Team K&N Students Competing for $650,000 in Scholarships at the 2011 SEMA Show
- 23 Aug 2011
For an automotive enthusiast, gaining admission to the SEMA Show is a rite of passage. The annual trade show of the Specialty Equipment Market Association is not open to the public. To catch a glimpse of the new products being released, new styling trends, and ultra-tricked out customized show cars, you must be associated with one of SEMA's member companies. Unless of course, you happen to be one of the industry's invited guests. These special guests can be many different types of people: executives from the major vehicle manufacturers, members of the media, members of state and local government who support the automotive enthusiast and the car hobby, high school students...
High school students? Yes, that's right! The SEMA Show serves as the host for the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge National Finals. Teams of 5 high school students compete against the clock, and against each other, to disassemble identically prepared high performance engines, and then reassemble them to ready-to-run condition. Not only must the students understand how an internal combustion engine operates, but they must also demonstrate teamwork, cooperation, problem solving skills, the ability to perform under stress/pressure, and many other valuable skills which seem to be inherent with the automotive enthusiast hobby. These skills, along with a creative and supportive teacher, can set these students on a path to success. K&N is a proud supporter of the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow and other programs designed to keep youth interested and involved as automotive enthusiasts. Five students from North Orange County ROP (Regional Occupational Program) make up Team K&N. Julia Chou handles the engine's "middle components" like the timing chain/gears, water pump, harmonic balancer, intake manifold and distributor, and making sure the rotating components are timed correctly. Nathalie Lopez and Erick Peredes tears down and assembles the side components: pistons and connecting rods, cylinder heads, and valvetrain. Damiana Marquez and Heather Saravia handle the bottom end components such as mating the connecting rods to the crankshaft, lubrication components like the oil pump and filter, and removal/installation of the oil pan. The advisors to Team K&N, Russ Bacarella and Dave Endo, provide leadership and direction inside the classroom, and emotional support during competition. Earlier this year in the divisional elimination rounds, Team K&N was one of the best teams, tearing down and correctly reassembling their engine in just 31 minutes and 31 seconds! This fast time locked Team K&N in for a spot in the National Finals at the SEMA Show, November 1-4, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The winning team from the National Finals at SEMA will win scholarship money to pursue/continue their education in the automotive industry. K&N is proud to be represented by the outstanding students from North Orange County ROP, and we will be there to cheer you on during the competition! Good luck! Find K&N products for your vehicle using the K&N application search then use the K&N dealer search to find a K&N dealer in your part of the world. |
