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In the Unlimited-4 class, the first eliminations race began well as Carl moved up in the ranks. Photo by Jeff Nemecek.
Claiming three wins at the Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series (LOORRS) in rounds 5 and 6, Team Renezeder came into the seventh and eighth rounds of the series with confidence. However, the team was on track for a true test of character and professionalism, as their weekend of racing would become a 48-hour thrash to the finish line. Even with a baffling amount of disappointments, Team Renezeder not only completed the race but also maintained their first-place overall standing in both the Unlimited-2 and Unlimited-4 divisions.
Driver Carl Renezeder managed to qualify both race trucks on the pole amongst a competitive lineup. Photo by Jeff Nemecek.
The weekend of short-course racing took place at the Lake Elsinore Motorsports Complex in Lake Elsinore, California on July 25th and 26th. As the initial qualifying races concluded in the Unlimited-2 and Unlimited-4 classes, things looked very positive for the team. Driver Carl Renezeder managed to qualify both race trucks on the pole amongst a competitive lineup.
In the Unlimited-4 class, the first eliminations race began well as Carl moved up in the ranks. During the first lap, there was an extremely hard impact between Carl and fellow racer Kent Brascho. Although there is a fair amount of contact during these races, something didn't seem quite right. Carl kept climbing through the competition until he reached the second place position in the race. It was then that the team realized how catastrophic the accident with Brascho really was.
As Carl fought to hold his second place position, the truck finally gave in with major tubing breaking loose from the center of the truck. The damage deepened as several oil lines and the oil filter were ripped from the chassis. Without oil circulating, the engine died and the entire drivetrain was crippled. The decision to repair the truck at the team's nearby raceshop was quickly given priority. However the crew had to remain at the track until Carl completed the Unlimited-2 race.
As Carl switched gears, he jumped into the Unlimited-2 truck and the race was on. It seemed that Team Renezeder's luck had turned around as Carl pulled away from the pack with a 10-car lead! As fate would have it, the huge lead promptly vanished on the last lap when the right rear tire shredded to pieces. Carl was driving aggressively and the tire couldn't hold up to the extreme pressure. With Todd LeDuc gaining on the injured truck, Carl skirmished for the lead until the final turn where Todd pulled away and took the win. It was a close race, but in the end Carl would take the second-place position on the podium.
As the LOORRS Round 7 came to an end, the team devised a plan of attack to repair the Unlimited-4 truck and restore the Unlimited-2 truck back to race-ready condition for the following day of competition. Half of the crew hauled the Unlimited-4 truck to the raceshop located in Lake Forest, California while the other half remained at the racetrack with the Unlimited-2 vehicle. The following day, the team had prepped the U2 truck and installed a fresh AEM DRYFLOW air filter. By 8am, all crewmembers converged at the raceshop to ensure the U4 truck was race ready. At 5pm, the team pulled into the Lake Elsinore Motorsports Complex just in time for a two-lap shakedown with only two hours before the start of the race.
A few laps into the eighth round of Unlimited-4 and Carl pulled ahead of the pack. It seemed that all of the team's efforts were going to pay off, however the excitement was short lived as the radiator cap blew off. As the Crew Chief, Mike Seat, attempted to communicate to Carl through the radio, it was apparent that Carl's radio wasn't working. It wasn't until the mandatory yellow flag that Mike was able to replace the radiator cap but it was too late and the truck DNF'd (Did Not Finish).
The Unlimited-4 DNF took a toll on the spirits of the already exhausted team. With one more race to go, the crew gathered themselves and made sure the U2 truck was staged for racing. In the Unlimited-2 race, the problems surfaced early on as the rear brakes gave out along with other underlying issues that ate away at the truck. The trained racer didn't forfeit however and did what he could with no braking power. Carl amazingly locked in the second-place win, but seized the engine as the checkered flag was waved.
After the race, Carl concluded "It's weekends like this that make us appreciate the good ones". Even though the team was put through the ringer during the weekend, it really validates the merits of the team and demonstrates what true championship teams are made of.
Amidst the hardships, Team Renezeder managed to maintain their reign over the championship point's standings. The two 2nd place finishes in Unlimited-2 moved Carl from 5th in points to 1st with a four point lead over Jeff Ward. In the Unlimited-4 division, Carl's 24-point lead was narrowed to only four points, however he still holds the first-place standing in points. Hopefully Team Renezeder's luck turns around in time for the next LOORRS race on October 17th and 18th at the Speedworld Off-Road Park in Surprise, Arizona.
The European segment within the Sport Compact community has made a huge impact in the automotive scene. Exciting releases from renowned Euro manufacturers have helped to fuel the Euro markets popularity to another level. Such releases include the 1-Series BMW stuffed with a six-cylinder twin-turbo engine and the V8-powered E92 BMW M3. Even a couple years back, Volkswagen stirred up the industry with their R32 while Audi showed what dreams are made of with the Audi R8.
A modified Audi A4 is seen here in Audi's Ibis White color
Audi's Brilliant Black color is seen here on a modified A4 model
Along with great cars, the Euro community brings a style that is proprietary to their clique as well. Often times, this Euro-inspired look ignites others in the sport compact community to adopt the Euro style or technique of tuning. A handful of key Euro styling trademarks are now considered mainstream to import and domestic enthusiasts alike. Extremely clean lines, subtle exterior arrangements, ridiculously-low ride heights and aggressively-deep offset wheels are all style queues that we can thank the European enthusiasts for.
AEM's new Cold Air Intake System for the 2005-2008 Audi A4 2.0L Turbo (PN: 21-681C)
Another gift that came from the Euro scene in the mid nineties was the compact Audi A4. Since the German car manufacturer introduced the A4 model in 1994, the A4 has become a staple in the European car lineup. The A4 chassis is offered in a variety of configurations. It is available in front-wheel drive or in Audi's 'Quattro' permanent four-wheel drive system. The A4 is also available as a sedan (saloon), a wagon (Avant), and previously as a convertible (Cabriolet). Performance spinoffs of the A4 are also offered, such as the slightly higher performance Audi S4 and of course the race inspired Audi RS4.
For enthusiasts looking to get into a European vehicle, the 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 (B7 chassis) of the Audi A4 is a great option. The popular engine choice for the B7 would be Audi's 2.0-liter turbocharged FSI (Fuel Stratified Injection) powerplant. This engine features an increased power output from previous years bringing power up to 200 horsepower. An excellent way to increase the performance of the Audi A4's 2.0 TFSI engine is AEM's newly-released Cold Air Intake System, Part Number 21-681C.
AEM's 21-681C Cold Air Intake System for the 2005 (from 6/05) to 2008 Audi A4 2.0L is CARB exempt for these models which means it is 50 state street legal. The intake features a semi-closed heat shield design, a powder coated gun metal gray finish, and a DRYFLOW air filter. AEM engineers created a heat shield that fits snugly into the space between the right headlight and exhaust manifold with the turbocharger. The engineers also took the extra step of molding a heat shield that fits both HID headlight equipped and non-HID headlight equipped models. To withstand the high engine bay temperatures seen under the hood of the Audi, AEM has covered the heat shields in a durable powder coated black finish. Connecting directly to the turbo inlet, the AEM kit includes a smooth mandrel-bent aluminum inlet pipe that replaces the restrictive factory equipment from filter to turbo. Once the intake pipe is connected to the turbo inlet with the supplied transition coupler, the other end is topped with an AEM DRYFLOW 21-202DK performance air filter. The 21-202DK air filter's construction consists of an inside diameter of 2.75-inches (70mm) by a height of 5.25-inches (133mm). Another nice feature of the AEM Audi A4 intake is the retention of the factory fresh air duct which draws in cool air from the front fascia of the A4.
AEM Induction Systems' line of universal performance air filters continues to expand with
the release of DRYFLOW air filter part
21-2113DK. DRYFLOW air filters are made of performance synthetic non-woven filter media that does not require oil.
This filter is easy to clean and it is very durable.
AEM's new 21-2113DK DRYFLOW Cone Air Filter
This cutaway illustration shows the reinforced cage inside an AEM DRYFLOW air filter
The
21-2113DK
provides a height that is in between the two other 3.25 inch inside diameter
flange universal air filters currently available. The flange or inlet of the air filter is centered on the base. The clamping area or ''Flange Length'' measures 1.5-inches, which gives plenty of space
in most applications to fasten a hose clamp on the filter to an intake. The outside diameter of the base is 6-inches. The 6-inch base tapers up the top which has an outside diameter of 5.125-inches. The length of the air filter is 7-inches.
AEM's DRYFLOW air filter uses an oil-free filtration technology, meaning the filters do not use oil so there is no chance of over-oiling which takes the guesswork out of servicing.
The oil free filter media allows much of the surface dirt to vibrate free.
This can extend the filter's service life. AEM DRYFLOW filters use an environmentally friendly, mild, all-purpose cleaner. You
can also knock the filter a few times to remove excess dirt off the filter pleats. DRYFLOW is so durable that the media can withstand almost unlimited cleanings and resist water absorption without
significant degradation of the filter.
For more information and full specs, visit the
21-2113DK product page. If the
21-2113DK filter isn't the right size for your
needs, find another cone intake filter using the
DRYFLOW Air Filter Size Chart.
AEM Induction Systems recently launched a new website at
AEMIntakes.com.
The new website focuses on AEM's automotive air filter products including cold
air intakes, short ram intakes, Brute Force air intakes for trucks and Dryflow
air filters. The new site has improved functionality and more information so
consumers can find the perfect product for their automotive performance needs.
The new AEM Website is easy to use and find AEM products
Improved product search functionality makes it easier than ever to find AEM air intakes.
On the new website users can
search by car or truck using the year, make,
model and engine size of a vehicle. The products returned have more images
and include all product data available. For users that aren't sure of
their year, make, model, or engine size a
search by VIN
has been added. Simply enter your car or truck's VIN number from the dash
and get a full list of AEM products that fit it. Finally there is a product number search
for those that know their AEM part number and want information about it like
installation instructions, images, and power charts.
The website contains detailed information and features of
AEM's air intake systems including Cold Air Intake Systems, Short Ram Intake Systems, Duel Chamber Air Intakes, Hybrid Systems, Brute Force Air Intakes and the Brute Force HD Systems for diesel applications.
Benefits and features of AEM Dryflow Air Filters is also available to provide a deeper understanding of the AEM's
oil free filter technology and the benefits related to using it.
Round straight and tapered (Cone)
clamp-on universal dryflow air filters
with full dimensions are available on AEMIntakes.com. If you know the flange inside diameter
you need and the available space you can use the chart to find AEM dryflow air filters for your need.
When one thinks of off-road racing, a typical image that comes to mind is a big burly truck with performance suspension jumping through the air or traversing across some treacherous desert terrain. Well those are both scenarios that often occur during off-road races; however there is a lot that goes into putting on an off-road event and even more effort goes into establishing an entire series. So how does one begin a highly-recognized racing series, let's take a look into Ivan Stewart's Baja Protruck Off-Road Racing Series.
Ivan "The Ironman" Stewart is standing by his Toyota Protruck
The Ford Protruck Voss Motorsports was displayed at the 2008 Off-Road Impact Show
Protrucks, including this Voss Motorsports truck, use an AEM Dryflow Airfilter to protect their engines.
To understand the Baja Protruck Off-Road Racing Series, you have to understand the man that started it all, Ivan ''The Ironman'' Stewart. It was a stroke of luck that kicked off Ivan's career in off-road racing. In 1973, Ivan was set to co-drive the Ensenada 300 in a Class 1-2 buggy. As fate would have it, the scheduled driver broke his leg, not wanting to pull out of the race; Ivan decided to drive the car himself. Ivan ended up driving the entire event and winning the race. After 10 years of continued efforts in off-road racing, Ivan joined the Toyota Factory Racing Team in 1983 and the rest is history.
During Ivan's time with Toyota, he racked up a total of 82 career wins. To make up those 82 wins, Ivan holds a record of 17 wins in the Baja 500, three Baja 1000's, 17 in the Mickey Thompson Entertainment Group (MTEG) Stadium Series and several SCORE International events. Individual races aren't the only thing that Ivan was winning in his heyday; Ivan has ten points' championships under his belt. Those championships include the four highly-respected SCORE World Championships and three MTEG Championships. Ivan's career was nothing short of miraculous up until he retired from racing in the year 2000.
So what does an off-road racing legend do after he retires? It's actually quite simple; he continues to be a crucial member of the off-road racing community. Ivan has maintained his relationship with Toyota and together they've released a limited number of the
''Ivan Stewart Ironman Edition'' Toyota Tundra. These trucks come equipped with Toyota Racing Development (TRD) exterior upgrades and performance modifications such as a TRD supercharger package. Let's not forget the years of invaluable feedback that Ivan has shared with Toyota regarding off-roading and suggestions on advancing Toyota truck's on- and off-road characteristics.
Ivan's involvement in off-road racing doesn't end with Toyota however. We have to understand that off-road to Ivan is not only a career but it has become his life. In a business endeavor, Ivan went on to become the founder of the Baja Protruck Racing Series. Ivan created the Protruck series after many years in the racing scene and realizing the void for a spec off-road racing organization. In this respect, all of the racers are equally matched with specifically built trucks. The Protruck organization has generated a more competitive racing environment. According to the Protruck website,
''We've developed the most evenly-matched off-road racing series that pits
driver against driver and features a rugged, lightweight spec truck and the
toughest, most dependable products available.''
So what does it mean to have a Protruck? Having a Protruck means you've invested into a durable, cost-effective, dual-purpose race truck that's built with the latest technology in mind. The term dual-purpose refers to the ability to race the vehicle in both short course and long course venues at low speeds or high speeds. The cost of building a true off-road racing vehicle can easily skyrocket. For Protruck, they're able to offer race trucks that are extremely capable, but with closely controlled pricing because of the limited amount of trucks being constructed.
Now to touch on the details, all Protrucks are based on full-size trucks from Chevy, Dodge, Ford, GMC, and Toyota. This means the exterior of a Protruck will look like an offering from one of the five manufacturers mentioned. Under that factory-appearing bodywork however is a space frame tubular chassis. This chassis is custom designed with 21 inches of front wheel travel and at least 24 inches of travel in the rear. Then based on whichever manufacturer you choose to go with, you'll install the matching manufacturer for the engine. The engines are small-block V8s. There are some restrictions to which engine can be selected, but all have a maximum displacement of 360 cubic inches and a maximum compression ratio of 9.5-to-1.
Some of the other components of a Protruck are handled by specific manufacturers as well. For the wheels, Alcoa Wheels are used and wrapped with tires from General Tire. The shock absorbers are left to the suspension experts from Bilstein Shocks. Mastercraft Racing supplies the seats to keep the drivers safe. To keep the engine safe, AEM Induction Systems is the official air filter of Protruck. All Protruck racers use an AEM DRYFLOW high-performance 14-inch round air filter to keep harmful dust and debris from entering the engine.
Once the construction of a Protruck is complete, the end result is a high-performance off-road race truck that is fitted with suspension suited for the harshest off-road conditions, has plenty of horsepower on tap, is lightweight and easy to maintain and repair. Add a driver to this equation and loads of fun can be had out in the desert while being competitive in the Protruck Racing Series. Not too many people have the capability and resources to mastermind such an organization aside from the Ironman himself, Ivan Stewart.
