screwdriver, pliers, ratchet set and several wrenches.

The only maintenance required for the AirCharger system is a quick and easy air filter service. At around 100,000 miles (which can vary depending on your driving conditions) just grab a K&N filter care service kit to refresh and re-oil your air filter -- bringing it back to new condition and ready for more miles of driving.

Everything needed to install your new K&N AirCharger into your Honda is included in the box

To find additional K&N upgrades for cars, trucks, scooters, motorcycles, motorhomes, or almost anything with an engine, use the K&N search by vehicle tool or find an authorized K&N dealer nearby using the K&N dealer search.

The K&N 63-3516 cold air intake fits the following vehicles:

2016 HONDA CIVIC 1.5L L4 Fuel Injection - All Models

With Rob MacCachren behind the wheel on the 1st Lap, the team gained a 20 minute lead over the pack

The Mint 400’s list of winner’s reads like a veritable who’s who in racing, both off and on road, dirt and track. From the legendary Parnelli Jones to Ivan “Ironman” Stewart, this race features all the pomp and circumstance off-road racers and enthusiasts can handle!

The Team of Greg Adler and Rob MacCachren extending their lead in Lap 2 of the Mint 400

But in 1988, this legendary race came into question following the sale of Del Webb's Mint Hotel and Casino. However as a testament to the race itself, the prestige and importance of the event created by veteran race director K.J. Howe and the Mint management team, along with the financial benefit this promotion brought to the City of Las Vegas, the annual Mint 400 Off Road Race continued to be run until 1989 under the new ownership.

Heading through Old Town Vegas on Fremont Street, the parade of off-road machinery is awesome

In 2012, The Martelli Brothers partnered with off-road industry veteran Casey Folks, owner of the largest off-road desert racing organization in the world, the Best In The Desert Racing Association. The Mint was added to the Best in the Desert championship schedule, and a new one hundred mile race loop was carved out for the epic 400-mile contest. The number of entries swelled to an astounding three hundred and twenty three race teams, making the Mint 400 one of the largest off-road races in the world.

K&N-sponsored Greg Adler maintaining the lead to ultimately dominate his class

“I can’t say enough about our team,” said Adler. “We made the decision to run the Mint 400 after Hammers and Brian Kirby and Justin Bodewitz busted their tails preparing to get us ready to race. Racing over 500 miles of some of the most grueling terrain imaginable in the last three weeks, this car has taken a ton of abuse. The guys gave us a great car and we had zero issues the entire day.”

Adler and MacCachren make an incredible team for The Great American Race, The Mint 400

“We had a lot of fun racing today,” Adler said. “We hopped in the car with a nice lead and set off to find our pace, keep moving forward, and not make any mistakes. As the race went on, the course got rougher, but as we were counting down the miles to the finish, it started to sink in that we were headed to our first Mint 400 win. Some of my first races in the early '90s were at the Mint 400, so to come back here and bring home a win is extremely special. This really is a bucket list moment for me.”

After dominating the 4400 Class, Team 4 Wheel Parts & Greg Adler bring home the win

For Adler and Team 4 Wheel Parts, the triumph put the exclamation point on a week of Mint 400 festivities that exemplified the renaissance of the iconic event as it has returned to its former glory. The week kicked off with the 4 Wheel Parts vehicle procession that saw the Ultra4 car #4444, leading the field of competitors down the famed Las Vegas Strip on Wednesday and continued through Friday with a festive contingency party.

“The Martelli Brothers have brought The Mint 400 back from the ashes to become the biggest desert race in the nation,” said Adler. “They have restored the Mint 400 to glory with its pageantry and a nod toward tradition. Honoring the history of the sport and paying homage to the legends that laid the foundation, not only for this event, but for off-road racing, make it a truly distinctive experience. We’re proud to be a part of this historic race and look forward to attending for years to come.”

A hearty congratulations goes out to Greg Adler and Rob MacCachren for their outstanding efforts culminating in a class win for the two and Team 4 Wheel Parts. They epitomize the spirit of off road racing and K&N Engineering.

A K&N AirCharger is the ultimate K&N performance upgrade for the 2011-2016 BMW 535i

To make V8-like power, the BMW N55 TwinPower engine uses a single turbocharger with two different sized scrolls. At low RPMs, the smaller scroll spools up to provide 300 lb-ft of torque at just 1200 RPM. As the revs increase, the second scroll kicks in to provide more boost. That BMW turbo uses the exhaust gas to spin a compressor that forces a large amount of air into the cylinders so the fuel detonation will be more intense. This additional oxygen allows the engine to extract more horsepower and torque from the fuel. But that air doesn't come from the turbo, it's piped in from outside the car through the stock air intake, then pressurized by the compressor. The problem here is, the air has to contend with a number of restrictions, including the thick paper OE BMW air filter, and the narrow factory intake tube. All of the dirt that builds up on the 'surface loading' air filter restricts the amount of air that can pass through. The air that does get past the filter, has to then travel to the engine through a narrow plastic tube that's full of uneven surfaces, which causes the air to swirl around and heat up. By increasing the air temperature, the oxygen content will be reduced, and the engine won't be able to create the maximum amount of power during the combustion cycle.

The K&N 63-1132 AirCharger eliminates airflow restrictions on the BMW 3.0L TwinPower Turbo

To verify these performance gains, a K&N 63-1132 AirCharger performance intake system was installed on a 2012 BMW 535i 3.0L, and dyno testing revealed an estimated increase of 13.53 horsepower and 13.44 lb-ft of torque. And don't forget, K&N makes an entire line of BMW 535i performance parts, which you can learn about by using the K&N search by vehicle tool.

The K&N 63-1132 is designed to fit the following vehicles:

A K&N 63-1132 AirCharger Intake installed on a 2012 BMW 535i 3.0L TwinPower Turbo