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Subdued Saturday

Unlike the rest of the week, the Dallenbach Racing/Banks Power team had a rather relaxed Saturday. Attention was focused on repairing the intake plenum to make sure that the #98 would have all 1,400-horses roaring and ready to race Sunday.

Text: Chris Tobin
Photos: Gale Banks Engineering

The fabricated intake plenum that adapted the Banks Power upper boost housing/shuttle valve assembly to the individual throttle bodies split along the rear welded seam under the boost pressure of the twin Banks Power Sidewinder turbochargers. Amazingly, Dallenbach was still turning in very good times in practice sessions on the mountain despite the huge boost leak!

The fabricated intake plenum that adapted the Banks Power upper boost housing/shuttle valve assembly to the individual throttle bodies split along the rear welded seam under the boost pressure of the twin Banks Power Sidewinder turbochargers. Amazingly, Dallenbach was still turning in very good times in practice sessions on the mountain despite the huge boost leak!

With the help of fellow competitor David Donner and use of his local shop, the Dallenbach Racing/Banks Power team was able to TIG weld the intake plenum repairing the boost leak and reinforcing the structure to prevent future leaks or cracks.

Unlike the rest of the week, the Dallenbach Racing/Banks Power team had a rather relaxed Saturday. Attention was focused on repairing the intake plenum to make sure that the #98 would have all 1,400-horses roaring and ready to race Sunday. Fortunately fellow Unlimited Class competitor David Donner, a Colorado Springs resident, graciously offered to let the team use his shop to make repairs to the plenum. We really appreciate Donner’s sportsmanship, and are thankful for the camaraderie that exists among competitors here at Pikes Peak. Donner even helped with the intake plenum repairs then gave the team a tour of his family’s collection of vintage cars and racing memorabilia.

After welding the broken seam on the intake plenum and touring the Donner collection the team installed the intake plenum on the car and verified that all was well with the Banks twin-turbocharged 1,400-horsepower methanol fed Chevy small block beast! The relatively calm Saturday will help to ensure that the driver and crew are well rested and relaxed for their attack on the Pikes Peak Mountain Sunday.

Stay tuned here for updates and watch the race streamed live on the web at www.usacracing.com/ppihc and for the latest on the Team Dallenbach-Banks car and efforts go to www.bankspower.com/pikespeak

Gale Banks takes in the beauty, elegance and mechanical marvels of the Donner family collection including this gorgeous Duesenberg and stunning Ferrari.

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