Time Machine: First Banks Marine Twin Turbo Engine

After more than a decade of building performance supercharged engines, Gale switched to turbocharging in 1970 for the first “Gale Banks” branded turbocharged marine engine. The change came about when testing revealed that turbocharging provided a more usable range and was superior in making more power with better fuel efficiency by using wasted exhaust gas over that of a mechanically driven blower.

The change to turbos from superchargers also proved to be less punishing to the engine mechanically causing less wear, meaning extended engine life and far fewer rebuilds between races. Race teams found that the engines would run under the extreme conditions for an entire season before needing service. Some of these engines are still in use to this day!