Dear
Friends,
The objective of the Sidewinder Project is to provide
a positive showcase for diesel. For this effort we have
chosen the "anvil strong" Cummins ISB 24-valve
5.9L engine.
Diesel has a negative image in many quarters. We intend
to erase that image.
The whole idea of the Sidewinder Project is to illustrate
that a diesel can be an extraordinary performance engine
configuration.
In our massive West Coast market there are a lot of people
in the BMW league that, if they were considering a light
truck or sport-ute, wouldn’t even consider diesel.
If we can illustrate through the Sidewinder that you
can have a high performance street vehicle that is diesel
powered, then I think we’re going to break down
a wall with all those potential buyers, nationwide.
Further, I think we can get to the point that environmentalists
think we’ve got something notable because we’re
consuming less fuel and we’re now clean and quiet.
For twenty years I’ve believed that the future fuel
is diesel—there is an inherent efficiency. If we
can show that the rough edges are gone, or going rapidly,
and we can show that this technology gets you 50% better
fuel economy—without a sacrifice in power—diesel
is gonna be hip!
We want diesel compression ignition engine technology
to be in demand. We want to create a demand that’s
pull-through so that the guy who wants to buy a new light
duty truck or sport utility vehicle is asking for diesel.
If the buyer chooses the products of our partners in
the project—Cummins Engine Company, New Venture
Gear or Holset Turbochargers—then so much the better.
We want to drive the Sidewinder to the Bonneville Speed
Trials, towing our racing gear, with great fuel economy.
Then we want to put on the proper wheels and tires and
go racing. And, we want to eclipse the current National
Speed Record. The current record for a pickup with this
displacement diesel engine is 159 miles per hour. Along
the way we intend to tour, slalom, truck pull and drag
race the Cummins. The Banks Sidewinder will be a capable
demonstration platform for them all.
As icing on the cake, we also want to eclipse our own
overall FIA World Pickup Speed Record that was set in
the GMC Syclone project at 204 miles per hour. 210 miles
per hour will do it nicely. Damn revolutionary goals
for a light duty diesel but... those are the goals!
Gale Banks: January 2002
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