Banks Power joins Mike Ryan Motorsports for Pikes Peak run

Gale Banks is heading back to the Pike’s Peak International Hill Climb on June 30. Banks has partnered with Mike Ryan Motorsports and his Freightliner Cascadia Class 8 semitruck racer.

Semis race in the Pikes Peak Open class, which is reserved for cars and trucks that look stock from the outside but retain little of the original design.

“I’m pumped up about this opportunity to partner with Mike on his latest Freightliner race truck,” Banks said. “Mike is the master in Class 8 motorsports and I’m proud to run with him.”

Ryan has competed in the hill climb since 1997. Besides a climber, Ryan is also a stunt driver, working in TV and on films such as “Fast & Furious 6” and “Terminator 2.”

The stock Freightliner comes with a Detroit Diesel engine making somewhere in between 500-600 hp and about 2,000 lb-ft of torque. That’s before Banks gets his hands on it.

To the Cascadia, Banks will add a Banks Racing Ram-Air intake, TechniCooler intercooler, StraightShot multistage-multiport water injection system, Banks iQ Man-Machine Interface, Banks SpeedBrake system and Monster exhaust. Banks will also install the new Banks Super-Turbo, which is a turbo system that helps compensate for thin air at high altitudes.

Banks and Ryan both think they have a chance at a class record in the 12.4-mile race.

“Gale and I have known each other for many years,” Ryan said. “I’ve always been impressed with his engineering expertise and motorsports success. I’m very excited about teaming with him and his company in this year’s competition.”

By Jake Lingeman