Turbocharging in the 1970s | Speed School Podcast Ep 12

Gale Banks is joined again by Walt Ware, former President of Garrett AiResearch, a powerhouse in the turbo business. Walt details his journey from fixing Caterpillar’s turbo supply chain to repairing Garrett’s UK manufacturing arm. Not even a union strike could stop this determined engineer.
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#mechanicalengineering #podcast #turbo

[@kmcwhq]

I stopped watching TV 8 years ago but this is real entertainment! Great content guys!

[@trev0rbr]

The turbos they were making for vw were for their turbo diesel engines. The 1.6td and 2.4td used in the vw LT and also volvo cars.

[@robertmason8341]

Such cool stories…Walt’s crack about DeLorean and how he’s lucky he didn’t take that job was hilarious. Soon as his name came up I was waiting for something about the dope to be mentioned!

[@LandonClimbs]

I must need to learn more about jon DeLorean lol these stories are wild

[@rolandtamaccio3285]

Smokey had a hard time getting his driver(s), at Indy, to load the turbo with a certain throttle and braking procedure, so that the car would come out of the turn without turbo lag .

[@TunedbyShaneT]

These are gold! Kudos for bringing these stories to light before they are lost to history.

[@JF32304]

I could listen to these gents for hours with all this history! I'm glad its being documented! Wish I was there I'd buy breakfast, lunch and dinner for a week lol!

[@garyhoward2490]

I can't get over, that Gale built super successful twin turbo set ups, for ski/race boats...in the 70s!!! We had 2 boats with his setups on them. What!!!!! Was Gale 5 years old, when he built this stuff. That was 50-55 years ago, and the guy looks like he's 55!!! Congrats on your success, Gale. Talked to you several times, back then. True gentleman, and he helped everyone achieve their performance goals, even if the didn't buy parts from him. Great guy!!!

[@david929190]

I could watch and listen to this for days

[@robby844]

THIS!!! This type of video is what I'm looking for. So much better than your other podcasts. I actually LIKE the visual of you and your guest.

[@MDAdams72668]

The crankshaft offset isn't cheating there was no rule against it. There are many rules (and races won) that have been created due to my "creative engineering" If everyone followed the INTENT of the rules racing would be boring I follow the LETTER of the rules(law) not the "but we meant" or "everyone knows" I have no problem being told next week that is illegal just don't DQ me for something NOT in the rules

[@rickrack78]

I can’t remember how many times I’ve seen a Banks company truck on the freeway in the last 30 years and thought about how much fun it would probably be to work there.

[@mightymikethebear]

Both these guys are men of accomplishments. Walt's story is pretty impressive. I will be happy to watch the next episode.

[@jamolepley9340]

Hands down GALE BANKS IS THE BEST! PURE GENIUS!

[@matsinkal]

These guys are true legends and have done nearly everything over the years great video

[@coliimusic]

This is exactly the sort of content I wanted, to see Gale dropping this motorsport wisdom in long-format

[@Diddley-js6lf]

Amazing Watching Two Legends talking Shop History.

[@Diddley-js6lf]

Absolutely in Troy, Michigan

[@sohctony]

Good background for working on my turbo d21, thank you gentlemen for all you have done for automotive performance as a whole.

[@negan454ss]

Love these Gale plus seeing you on the mic much better than audio only and title screen

[@jimcatanzaro7808]

That was the best podcast I have seen you guys are great

[@J-Eagan]

Thank you for making this a video with inserts!!

[@chrisbouchard4719]

Love the addition of supplemental materials for their stories

[@balljointfd3s]

Amazing episode! I planned to just listen to a little during a break but ended up watching the whole thing! Can't wait to hear the rest of his story.

[@timothymroberts2949]

Truly fascinating story. Thanks Gale

[@danielpeck6269]

I love hearing y'all stories 👍🏻

[@snooketcher]

Can’t wait for the next episode! Fantastic stories!

[@2down4up]

The comment Mr. Ware made about just how much damage can be done in two years to a once great company really hit home with me. I work for an extremely sought after and coveted automotive manufacturer. One that many consider to be the best in the world. Everything was going great with the brand right up until it very suddenly wasn’t. I have no idea who took over, or who said or did what, but the design, production, quality, support, and logistics of our automobiles has just gone completely to crap. The first signs there was trouble came in 2015 or maybe 2016. We knew something was up when suddenly very common parts such as brake rotors, brake pads, wiper blades, batteries, and certain fluids like ATF were going on back order with no explanation ever given as to why. Then in 2018 (I think) the brand started reaching out to the dealers to get technicians to come and build cars at the various plants. There had already been several delays on various new models and then, seemingly out of nowhere, the production just went to absolute crap. It was like everyone at the factories and the engineers in the design department suddenly forgot how to build and design cars. Cars started coming in with all sorts of production defects, you name it, I’ve probably seen it. Unpainted exterior panels, missing panels, panels falling off, equipment left off, mismatched interior panels, interior panels falling off, hoses left disconnected, wiring harnesses left disconnected, grounds left loose or not connected at all, wiring harness built wrong, engines with no oil, AC systems with no refrigerant, random bolts left inside rotating assemblies leading to the complete destruction of said assembly and so on. It’s so bad that I honestly believe a lot of it is intentional. I don’t have exact statics but I’d wager that for the last several years, 80% of cars delivered experience some form of failure before the customer even makes it off the lot. As if all of that wasn’t bad enough, the design of many of the new models was clearly cheapened up. Many cheaper and inferior materials started showing up in places they shouldn’t. Lots of metal bits replaced with cheap plastic bits and so on. Then under the auspicious reasons of saving money, the US headquarters was relocated and all the legacy employees were offered buyouts to retire early so the company could save money. I guess the offer was good enough or the alternative bad enough because very few people didn’t accept it and the result was they got rid of damn near every single person who knew how to run the company. Now there’s a whole bunch of people who know little to nothing about the brand and while they are learning, I hope, the turnover is so high that nobody seems to stay long enough to improve. Then the president that forced the move went to go work for the sports team he got the company to sponsor. Nothing shady about that. Then they got a new President, he messed up by telling the truth and was swiftly removed. The problems aren’t just located in the U.S., the head guy in charge in the home country came out and publicly stated that he effectively wanted to ax roughly 90% of the product line. The vehicles and assemblies coming from the home country have many of the same issues and nobody in the brand seems to want to admit they’re falling apart. Then they decided to split the company up into many smaller companies, presumably to shelter the different parts of the company from each other. While I’m sure COVID hasn’t helped matters any, all of this started pre COVID. It’s a really really sad state right now. The once fantastic company that made a stellar product and that I was a huge believer in and ambassador for is now but a lumbering headless shadow of its former self. They went from a product line that didn’t have a model I wouldn’t recommend, to a product line that doesn’t have a model I would recommend. Truly heartbreaking to see what’s happened to the company I loved and was proud to work for.

[@FixItStupid]

Yes It's From Top Down.... & Hurt So Many In So Many WAYS

[@exploranator]

Stellantis/Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth/Mopar, yes? Mopar is being targeted for murder plain and simple.

[@frednewman2162]

An hour and almost twenty minutes and I might watch it a couple more times! Becoming my favorite KZbin channel!

[@adenscottthompson6042]

This is absolutely brilliant!!! Great content and a good long episode. Did anyone else think it sounded like there was someone dancing upstairs though 🤣

[@markjohnson9736]

Absolutely love this series!!! Can’t wait for the next one. Thanks!!

[@NPC_Driver]

Regarding a dialed-in mechanical system, process, et al, the phrase "Don't screw with mother nature" is perfect! Im going to remember that, and also to say "now, you're screwing with mither nature". I found this from the YT short, you posted. What an awesome conversation. And awesome time to be alive, where I get to hear guys like you talk shop and swap stories.

[@frankr6702]

this is a great series of interviews

[@Elver_Galarga_jugo]

You know how people say "oh to be a fly on the wall during that conversation".... We were those flies. Hope you guys get around to doing this same thing with Alejandro Flores.

[@Mtlmshr]

We had a Wiseman gearbox in our original Nissan GTP car when I was a twenty year old and the first time I heard that thing run, I ran for cover because of the noise it made with those straight cut gears, it sounded as if it was about to explode! We actually did explode one in half at Laguna Seca

[@Josh-hr5mc]

I just read an article on Smokey Yunicks Fiero. His theory was burn the fuel at 400-440 degrees and you could vaporize the fuel more efficiently and get more power. This was in a day where alot of you was being wasted so I'm guessing he did a ton of testing and just ate up engines and turbos like there was no tomorrow

[@ThomasRonnberg]

absolutely love this channel.

[@ATomRileyA]

Really enjoyed this, some amazing stories and was hilarious hearing about the UK side as my dad often told me stories of things like that happening.

[@jimmyvaught]

Amazing episode, thanks for the entertainment

[@biastv1234]

Excellent interview. More please.

[@jayjorgensen4999]

I greatly appreciate your in depth conversations on the reality of what it takes to manage a successful relationship that's dependent on your customers successful businesses and the importance of quality control, efficiency, leadership and vertical integration of your products to maintain control of your quality control and operations costs while maintaining communication with your staff to make it all work. Its not often people get such insights into major corporations functions and learning from mistakes.

[@bill2178]

amazing episode with walt when its gale banks its good stuff id like to see kenny duttweiler or greg banish on here with gale

[@rodgraff1782]

The 917 is air cooled. That’s what the fan on top of the engine was for. It may have had water cooled heads, I don’t remember.

[@Crayfish3D]

The IMSA GTX turbo Monza Gale mentioned has recently been restored and is being shown in the last year. Another interesting thing about the car is that the radiator was mounted in the real wing, you can see the hoses in pics of it. I think this was to make space for a large intercooler at the front iirc.

[@andythomas898]

Also he said Roy Woods got that car from Al Holbert. It was Michael Keysers car

[@lic2kil007]

In early 80's I had a suck thru design turbo on a V8 camaro and yes turbo lag.

[@jaystrock613]

I worked at Borg Warner building turbos with new equipment that did not work and it was rediculous.

[@Mark-um7ey]

Love to hear these stories from the people who lived them!

[@Mtlmshr]

The Decon Monza’s from a strictly fabrication point of view are true works of art! I’ve had the privilege on working on Ken Epsman’s Decon it’s a beautiful car!

[@shoominati23]

Thats amazing them racing mostly in the sand with 3 speed crashboxes and being able to do those kind of speeds at that time

[@Analoguedialog]

What an amazing story👏

[@bankspower]

Make sure you listen to entire podcast

[@fredmitchel1236]

What great stories.... I will look at my Garrett APU differently....

[@40calDeathPunch]

Today class, we will be discussing the history of HotRodding.

[@jessegregoryCREEKSQUAD]

Love the content thanks keep it up! Watching from new Zealand 🇳🇿 u should try do a podcast with hp academy here in new Zealand it would be a great conversation there a automotive school here in new Zealand 🇳🇿

[@RDC_Autosports]

in the 80s a twin turbo v6 buick buddy ingersoll ran in prostock rocked the circuit ✌🏻 man i miss those days

[@andyharman3022]

RIP Buddy. He was far ahead of his time.

[@Diddley-js6lf]

The Daloren ended up with a 2.5 in a lot of them, the old Iron Duke type of Motor.

[@Diddley-js6lf]

Twin Turbo V6 3800 Grand Nationals. My cousin drove for Allied Van Lines who hauled GM Experimental Division Cars and Parts. I seen the First V6 Turbo before the rest of America in the Truck Riding Out to Phoenix and California To GM Proving Grounds. That was probably one of the Coolest times in my life as a Young Man. I am Now a Devout 6.6 Duramax Guy who has Owned Every Year Diesel GM has Made from The Olds Gas/Diesel Conversation Motor to the 6.2 to the 2001 LB7 to the 2022 LP5 Duramax every GMC 2500 Crew Cab Trucks.

[@Friedbrain11]

Smokeys attitude sounds like my brothers' until I finally got him to stop screwing things up when it was right. Gotta give it to Smokey though. He got a Iron Duke engine to put out 250hp without breaking. That was an accomplishment and his Buick V6 engine work was really good too. What experience did Chevy have with all aluminum engines and turbos? Guess the Corvair(all aluminum engine and some had turbos). Guess they didn't pay attention to their xp and forgot everything they knew before.

[@Hitman-ds1ei]

Wish more opd school guys had done these sessions and recorded them before they took it with them, most this stuff I was a school boy but read magazines like they were gospel

[@rustymohican8280]

Did you guys work with George Bailey at Garret? He told me a story about the turbo blowing the heads off of the Caterpillars. He said they solved the problem by putting I-Beams on the heads to hold them on.

[@RedlineAndGrind]

A podcast with some oil engineers and how turbos respond over the years with oils, heat would be great!

[@AN77]

So interesting. Thank you. Where can i find the bok, "Gale Banks Diesel Performance"?

[@funnn9557]

" I ran out of ROY...." 🤣 and "..no more BAKSHEESH"... Gale speaks languages😅

[@Joelontugs]

I need more of this pretty please lol

[@michaelwiddifield920]

That is some serious RPM if the bearing is exploding cuz it sounds to me like he hated those Barrens until he just blew him apart

[@jb8116]

Brilliant.

[@futten3230]

porches 180 degree v12 was an air cooled engine

[@PhillyDee215]

60s or 2022......horsepower is horsepower baby😎

[@bendixon2898]

Love it

[@Diddley-js6lf]

These fellas have forgotten more then most of Us combined together will ever know. I truly wish Gale could make a note of everything he knows. The guys who work for Gale have the best Seats to Racing History. You fellas should Work for Free. Lolll

[@UBGood]

The only reason I stopped watching was, it 1:13 am 😅

[@captaintoyota3171]

Wish i coulda met Smokey

[@timothybayliss6680]

Were those clips of Can Am from Watkins Glen? It looked like turns 1,2,3.

[@andyharman3022]

Some of it looked like Mosport, and some of it looked like Road Atlanta. Road Atlanta is easy to identify due to the red dirt on the sides of the track. (Yes, I'm a nerd here as well as on Richard Holdener's chats.)

[@Diddley-js6lf]

I was Born in Riverside back in 65

[@Diddley-js6lf]

7200 feet atBig Bear Lake

[@8alakai8]

the deloreon has a renauilt v6 i worked at a dealer in amsterdam we had one come to us we know the engine

[@AccAkut1987]

PVR V6, it was a joint venture, or more like joint failure between Peugeot, Volvo & Renault. Peugeot and Alpine did manage to make a race version out of it that iirc had like 800 hp and ran Le Mans.

[@Diddley-js6lf]

Well as far as Unions are concerned for me is as follows they are Terribly bad in most respects. I grew up in Flint Michigan while everyone in my family worked for Buick and Chevrolet and it was what a seen growing watching my family do what they did soiled me from ever wanting a Factory Career. My 23 year career in the Fire Service then also at the same time owning a very well to do Contracting Company for which my Son has taken over after my Cancer situation.

[@1979augistine]

Haha that's no preacher hahahaha that was great

[@christosmants9631]

Way Cool!!,,

[@malbirrell]

Great idea,but Gale really needs to let Walt talk more and tell his stories his way without Gale butting in and or talking over him all the time. If Gale wants to tell Gale stories, get someone to ask Gale the questions and let Gale do all the talking.

[@dreece2000]

I feel exactly the opposite. Just my opinion though. Mr banks was struggling to keep him on the right track. He’s a good listener. I wonder if he’s the same way off camera

[@mikeg4163]

Corporate seagull is gold….!!

[@james10739]

This seems less like school and just some stories

[@SGTJDerek]

Come on now. Smokey never cheated😁. Jeff Hamond took a page out of Smokey's playbook when they built T-Rex. Dominated ONE race and Big Bill changed the rules. By then Hendricks had enough clout Big Bill couldn't treat him the same way he did Smokey back in the day. THAT is one relationship I wish I was privy too.

[@dontfeelcold]

Gale Banks Gale Bank Gale Banks

[@thedailyunbreaded317]

They're like Johnny Carson and Ed Mcmahon.

[@henrycolie1220]

Wow

[@redeye1773]

the cars look loke go karts back tjen

[@georgedreisch2662]

The Vega story surprised me, as I was expecting a mega-horsepower turbocharged Cosworth Vega. Not disappointed all the same…

[@jimhiscott2918]

I dont talk bad about any individual unless rhey are standing directly in front of me.

[@apollorobb]

Two word name Bog Weiner

[@bankspower]

*BorgWarner

[@FixItStupid]

Thank You Men Good To Know How & What Can Be Done With Real Work

[@wrenchg3954]

surprisingly the Porsche flat 12 being the feat of mechanical feats that it was they kept the air cooling on it. i would think if it needed liquid cooling than they would have.

[@pudermcgavin4462]

It amazes me how far ahead these guys were water meth just got popular in the last 90 early 2k but only for the real big boys! Now it's really common for not only drag but daily cars and track cars!

[@andyharman3022]

Water-methanol injection goes back to WW2 aircraft engines. Both the Germans and Americans used it.

[@DM0407]

water injection was common in WWII on forced induction engines, especially the Germans who were forced to use lower octane fuel and more likely to experience knock.

[@StabyMcStabsFace]

Pre WWII water/alcohol injection was already known and used in racing.