Gale Banks
Engineering & Two Guys Garage
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Near and dear to all
of us with a love for diesel power is a name synonymous with top notch
engineering, and impeccable execution.
Yes, I’m talking about Gale Banks Engineering. Brenton Productions has done
several TV episodes dating back to “Shadetree Mechanic”, “Crank & Chrome”,
and now Two Guy’s Garage, but now we have moved into a little different
arena. We call it “Corporate Profile”.
Taking our show to the next level, we wanted to get out of the shop, and get
a behind the scenes look at just exactly where all of this aftermarket stuff
comes from.
We have profiled many different companies from Uniform services to brake pad
manufacturers. Two Guy’s Garage has visited with Brian Roth at BD Diesel
power on more than one occasion, and will soon be in Colorado to profile
Clint and the crew at ATS Diesel Performance.
I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed my trip to sunny Azusa California and
Gale Banks Engineering. Most everyone reading the TDR is familiar with or
has used Banks Power in some form or another. Look at how many motor homes
have that “Banks Power” decal right along side the Cummins Power or Cat
Power logos. I’m here to share with you some things that you might not know
about Gale Banks.
Gale is first and foremost a “Hot Rodder” and a genuine “Car Guy”, with a
long running passion for speed and efficiency when it comes to metal boxes
full of pistons and crankshafts. For nearly fifty years, Gale has been
making power out of gas burners as well as diesels.
I got to see the Twin Turbo T-Bucket with a power to weight ratio that would
scare anyone! Banks is synonymous with marine power applications that
crushed speed records for years. He also builds mean drag racers. We all
know about the land speed record Dakota with the 5.9L “B” motor. The
interesting fact here is that the little Dodge hauls it’s own trailer to the
salt flats or dry lakes, and then sets an International Land Speed Record
over 222 MPH. All this with a 6 cylinder in-line diesel from a bigger pick
up truck, and then at the end of the day, all the spares, the salt tires,
and the tools are loaded back into the trailer for the Dakota’s leisurely
drive home.
222 MPH and streetable as any new passenger car.
Take a look at the pictures of the GMC pick up truck with a V-8 GM diesel
that is a world class road racer, capable of toasting marques like Ferrari,
Porsche, and the like.
Gale continues to lead in off road racing with Ford’s Powerstroke Diesels,
and is developing GM’s entire diesel Marine program.
Two engine dyno labs, (one gas and one diesel), a complete chassis dyno are
not enough for these folks. They have a complete data capture setup that is
installed in the vehicle being tested. This gives “Real World” data
acquisition under real driving conditions. That is how they test everything
they engineer and manufacture.
That last statement leads me to the fact that Banks Engineering does most
everything in house. They have Cad Cam and instant prototype machinery that
would amaze you. They also have an in-house electronics research &
development lab, which allows them to manufacture their own programming
devices, the Power PDA being the latest offering.
I even got to see Jay Leno’s V-12 Continental air cooled tank engine out of
his famous tank car. If my memory serves me right, it is 18oo cubic inches,
and in stock form about 800 HP.
The old nineteen forties technology is being scrapped in favor of twin
turbos, and fuel injection, more than doubling the horsepower of this
brutish engine. Just what my pal Jay needs!
Banks engineering is a large complex of buildings and mega garages, and one
room full of toys leads to another. A machine shop here, a flow bench there,
and an engine clean room that is temperature and humidity controlled for
exact component sizing and measuring. There is even a folding upper barn
door that allows the gantry to carry engines in and out of the room with
ease. Very Ingenious!
Another striking feature is the cleanliness of every room, even those where
dirty operations are completed. In addition to an impeccable physical plant,
I met a staff that was top notch, courteous, and very passionate about every
phase of the business.
Bryan is the TV show’s director, and he was tasked with making me look good
on camera. An impossible job, but he is a master at his craft. Gale gave us
a complete tour, and then later that evening we visited with him to review
some video that walked us through the entire history of Banks from his first
garage wrenching to pay his way through school, to many of the record
setting moments on land and water.
His downtown office, captured and remodeled from an early 1900’s Cadillac
Dealership was very tasteful and a place that says: “Don’t leave.
When you read this, the show will have aired 6 times, and I truly hope you
got an opportunity to see how things are done in an impressive and
professional manner.
Maybe when my TV career is over, I won’t have to resort to being Robert’s
yard help, just maybe there’s a place for me in Azusa.
Happy Motoring!
Sam |
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