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Custom wood interior for the "Pirates of the Caravan"
One year after graduating High School in 1975, Don and Becky Noone of Kansas City, Kansas, transformed their 1971 Chevy into a show van they called "Knights in White Satin." This move soon turned into a lifestyle of vanning that would include customizing the common van and attending van shows around the U.S. and Canada. The couple started the Vantasia Van Club in 1976 and have been hosting the Springfever Van-In since 1976. "Knights in White Satin" was later stripped down and converted into the "Rocky Van."
Don and Becky Noone's "Pirates of the Caravan" with K&N custom air cleaner assembly
In February, 2007, the couple purchased a 1976 Ford van from an old friend in Des Moines, Iowa. This van had not been out of the garage in over 18 years. After pushing the van out of the garage and winching it onto a trailer, Don Noone was on his way home to begin a resurrection that would turn this ordinary van into a showpiece.
This was only the beginning for Noone. "The paint was in bad shape, tires dry rotted and the carpet and upholstery needed to be replaced," Noone stated. "A gallon of paint thinner had fallen on the hood and the interior wood was very dry and needed oil."
The van was sent to a local mechanic to get it in running condition. This required a lot of work, including a radiator, master cylinder, gas tanks, wires, plugs, wheels, tires and brakes.
After getting the van in running condition, Noone took the outside wood, molding and emblems off of the vehicle. He then installed new 16" wheels and tires he purchased from a local tire shop.
"Pirates of the Caravan" was built from the ground up
It was time to begin the body transformation process. Noone took the van to a body shop where a fellow club member was the service manager. The crew began by blasting the van with baking soda to completely strip the paint down to bare metal. Next, they welded all of the holes left from the outer molding and emblems while taking care not to set fire to the interior of the van. Once the body work was complete, they applied a base coat of blue paint.
Noone transferred the van to a local motorcycle shop where four skilled artists painted the mural and artwork that covers the van. Back at the body shop, they applied the final coats of clear paint and buffed out the finish.
"I took off all of the door panels and seats and had them reupholstered," Noone said. "I also painted the batteries to look like wooden boxes and the trailer hitch to look like wood." Noone installed the newly upholstered door panels along with new carpet in the van. "I ordered a tilt steering column and wheel then had it painted to look like wood," he said, "Along with the windshield wipers, door straps, shocks, and anything I could find under the hood."
Noone installed two moving fish lights on the back side of the port holes and had some upper back door panels made with pirate heads in them. "The spare tire originally laid flat under the couch," Noone said. "I cut out a place for the tire and made a bracket to hold it upright. This made room for storage under the couch."
A local audio shop was the next to get the van. They installed power windows, power door locks, Jensen 7" flip down touch screen DVD player in the dash, 10" rear flip down monitor, Low Lux night vision rear camera, Rockford Fosgate 6.5 coaxial in rear with components set in front, MTX 300 watt mono sub amp, MTX Thunder 500 watt 12" sub woofer and Dakota digital clock & temperature gauge in the overhead console.
LED lighting was installed in the tube grill, around the back window and under the van to help accent the theme. Don and Becky Noone named their new van "Pirates of the Caravan."
The "Pirates of the Caravan" is equipped with K&N custom air cleaner assembly 60-1300. "I like the performance of my K&N assembly," Noone said. "I like the looks too."
Noone's K&N equipped "Pirates of the Caravan" has won numerous awards. He has attended many car shows including World of Wheels, Everything on Wheels, Truck-In's Lone Stars, CIV Van-In, Three Trails Van-In, E-Z-Life Van-In, Woody Boogie Van-In, Fast Lanes Vans, Midwest All Truck Nationals and a lot more.
Don and Becky Noone enjoy their many adventures together. "As you can tell we love vanning," Noone said. "We enjoy showing our van not only for the awards but to see people's reactions and promote vanning."
Find K&N products for your vehicle using the application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world.
A rumble went through the sleepy town of Alamo, Nevada. It didn’t come from the nearby Extraterrestrial Highway or Area 51. It was the sound of modified trucks starting their engines for the Best in the Desert Silver State 300
race.
The Best in the Desert Silver State 300 race began in Alamo, Nevada near the Extraterrestrial Highway and Area 51, photo by Mike Aiello
Brad Lovell went to Alamo prepared. A few weeks before the race, he and driver Bill Kunz did a test run. “When it was over I had a notepad with nearly 500 illegible notes that I had to input into our computer,” said Lovell. “It was my legend that pointed out pitfalls, obstructions or holes on the desert course that we would have to avoid. I loaded the file of information on the morning of the race and pondered the circumstances of mislabeling hazardous sections.”
Torchmate Ranger has a 4.5 liter Ford motor originally designed for NASCAR, photo by Mike Aiello
Torchmate Ford Ranger Team won the Best in the Desert Silver State 300 race by 5 minutes and 17 seconds, photo by Mike Aiello
The Silver State 300 is a single loop around the most desolate areas of Eastern Nevada. Trucks power through a variety of terrain with smooth roads, rocky silt, water and dust. Kuntz drove the entire 322 miles and Lovell navigated the No. 7231 Torchmate Ford Ranger. The rest of the Torchmate Racing Team was there for logistic and pit support.
“We raced in Class 7 which is for unlimited mid-size trucks,” said Lovell. “The only restrictions were a 6 cylinder motor and maximum overall width. Our Torchmate Ranger is a 7200 truck which was built around a stock frame. We put in countless hours of custom fabrication. It also has a fire breathing 4.5 liter Ford motor originally designed for NASCAR and
a K&N air filter.”
The Torchmate Crew forgot to take new K&N air filters to the Silver State 300. “We had the same filter on the Ranger that we used in the Best in the Desert Vegas to Reno 1000 mile race,” said Lovell. “We just washed it, put some oil on it and put it back in the truck before the race. Our K&N air filters do their job every time.”
Kuntz and Lovell darted from the start line second in their class. At about 35 miles into the race the Torchmate Team caught up to the leader but lost him again in the blinding silt. “Luckily he pulled off at the first pit and we were able to get some clean air,” said Lovell. “We set a good pace but soon noticed Al Hogan on our tail. We pitted at race mile 90 and watched Hogan press forward to gain the lead. It was really difficult to be patient and not push it too hard but Bill kept his cool.”
About mile 120, the electrical power in the Torchmate Ranger cut out. “We were along a narrow stretch of mountain road,” said Lovell. “When we loosened our belts, Dave Caspino plowed into the back of our truck. That was okay, because it helped us get to the side of the road and avoid a worse crash.”
Lovell and Kuntz traced the problem to a loose battery terminal, and re-entered the race. They went forward another 30 miles and spotted a column of black smoke. Race officials forced everyone to stop. “Al Hogan hit a power pole with enough force to completely knock it over,” said Lovell. “The power lines fell onto the wrecked truck and started a fire. The crew somehow escaped but the truck burned to the ground. The only thing left from a one hundred thousand dollar race truck was one fender.”
The race resumed after the wreck was cleared. Officials staggered restart at 30 seconds apart. The restart worked out in the Torchmate Team’s favor because they were able to take fuel and maintain their position at the front of the pack.
“We ran clean for about 70 more miles,” said Lovell. “Then we started to get into the dust again which was blinding with the setting sun. I don’t know how Bill maintained his focus. My eyes felt like they were bleeding and I couldn’t see a thing.”
The Torchmate Team ran smart in the dust and did not take chances. “Finally the finish line came into our view and we took the checkered flag,” said Lovell. “After 322 miles we won by only 5 minutes and 17 seconds.”
The Torchmate Team will next convene in Farmington, New Mexico on October 3rd to battle for top honors at the WE-Rock Grand Nationals. From there, Lovell is off to the Baja 1000.
The Suzuki SX4 is often described as a cross over mix of a 4X4 sport utility vehicle and a super-mini. It was originally intended for the European market, but the SX4 is now sold in Japan, South America, Australia, South Africa and North America.
Replacement Air Filter for Suzuki SX4
K&N has designed a new lifetime replacement air filter, part number
33-2954 for the 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 Suzuki SX4 with a 1.6 liter engine and the 2006 to 2010 Suzuki SX4 with a 1.5 liter engine.
The washable and reusable high flow flat panel K&N air filter is designed to increase horsepower and acceleration while providing excellent filtration. Simply remove the disposable OE filter from the air box and replace it with K&N’s
33-2954.
The simple drop in design makes our K&N replacement air filter an easy and economical performance add-on for your Suzuki SX4 Crossover. Washable and reusable, the 33-2954 requires cleaning every 50,000 miles under normal highway driving conditions.
K&N”s stock replacement air filters for street vehicles are covered by our famous K&N Million Mile Limited Warranty. It will be the last air filter your vehicle will ever need.
The sixth round of the 2009 FIA GT European Championship Series took place at the new Autodromo Internacional Algarve Circuit in Portimao, Portugal.
The seventh round of the 2009 FIA GT European Championship Series resumes in France on October 4,
photo courtesy of Pratt and Miller Engineering
Nearly 40,000 spectators watched the No. 3 SRT Corvette Z06 of Bert Longin and James Ruffier take their first win of the season. They crossed the finish line 33 seconds ahead of the No. 4 Pekaracing Corvette.
SRT Corvette Z06 drivers Bert Longin and James Ruffier celebrate their first win of the season at the Autodromo Internacional Algarve Circuit in Portimao, Portugal, photo courtesy of Pratt and Miller Engineering
Ruffier and Longin had a good pace throughout most of the race despite one scare. Ruffiler developed a problem with one of his wheels. His radio was broken and there was no way to communicate the issue to his crew. When he was finally able to pit, the crew worked fast and they were able to regain the lost time in the pit area.
“In the FIA and LMS Series in Europe, we have 11 Corvettes equipped with purpose built K&N air filters,” said Mike Atkins, Pratt and Miller Program Manager. “K&N air filters are the best on the market when it comes to horsepower and filtration.”
A top three Corvette podium looked possible late in the race. But Maserati driver Alex Muller passed the third GT1 Corvette in the running with only two rounds left in the race.
The seventh round of the 2009 FIA GT European Championship Series takes place in France on October 4.
Torrential rain in Braselton, Georgia forced officials to red flag the 10-hour Petit Le Mans after four hours and 50 minutes of racing. The Road Atlanta circuit was drenched and there was no hope of drying the track.
Torrential rain forced officials to red flag the Petit Le Mans after only a few hours of racing, photo by GM Corp.
Two Corvette C6.Rs dominated the first three hours of the Petit Le Mans Race in Braselton, Georgia, photo by GM Corp.
When the race ended Corvette Racing’s No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R was fourth in the GT2 class, one lap behind Risi Competizione’s GT2-winning No. 62 Ferrari 430. The No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R was classified sixth, only two laps down.
Oliver Gavin pits on the Road Atlanta circuit in Corvette Racing's Compuware Corvette C6.R, photo by GM Corp.
Corvette Racing's next event is the Monterey Sports Car Championships at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California, photo by GM Corp.
The two Corvette C6.R’s dominated the first three hours of the race. They ran first and second consistently until a flurry of pit stops mixed the running order. That’s when the heavy rain arrived.
The Corvettes changed to rain tires and quickly asserted themselves at the start. Oliver Gavin took the No.4 Corvette
C6.R to second and Johnny O’Connell slotted the No.3 Corvette C6.R to fourth on the opening lap.
Gavin made a move to pass the Ford GT of David Murry in the Turn 10 chicane on the second lap, but lost grip and fell to fourth. O’Connell immediately applied more pressure to the No.3 Corvette, taking the lead on the third lap with an inside pass going into the
high-speed first turn. On the fourth lap, Gavin passed the Flying Lizard Porsche of Patrick Long to take third place.
“I knew we had a good car in the rain,” said O’Connell. “Everyone was being a little tentative at the start, but I felt confident. Oliver got in a little too deep and went off trying to pass the Ford GT. It was then my turn to take care of business.”
A dry line started to emerge and the Corvette crew made the decision to switch from rain tires to slicks on the first pit stop. Gavin was the first to pit at the 45 minute mark, with O’Connell stopping two laps later. Following the pit stops, Gavin emerged at the front of the GT2 class with O’Connell comfortably in second.
“I thought I was super careful, but obviously I wasn’t careful enough when I went across the grass in Turn 10,” said Gavin. “Fortunately the car wasn’t damaged and I got going again and passed the Porsche and the Ford GT. I could see the track was going to be nasty in several turns, but thought that if I could build enough heat in the tires, it should be good for the rest of the track. As soon as I went out on slicks, I knew we made the right choice.”
The Corvettes made their first driver changes during a full-course caution after 62 laps. Jan Magnussen replaced O’Connell and Olivier Beretta replaced Gavin. A second full course caution closed the field. During the third yellow flag, Corvette made another change of drivers. Antonio Garcia took over the class-leading No. 3 Corvette C6.R and Marcel Fassler drove the second-ranked No. 4 Corvette C6.R.
The Corvettes suffered a setback during a fifth caution. They ceded track position to Marc Lieb in the No. 45 Porsche, and Joerg Mueller in the No. 92 BMW. That put Fassler in third place and Garcia in fourth.
“It was difficult because the two cars in front of me were fighting for position,” said Garcia. “They defended their positions really hard. I thought our pace was faster, so I took it easy and waited for my opportunity.”
The weather continued to deteriorate and the downpour began at 4:28. O’Connell aquaplaned off the track in the downhill Turn 12 and was beached in the gravel trap. Quick work by the IMSA safety team had the No. 3 Corvette back on the circuit after only losing one lap.
“The rain was unbelievable,” said O’Connell. “I came under the bridge like I’ve done a thousand times before and suddenly hit a stream of water. I was not pushing hard at all. I just wanted to catch up with the field.”
The downpour intensified and race officials displayed the red flag and stopped the race at 4:50. The clock continued to run while the cars were parked in the pit lane, and the race was terminated three hours and 55 minutes later.
“It was a very unusual event, and in some respects a disappointing one,” said Corvette Racing Program Manager Doug Fehan. “Rain is a perfect environment to race the GT2 Corvette C6.R, the engineering that has gone into this chassis provides tremendous mechanical grip. We certainly would have liked to finish the race with a good result. But safety is always paramount at GM Racing, and we applaud the officials for making the decision to call the race. Safety must always prevail.”
“Our K&N purpose built air filters worked fantastic,” said Mike Atkins, Pratt and Miller Program Manager. “K&N air filters are second to none and are the best on the market for horsepower and filtration.”
Corvette Racing’s next event is the Monterey Sports Car Championships. The four hour race is scheduled to start at 2:45 p.m. PST on Saturday, October 10 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. SPEED-TV will broadcast the race on Sunday, October 11 at 2:30 pm EST.
