I know that our blog has been silent for several months, but it’s only because there’s been so much going on here at Banks. In a time when others are simply folding up the card table and are taking down the tent, we’re looking at what things we want to concentrate on next. Being that Gale Banks Engineering is an actual engineering firm and not simply a go-fast shack of speed parts, we are in a rather unique position where we can turn our attention to other places where we have the talent and expertise. We’ll never turn our backs on trucks, but it’s also not the only thing we’re about. No one-trick pony here!

So what’s on tap you ask? Well, diesel technology is always advancing… and so do our tuner products. What can we do to get the most out of today’s diesel without harming the emissions or the vehicle? Diesel injection systems now are much smarter than they were just last year. You can’t just hose a stream of fuel into a combustion chamber anymore to get a kick in the pants because the sensors and ECU will put a stop to it immediately. I’m sure you can go “bandit” and start pulling parts, but that ends up messing everything up including your engine. A recent example of how to do it right is our Sidewinder Jetta project, which just keeps getting better.

See, when the Robert Bosch Corporation came to Banks and asked if we could inject some excitement into the rather (and I say this with respect) pedestrian Volkswagen Jetta TDi, the answer was “heck yeah.” It wasn’t all about adapting our tried and true tuner technology that was developed in-house, it was how do we take this great car and make it a kick to drive. Since this was a new Piezo injection system the task was a bit harder to get performance. Because all of the know how is under our roof we were able to take on the task and produce a unit capable of giving you a stupid grin and scaring your passengers at will. Then we merged our prototype tuner with the new Banks iQ, developed a custom cold air intake and exhaust system, and finished it all off with a special wheel and suspension package. Powerful, grippy, economical and fun are not words usually used to describe the same car… but it’s a recipe we have used here for decades. It was quickly inducted into the Bosch demonstration fleet where it became a favorite of journalists and automotive engineers alike. We even keep a version of the Sidewinder Jetta in our own fleet where it serves as a test bed for even more upcoming diesel technology and electronic systems.

There’s also the continued development of new environments and abilities for the Banks iQ. I can’t begin to tell you all the cool stuff we’ve been working on for that… at least not in this entry. It’s a product that has almost endless possibilities. Almost like a sketchbook that has blank pages to draw on right after your last masterpiece. It’s a great feeling to be so involved in what has become the fastest selling product in the company’s history.

Let’s see… what else? Oh yeah, there’s marine engines, turbo stuff, military projects, new electronic products, continued racing development, crate engines, projects with OEs… whew! I wasn’t fibbing when I said there’s a lot going on, and I’ll do my best to let you all in on it in future entries. Stay tuned.

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The highly-anticipated second annual SEMA Pinewood Drag Race, presented by eBay Motors, will be held on August 1, 2009, at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena.

Banks Power will be represented this year with a red and black mini-racer which will carry the signature of company President and founder Gale Banks.

Banks is one of well over one hundred legendary personalities from the automotive world who have personalized Pinewood Derby cars built by kids in the Childhelp and Victory Junction Gang Camp programs especially for this event. The race was established in 2008 to raise money for the two charities. Childhelp is an organization that assists abused and neglected children, and Victory Junction Gang Camp provides life-changing camping experiences to disabled and chronically ill children.

All of the Pinewood cars will be on display at the Pasadena Civic on race day August 1 and, starting at 10am, each will take its turn on the 50-foot-long downhill dragstrip. Later that afternoon all of the uniquely-autographed Pinewood cars will be auctioned off to the public. Last year’s auction took in $40,000 for the two charities, and with the list of automotive legends who have (personally!) added their names this year, anticipation is sky high on the fans bettering that number.

The day-long series of drag races is one of the main attractions of Specialty Equipment Market Association’s inaugural “Show’N’Shine” event at the newly-refurbished Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Old Town Pasadena. An indoor car show, this brand new event will feature Classics, Hot Rods, Muscle, Rat Rods, and all manner of special interest cars and trucks in a elegant car show setting. Noted car designer Chip Foose will serve as the show’s Grand Marshall.

Unlike the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas, this exhibition is open to the public and costs only $5.00 to attend (kids under 12 are free) with all proceeds going to benefit the above two children’s charities. The day-long (9am -3pm) event will be followed by the annual SEMA Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser, where the 2009 SEMA Hall of Fame inductees will be announced.

Gravity-powered Pinewood Derby cars have been around since 1953 when the first races were staged by a Los Angeles Scoutmaster who thought the idea up as an inexpensive alternative to building a full-scale Soap Box Derby entry. The idea caught on, and literally millions of such 5-ounce wooden racers have been carved, colorfully-painted, and enthusiastically raced all over the world

In an entry confirmation letter to Banks Power, event organizer Eric Saltrick, of SEMA member company Steele Rubber of Denver, North Carolina said: “For me, the ‘Legends’ that we have gotten involved, like Mister Banks, has made this a very amazing project to be involved with … these are my heroes: Shelby, Banks, Petty, Andretti, Garlits, Prudhomme, Bernstein, Guthrie, Muldowney …”.

We can only add a big “THANK YOU Eric!” (and all the other SEMA members who have worked so hard on this one). See you in Pasadena!

THE STARTING LINEUP
2009 SEMA PINEWOOD GRAND PRIX FOR CHARITY

THE FOLLOWING AUTOMOTIVE ICONS, DRIVERS, CELEBRITIES, ACTIVE RACING DRIVERS, SEMA MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF SEMA HAVE ALL PERSONALLY AUTOGRAPHED KID-BUILT PINEWOOD DERBY CARS THAT WILL RACE ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 1 IN PASADENA AND THEN GO UP ON THE AUCTION BLOCK THAT AFTERNOON TO THE PUBLIC TO BENEFIT THE CHILDHELP AND VICTORY JUNCTION GANG CAMP CHILDREN’S CHARITIES.

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