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For over 50 years, Gale Banks has been designing and building trucks, cars, and boats more efficient and fuel-efficient. Gale discovered his passion for motors in 1956 at the teenage age when he altered the grandmother’s Model A Ford, approximately doubled the horsepower. In 1958, Gale started his first engine-related business in Lynwood, California, and San Gabriel. In the 1960s, Gale attended Cal Poly studying electrical and mechanical engineering courses, focusing on his passion for heat power.

Setting Records

Presently, Banks Power is well-known in the racing and the speed-equipment aftermarket business. However, the brand’s reputation wasn’t built in a matter of hours. Gale Banks has earned record-setting titles and records through the many years, beginning with 1966 in El Mirage with a C Gas record of 184 mph, set in 1953 Studebaker powered by a small block Chevy.

Gale Banks’ 1953 Studebaker. World record holder C Gas race car.

In 1978, Bruce Geisler’s Banks Powered Studebaker set a world record at Bonneville with a speed of 217 mph (pictured to the left). A 955-hp twin-turbocharged small-block Chevy-powered it. In 1980, an engine from Bank’s twin-turbocharged Corvette made the record reach 242 miles per hour.

In the following year in Bonneville, on the 26th of September in 1986, a new record was set with 260 mph on the Firebird. In 1987, again, Banks set a record of 267 mph with the highest speed of 283 mph. The following years, Gale established or was involved in 11 world speed records. The most notable of these was the Teague-Welch-Banks streamliner, the world’s most powerful wheel-driven vehicle, and an overall speed record of 432 miles per hour, driven by a blow-up Chrysler.

In 1976 and through the following five years, Banks won world championships at the marine race, expanding to 12 new championships in 16 years. Banks diesel’ turbocharged marine engines were a huge success. Banks engine turbocharging marines were so effective that they were even banned from offshore racing.

HTML0 In front of the vast majority of the industry of diesel performance racing

In 2002, a street-legal Dodge Dakota pickup truck (pictured above) constructed by Banks and powered by a 735 horsepower 1,300-pound Cummins 5.9L diesel engine pulled the trailer it had built to Bonneville with fuel consumption of 21 mpg. The truck also established records. It broke the 1990 record of 204 speed GMC Syclone track record previously held by Banks and GMC. It also set the FIA record of “World’s Fastest Pickup Truck” with a two-way average speed of 217 mph, and a top speed for one-way is 222 mph.

In 2007, it was the Banks “Sidewinder” S-10 pickup was operated by Wes Anderson and powered by 1 250 horses Banks 886T Diesel racing engine was crowned”The “World’s Quickest and Fastest Diesel Drag Truck” with an NHRDA official 7.77 second ET and a top speed of 180 mph during one quarter-mile (pictured in the below).

Banks has held the titles of World’s Fastest Passenger Car, Pickup, Diesel Drag Racing Truck, and Motorhome throughout his profession.

Again, Banks was ahead of the curve.

Banks currently has an R&D and manufacturing facility on 12 acres of land in Azusa, California, with more than 100 employees. The grounds are maintained and inside the building looks more like a hospital because of Gale’s perfectionist approach. The main reason for his success is that Gale hires and develops the most talented individuals in their field and provides an atmosphere that encourages new ideas.

Gale Banks Engineering customers include an extensive list of automobile manufacturers and enthusiasts of performance who seek more power and improved efficiency in their vehicles while maintaining reliability.

Gale is a professor of engine design at the General Motors Institute. The topics include turbochargers (design and application), intercooler, engine design ignition systems, fuel systems intake systems, camshafts, and many more. Ingenious by nature, Banks holds nine patents related to transmissions, engines brake, and exhaust tuning. In 2009, Gale Banks was honored with the Distinguished Service Citation from the Automotive Hall Of Fame.

The windshield is one of the most important components of a car as it ensures the security and comfort of the passengers. Because it undergoes constant stress caused by the environment, it is only logical that it may encounter some damages and problems as time progresses.

A major issue is that the damage might have originated from poor quality windshields installed during the purchase of the car. Therefore, it is essential that one buys new, used or refurbished cars from trusted car dealers like carmonkey.in.

Cracks in the windshield might occur due to contact with heavy winds, poor road condition, rain, dust, rocks, debris, other particles in the surroundings and accidents. Small cracks are issues that every car owner might face. But if they are not fixed in time, they might result in a bigger hassle putting the passengers in danger.

To help with this, given below is a list of reasons that might cause damage to the windshield and ways to avoid them.

Reasons Why Windshields Crack

1.    Poor-quality glass and improper installation

The window shields installed in modern cars are designed to ensure maximum protection to the vehicle and the passengers at all times. To prevent breakage during impact, they have an additional layer of polyvinyl butyral that provides strength to the glass.

However, when cars a refurbished poorly by unreliable vendors, they can result in the windshields being of poor quality, which might not have the strength and endurance to withstand the harsh environments. Additionally, if they are not installed properly, this could lead to vibrations and cracks caused due to misplacement and gaps in the windshield. It is always recommended to buy refurbished cars from trusted dealers.

2.    Temperature changes

Research shows that changes in the temperature can result in the glass expanding and contracting, leading to the windshield heating up. This happens inconsistently as the edges heat up faster than the middle, causing different windshield parts to expand and contract at different rates leading to cracks.

Cracks could also occur due to sunlight when a car is washed using cold water on a hot day or on defrosting the windshield using a heater or hot water.

3.    Pressure changes and mechanical stresses

Heavy rains, winds or weights hitting the windshield can exert stress on it, which it might not be able to bear. Continuous exposure to such pressure could lead to the windshield developing a crack, seemingly out of nowhere. Cracks caused by stress usually begin from the edge and might go unnoticeable. Cracks caused by impact typically originate in the middle of the windshield and can be avoided if one is careful around the car. Mechanical stress like distortions or body flex can cause cracks too. One needs to ensure that they properly use the carjacks while servicing the vehicle.

4.    Prior accidents and damages

A prior accident can cause stress on the internal structure of the car. The windshield provides structural integrity to the car, and the poor strength due to the accident might lead to cracks developing on it.

This is more likely if the car is not repaired correctly or refurbished after the accident. The poor structure could result in cracks when the car is driven fast or over a speed bump exerting uneven forces of the glass. If the damages are not repaired correctly, the small cracks could develop into bigger ones over time.

How to Avoid Cracks on the Windshield?

Although one cannot prevent windshields from cracking due to unforeseen circumstances, a certain amount of care and caution could go a long way to ensure safety. When buying a new or a used, refurbished car, ensure that the quality of the windshield is up to the mark and has been installed well.

Rugged roads, gravel from speeding cars, hailstorms, dust storms, sudden speeding and brakes could also potentially harm the windshield, so the driver must be careful and avoid them.

As mentioned before, changes in the temperature cause the glass to crack. Therefore, car owners must ensure that they park their cars in the shade and out of sunlight as much as possible. While washing the car, they need to ensure that the temperature of the water balances that of the vehicle.

They must not use excessive heat or AC when the temperature is opposite outside the car. It is essential to clean the windshield frequently to guard them against moisture and dust and look for any damage signs. Even if there is a small chip or a crack, they need to be repaired immediately.

Car safety and maintenance are integral parts of owning a car, and trusted dealers like carmonkey.in ensure that one gets the best quality ones.