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K&N driver's Jake Rozelle with his 1969 Camaro and Mike Maier with his 1966 Mustang at famed venue Circuit of the Americas

Possibly the most fun we've had out on the track this season would be witnessing the friendly rivalry between the Optima Search for the Ultimate Street Car series GTV Class K&N sponsored drivers Mike Maier, in his 1966 Ford Mustang and Jake Rozelle, in his 1969 Chevrolet Camaro. What makes this so much fun is just how closely matched they are when it comes to talent and speed. And really, who doesn't like seeing a Ford and Chevy throw down?

Jake, a recent graduate from the University of California San Diego with a Bachelor's in Science and Engineering, is young, scrappy, and super talented behind the wheel of his 1969 Camaro built by JCG Restorations. As potentially the youngest competitor in the OSUSC series, there isn't much that can stop this talented K&N driver from grabbing a podium at an Optima Series event. Over the past few years we've watched Rozelle grow up before our very eyes. We've watched as he became a household name thanks to MAV TV and Optima Search for the Ultimate Street Car television series. He's beguiled us all with his charm and winning smile.

Jake enjoying the spoils of success while being interviewed for Optima's Search for the Ultimate Street Car by Lucas Oils MAV TV

The Maier name has long been associated with motorsports. Collectively, the Maier family has more than 46 years in racing. Mike has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with K&N. Whether as a competitor in USAC as a K&N team driver in the Ford Focus Midget Series or being a brand ambassador in SCCA as a national champion with numerous trophies to show for it Mike is definitely a guy who can wheel a car. Talented and earnest, he's been racing most of his life. But he's not just a driver. Mike is a family man and business owner. For the past two years, he and wife, Brianne, have spent almost every waking hour building and growing their new business, Mike Maier, Inc. So when he's not racing on the weekends, you'll find him at the shop designing, engineering, and fabricating suspension and chassis parts for his customers. Maier's specialty? Track tested, Maier approved, Mustang Performance Parts. Certainly no surprise there.

Attention to detail and focus creates a great driver. Rozelle exhibits both

If you've been to an Optima track event or even a Goodguys show you've seen both of these fellas hanging it all out for the win. While Mike is a more seasoned racer with 20 plus years of racing experience, Jake comes to the track with an indescribable intensity that comes from youth. We've all been there. That sense of invincibility and the idea that we can conquer anything life throws our way. A certain confidence that far too many of us outgrow. But don't count maturity and wisdom out just yet. Mike brings his years of racing experience to the track that ultimately translates into him being a worthy opponent.

The seventh installment of qualifying events for Optima Search for the Ultimate Street Car challenge, presented by Advance Auto Parts, made its way to Austin, Texas, to the famed F1 venue, Circuit of the Americas. Jake was primed and ready to go. This year he is gunning for number one spot as points champion for this Optima series and has now attended four of the series qualifying events. In fact, he has earned a first place finish at his first three events. Having father Roy, along with JJ Furillo of Ultimate Performance trackside, has made this adventure better in all ways, from improved car performance to great fatherly advice and coaching, Jake has really shined throughout the season.

From chassis tuning to alignment adjustments, Maier would do anything he could to catch Rozelle in autocross

While this is only Mike's second Optima event this season, he has taken time to make major improvements and killer mods to Ole Blue that would ultimately benefit him at COTA. His latest suspension designs, along with widened stance, and fatter Falken tires, provided better grip on the track in the Texas heat. Maier went to Texas on a mission, to get the invite. The coveted invite to the Optima Series finale, OUSCI immediately following SEMA. The question on everyone's mind was could he do it?

Day 1 at COTA saw the largest field of drivers competing this season at any one event. The field would be split between the Detroit Speed & Engineering Autocross and Powerstop Brakes Speed Stop challenge. Jake and Mike started at autocross together. This allowed them the opportunity to keep tabs on each other's lap times, and made for some healthy competition. One pushing the other a little more, a little quicker. After the first few runs Mike felt a severe case of understeer in Ole Blue, so he and his team got to work tuning the chassis. However, tuning was cut short between runs by an odd brake pedal/master cylinder problem. Turned out that a problem with the balance bar and alignment caused one pushrod to bend, then during another run a second rod would bend. Fortunately, they got the issue fixed and before the session was over Mike would get his quickest lap time of 29.749. Jake, refusing to give any ground, would get his lap time down to 29.551 a crucial 2/10th's of a second faster, earning him a first place finish in the GTV Class at autocross, as they headed over to the Speed Stop Challenge.

Jake gave it everything he had in autocross and came in 1st in GTV Class with a lap time 2/10th's of a second ahead of Mike

At the Speed Stop challenge, these two racers threw down the gauntlet. Every run would see Mike and Jake swapping first and second position, back and forth. Jake was pushing his 1969 Camaro to the max with each run, but Mike had Ole Blue just where he needed her to be competitive. It was only a matter of time before the clock would run out and Maier would claim victory, by 2/100th's of a second! Talk about cutting it close!

The next component these gentlemen would compete in was the Lingenfelter Design & Engineering segment. Maier has struggled a bit in the past with his scores in D&E. Mike admittedly focuses on performance and function first over form. It appears though, the judges approved of his recent mods and upgrades to Ole Blue. Rozelle on the other hand has regularly been rewarded with high scores as his Camaro always seems to please the judges. As per usual, Jake received a high score of 96 points, in a tie for second place with Kevin Tully, who also received 96 points for his 1964 Plymouth Valiant. In an incredible three-way tie for third place, Mike Maier would receive 93 points in Design & Engineering for Ole Blue, alongside Craig Johnson with his 1963 Ford Falcon and Larry Woo in his 1968 Chevrolet Camaro. A definite first in the Optima series event.

At the Speed Stop Challenge, Rozelle's runs were picture perfect getting him a little closer to the win with each lap

Saturday's fun concluded with the Lucas Oil Road Rally. After a scorching triple digit day, with humidity off the charts, the drivers were treated to a rather simple rally consisting of just 1 checkpoint at Advance Auto Parts in Austin, and a mere 24 mile round trip adventure. We are happy to report that each of the drivers made it safely back to the track with smiles on their faces.

Day 2 at COTA meant it was time for the Falken Tire Hot Lap Challenge on the infamous F1 Road Course. Drivers were scurrying to make last minute adjustments to their cars and installing their transponders. Road course would literally consume the whole day and there was no sign of relief from the heat. It would be imperative for these drivers to not only pay attention to their cars response to the triple digit heat, but to pay attention to their body's response to the heat, as well.

First order of business was the driver's meeting with the typical pre-track talk, where to pass, flags and what they mean, use the whole track, big speeds and by all means don't crash and burn! We spoke to Jimi Day, USCA Race Director, and he shared that this Optima series event was the very first of its kind here at COTA. During the driver's meeting he would emphasize safety and encouraged the drivers to make note of this unforgettable experience, because it's not every day you get to race your street car on an F1 course!

Maier’s new, wider stance and lunch time spring and chassis adjustments brought the Speed Stop Challenge home for the win in GTV Class. Just 2/100th’s of a second faster than Rozelle

The drivers would be broken down into three groups: novice, intermediate and expert, with Jake and Mike being part of the expert run group. Each group would have four run sessions in which to lay down their fastest lap time of the day. They would take part in orientation laps to familiarize themselves with the road course, then the fun would begin! On Maier's first session out, about a half a lap in, Ole Blue lost a bolt out of the shift linkage leaving the car stuck in 4th gear. This left him three run sessions to work with in effort to catch Rozelle, who seemingly was problem free in his Camaro. Maier would start his second session at the back of the pack and have to work his way through traffic as a result of the first sessions mechanical issues.

We could see in the second expert run session, both of our K&N drivers were getting really comfortable with the track. In fact, for every improvement Mike made, Jake also improved, running smoother and faster with each lap. By the third run session the heat was beginning to take its toll on the other cars and drivers. We watched in horror as a late model Corvette caught fire in the paddock area. Fortunately, the hood was the only casualty. Before Maier headed out, he made a sway bar adjustment that proved to be the right move. He knew if he was going to beat Jake he would have to get after it. But Jake would not lay down and he made Mike work for every tenth of a second. In the final run session, Maier would make one last critical adjustment before heading out. And then it happened. He would drop another full second off his lap time, ending him at a lap time of 2.29.0 which was enough for him to leapfrog to first overall in GTV Class for the weekend.

Falken Tires Hot Lap Challenge saw some challenges throughout the day. But Mike Maier, brought ALL of his years track experience to the course and came out the victor in GTV Class, ultimately securing him the overall win by just one point

The question on everyone's mind, could Mike Maier take the overall win from Jake Rozelle? The answer? YES. Mike Maier, with all the challenges and mechanical issues he encountered, was able to come away the winner overall in the GTV Class securing him the invite to OUSCI. It didn't come easy though. Jake Rozelle is a force to be reckoned with and never backed down. Only one point separated first from second place in GTV Class and in the end these drivers put on one heck of a show.

Even with the incredible heat and humidity, plus the on-track and in-paddock mishaps that took place at COTA, all of the drivers said they'd come back to Austin, Texas, to once again run the Optima series at Circuit of the Americas. Each of them leaving with memories of a lifetime, regardless of where they finished. Congratulations to Mike Maier on his COTA win and to Jake Rozelle for his continued point lead in GTV Class. We'll see you two at NOLA for the 8th installment of the Optima series qualifying event and will be cheering you on.

For more information about this series, log onto www.driveusca.com. And to improve your car performance, use K&N's product search. These are the same products our drivers use to improve their car's performance.

All Blackhawk Induction Air Intake Systems come fitted with an exclusive engraved plate

If you're an owner of a 2003 through 2008 Dodge Ram 1500 equipped with the 5.7-liter Hemi engine, you probably know well that your engine produces 345 horsepower. You probably also know that for 2009 the 5.7 L Hemi was upgraded to produce 390 horsepower, 45 more horses than your truck.

If you'd like to make up some of that horsepower, K&N has just what you're looking for. It's the K&N 71-1533 Blackhawk cold air intake system and it adds an estimated 9.62 rear wheel horsepower to your 2003 - 2008 5.7-liter Hemi-powered Dodge Ram 1500.

That's not to say that the first generation 5.7-liter Hemi isn't a remarkable engine. While not a "true" Hemi like its predecessors from the 1950s and 1960s, its combustion chamber is reminiscent of a Hemi-based NHRA Top Fuel cylinder head, both of which have twin spark plugs. The Chrysler engineers who developed the first of the new generation of Hemi engines even invited the input of the engineers who designed the 426ci "Elephant" Hemi engine in the 1960s.

Some features of the 5.7-liter Hemi, code named Eagle, are a deep-skirted cast iron block, four bolts per main bearing (two installed vertically, two horizontally). The cast eutectic slipper-style pistons are light, as are the connecting rods which don't require a balance pad. The cylinder heads are cast from aluminum, and the intake manifold is molded of high-strength plastic, for both weight reduction as well as a smoother surface for better airflow. All up, the 5.7-liter Hemi weighs 56 pounds less than the 5.9-liter engine it replaced.

While the original 5.7-liter Hemi is a great engine, you can make up some of the horsepower difference with 2009+ models by installing a K&N Blackhawk performance intake kit which adds horsepower and acceleration to your 5.7-liter Hemi, providing an increase of up to 50% incremental air flow to the engine.

The K&N 71-1533 Blackhawk Induction Air Intake System blends well under the hood of a RAM 1500

This is possible because the low restriction air intake allows your engine to breathe more deeply than it would from the OEM air intake. More air means more power and acceleration. This K&N Blackhawk Induction Air Intake System comes with black components including the K&N high-flow air filter and heat shield. An engraved K&N logo is welded to the attractive textured black powder-coated tube for a clean, high-performance look. The intake tube features fittings for the factory inlet air temperature sensor and crankcase vent hose.

Key to the performance increase is the oversized conical air filter manufactured from K&N's DryFlow oil-free non-woven synthetic media. This type of construction not only allows for increased air flow but also offers excellent filtration characteristics to ensure a long engine life. Each design is verified through K&N's in-house filtration testing lab, which adheres to ISO 5011 standards, ensuring that K&N filters provide high airflow without giving up engine protection.

Best of all, the K&N Blackhawk Induction Air Intake System can be installed in 90 minutes or less with simple hand tools. And once you've installed your K&N filter you've eliminated the need to buy another air filter for the life of your Dodge Ram 1500. 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) by using the K&N synthetic air filter cleaner K&N 99-0624 you can easily clean your Blackhawk air filter, preparing it for 100,000 more miles of driving. Your one K&N air filter 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. For full details visit the K&N Million Mile Limited Warranty.

Visit the Dodge Ram 1500 Air Intakes page for all K&N intake systems designed for Ram 1500 models.

The 71-1533 fits the following vehicles: 2008 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP 5.7L V8
2007 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP 5.7L V8
2006 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP 5.7L V8
2005 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP 5.7L V8
2004 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP 5.7L V8
2003 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP 5.7L V8

Not legal for sale or use on any pollution controlled motor vehicle in California or states adopting California emission procedures. See knfilters.com for CARB status on each part for a specific vehicle.

K&N filters achieve high intake airflow without risking engine protection

The Peugeot 208 was, for at least a brief time, one of the most famous cars in the world. This particular car, while not actually a 208 but a dedicated race car, did carry a body very clearly based on the shape of the 208. Named the 208 T16 and weighing just 1,929 lbs., it was powered by a 3.2-liter, twin-turbo V6 engine that produced 875 horsepower. And the purpose of this fiendish creation? To give Sébastien Loeb a hammer to smash the existing record at the 2013 Pikes Peak Hill Climb, the first year the event was run on fully paved roads. Rhys Millen's existing record of 9:46.164 was shattered by Loeb with a blindingly fast run of 8:13.878.

Now while you may not take a stab at Pikes Peak or even Mont Ventoux, your Peugeot 208 1.2-liter deserves some extra power. And it couldn't be easier - remove your old, inefficient air filter, open the K&N box containing part number 33-3039 and slide the new high-efficiency air filter in place - which has been designed to boost horsepower and rate of acceleration.

And it's not just the Peugeot 208 that the K&N 33-3039 fits but a whole range of French vehicles from 2013 to 2015 that share the same 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine: Peugeot 308 five-door hatchback, 2008 small SUV, and 5008 compact crossover, along with the Citroen DS3 super mini, DS4 five-door hatch, Picasso MPV, and Cactus, the quirky crossover.

The 1.2-liter engine has been named the PureTech by Peugeot and includes a number of interesting design features. The company determined that a three cylinder could be more efficient than a small four cylinder engine, through weight reduction, friction reduction, and a reduction of components and complexity. The base 1.2-iter EFI produces 82 horsepower, while two versions of the turbocharged PureTech generate 110 horsepower and 130 horsepower, respectively. And no matter if your 1.2-liter PureTech is turbocharged or not, it can benefit from the same K&N 33-3039 high-efficiency air filter.

Everything you need to add more power and performance to your PureTech 1.2 L comes in the box. All you need are basic hand tools and around 5 minutes.

Here's how: the K&N filter provides an increase of up to 50% more air flow to the engine. And by increasing the flow of air, the result can be better throttle response and improved torque at all points of your PureTech 1.2-liter engine's operating range.

The increased airflow of a K&N air filter is achieved through the utilization of multiple layers of oiled cotton filter media, which offers less restriction than traditional filters. The multi-layered cotton filter material also filters out microparticles that could damage your engine. To make certain that each filter design provides high intake airflow without sacrificing engine protection, testing is conducted in K&N's own internal laboratory, which adheres to strict ISO 5011 protocols.

Once the K&N 33-3039 air filter has been installed you've eliminated the need to purchase and replace traditional filters for the life of your PureTech 1.2-liter Peugeot or Citroen. The only maintenance required you can do yourself in just a short time. At intervals of 50,000 miles or about 80,000 kilometers (depending on your driving conditions) clean and re-oil your air filter with a 99-5000 K&N air filter cleaning kit, returning it to like-new condition. Your one K&N air filter 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. For full details visit the K&N Million Mile Limited Warranty.

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. Find an authorized K&N dealer nearby using the K&N dealer search.

The Ford F-150 is the best selling truck in America, but how much do you know about it? Take out quiz and find out!

The Ford F-Series is one of the best-selling nameplates of all time. And it’s little wonder given two important factors. First, Ford launched the F-Series not long after the conclusion of World War II and second is the enormous fan base that exists for the F-Series. If you’re one of those fans of the Ford F-Series, we’ve put together a little trivia test for you. It’s just 10 questions but it’ll test just how deep your knowledge of the F-series goes.

Q. What was the first model year of a Ford F-series?

A. 1953 was the first year that carried the F-Series name, although it predecessor, which was manufactured from 1948 – 1952 was called the Ford Bonus-Built. The Ford Bonus-Built is now recognized as the first in the F-Series line, despite its name, as it began the trend of a dedicated light truck versus the car-based trucks that had been sold previously.

Q. What does the F in F-Series stand for?

A. Despite the performance of the Lightening and the Raptor, no it doesn’t stand for Fast. It actually stands for Farm. Whoever chose that name would be surprised how many F-150s are parked in front of suburban houses with no more farming going on than a tomato plant on the back deck.

K&N manufactures air filters for the very first F-150 with a 360ci V8.

Q. When did Ford start to offer factory-installed four-wheel-drive?

A. While a four-wheel-drive option installed by an outside company had been available, Ford moved production of its 4x4 drivetrains in-house for the 1959 model year. Ford was also the first of the “Big 3” automakers to offer factory-built four-wheel-drive light trucks.

Q. What was unique about the 1961-1963 Ford F-100?

A. It featured what was called a “unibody” design. It was still body-on-frame except that the cab and the bed were one piece. Customers didn’t care for it and for the 1964 model year, Ford returned to a separate cab/bed design. 1964 is also the first year for which K&N manufactures air filters (E-1040) and oil filters (HP-3001) for the F-Series.

Q. Were Ford F-Series trucks ever sold through Mercury dealers?

A. From 1946 to 1968 Ford of Canada needed two models of trucks based on their distribution system and the geography of Canada. A vast country with thousands of small town at times many miles apart, Ford would place a Ford dealer or a Mercury dealer in each little town, but not both. Since the Mercury dealer was up against Chevrolet or GMC, they needed their own Mercury-branded truck to sell the farmers, ranchers, miners, and loggers in their area. Named the M-Series, these trucks were produced from 1948 until 1968.

The ultimate dream car for many, K&N produces air filters for the legendary Ferrari F40

Q. While F-150 has become synonymous with Ford light trucks, when was the first F-150 introduced?

A. In 1975, as a 1976 model. It was slotted in between the F100 and F250 and offered a heavier payload capacity than the F-100 in an effort to have the F-150 classified in a less-stringent emissions control category. If you’re lucky enough to own one of the first F-150 pickups, you’ll be happy to know that K&N makes the E-1570 air filter for the 360ci engine and the HP-3001 oil filter for both the 360ci and 390ci motors.

Q. Did you know Ferrari built an F-150?

A. No, this wasn’t payback for Ford beating Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It was Ferrari’s Formula 1 model for the 2011 season. The 150 name was selected to honor 150 years of Italian reunification. When Ford threatened legal action, Ferrari changed the name to Ferrari 150° Italia, where the 150° translates to sesquicentennial. Ford subsequently withdrew their legal challenge. As a demonstration of how wide the product offering are at K&N, the company manufactures air filters that fit Ferraris as a far back as the 1972 Ferrari Dino (E-9240) and even for the mind-blowing Ferrari F40 (33-2816).

Not only does the FIPK kit fit Lincoln Mark LTs but also 2004-2008 F-150s with the 5.4-liter V8.

Q. So we know that Mercury sold Ford trucks. Were they the only ones?

A. In an effort to keep pace with Cadillac, Lincoln launched the luxury Blackwood pickup in 2002 based on an F-150 Crew Cab. A combination of price and lack of utility kept customers away and it lasted just one year on US showroom floors. In 2006, Lincoln took another swing at the luxury truck market and did only marginally better. The Ford F-150-based Lincoln Mark LT lasted for three model years. K&N carries oil filters for both, part number HP-2010. The Blackwood takes a K&N E-0945 air filter while the Mark LT uses a 33-2287 air filter. The Mark LT can also be fitted with a K&N 57-2556 FIPK air intake system that’s been dyno-proven to add an estimated 15.5 rear wheel horsepower to your Mark LT, as well as being 50 states emissions compliant.

Q. After the two different Lightening pickups (’93-’95 and ’99-’04) Ford took another swing at the street performance truck market. What was that model called?

A. The 2014 Ford F-150 Tremor. It used the standard 3.5-liter turbo V6 but backed by a strip-ready 4.10 rear axle ratio. Inside was a console-mounted shifter, unique bucket seats and a flow-through center console not found in any other F-150. The Tremor was available in both 4x2 and 4x4. Both options featured an electronic locking rear differential and upgraded suspension. Unfortunately only a measly 2230 Tremors were sold, making it another one year only model. K&N manufactures both air filters and oil filters for the 3.5 V6, part numbers 33-2385 and HP-2011, respectively.

The K&N Aircharger kit for 3.5L V6 twin-turbo F-150s adds an estimated 11 rear-wheel horsepower

Q. What’s the most powerful six-cylinder engine Ford has installed in an F-Series pickup?

A. The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 (I’ll bet you were you digging through Wikipedia to see if there was a more powerful inline 6 from 40 years ago, weren’t you?). Not a chance. In fact, the EcoBoost V6 produces 365 horsepower, compared to 360 horsepower from a 2000 Ford Lightening with a supercharged 5.4 L V8. And if you’re looking for some extra power and response from your 3.5 V6 turbo, check out the K&N 63-2592 Aircharger intake kit. It’ll add an estimated 11 horsepower at the rear wheels of your EcoBoost F-150.

Always remember, K&N makes products for a wide variety of vehicles. From cars and trucks to lawnmowers and snowmobiles. Use K&N’s extensive search tool to find the product for your vehicle.

Brian Binkert’s heavily-modified F-150 near the start of the Trail of Missions

Brian “Bink” Binkert has traveled around the Baja peninsula hundreds of times, shooting photographs and otherwise representing the clients of his company, Bink Designs -- but always during an off-road race. What he wanted was to tour Baja at a more leisurely pace and travel to places that aren’t on the race courses. The perfect opportunity was The Monster Energy Trail of Missions, a tour organized each year by the enterprising Cameron Steele of Desert Assassins. Brian decided to enter his Ford truck along with friend and Fox Shox Marketing Manager Bryan Harrold co-driving.

Besides being a top-notch trophy truck driver and X-Games TV Commentator, Steele had been organizing motorcycle trips down the peninsula for years. He’d been considering a tour for trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps that wasn’t about setting a fast pace, but rather slowing it down. He said he had an idea for a moderately-paced, family friendly tour in Baja “rolling around in my head” for some time. He then recalled that there are 27 Spanish Missions in Baja (more than in California) in various states of repair, but all fascinating, and decided that touring a select numbers of Missions would be the theme of the trip.

The Bink Designs off-roader provides a significant contrast to the centuries-old Mission

The missions were set-up by various sects of Spanish missionaries as a base to convert the native peoples to Christianity. They also served as rest stops for travelers, being spaced one day’s ride apart. While the 21 missions in the State of California are well known, and with few exceptions been restored or rebuilt, the condition of the 27 missions that dot the Baja peninsula range from pristine to rubble. And some of those still standing were built in the 1600s. One participant examined an older mission and commented that the walls must be three feet thick and wondered just how much work must have gone into its construction. At every site, every member of the tour treated the missions with a great deal of historic respect.

This year, 18 vehicles joined the tour. One of them was Brian Binkert’s 2015 Ford F-150 SuperCrew FX4 Sport, which features a whole list of off-road mods, including beefy Fox triple-bypass shocks, massive 37” General tires, and of course a K&N 63-2592 air intake kit. Brian pulled in his client Fox Shox to underwrite his adventure, as the Trail of Missions was being film for the ABC television program “World of X Games”. Unfortunately, the episode aired over Labor Day weekend. We have been told the episode will be available online shortly.

To get from Point A to Point B in Baja, sometimes you need to take a challenging road

The group began their journey on June 23rd starting at the Tecate border crossing. Beyond the vehicles that had been prep’d for heavy-duty off road use, there were also a few that were completely stock, which help provide a sense of how leisurely the pace was. And some of the vehicles carried entire families.

Mission stops included San Borja, the El Rosario Ruins, San Ignacio, Mulege, Loreto, and San Javier which is known as “The Jewel of the Mission Trail”. But the trip wasn’t strictly about visiting the missions. There were stops at one of Baja’s pristine beaches, as well other landmarks and historical sites on the peninsula, including the 100-year-old Rancho Meling, still a working ranch.

Stops were also scheduled in small towns along the route where the teams handed out stickers and other goodies to the kids who ran up to greet the tour. This has been influenced by Steele, his wife Heidi, and his friends and tour guests, as they work to raise many for several charitable causes in Baja, including an orphanage and construction of a fire station in El Rosario, where the nearest one is currently hours away.

"This is FOX's third Trail of Missions and we keep coming back because it's the adventure of a lifetime, every time,” said Bryan Harrold, “Not only do you get to experience the remarkable history and rich Mexican culture of the Baja peninsula, this trip delivers unrivaled landscapes and vistas seen mostly via off-road trails.”

A well-deserved day of rest and relaxation at one of Baja’s pristine beaches

Asked what he enjoyed the most about the event Brian’s response was immediate “it’s a more relaxed atmosphere than coming down here for a race, there’s a lot of camaraderie between participants, that families are involved, and that you get to rub shoulders with some real racers and off-road industry heavyweights.”

The tour crossed back into the United States on July 2.

So although Cameron Steele limited entries to 18 vehicles this year, demand has been high for more participants to join the event. For 2017 he’s considering added a second “Trail of Missions” tour to his jam-packed schedule. As soon as we get wind of 2017 events, we’ll be sure to post them here for your information.

And whether you’re planning on driving on the sandy roads of Baja or the crumbly interstates of the US, remember that K&N has a filter for no matter what you drive: motor scooter to dirt bike and 4X4 to sports car that will add power and protect your engine.