Gale Banks
Encyclopedia
Gale Banks is a hot rodder, drag racer, and automotive mechanical and electrical engineer who grew up in Lynnwood, California. From 1966 through 2007, his cars, trucks and dragsters have set numerous drag racing and land-speed records, as certified by the NHRA and FIA respectively. An early advocate and manufacturer of turbochargers for creating maximum horsepower and torque from racing and street vehicle engines, his marine engines have also powered several American Power Boat Association
(APBA) champions throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
As reported in Autoweek magazine’s cover story of that week, Banks’ 1987 twin-turbo 1800 hp gasoline-burning big block Pontiac GTA set a two-way speed record as the “World’s Fastest Passenger Car”, with a 277-mph, one-way pass and a two-way average of 268 mph.
Also in 2002, the Teague-Welch-Banks Streamliner set a Class II record of 425.050 mph at Bonneville
, with a best one-way run of 432 mph.
Gale Banks and his company, Gale Banks Engineering, have contracted with many automobile industry manufacturers, including Chevrolet
, GMC, Pontiac
and Volvo
, to design and engineer turbocharger and other power systems to increase engine performance. He has also worked extensively with Bosch
on vehicle fuel delivery systems. In 1978, Banks was contracted by N.I.S.T.A. division of the Department of Transportation
to develop the powertrain for their Large Research Safety Vehicle program. In 2002, Banks re-entered water racing, designing a 700 bhp, 5.9 litre, Cummins
-based, twin-turbo marine engine.
In 2009, Gale Banks received the Distinguished Service Citation for the Automotive Hall of Fame
.
Banks and his wife Vicki currently reside in Bradbury, California
.
, Power Stroke
and Cummins
diesel-powered trucks and RVs.
Gale Banks Engineering also holds several patents for these products.
In 2002, a Cummins
diesel-powered Dodge Dakota became the official F.I.A. World’s Fastest Diesel Truck, with a 222-mph one-way pass (217-mph two-way pass) at the Bonneville
Salt Falts. This 735 hp, 1300 lb-ft of torque truck is street legal, and averaged 21.2 mpg on the Hot Rod Power Tour.
In 2007, Wes Anderson drove the Gale Banks Engineering-built, 1250 horsepower Chevrolet S-10
diesel-powered Pro-Stock pickup to a National Hot Rod Diesel Association record of 7.72 seconds at 179 mph for the quarter-mile. http://www.nhrda.com
Banks is a widely recognized authority on diesel power and engineering, having appeared on several television shows, including Trucks, Two Guys Garage and Jay Leno
’s Garage.
American Power Boat Association
The American Power Boat Association is a New York non-profit, membership owned corporation that was created in 1903 by an act of the New York legislature as a racing association for powerboats. It is the United States sanctioning authority for the Union Internationale Motonautique , the world...
(APBA) champions throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
As reported in Autoweek magazine’s cover story of that week, Banks’ 1987 twin-turbo 1800 hp gasoline-burning big block Pontiac GTA set a two-way speed record as the “World’s Fastest Passenger Car”, with a 277-mph, one-way pass and a two-way average of 268 mph.
Also in 2002, the Teague-Welch-Banks Streamliner set a Class II record of 425.050 mph at Bonneville
Bonneville
-People:* Benjamin Louis Eulalie de Bonneville, a French-born officer in the United States Army, fur trapper, and explorer in the American West* Hugh Bonneville, an English stage, television, and film actor* Nicholas Bonneville, a French writer-Places in the USA:...
, with a best one-way run of 432 mph.
Gale Banks and his company, Gale Banks Engineering, have contracted with many automobile industry manufacturers, including Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
, GMC, Pontiac
Pontiac
Pontiac was an automobile brand that was established in 1926 as a companion make for General Motors' Oakland. Quickly overtaking its parent in popularity, it supplanted the Oakland brand entirely by 1933 and, for most of its life, became a companion make for Chevrolet. Pontiac was sold in the...
and Volvo
Volvo
AB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
, to design and engineer turbocharger and other power systems to increase engine performance. He has also worked extensively with Bosch
Robert Bosch GmbH
Robert Bosch GmbH is a multinational engineering and electronics company headquartered in Gerlingen, near Stuttgart, Germany. It is the world's largest supplier of automotive components...
on vehicle fuel delivery systems. In 1978, Banks was contracted by N.I.S.T.A. division of the Department of Transportation
Department of Transportation
The Department of Transportation is the most common name for a government agency in North America devoted to transportation. The largest is the United States Department of Transportation, which oversees interstate travel. All U.S. states, Canadian provinces, and many local agencies also have...
to develop the powertrain for their Large Research Safety Vehicle program. In 2002, Banks re-entered water racing, designing a 700 bhp, 5.9 litre, Cummins
Cummins
Cummins Inc. is a Fortune 500 corporation that designs, manufactures, distributes and services engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission control and electrical power generation systems...
-based, twin-turbo marine engine.
In 2009, Gale Banks received the Distinguished Service Citation for the Automotive Hall of Fame
Automotive Hall of Fame
The Automotive Hall of Fame is an American museum and hall of fame covering automotive innovations.-Location:Located in the metro Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Michigan, the museum shares a parking lot with The Henry Ford.-External links:*...
.
Banks and his wife Vicki currently reside in Bradbury, California
Bradbury, California
Bradbury is a small, affluent city in the San Gabriel Valley region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is located in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains below Angeles National Forest. Bradbury is bordered by the city of Monrovia to the west, and Duarte to the south and...
.
Diesel high performance
Gale Banks has been an early advocate of the diesel-powered engine, calling it a “clean-burning way to create high performance while achieving better mileage” than conventional gasoline-powered engines. He also sees diesel as an environmentally-friendly technology that "we can tap into immediately." Today, he manufactures engine control management (ECM) tuning devices, intake and exhaust airflow systems, and exhaust brakes for DuramaxDuramax
Duramax may refer to:*Duramax V8 engine, a turbocharged V-8 Diesel engine designed by Isuzu and built by General Motors*Isuzu 6H Engine, a 6 cylinder commercial Diesel engine, re-branded "Duramax" for GM trucks...
, Power Stroke
Power stroke
Power Stroke may refer to:In motoring:*Power stroke , the stroke of a cyclic motor which generates force*Ford Power Stroke engine, Ford diesel engineOther:*In baseball, a batter who hits for extra bases is said to have a power stroke...
and Cummins
Cummins
Cummins Inc. is a Fortune 500 corporation that designs, manufactures, distributes and services engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission control and electrical power generation systems...
diesel-powered trucks and RVs.
Gale Banks Engineering also holds several patents for these products.
In 2002, a Cummins
Cummins
Cummins Inc. is a Fortune 500 corporation that designs, manufactures, distributes and services engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission control and electrical power generation systems...
diesel-powered Dodge Dakota became the official F.I.A. World’s Fastest Diesel Truck, with a 222-mph one-way pass (217-mph two-way pass) at the Bonneville
Bonneville
-People:* Benjamin Louis Eulalie de Bonneville, a French-born officer in the United States Army, fur trapper, and explorer in the American West* Hugh Bonneville, an English stage, television, and film actor* Nicholas Bonneville, a French writer-Places in the USA:...
Salt Falts. This 735 hp, 1300 lb-ft of torque truck is street legal, and averaged 21.2 mpg on the Hot Rod Power Tour.
In 2007, Wes Anderson drove the Gale Banks Engineering-built, 1250 horsepower Chevrolet S-10
Chevrolet S-10
The first compact pickup from General Motors was the rebadged Isuzu KB sold since 1972 as the Chevrolet LUV. The 1973 Arab oil embargo forced GM to consider designing a domestically-produced compact pickup truck. As usual, parts from other GM chassis lines were incorporated. The first S-series...
diesel-powered Pro-Stock pickup to a National Hot Rod Diesel Association record of 7.72 seconds at 179 mph for the quarter-mile. http://www.nhrda.com
Banks is a widely recognized authority on diesel power and engineering, having appeared on several television shows, including Trucks, Two Guys Garage and Jay Leno
Jay Leno
James Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno is an American stand-up comedian and television host.From 1992 to 2009, Leno was the host of NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Beginning in September 2009, Leno started a primetime talk show, titled The Jay Leno Show, which aired weeknights at 10:00 p.m. ,...
’s Garage.