Gale banks engineering
Encyclopedia
Gale Banks Engineering and its four divisions (Banks Power,Banks Technology, Banks Marine, and Banks Racing), are companies created by Southern California
hot rodder and automobile engineer, Gale Banks
. These companies design, engineer and build high performance parts for the automobile and marine aftermarket and military customers. Located in Azusa
, CA, the company develops technology and components for both gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles, but is best known for advancing development of the [turbocharger] and ultra high performance diesel engines for racing and street purposes.
Banks-powered race vehicles have won numerous marine racing events and championships, and have set many speed records. These include “World’s Fastest Passenger Car” and “World’s Fastest Diesel Truck.” The Banks Sidewinder S-10, built from the ground up at Gale Banks
Engineering, produces 1250 horsepower and is the “world’s fastest and quickest diesel drag truck” with a 7.72 second elapsed time and 179+ mph top speed in the quarter mile. These records have been certified by official motor racing sanctioning organizations, including the FIA and NHRA, and are detailed in the History below.
Banks Power products include ECM-tuning devices, and intake and exhaust airflow systems for diesel-powered pickup trucks and recreational vehicles. ‘’Diesel Performance’’, ‘’Trailer Life’’ and other magazines have reported that these Banks Power products deliver significantly improved horsepower and torque measurements while yielding an up to 10% improvement in fuel mileage.
begins his career as a hot rodder by modifying the engine in his mother’s car. He founds “C.P’s Auto & Marine Racing Engines” as a way to fund his college expenses at Cal Poly, Pomona.
1966: Banks modifies a 1953 Studebaker
and drives it to class records at El Mirage Dry Lake
and the Bonneville Salt Flats with a top speed of 184.52 mph, as certified by the Southern California Timing Association.
1970: First Banks-branded turbo marine racing engine is built. Gale Banks Engineering and Banks Power engines win the American Power Boat Association
(APBA) & NJBA (National Jet Boat Association) Jet Class national championship.
1974: The Banks/Brunette tunnel boat powered by a 398 cubic inch engine developed by Gale Banks Engineering and Banks Power wins the first of five consecutive APBA
Endurance Tunnel Hull national championships.
1976: The “Crucifier,” a race boat powered by a Banks fuel-injected nitro HEMI wins every event it enters, including the NDBA (National Drag Boat Association) and APBA
nationals.
1978: Gale Banks Engineering is contracted by N.I.S.T.A. in the Department of Transportation
to develop the power train for its Large Research Safety Vehicle (L.S.R.V.) program. When finished, it met proposed 1985 fuel and emission standards. This year also saw Banks develop the world’s first electronically injected oxygen-sensing turbocharged engine for Volvo
.
1980: The U.S. Navy Seals contract Banks to develop an experimental twin-turbo marine engine that produces 535-hp and runs on 84-octane “Battle Gas.”
1981: Banks creates the high performance diesel aftermarket with his first turbocharger system developed for the 6.2 litre GM diesel. Also that year, a Banks-powered 450-hp twin-turbo Buick V-6 becomes the prototype for the Buick Grand National production car.
1982: The “Sundowner” Corvette, powered by a Banks twin-turbo big block, becomes the “World’s Fastest Passenger Car” at 240 mph, taking the record away from the “Hanky Panky” Studebaker
, which also used a Banks-developed twin-turbo power plant. This year also saw the Banks twin-turbo powered S-1 Express take an APBA
world championship.
1984: A street-legal Pontiac Trans Am with 700-hp and a Banks turbo breaks the 200 mph barrier and becomes a cover story for Car & Driver magazine.
1987: A Banks Power twin-turbo, 1800-hp Pontiac GTA sets a new “World’s Fastest Passenger Car” speed record at Bonneville Salt Flats at 277 mph as certified by the Southern California Timing Association. This record stood for the next ten years.
1988: Banks turbocharger systems become a GM dealer-specified option,
1992: A Banks Power-developed twin air intake and intercooler system results in a claimed 80-hp improvement on the factory-turbocharged Dodge Cummins engine.
1993: The Banks “Sidewinder” aftermarket turbocharger is introduced. Tests show that turbo-lag times decrease and throttle response improves when compared with factory turbochargers.
1994: Banks begins offering intercoolers to improve the performance of the Ford Power Stroke diesel. At this time, the Ford factory was not using intercoolers on their diesel-powered pickup trucks.
2002: A street-legal Dodge
Dakota pick up truck built in the Banks Power shop with a 735-hp, 1300 lb-ft, 5.9 litre Cummins hauls its own trailer to Bonneville
and sets the FIA record for “World’s Fastest Pickup Truck” with a two-way average of 217 mph and one-way top speed of 222 mph.
2007: The Wes Anderson-driven Banks “Sidewinder” S-10 with a 1250-hp, 6.6 litre Banks Power/Duramax engine becomes the “World’s Quickest and Fastest Diesel Drag Truck” with a 7.72 second elapsed time and a top speed of 179+ mph in the quarter-mile, as recorded by the National Hot Rod Diesel Association.http://www.nhrda.com.
2009: Gale Banks receives a Distinguished Service Citation from the Automotive Hall of Fame
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
hot rodder and automobile engineer, Gale Banks
Gale Banks
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...
. These companies design, engineer and build high performance parts for the automobile and marine aftermarket and military customers. Located in Azusa
Azusa
Azusa is a Japanese feminine given name.Azusa may also refer to:*Azusa, California, a city in the United States*Azusa Street Revival, a Christian movement that began in Los Angeles*AZUSA - Radar interferometer*Azusa Yamamoto, a Japanese model and actress...
, CA, the company develops technology and components for both gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles, but is best known for advancing development of the [turbocharger] and ultra high performance diesel engines for racing and street purposes.
Banks-powered race vehicles have won numerous marine racing events and championships, and have set many speed records. These include “World’s Fastest Passenger Car” and “World’s Fastest Diesel Truck.” The Banks Sidewinder S-10, built from the ground up at Gale Banks
Gale Banks
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...
Engineering, produces 1250 horsepower and is the “world’s fastest and quickest diesel drag truck” with a 7.72 second elapsed time and 179+ mph top speed in the quarter mile. These records have been certified by official motor racing sanctioning organizations, including the FIA and NHRA, and are detailed in the History below.
Banks Power products include ECM-tuning devices, and intake and exhaust airflow systems for diesel-powered pickup trucks and recreational vehicles. ‘’Diesel Performance’’, ‘’Trailer Life’’ and other magazines have reported that these Banks Power products deliver significantly improved horsepower and torque measurements while yielding an up to 10% improvement in fuel mileage.
History
1958: Gale BanksGale Banks
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...
begins his career as a hot rodder by modifying the engine in his mother’s car. He founds “C.P’s Auto & Marine Racing Engines” as a way to fund his college expenses at Cal Poly, Pomona.
1966: Banks modifies a 1953 Studebaker
Studebaker
Studebaker Corporation was a United States wagon and automobile manufacturer based in South Bend, Indiana. Founded in 1852 and incorporated in 1868 under the name of the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company, the company was originally a producer of wagons for farmers, miners, and the...
and drives it to class records at El Mirage Dry Lake
El Mirage Dry Lake
El Mirage Lake is a dry lake bed in the Mojave Desert of San Bernardino County, California. The lake is located about west-northwest of the town of Adelanto and north of Highway 18 in San Bernardino County....
and the Bonneville Salt Flats with a top speed of 184.52 mph, as certified by the Southern California Timing Association.
1970: First Banks-branded turbo marine racing engine is built. Gale Banks Engineering and Banks Power engines win the American Power Boat Association
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) & NJBA (National Jet Boat Association) Jet Class national championship.
1974: The Banks/Brunette tunnel boat powered by a 398 cubic inch engine developed by Gale Banks Engineering and Banks Power wins the first of five consecutive APBA
APBA
APBA is a game company founded in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It was created in 1951 by J. Richard Seitz. The game company on their official website states that the letters stood for "American Professional Baseball Association" which was the name of a boyhood league Mr. Seitz participated in with his...
Endurance Tunnel Hull national championships.
1976: The “Crucifier,” a race boat powered by a Banks fuel-injected nitro HEMI wins every event it enters, including the NDBA (National Drag Boat Association) and APBA
APBA
APBA is a game company founded in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It was created in 1951 by J. Richard Seitz. The game company on their official website states that the letters stood for "American Professional Baseball Association" which was the name of a boyhood league Mr. Seitz participated in with his...
nationals.
1978: Gale Banks Engineering is contracted by N.I.S.T.A. in 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 power train for its Large Research Safety Vehicle (L.S.R.V.) program. When finished, it met proposed 1985 fuel and emission standards. This year also saw Banks develop the world’s first electronically injected oxygen-sensing turbocharged engine for 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...
.
1980: The U.S. Navy Seals contract Banks to develop an experimental twin-turbo marine engine that produces 535-hp and runs on 84-octane “Battle Gas.”
1981: Banks creates the high performance diesel aftermarket with his first turbocharger system developed for the 6.2 litre GM diesel. Also that year, a Banks-powered 450-hp twin-turbo Buick V-6 becomes the prototype for the Buick Grand National production car.
1982: The “Sundowner” Corvette, powered by a Banks twin-turbo big block, becomes the “World’s Fastest Passenger Car” at 240 mph, taking the record away from the “Hanky Panky” Studebaker
Studebaker
Studebaker Corporation was a United States wagon and automobile manufacturer based in South Bend, Indiana. Founded in 1852 and incorporated in 1868 under the name of the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company, the company was originally a producer of wagons for farmers, miners, and the...
, which also used a Banks-developed twin-turbo power plant. This year also saw the Banks twin-turbo powered S-1 Express take an APBA
APBA
APBA is a game company founded in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It was created in 1951 by J. Richard Seitz. The game company on their official website states that the letters stood for "American Professional Baseball Association" which was the name of a boyhood league Mr. Seitz participated in with his...
world championship.
1984: A street-legal Pontiac Trans Am with 700-hp and a Banks turbo breaks the 200 mph barrier and becomes a cover story for Car & Driver magazine.
1987: A Banks Power twin-turbo, 1800-hp Pontiac GTA sets a new “World’s Fastest Passenger Car” speed record at Bonneville Salt Flats at 277 mph as certified by the Southern California Timing Association. This record stood for the next ten years.
1988: Banks turbocharger systems become a GM dealer-specified option,
1992: A Banks Power-developed twin air intake and intercooler system results in a claimed 80-hp improvement on the factory-turbocharged Dodge Cummins engine.
1993: The Banks “Sidewinder” aftermarket turbocharger is introduced. Tests show that turbo-lag times decrease and throttle response improves when compared with factory turbochargers.
1994: Banks begins offering intercoolers to improve the performance of the Ford Power Stroke diesel. At this time, the Ford factory was not using intercoolers on their diesel-powered pickup trucks.
2002: A street-legal Dodge
Dodge
Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
Dakota pick up truck built in the Banks Power shop with a 735-hp, 1300 lb-ft, 5.9 litre Cummins hauls its own trailer to 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:...
and sets the FIA record for “World’s Fastest Pickup Truck” with a two-way average of 217 mph and one-way top speed of 222 mph.
2007: The Wes Anderson-driven Banks “Sidewinder” S-10 with a 1250-hp, 6.6 litre Banks Power/Duramax engine becomes the “World’s Quickest and Fastest Diesel Drag Truck” with a 7.72 second elapsed time and a top speed of 179+ mph in the quarter-mile, as recorded by the National Hot Rod Diesel Association.http://www.nhrda.com.
2009: Gale Banks receives a Distinguished Service Citation from 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:*...