The Sidewinder has been remarkably consistent, posting sub-eight-second runs at most every recent outing. This latest record may not last forever--the truck has actually gone faster in test runs.
We'll be seeing all-new diesel engines in pickup trucks in the 2010 model year, and they'll be clean and quiet, with mileage numbers typically 30-percent better than the same-size gas-powered truck. Diesels are already starting to make their way into performance automobiles, luxury cars, and economy cars. There's no question the Banks Sidewinder has benefited from advancements made by OE suppliers such as Bosch, and manufacturers like GM. The day will come, however, when performance parts for the newest clean diesels will be designed based on what's being learned at the track today.
Source:Gale Banks Engineering800/601-8072 www.bankspower.com
NHRDA: Grass Roots Racing, Diesel Style
Diesel truck racing's growing popularity is based mostly on the fact that diesel performance parts have become widely available. These parts, especially engine-management tools, allow everyday diesel-truck drivers to retune their trucks to deliver more power, or better mileage, or any combination of both. In diesel truck racing, "Our daily drivers are our race trucks," says National Hot Rod Diesel Association Race Director Randy Cole. Lately, diesel trucks have gotten faster as tuners learn how to make their engines generate 1000 pound-feet of torque and more. Some serious racers turn times in the 10-second range in full-bodied, street-legal pickup trucks, but the average quarter-mile time for most diesel owners who come to play is somewhere between 13 and 15 seconds. Purses are modest, but anyone can do it and drive the same truck home at the end of the day.