Nothing but a little Hanky Panky

Friends since the early 1960s, Gale Banks and Bruce Geisler had teamed up on some of the most famous and significant automotive performance records in history. One of the fondest collaborations is the Geisler-Banks 1953 Studebaker called Hanky Panky. A vehicle that they ran together multiple times with several different engine configurations. In 1978, Banks built a 955-hp twin-turbocharged, 304 ci small-block Chevy engine that helped propel the vintage car driven by Gary Vail to 217 mph at Bonneville, making the Studebaker the world’s fastest, stock-bodied passenger vehicle on gasoline.

The car went into retirement the following year (for the time being anyway) after running a speed of 220 mph. That year the car made it to its limits and began to spin exiting the timers. After eight loops the driver, Don Stringfellow, brought the car to a safe stop and emerged unscathed.

The Banks racing team had already started working on another program at that time. Their full attention went to the Pontiac Firebird project. A car that would become the next World’s Fastest Passenger Cars.

To hear all about Gale’s affinity for the 53′ Studebaker he affectionately called Hanky Panky, listen to the Speed School. Learn about where the Studebaker’s engine ended up.