Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/164130
22 www.bigrigowner.com September 2013 Brake Cooling With over 10,000 pounds of mass, the Freightliner relies heavily (pun intended) on its wheel brakes to slow for the corners. The more reliable the braking system is, the more the driver can confidently maneuver through the turns. Braking reliability is a function of the heat present in the system; if heat is kept in check, the brakes can remain reliable for multiple cycles. A Banks Straight-Shot Brake Cooler system was configured to provide water spray onto the rotors for cooling when the brakes are applied. This system triggers based on brake application, and has a manual arming switch so that the driver can disable it when not at race speeds. Two pumps are used, one for each axle, with a common manifold between to provide for redundancy should one fail. One spray nozzle is used per wheel rotor. Versatility Mike Ryan's Freightliner was an ideal platform to validate the Super-Turbo concept as well as to test the varied uses of the Banks Straight-Shot and DoubleShot Water-Methanol Injection System. The potential benefits include not only increased power, but also improved fuel economy and reduced emissions. The addition of the Double-Shot and Triple-Shot water-meth systems and the Double-Shot Auto-Chiller will increase engine output by about 400 HP. The Straight-Shot Brake Cooling system will dramatically improve braking capability. Last year's time for the truck was 12:39.960. With higher straightaway speeds from more horsepower and more time at speed from improved braking, Mike Ryan's Banks Super-Turbo Pikes Peak Freightliner could easily move through each of the 156 turns on the hill a full .25 seconds quicker per turn. If all works as planned, Banks and Ryan expect to be well into the 11's (minutes, that is)! coverstory 0913.indd 4 Cover Story A Record Day Ruined The 12.42 mile 156 turn Pikes Peak hill climb course rises from a start at 9400 ft. to an altitude of 14,110 ft., gaining almost a mile in altitude. Formerly a mixture of dirt, gravel and asphalt, the course was completely paved for the first time last year. The new surface attracted some of the world's top drivers, including nine-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb of France. Loeb proceeded to set the racing world ablaze when he maneuvered through the course in 8:13.878, obliterating by more than a minute-and-a-half the previous race record of 9:46.181 set by Rhys Millen last year. Driving a Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak in the Unlimited class, Loeb averaged 87 miles per hour while setting the record. Millen was a distant second with a time of 9:02.192 in his 2013 Hyundai PM580T, and Jean-Philippe Dayraut of France also topped the previous record with a time of 9:42.740 while driving a 2011 Mini Countryman. Paul Dallenbach finished in 9:46.001 in his 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe to also eclipse last year's record and win the Time Attack class. Nine-time Unlimited division champion Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima of Japan, who had switched from his traditional gasoline-powered past to the Electric Auto division last year, piloted his electric 2013 E-Runner Pikes Peak Special to victory with a new Electric record clocking of 9:46.530. This time even surpassed the 9:51.278 he turned in while driving a Suzuki SX4 during the 2011 race, when he became the first driver ever to crack the Peak's previously elusive ten-minute barrier. This year's motorcycle divisions had numerous record setting performances as well. Carlin Dunne – who owns the race's overall record for the motorcycles at 9:52.819 – again was the fastest motorcycle, clocking 8/7/13 11:52 AM