Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/125714
"More than just a business" . THE K&N YAMAHA STOR Y By Rich Hoffman The K&N story began in March 1957 when Ken Johnson and Norm McDonald started K&N Motorcycles with an Indian MIC dealership and a $3,000 loan. Some 13 years la er and now witlr a Yamaha franchise, K&N of Riverside is one of the most successful Yamaha dealers in the country, being one of two dealetships in the U.S. to have annually sold over $1 million worth of Yamahas. Why such a success story? "There are no secrets", says Ken Johnson, whose main responsibility to the business is in the Engineering division of the K&N network. "We have always given good service and have been. able to keep our business set up so that we can give personal service to our customers. "Our feelings about motorcycles and motorcycle racing are that it is more than just a business, it is a way of life." Besides personal service, the K&N publicity department, in the form of the K&N Racing Team, has been constant winners on race tracks, both local and across the country. This in itself has been a tremendous help to the business, as well as giving Ken. Norm and the . "Team" the opportunity to r.lake so many friendships in their travels. The 'K&N Racing Team has been a sucess story in itself. AT Dist. 37 events, the K&N Racing Team and their riders; Steve Nichols, Scott Smith, Mike Meyers and Phil McDonald, are familiar to all. Ascot regulars who have watched the weekly duel between Kenny Roberts and K&N sponsored Gary Scott, have little doubt as to wllo are the top two Novice r'ders in the country. Also, quite noticeable on the speedway scene is Scott Autrey in the familiar yellow and black colurs of the team. At Orange County Speedway on almost any Wednesday evening during the season you'll find the whole K&N Team out for a night of racing which more often than not finds McDonald, Smith, Nichols, Meyers, John Isaacs and Autrey winning T.T. and Short Track: events all evening. In conjunction wi,th their retail business, Ken and Nann also are manufacturers with a mail order business and salesman calling on other retailers throughout the U.S. A lot of the K&N product line stems from years of racing experience. Constant testing of their own products in actual competition constantly ,improves their parts and accessories. . While having lunch with Ken last week he told this reporter..his biggest personal satisfaction has come from the K&N air cleaner line. These filters have a cloth filtering material and are washable. Some of the top names in motorcycle racing use the K&N Filter, and recently Ken has produced some special mters for Parnelli Jones, Bobby Unser and John Drake from Offenhouser. Air cleaners may be the biggest part of the Engineering Division's sales, but far from their only items, as a 20-page. catalogue clearly demonstrates with merchandise including handlebars, unbreakable fenders, expansion chambers, etc. Another important part of the business is resleeving cylinders. In direct charge of this department is Randal "Red" Daley who is responsible for keeping the racing team's equipment tuned and winning, as well as building special engines for customers from coast to coast. Norm McDonald, the "N" in K&N, is in charge of the retail division, which handles Yamaha. Greeves, BSA and Hodaka as well as taking the leadership of the K&N Racing Team. From Daytona to Sacramento, you'll find the K&N Team participating in motorcycle events, including class C, desert, motocross and road racing. For the '71 season the K&N Racing Team • MIst Powerful ... • MAleO • :: • .-. • COOPER MOTORS eo: • • will be represented on the national scene by Ralph White, Isaacs, Scott, and speedway's great Barry Briggs. Starting their fiders young has certainly paid off in the win 'column as BE"ER... THAN THE • OQ HRL Clutch Lube added to the transmission soon impregnates all , moving parts. It increases the E P characteristics of the trnsmission oil, reduces friction and lowers the gear box temp~rature. The MoS2 in Clutch Lube acts to stabilize the coefficient of friction, thereby stabilizing the clutch operation. Tested and proven in competitive racing in 1970. HRL Clutch Lube prevents premature clutch engagement, provides smoother "off the Ijne" starts and eliminates the need to constantly adjust the clutch. TOP PERFORMANCE M0RE SPEED LESS WEAR WITH HRL 2 CYCLE OIL THERE IS NO HARD CARBON BUILD-UP. CYLINDER VARNISH IS PRACTICALLY ELIMINATED AND SPARK PLUG LIFE IS INCREASED. HRL 2 Cycle Oil is a completely ashless lubricant. It contains extreme pressure agents to assure minimum wear and colloidal graphite to provide extra lubricating properties. Thus r~ucing piston scuffing under normal or severe operating conditions. Exhaust port deposits are reduced by approximately 70%. :i' the**** G\lf~ ***team THE BEST RIDERS ON THE FASTEST BIKES. Jan. 24th Saddleback Park t25cc INT. & OVERALL 1st Scott Hoffe,; 250cc INT. & OVERALL 1st Scott Hoffee Jan. 30th Get well 4 Aces H&H soon 125cc EX. 1st K.A. Buckspan Qick Camp . Jan. 31 Indian Dunes 125ccSR. t st SCOtt Hoffee Feb. 7th Indian Dunes 125cc EX. 1st K. A. Buckspan 250cc JR. 1st John Miller Feb. 7th Deadmans Point 125cc INT. 1st Ken Zahrt 125cc EX. 2nd Scott Hoffee Feb. 7th Sledriders European Scrambles 125cc EX. 1st K. A. Buckspan PUMFREY BULTACO 2J819 Sherman Way, Canoga Park (213) 887-7696 REST Now available for 2-cycle wet clutch application, HRL's new Clutch Lube is specifically formulated to give positive smooth clutch operation. prevent grabbing, stabilize clutch operation, minimize adjustments and eliminate gear drag. :I 110 E. Santa Anita A••• Burbank, Ca. 91502 BEST OF THE from HRLubricants Motorcycle Clutch Lube G' West of Mississippi demonstrated by l4-year·old Phil McDonald, Orange County Speedway's high point rider for the 1970 season. Also coming up fast are two. l2-year-olds, David Johnson and Pat McDonald, who will start their second season of racing in '71. Unlike too many dealers, K&N caters to racers and has sponsored such names as Jim Hood, Freddy Edwards, Randy Ellis, Swede Savage and Malcolm Smith. At the race track Norm, Ken, and Red are some of the busiest men, but will stop to help a competitor even 'when they may be hurting their own rider's chance of winning. This type of sportsmanship is typical of the K&N crew. Another unique part of the K&N business is the service departmen t, which is located with the retail store, but is privately owned and headed by Malcolm Smith, under the name of Malcolm Smith's K&N Service. This department haridles all service work including warranty repair. Keeping on t'?P of the ever changing retail market is another K&N success secret, with new items being added to their line continuously. In the near future K&N will add an accessory line for the Yamaha Mini Enduro, which will include an air cleaner, handlebars and unbreakable fenders. In recent years the K&N Racing & Engineering divisions have branched out to include boats, snowmobiles, auto racing, in which they have been quite successful. However, rna torcycles are still their main business. • I MOLLY-GRAPHITE CHAIN LUBE HIGH PENETRATION' FASt DRYING' NO DIRT ADHESION HRL Chain Lube is a blend of Molybdenum Disulfide and Graphite which provides optimum lubrication under all service conditions. Wear is greatly reduced aDd chain temperature kept to a minimum even upder high speed or high load operating conditions. Undesirable chain stretching is prevented. Carrier rapidly evaporates and leaves a protective dry film ,which will not collect dust and grit. - SMOOTHER SHIFTING QUIETER OPERA'TION REDUCED GEAR BOX TEMPERATURE COMPATIBLE WITH ALL GEAR OILS HRL Gear Lube contains high concentration of MoS2 (molybdenum disulfide). This brings up the extreme pressure characteristics of the stand,ard gear lubricant to where it will give positive protection against metal to metal contact· at up to 200,000 P.S.I.! Ideal for independent gear boxes. POSITIVE SMOOTH CLUTCH, OPERATION ...PLUS! ATL with MoS2 base lubricant supplement for all gear boxes with wet clutch in common sump. 2 ounces produces smooth positive clutch action and extreme pressure protection for gears. Total eJimination of gear drag. POSITIVE PROTECTION AGAINST SCORING, SCUFFING MINIMIZES POSSIBILITY OF PISTON SEIZURE HRL Assembly Lube is recommended for application to bearings, crankshafts, camshafts, and all rubbing parts With close tolerances. This mOlybdenum disulfide product forms a tough extreme pressure resistant film that will withstand up 10 400.000 P.S.1. and positively prevents metal to metal contact. • I ----- HIGHL Y EFFECTIVE IN 4 CYCLE ENGINES FREES UP TIGHT ENGINES ASSISTS IN SMOOTH "RING WEAR IN" HRL Break"ln Concentrate is especially effective as a friction and wear reducing supplement. Prevents dry starts by leaving a protective film which adheres to cylinder walls. Recommended for new and rebuilt 4 cycle motorcycle engines'. Ideal for crankcases where oil is common to transmission. BiQ reducti~n in gear drag. M ... en M N ii LL ~ w Z W ...J U > U