Banks Race Shop « Banks Blog - diesel performance

The Snake on the Wall

by Doug Stokes

Thursday, March 19th, 2009

There it was, all 19 (and change) feet of gleaming black carbon fiber: the Banks Top Diesel Sidewinder main body, floating there in space, 6 feet high with that really “speed hungry” looking snake on the side that seems spitting out a warning to watch out for some Duramax diesel-powered drag racing speed in the very near future.

The rail on the wall with the new Banks Marine Diesel Engine in the foreground

When you have a 276-in wheelbase Top Diesel Dragster sitting in the middle of a race shop, even one as “roomy” as the Banks shop, it sort of dominates the scene a little. And of course, most of the time that race cars are in the shop, they have their outer skins off so the engineers, designers, and technicians can get at them, doing the endless tasks that are part and parcel of the building and constant grooming of modern race cars.

It’s often said that the best racing machines are only ever fully assembled just an hour or so before the race that they’re in. That’s quite true, and the new Banks Top Dragster is no exception to that rule. As an example, even though this trans-200 mile-per-hour in the quarter mile machine is still under construction, the one-piece main bodywork has been off and on at least twenty times since it got here. Until today, each time it was carefully lifted off the chassis and then laid down on the floor near the chassis.

Everyone in the shop was, of course, quite careful to sidestep the (very) expensive piece of carbon fiber sitting there on the floor and no one, but no one rested any tools, coffee cups, or even a comic book on the long flat surface that made up most of its near 20-foot length. After a while that got a little old.

And then someone, some bright visionary, who’s name is lost to memory right now said, “Why don’t we make some brackets and hang that thing on that nice clear wall over there, it’ll be out of our way and look great at the same time!”

Whoever said that … Thank You!

And that big thank you is because the race shop now has a wonderful “wall hanging”, and that very valuable piece of carbon fiber coachwork with that big old sidewinder on it is now well and truly out of harm’s way.

Of course the best part of it being so prominently displayed is that it just reminds everyone of the task at hand: putting Banks into the lead on the racetrack, on the sales floor, and in the hearts of our many fans and customers.

More »

Tags: Banks Race Shop, Duramax-powered diesel dragster
Posted in Top Diesel Dragster | No Comments »

7 seconds - part 2

by Jeff Barker

Sunday, March 15th, 2009

Race day!

It’s Saturday March 7th 2009 and we’re back at the SpeedWorld drag strip in Wittman Arizona. It’s time to go racing. Being as this is my first diesel only event I’m really not sure what to expect. Oh sure, I’ve been to some NHRA events before, but the only diesels there were in the parking lot and were hooked up to the race trailers. Here we’ve got both. Diesel trucks towing trailers loaded with, well, diesel trucks. Ok, not all of them. The crew from Texas Diesel Power just arrived with their diesel powered Funny Car, and another crew just showed up with a diesel powered “rat-rod”. I must admit both of those cars are so very cool, I’d love to go over and check them both out, but we have work to do. blog_s10_f2

For starters we need to get the Sidewinder S-10 out of the trailer (again), but at least we don’t have to unload everything else like we did yesterday. Now that she’s back up on the race stands the crew fires her up. Needless to say there’s a large crowd forming very quickly. Now, again, I’ve been to NHRA events before, and some, not all, but some of the crews there usually aren’t very happy when people start coming into the race booth. I check with the crew on their feelings on letting “civilians” come in and get a closer look. Our calibration engineer tells me that “Gale wants anybody and everybody to see this truck up close. As long as they aren’t getting in the way, you let them come on in and take a look. Let them take any pictures they like and answer any questions your able to”. Well now that’s just plain cool.

The crew is almost finished warming up the truck and I notice that several people are getting neck cramps from trying to look in without crossing some imagined line on the ground. The look on their face is one of shock when I tell them “Come on in, take a look”. Almost instantly out come the cameras. Pictures are being taken at a rate that would make any Hollywood celebrity jealous. Then, of course, here come the flurry of questions; and some of them sound like Banks is involved in some kind of government cover up. In less then five minutes I heard nearly a dozen theories on what kind of fuel the truck runs. I was asked everything from “are you running compressed natural gas?” to “You have to be using propane”, to “I heard you use some kind of diesel/alcohol/plutonium combination”. I can tell you point blank the only things used in the engine are straight USLD #2 diesel fuel and nitrous oxide and nothing else. I should know, I watched these guys like a hawk all weekend. In fact the crew from Texas Diesel Power were running low on nitrous themselves so we filled their bottle for them from our own supply. Our calibration engineer is giving us the thumbs up; all is ready, and its time to stretch the S-10’s legs a little. Driver Wes Anderson is back behind the wheel and he drives the S-10 over and gets in line. Interestingly enough the car in front of us is the Funny Car from Texas Diesel Power so he’s going first. This is going to be so cool! blog_s10_h

The crew from Texas Diesel Power does their burnout. They stage the funny car but they seem to be having a little trouble getting their turbo to “light” properly. The green light comes up and the funny car takes off. About a third of the way down the track a loud “POP” can be heard followed by a lot of white smoke. I’m hoping everything is ok as the driver John Robinson gets over the finish line and pulls off the track. Wes is up next in the Sidewinder S-10. He does his burnout and stages the truck. I’m making a mental note to keep my jaw from dropping open again as he gets ready to launch. The green light comes up and the S-10 blasts off the line. Strangely I find myself not watching the truck but I’m looking up at the stands. There’s several hundred people watching the truck rocket down the track and every one of them is on their feet. Wes crosses the finish and the tower lights up with 7.83 seconds and 176 miles per hour just as the crowed erupts in applause. Hey, I guess they liked it. In minutes Wes is pulling back into the pits and another crowd is forming.

The funny car is back in the pits so I take a little stroll over to not only introduce myself, but to see if everything is OK with their Funny Car. I must say that the guys from Texas Diesel Power are some really good people. We spend a few minutes talking about their run and all, and it seems the loud pop we heard was their intercooler boost tube popping off. Not really a big deal and they should not have any trouble getting her back up and running. It’s never fun to see somebody break on the track so it’s a relief they don’t have to put it back on the trailer. I head back over to our pit area as I see there’s another dozen people standing outside trying to take a look at the race truck. Once again it’s a look of shock when I tell them “Come on in, take a look”. I’m starting to enjoy this.

More »

Tags: Banks Diesel Power, Banks Race Shop, Chevy Duramax, S-10 Drag Truck
Posted in Sidewinder S-10 Drag Truck | 1 Comment »

THE LENO TANK CAR COMES “HOME” TO BANKS FOR A CHECK-UP

by Doug Stokes

Monday, December 29th, 2008

In the fall of 2008 this magnificent machine came “home” to the Banks tech shop for a short, regularly-scheduled maintenance visit. Of course we are using the terms “regular” and “maintenance” with some relativity here.

As even the most casual observer would easily note, this bolide is an absolutely unique one-off that did not come with anything even approximating an owner’s manual in the glove box (actually, it doesn’t even have a glove box!). Be that as it may, it was just great to have this exciting vehicle back in the Banks Tech Bay, all 20+ gleaming feet of it, if only for a few days!

If you’ve been reading about this big silver bullet right all along, by this point you might have come up with the idea that taking a twelve cylinder, air-cooled, carbureted World War II-era engine, originally designed to haul a 30-ton military tank over hill and dale at a ripping 15 or 20 miles per hour, and making it into the centerpiece power unit of one of the most photographed, most outrageous, most spectacular sports cars ever to roll on the face of the planet was a bit of a long haul.

And you’d be very correct!

Jay Leno's Tank Car

In a different way, but in all candor this project was as difficult a challenge as any that have been in the R&D shops at Banks, including the machines that have set world speed records, and broken many others.

Adapting twenty-first century Formula One V-12 fuel injection technology to an engine that was designed in the 1940’s with toughness as the number one criterion was no easy task.

As you’ve read, every part on the new twin-turbo exhaust and intake system was designed and scratch-built right here at Banks. But, even more important than the hardware (which was very important!), was the all the head-scratching, brain-storming, and number-crunching that went on just to make this one run. As you’ve seen, this complete makeover almost doubled the horsepower and did the same for the fuel mileage!

Interestingly enough, when Gale Banks went to partner Bosch and told them that he was developing a huge “former tank engine” into some sort of sports car power unit and that they were pulling out the old carbs and putting in an ultra-sophisticated common rail fuel injection system in their place, they were, let’s just say, a tad skeptical.

Of course when he mentioned who the machine’s owner was , the quizzical looks turned into smiles. Leno, of course! Jay Leno, America’s favorite late night host and car guy, suddenly the mammoth mission somehow became more clear …

Tank Car dashboard

So, two years after this monstrously menacing machine rolled out of the Banks race shop and up Duggan Avenue with Leno driving and Banks himself riding shotgun, and after hundreds and hundreds of street miles, and, after one show-stopping appearance after another at a multitude of car shows from Van Nuys to Pebble Beach, it was not deemed particularly unusual to see this thoroughbred cooling its heels in the Banks R&D shops for a bit of a “tune-up”.

For the record, the electronics side of the Banks work shop did all of the work and the only wrenches that turned were the ones that opened the electronic panels under the dash to get at the ECU.

The only issue was one of drivability and that had to do with the fact (as above) that a lot of the conversion from a normally-aspirated engine with twin updrafts carbs to one with ultramodern Bosch/Banks fuel injection and twin turbos took (as mentioned above), some fairly high-strung racing components being brought into play in a “street” car. In other words, there was more number-crunching to be done to smooth out the engine response.

Strapped down to the Banks chassis dyno and thundering along at a “good rate of knots” (that’s a technical term) the car seemed more like a living thing than a couple of tons of steel and aluminum. Getting up close for a photo when this beast is running (even when its immobilized) takes a bit of an attitude. One just keeps sort of saying (to one’s self): “It’s strapped down, it’s only a car, it can’t hurt me.” It really does seem alive though.

Tank Car on Dyno

The Leno Tank Car’s recent check-up trip to Banks yielded vast improvements in both cold starting and curb idle as well as overall drivability. Remember that the Bosch ECU which was used here was a full-race unit and a nice smooth idle is not one of the top ten items on a modern Formula One racecar’s check list.

Of course there were multiple test drives. Much to check out and a number of check rides to be given. After they pulled in and got their collective breaths the Banks engineers had plenty to say about the short road tests which they “had to make in the cause of science”, poor babies. “The car drives deceptively well …” one allowed. “The sound of those massive Goodyear truck tires howling about two feet from your ear is a bit disconcerting at first …” said another. “The car’s low speed agility is good, except when the speed falls into the parking lot range, then the steering gets a little heavy” was postulated. And one last (rather obvious) one: “This car is a massive attention draw … No one ignores it as it passes by… I can see why Jay loves it.” Us too, we all are drawn to this iconic car that’s far more fantastic than the most wildest “fantasy car” ever, only it’s the real (Banks Powered) thing!

More »

Tags: Banks chassis dyno, Banks Race Shop, Jay Leno, LENO TANK CAR, twelve cylinder, twin-turbo, V-12
Posted in Banks Diesel Power, Banks Race Shop | No Comments »

Engineering & mechanics students visit Banks from Mexico…

by Doug Stokes

Monday, July 7th, 2008

Some 15 very eager students from the Centro Educativo Grupo Cedva in Mexico City recently toured the Banks facility in Azusa, California. They were given an up-close and personal look at many of the manufacturing processes: from design and prototyping, through production, right on to the boxing and shipping of the final product.

The young folks were in Los Angeles to participate in the annual “Formula SAE” event sponsored by the Society of Automotive Engineers at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana. While they were in southern California they took a little time out to show a curious crowd of Banks employees their entry in the formula car competition at the Speedway. Their cool little student-built single-seater featured a modified 600cc Honda motorcycle engine, all-independent suspension, motorcycle disc brakes, wide Hoosier slicks, on open cockpit, and sleek composite bodywork.

students from the Centro Educativo Grupo Cedva in Mexico City

The school’s proud president (who’s an automotive engineer himself), Jorge Contreras, accompanied the youngsters. Grupo Cedva includes the College of Automotive Engineering (ESI) and the Automotive Technical Training School.

The mini-tour included something of a special session in Banks’ Automotive Balancing Service department where two of the ABS technicians were able to not only demonstrate the precision art and science of high quality crank, rod, and piston balancing; but to explain the process in the student’s native language, Spanish.

The Banks tube shop crew sizes up the SAE racer.

The Banks tube shop crew sizes up the SAE racer.

The tour included the Banks Race Shop (which is usually off limits to much of the outside world), the twin dyno cells, the prototype shop, the vehicle test bay, design center, and the engine clean room. The new Banks Top Diesel Dragster, which had arrived at the shop only a week earlier, was a huge hit, as was seeing and taking photos of the record-setting Chevy Banks S-10 Drag Truck, parked right next to it on the shop floor.

At every stop, the highly-attentive students were given an quick explanation of what went on in that particular segment of the Banks facility and what special skills were needed to be working in that area.

Fifteen kids, a translator, a “tour guide”, and Sr. Contreras

Fifteen kids, a translator, a “tour guide”, and Sr. Contreras were a lot of people to get into the engine build room … But we made it!

From the smiles on their faces and the excited chatter as the youngsters got back on their bus a couple of hours after they arrived at Banks, the field trip to Azusa was a “technical” success and well-worth the effort.

Everyone on the Banks staff was quite pleased to know that this special group of students, who had traveled so far to take part in a SAE-sponsored event, had a good time as well as an educational trip to Banks.

For more information on the school and its programs: www.grupocedva.com

More »

Tags: annual Formula SAE event, Banks Race Shop, College of Automotive Engineering, S-10 Drag Truck
Posted in Banks Power, Banks Race Shop | No Comments »

A Trip To The Toy Shop

by Peter Treydte

Thursday, April 21st, 2005

One of the things that I like doing sometime during the workweek is to wander through the Banks Race Shop. It is really an amazing place. I can’t think of any other place in the world where I could find high-flow intake manifolds for diesel engines being developed, turbochargers being mounted on a V-12 tank engine and a one-of-a-kind diesel road race truck being built from the ground up… oh and by the way, just a few feet away is the world’s fastest pickup truck powered by a Cummins ISB engine.

Don’t think of it like a NASCAR race shop where you would see a half dozen or more cars being prepped for specific tasks. A lot of people refer to it as a toy shop, but it is really much more than that. It is a research and development facility of the highest order. There is a lot of talent working in the room too. The other day I was looking as some custom aluminum manifolds with welds that looked like they were done by a robot. They were actually done by Michael Markowitz, one of our newest fabricators. As far as I know he is fully human. He clearly has more metal working capability in his little finger than I will ever have.

I guess one of the reasons that I love it so much is because I love racing. What better way to develop new ideas and expand automotive concepts? That is really what racing is all about. And on top of that, its fun.