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 Dyno Torque Match At BD Performance
BD Diesel Performance hosted its first of two Dyno Day events last April 29, which drew some 300 diesel enthusiasts to the company's state-of-the-art facility in Abbotsford, BC, Canada. Recently, the company announced the date of its fall Dyno Day event: Saturday, October 14, 2006.
BD Diesel Performance began hosting its semiannual Dyno Day 10 years ago as a way to attract customers to the then-modest facility. Offering free chassis dynamometer testing on a first come, first serve basis, with free refreshments and free advice, Dyno Day was an immediate success.
"Back then we had a Clayton water dyno capable of measuring 300 hp," recalls BD president, Brian Roth. "It was a great starter dyno, and quite out of the ordinary for 1996. I recall the extreme conditions of running a Dodge Cummins to 300 hp, with exhaust gas temperature of 1,500 degrees. How times have changed!"
Indeed they have. The BD Diesel Performance facility now measures 65,000 square feet, has 60 employees and a Mustang chassis dyno capable of handling up to 1,500 rear wheel horsepower.
 BD's spring event saw over 70 trucks cross the rollers between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Awards were given out for the horsepower figure closest to 375 (without going over), as well as the highest horsepower figure overall. Spencer Zelinka's '00 Dodge Cummins posted an impressive 368.7 hp figure to take the under 375 hp honors, while Ken Florey and his '02 twin-turbo Duramax rocked the rollers with 524 hp and 1,223 lb-ft. of torque. In addition, Malcolm Cross's diesel drag truck laid down 557 hp and 1,300 lb-ft of torque, and not to be outdone, BD's own twin-turbo Dodge Cummins race truck shook things up with 572 hp and 1,337 lb-ft with only 1,200 degrees of pre-turbo EGT. The Truck Show and Shine top spot, meanwhile, was captured by Rich Melrose and his beautiful '04 Dodge.
April's event featured a complimentary barbecue, 400 donuts courtesy of Tim Horton's, face painting for the kids, and country music broadcast live by the local radio station, JRFM. In addition, BD solicited contributions from attendees for Children's Hospital, raising over $800 for the hospital's "Basics for Babies" program.
If you missed BD's Spring Dyno Day, be sure to attend the fall Dyno Day event coming October 14th in Abbotsford, BC, Canada. For more information, call 800-887-5030 or visit their Website at www.dieselperformance.com
 Diesels Racing To The Clouds
Mark Miller, driving a 2006 Volkswagen Touareg V10 TDi up the treacherous 12.4-mile course at the 84th running of the Pike's Peak International Hill Climb, finished in 14 minutes 8 seconds. Teammates Ryan Arciero and Danny Sullivan followed Miller's quick time in the exhibition race.
The three Touareg V10 TDi SUVs were the first vehicles to use ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) in the Race to the Clouds. The Touareg also is the first light-duty vehicle in the U.S. to include a particulate filter that further reduces emissions. The 2006 Touareg's diesel engine is compliant in all 50 states and consumes up to 30 percent less fuel than traditional gasoline engines.
To put the exhibition effort in perspective, Miller's time was quicker than the quickest Baja Pro Truck class entry of Charles Mcdowell's 14 minutes 32 seconds e.t.
In the Big Rig class, Mike Ryan shoed his hand built Mercedes Benz powered Freightliner Century Class S/T Super Truck to a new record by breaking his previous record by 3 seconds for an e.t. of 12.43.66.
 Kelderman Rigs Highlight DHRA Indiana Nationals
The Show 'N Shine competition at the DHRA Indiana Nationals attracted serious stares as people strolled through, admiring the newest technologies and latest trends in the truck world. Smack dab in the center of all the attention was Kelderman's bright red 2006 Ford F-650, and a Chevy HD that rolled away with the honor of Best In Show and Best Duramax. The 2005 Chevy 2500HD 4X4 featuring a 12-inch Kelderman air lift and stunning music themed graphics by APE Wraps was a real crowd pleaser. This is the truck that appears on the cover of the September issue of Diesel World. The big Chevy has Kelderman's straight axle Dana suspension kit, activated by an Accu-Air computerized ride control system. The truck was built for ride comfort, big-torque performance and sound.
Built to promote the 2006 Sprint Sound & Speed, Presented by SunTrust event in Nashville, TN for the benefit of the Victory Junction Gang Camp and the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, the truck has since been making its way around the truck show circuit. The Best In Show vehicle is powered by a Banks Six Gun power system and stainless exhaust and features an audio/video system from Kenwood that includes: 4 amps, 14 speakers, 6 monitors and navigation.
 Throughout the day, people stopped to watch Kelderman's powerful F-650 in operation. Using custom-engineered hydraulics, the truck bed completely separates from the cab with remote activation. One push of the remote and the bed in less than a minute is almost flush to the ground for easy access. The 650 is designed for comfort and convenience. A 4-link front air suspension utilizing height control sensors that tie into the factory air supply make this big dually a much more comfortable ride. The separating bed feature, custom engineered by Kelderman, adds utility for work or recreation.
To view more trucks developed by Jeff Kelderman, go to www.keldermanairride.com, and check out the September issue of Diesel World Magazine.
 Stanley, the robotic Volkswagen Touareg Stars at The Smithsonian
Stanley, the robotic Volkswagen Touareg that won the DARPA Grand Challenge in October, will be featured in the Robotics Collection of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History through the summer. Stanley bested 22 other unmanned vehicles in a rigorous, 132-mile championship race over rough desert roads, mountain trails, dry lake beds and tunnels, using only onboard sensors and navigation equipment to bring home the $2 million prize.
Stanley was built from a stock, diesel-powered Volkswagen Touareg R5 modified with full-body skid plates and a reinforced front bumper by Stanford University, with the technological support and innovations of the Volkswagen Electronics Research Laboratory (ERL). The teams transformed the Touareg so it could drive itself without human assistance and is the first autonomous vehicle in history to successfully drive such a distance unaided by humans.
 Hey you Just Won The 24 Hours of LeMans, What Are You Going To Do Now?
If You're AUDI, You Race a JET-FIGHTER
Audi demonstrated the performance of modern diesel engines in a unique duel prior the "Festival of Speed" at Goodwood (England): a standing start one-kilometer (3280-foot) acceleration race at RAF Wittering. The Le Mans-winning Audi R10 TDi, driven by Allan McNish, was just narrowly beaten by a 15,000-bhp combat aircraft from the Royal Air Force (RAF).
Even though the 650-hp Audi R10 TDi was quicker off the line and in the lead for almost the entire one-kilometer distance, the Harrier GR7 "Jump Jet" just beat the Audi by literally a "nose" before rocketing off in front of a 5,000 crowd.
"It was essentially a 'fun' race," explained Audi factory driver Allan McNish. "But when a racing driver and a pilot get together, it quickly becomes serious. To come so close to beating a Harrier jet-fighter was a tremendous achievement once again for Audi TDi Power - especially if you consider that we didn't modify the R10 TDi for this 'race'."
 JCB DieselMax LSR Update: 750HP Target Achieved For JCB444-LSR ENGINES; Track Testing
Ricardo engineers verified that a pair of JCB444 diesel engines will produce 1500 horsepower for Andy Green and JCB's land speed record attempt for diesel-powered cars. The JCB444-LSR engines have achieved their target of 750hp on the test beds at Ricardo's engineering center.
"The whole project has been a fantastic engineering challenge. Initially we tried single and then two-stage turbocharging, having taken the view to avoid more esoteric methods of boosting power. As a result, we have advanced technology in the engine, particularly in the combustion chamber design where Ricardo has deep experience, that will filter through to JCB products, and to proprietary production cars, within the next five to 10 years," Ricardo's Global Director of Diesel engines, Ian Penny explained.
Each JCB444-LSR engine displaces 5 liters, weighs 382 kg (dry), and produces 750bhp at 3,800 rpm on a relatively low 10.5:1 compression ratio and in excess of 1500 Nm of torque at 2,500 rpm.
The first runs took place July 22 with quick acceleration runs to just over 60 mph. The following week the goal was 175 mph, but a water seal in one of the engines caused a temporary panic when oil and water flowed out of the exhaust.
"We got the car away, but without the usual scorching acceleration, peaking at around 127 mph, "said Andy Green. "I flew both the parachutes in quick succession and with great success - another job well done by the guys. On climbing out of the car, the reason for the slow run was obvious, with a mixture of oil and water dripping out of the rear engine exhaust. This is usually a very bad sign indeed. Much relief [came] a couple of hours later when we found out that the engine had simply lost a water seal around one of the injectors, letting water get just about everywhere it wasn't supposed to go."
At press time the team was busy repairing the engine and working on other aspects of the car in anticipation of a few more test days before packing up for Bonneville.
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