| Matt Coffman has one of the most distinctive vehicles currently in the Formula Drift Pro Series circuit—a Nissan S13 featuring one of the oldest, most developed chassis currently on the FD track. 
Matt Coffman's Nissan S13 in action | Coffman grew up in Oregon, and developed his love for drifting on the lush forest roads of his home state. “I lived in a very small town,” he commented. “For about a hundred miles outside of town are the most gorgeous, lush, spectacular rally forest roads and mountains that you can imagine. Having my frustrations in my youth, I ended up driving into the forest and started drifting around on the dirt roads. That’s where I started to learn. There was a little drift series that started in my hometown, and I thought—that looks like a lot of fun.” 
The S13 was completely rebuilt in the off-season | Coffman purchased the Nissan S13 back in 2011, and began competing in a regional drifting series that same year. In 2012, he began competing in Northern California at the ThunderDrift ProAm, and started competing up and down the west coast in 2013. After placing in the Golden Gate Drift Series, he earned his Formula Drift Pro license. He had a rough rookie year—struggling to make it out of the Top 32—but tenacity and hard work resulted in a break into the Top 16 in 2015. Coffman and his team, ever persistent, continued practicing and competing regularly—knowing that success would follow experience and a strong work ethic. 
Coffman enjoys engaging with his fans at events | Coffman earned his first Top 8 appearance in 2016 in Montreal, followed by a Top 4 in Washington a few weeks later, eventually qualifying 15th for the 2017 season. The new year brought continued successes, with Coffman finishing the season strong in 10th place.In the off-season, Coffman and his team fully rebuilt the S13, which debuted at the opening round of the 2018 season in Long Beach, California. Though Coffman has earned strong qualifying scores this season—qualifying 16th for Long Beach, and 20th for Orlando—the first four rounds have proven challenging, with multiple One More Time showdowns and a clutch issue in the most recent round in Wall, New Jersey. 
The S13 features a distinctive purple design | “What brought me from four years ago to today is not giving up on myself,” he mused. “There were so many times when I could have, and I wanted to, and it would have made sense to just give up. But thinking of a life without drifting—it felt like I was going to lose a massive piece of myself if I didn’t continue. It’s passion that’s kept me going all these years.”Coffman continues to show resolve and persistence, battling the top Formula Drift contenders. K&N continues to support Coffman in his quest for the podium. “I run individual throttle bodies on my motor,” Coffman explained, “And something that’s interesting about ITBs is that when you run individual filters—or if it has an internal screen or something like that—they will create different atmospheres and will lose power at the top end or gain power at the low end depending on which filter you use. The K&N sprint car air box filter was the only filter that didn’t create an atmosphere that would distract from the motor, and is the only one that performs absolutely top-notch from the low end to the top end.” Coffman is currently in 18th place in the Pro Series standings. James Deane, Frederic Aasbo, and Chris Forsberg currently top the leaderboard. You can see Matt Coffman on July 20-21 at Round 5 of the Formula Drift Pro Series in Monroe, Washington. |
| Many modern vehicles are designed to be capable of operating for 200,000 miles or more—but how can you give your car the best chance of getting there? Whether you’re looking to drive your car for the next few years—or for the rest of its natural life—following a few basic tips can help reduce maintenance issues, maintain re-sale value, and even add years of operating life. CLEAN YOUR ENGINE 
Clean the exterior of your engine annually to prevent overheating | Keeping the exterior of your engine clean can help you spot leaks before they become serious. Layers of dirt and engine bay grime can hide drips, and can even create an unintentional coating of insulation that can result in your engine running hot—leading to engine damage. Excess crud can also cause corrosion, dramatically shortening your engine’s working lifespan. If you feel like giving it a go yourself, there are plenty of options for engine cleaning/degreasing products on the market, or you can hire a professional. Try to schedule a thorough cleaning at least once yearly.KEEP YOUR KEYS LIGHT 
To avoid damaging your ignition, limit the number of items on your keyring | A heavy keychain can wear out the tumblers in your ignition over time, and can sometimes cause enough damage to prevent your key from engaging the ignition—resulting in an expensive call to a locksmith. Decorative keychains, flashlights, and bottle openers can all add weight to your keyring—so either keep your ignition key separate, or downsize your keyring as much as possible.TRACK YOUR SERVICE SCHEDULEFamiliarize yourself with your owner’s manual, and take note of the manufacturer’s recommended service schedule. Keep a small notebook in your glove box to take note of any services or repairs—including oil changes, fluid checks, tire rotations, and gas mileage. Sticking to the recommended service schedule will help keep your vehicle running smoothly, and if you decide to sell, buyers will appreciate evidence that you’ve performed consistent maintenance. CHECK YOUR TIRES FOR INFLATION AND WEAR 
Tires should typically be rotated every five to ten thousand miles | Your owner’s manual will likely include the recommended interval for tire rotations—typically every 5,000 to 10,000 miles. Regular rotations help the tires wear evenly over their lifespan, particularly if you have a front-wheel drive vehicle, and can prevent front-end misalignment. You also want to ensure that your tires are inflated to the recommended levels; underinflated tires can cause tread wear and reduce gas mileage, while overinflated tires can result in a loss of traction while also causing premature wear.REPLACE YOUR AIR FILTER 
K&N High-Flow Air Filters are specially designed to provide your engine with increased performance | Your engine air filter protects your engine from contaminants that can cause damage—and is a sometimes-overlooked aspect of necessary regular maintenance. If you choose a disposable filter, it typically needs to be replaced every 15,000 miles or so. K&N High-Flow Air Filters are washable and reusable, and are designed to last for the entire life of your vehicle—so you can enjoy the convenience of only servicing your filter every 50,000 miles under normal highway driving conditions.BUY GOOD GAS
Make sure you’re filling up with high-quality gasoline | Fuel companies add EPA-approved additives and detergents to their fuel in order to prevent the build-up of carbon deposits that can degrade your engine’s performance. To ensure you’re providing your engine with clean gas, look for Top Tier™ gasoline—a designation that ensures companies are exceeding the minimum additive standard. Preventing fuel build-up can extend the life of your engine dramatically! CHANGE YOUR OIL AND OIL FILTER REGULARLYYour oil filter should typically be swapped out at least every other oil change, though changing it every time is ideal. Oil filters contain almost a quart of oil, which—if dirty—can contaminate your freshly changed, clean oil. Many late model car manufacturers recommend long service intervals of 5,000-10,000 miles, so be sure you are using a high-quality oil filter that can go the distance. K&N Performance Gold® oil filters are made with a heavy-duty canister and premium filter media to hold up to the demands of extended use. Always use the oil viscosity grade that your vehicle’s manufacturer recommends—which may vary according to the season.DON’T NEGLECT FLUID LEVELSDon’t neglect other fluids—your transmission fluid, radiator coolant, brake fluid, and power steering fluid all require periodic servicing and replacement according to your manufacturer’s recommended service schedule. It’s a good idea to check all your fluids regularly to help catch any leaks or problems early. 
Following your vehicle’s recommended service schedule will help keep you on the road longer | KEEP YOUR CAR CLEANKeeping your car clean is an important aspect of maintaining your car’s paint job and body. Salt, in particular, can cause serious rust damage and corrosion—which can eventually creep into the structural components of your vehicle, resulting in thousands of dollars of damage. Wash your car regularly, and if you live in an area where it's frequently exposed to salt—near the beach, or where roads are salted in winter—make sure to give your vehicle’s undercarriage a thorough cleaning with each wash. PAY ATTENTIONBe aware of new sounds and vibrations. Every couple of weeks, take a minute to roll down your windows as you’re driving around town, and listen for anything out of the ordinary. Squeaks, rattles, and knocks should be investigated and diagnosed. Sound can be one of the first indicators of a problem, and if you catch issues early, you can avoid more serious repairs in the future. BE PATIENT WITH COLD STARTSIf you let your car sit for more than five hours, you can consider the engine cold—with most of the oil drained into the oil pan. It takes a few seconds after start-up for oil to start circulating through the engine again—meaning you shouldn’t immediately start up and drive off, particularly in cold weather when the oil is more viscous (and moves slower!). Give the engine around 30 seconds to warm up before putting it in gear. BUDGET FOR REPAIRSUnexpected car repairs can cause your budget to take a serious hit—which is why it’s important to plan ahead for unforeseen problems in addition to your regular service costs. Setting aside a vehicle-specific emergency fund can help you deal with costly repairs and prevent unnecessary financial stress. If possible, estimate your yearly vehicle costs—including services like oil changes, fluid checks, filter replacements, and tire rotations—and set aside a bit extra for any unwelcome surprises. Check out performance parts to help extend the life of your specific vehicle at www.knfilters.com.
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| Sara Price just completed her first-ever SCORE International BAJA 500—achieving a commendable 5th place finish in the Trophy Truck Spec class with navigator Erica Sacks. The duo completed all 542 miles together, on a course that many are calling the toughest in Baja 500 history. In preparation, Price and her RPM Offroad teammates logged over 1000 practice miles before the official race even began. 
Sara Price and Erica Sacks | Price and Sacks battled fuel pump issues during the race, but the RPM Offroad team was able to execute quick repairs that kept the truck on the course without further issues—allowing them to finish in 14 hours and 47 minutes.“It was amazing to be able to perform like we did at the 500,” Price commented. “It’s a lifelong dream to be able to complete that race—and to not only drive the whole thing, but also to finish in the top five. Erica and I pre-ran the course and made sure our notes were as detailed as possible. We were focused on being smart and consistent, and along with our incredible team, RPM Offroad and Geiser Brothers, we kept the truck together until the finish line.” 
Price's trophy truck | Price will continue to compete in the SCORE International series in the Trophy Truck Spec class under Team RPM Offroad. The SCORE International series includes many desert races on the Baja California Peninsula, including the San Felipe 250, the Baja 500, and the Baja 1000.Price began racing at the age of eight, and collected nineteen amateur titles in motocross—the most wins of any female amateur to date—going on to medal in the Women’s Super X at the 2010 X Games. She was also the first factory-supported female racer to join Kawasaki. “I believe in actions,” Price noted, “And with that comes respect for your hard work, dedication, and results. Female or male—when that helmet goes on, we are racers.” 
Price is a veteran racer in both motocross and off-road | She earned second-place overall in the side-by-side championship of the 2015 Lucas Oil Regional Series, and won the Terracross Championship that same year. In 2016, Price was the first woman to lead laps in the Robby Gordon Stadium SUPER Truck Series, and was named the 2016 Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame Rising Star—a prestigious honor intended to recognize remarkable talent. She has also worked as a professional stuntwoman and precision driver for television and film.K&N has been a supporter of Price since early in her career. “K&N’s been amazing," she noted. "They’ve been with me from the very beginning. I use the products on every vehicle I have—even on my daily driver, I have a K&N intake installed. You get the most horsepower, and you can trust it—you’re protected.” Look for Sara Price in the SCORE Tijuana Desert Challenge, taking place from September 19-23 in Tijuana, Mexico. |
The Wrangler features a K&N snorkel system for off-road adventures | For the past few months, students in the automotive technology program at Santa Fe Early College Opportunities School (Santa Fe ECO) have been diligently working on a very special vehicle build—sponsored by SEMA and twenty-three automotive aftermarket companies, including K&N. The vehicle—a highly-customized 2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited—features over $20,000 in aftermarket parts, and is currently being auctioned to support the program’s vehicle build for the next school year. SEMA will donate 100% of the winning bid back to the school, and Bring-A-Trailer, the auction platform, is picking up the tab for the buyer fee.Along with traditional academic courses, Santa Fe ECO offers career and technical education courses including bio-medical sciences, business, computer science, engineering, construction, welding, and of course—automotive technology. The early college model allows students to pursue certifications and associate degrees while they complete their high school diplomas—allowing students who might not perform well in a traditional learning environment to thrive and develop skills relevant to their interests and career goals. 
Students at Santa Fe ECO have been working on the build since last fall | Santa Fe ECO’s goal is to create a self-sustaining auto technology program, allowing students to have real-world, hands-on experience each school year to develop the skills needed to be successful in the automotive industry. “When you make learning relevant, it does incredible things, and the Jeep build is a wonderful opportunity for us to do that,” commented Kelly Rinaldi, Assistant Principal of Santa Fe ECO.The customized Wrangler features the original 3.6L V6 engine with automatic transmission, and has been upgraded with an Edelbrock supercharger and Flowmaster 409S cat-back single exit exhaust system. K&N donated an Aircharger Snorkel System (63-1573), cabin air filter, and premium oil filter to the build. 
The original full hardtop and doors are included in the sale | Exterior modifications include front and rear bumpers, high clearance metal front and rear fenders, fender liners, and rocker sliders/steps (donated by Bodyguard Truck Accessories). Lund International provided four Rampage trail doors, and Rugged Ridge provided black hood catches and vents. The suspension has also been customized, and the Jeep has been outfitted with a new winch, headlights, tail lights, custom fuel door, premium seat covers, seatbelts, a floor mat kit, console cover, shift handle kit, sway bars, exterior lighting, and traction tools (among other new features). “It’s just an awesome opportunity for us to be working with SEMA, and all these different manufacturers to make this happen for us,” commented Chris Coriz, the auto technology instructor. One thing’s for certain—whoever posts the winning bid will not only receive a fantastic, one-of-a-kind off-road vehicle, they will also be supporting aspiring automotive technology students who have already proven themselves ready to meet and exceed challenges. Do you want to own it? You can view details of the build and bid on the custom Wrangler at www.bringatrailer.com. |
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