A couple of years ago, Gale Banks Engineering debuted their Project Sidewinder, a 220+ mph Dodge Dakota outfitted with a heavily modified Cummins turbo diesel. This little beauty ran over 220 mph on the Bonneville salt flats and pulled it's own trailer getting there. Banks Engineering, not being able to rest on their laurels, invites you to take an in-depth look at the build up of their latest diesel rocket - The Banks D-Max Type-R.

The D-Max Type-R, unlike Project Sidewinder, is based on the General Motors Sierra pickup and is being built to compete in the Super Unlimited Class in the National Auto Sport Association (NASA) making this little red rocket the only twin-turbo diesel-powered road racing pickup truck generating 650 horsepower and 800 lb. ft. torque at 2500 rpm.

Powered by a highly-modified twin-turbo General Motors 6.6L Duramax diesel engine equipped with a pair of Honeywell’s Garrett ball-bearing Turbochargers, the D-Max Type R will be running against some meanest, fastest sports cars around and as always Banks is looking to break a couple more records in this highly competitive unlimited street class. Normally dominated by Corvettes, the D-Max builders have their work cut out for them. Weighing in at approximately the same gross vehicle weight as the Corvettes that normally dominate this series, the D-Max truck has had some very distinct disadvantages that had to be addressed such as the engine offset helping with weight distribution and increased durability to ensure victories even after a grueling 25-hour event.

Even with these "problems" the truck has an upper hand. The diesel engine is capable of producing massive amounts of horsepower and torque at very low engine RPM's which will easily propel the D-Max ahead of the competition and get much better fuel-efficiency than it's gasoline-powered competition.



Videos: Banks' D-Max Type-R - thrillride

Videos: Banks' D-Max Type-R - Skidpad

Videos: Banks' D-Max Type-R - Dyno run


Check Out the D-Max web page