Tag Archives: Brown

1997 KDX220 PROJECT BY CARSON BROWN : 2-STROKE TUESDAY

On this week’s 2-Stroke Tuesday Carson Brown tells us a little bit of the story behind building his KDX220 project and why he thinks it’s one of the best off-road woods bikes ever built. If you want to see the mighty KDX220 in action scroll to the bottom of this page. We promise you won’t be disappointed in what this machine can do with Carson at the controls. For the full story on this build check out the February 2024 printed issue of Dirt Bike Magazine.

We found this particular 1997 KDX 220 on Facebook Marketplace for a pretty good deal. It wasn’t in the best shape but we knew it would be a fun build. 

Naturally the first order of business after getting this gem home was to really asses what was needed. As you probably expected a complete engine rebuild was needed. We got online and ordered all the rebuild parts needed from Motosport.com and sent the cylinder off to Southern California so Pro Circuits Mitch Payton could work his magic. 

Before we installed the dunlop tires the wheels got new purple rims and oversized spokes connected to the refurbished OEM hubs all put together by Kristen and the crew at Dubya. 

The pipe was a Platinum 2 that had to come from the rafters in some old stock room because we don’t see it anywhere on Pro Circuits website and the silencer was originally built for a KX250 motocross model.

 Guts Racing seat foam covered by a retro purple gripper cover. Other chassis bolt-on items included Devol Racing aluminum guards and skid plate, complete Works Connection clutch perch system, Renthal bars and drive system,

The KDX200/220 was one of the best woods bikes ever made in my humble opinion. It’s simple, and cheap. The engine with its KIPS power valve was super smooth and torquey back in the day; kind of like a 4 stroke without the weight and complexity.

The Fall Guy Movie Remake Stars Ryan Gosling And Brown GMC Trucks

Colt Seavers is back as The Fall Guy, and yes, his brown and gold GMC pickup truck is back, too. If you’re scratching your head about this right now, we’ll explain in a moment. For the rest of us who remember this truck jumping into our 1980s hearts every week on TV, well, you’re welcome.

Coming to movie theaters in March 2024, the modern version of The Fall Guy is a big-screen reboot of the classic ’80s television show. Ryan Gosling plays the aforementioned Seavers, a Hollywood stuntman called into action to find the missing star of an in-production film. That’s the basic plot according to The Internet Movie Database, and it loosely follows the theme of the original show, where Seavers was a stuntman by day and a bounty hunter at night. Emily Blunt plays Jody Moreno, director of said film who apparently has a history with Seavers.

The Fall Guy Screenshot
The Fall Guy Screenshot

As far as vehicles are concerned, the three-minute movie trailer is rife with GMC badges. It opens with an action scene where a GMC Hummer EV is a camera vehicle. Moments later, we’re greeted with the telltale square taillights and brown/gold color scheme of a high-riding, early 1980s GMC K-2500 pickup. It’s a brief scene that feels almost like a teaser since we never see the full truck. But the roll bar is there, the whip antenna is there, and yes, the chrome wheels are there.

As the trailer progresses we’re treated to something of a surprise in the form of a new GMC Sierra AT4X wearing the same brown/gold exterior finish. In a clear homage to the TV show, it jumps over parked cars along a wall though we don’t get to see it land. However, we do see it crash into other parked cars a few seconds later, off-road lights, roll bar, and all.

We couldn’t resist pinging GMC to ask about the film, and more importantly, whether a special edition Sierra AT4X in brown and gold might be in the pipeline. A spokesperson expressed excitement for the automaker “to be included” in the movie but declined to comment on anything further at this time.

Airing for several seasons from 1981 through 1986, The Fall Guy starred Lee Majors in the role of Seavers with Doug Barr as sidekick Howie Munson and Heather Thomas as Jody Banks. The cast list for the film doesn’t mention Thomas or Barr, but Lee Majors is credited so expect a cameo from the OG Colt Seavers somewhere amid the action.

Understanding the Messages in the Color of Your Engine Oil

When you check the color of your engine oil and notice that it has turned milky white, foamy, sludgy, or light brown, it is an indication that something might be seriously wrong. A visual inspection of the underside of your oil cap may reveal milky oil, which is usually thicker than regular engine oil. This milky appearance suggests that there is moisture or some undesirable liquid present in your oil system.

In the worst-case scenario, this could be a sign of a blown head gasket. The head gasket prevents coolant from entering the engine’s cylinders. When it fails, coolant leaks into the oil and mixes with it, resulting in the milky appearance. Other causes of milky oil include the formation of sludge in the crankcase when an engine remains idle for an extended period and the mixture of oil with humidity in a humid climate. Additionally, driving through deep water can also contribute to this issue. If you suspect water has entered your engine, it is recommended to avoid driving your vehicle.

Milky oil cannot perform its intended function effectively. If left untreated, it can negatively impact engine performance, cause corrosion, and damage various components. Therefore, it is crucial to consult a mechanic as soon as possible to determine the underlying cause and proceed with the necessary repairs. Once the cause is identified, the engine will need to be drained and flushed to remove the contaminated oil before fresh oil can be added.

Toyota Racing’s Antron Brown Is Focused on the Next Generation

The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) is home to many well-known drivers, with Antron Brown being one of them. Brown is a Team Toyota motorsports driver who has been with them for 16 years now. He also became the first African-American driver in history to win a major auto racing championship in the United States in 2012, claiming the NHRA Top Fuel series title.

In 2022, Brown created his own team, AB Motorsports, after spending several years with Don Schumacher Racing. Last year, his team finished second in its debut season. Brown is proud of all they have accomplished, and his plan is to continue building something special.

Trademarks shown are those of their respective owners

How Hard Work Pays Off

Antron Brown comes from a family that instilled the values of hard work and dedication from a young age. For as long as he can remember, he has watched his family run a family-owned septic business, and it has been his grandfather’s practice to give them everything they needed as long as they worked for it.

While Brown was already familiar with drag racing due to his father and uncle’s passion for it, he was initially not interested in pursuing this career. Instead, Brown wanted to race in motocross, even though he was not fond of how much time drag racers spend on making modifications to their vehicles instead of actually driving them. However, as he grew older and gained more driving experience, his initial distaste for drag racing turned into a newfound appreciation for the sport.

Shaping the Future of Drag Racing through AB Motorsports

As AB Motorsports’ owner and driver, Antron Brown is focused on creating a legacy that will last for years to come. He is heavily invested in bringing young talent into the sport, thereby ensuring its continued development. To that end, he has introduced his own children to drag racing through the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing series, in which children as young as five years old can drive half-scale dragsters.

Brown believes that it is essential to cultivate more racers earlier in order to attract new fans to the sport. He is dedicated to identifying talented young racers and has made it his mission through ABM to give them a chance to pursue their passion for drag racing.

“It really gets me pumped up when I can see somebody that has passion and that want-to,” Brown says. “That’s something you can’t instill in people. And I see it every day in those junior dragster ranks.”