SPAL USA’s ‘Rocket Ranger’ has set a new land speed record becoming the Fastest Diesel Pickup Truck during the Bonneville Salt Flats Speed Week. Driven by Hypermax Engineering’s Max Lagod, the Rocket Ranger achieved an average speed of 215.091mph which is nearly 2 mph faster than the previous record of 213.583mph in the ‘C/Diesel Truck’ category.
It was way back in 2001 when SPAL USA approached Ford with the Rocket Ranger concept. In response, Ford enthusiastically offered its support by providing a stock Ford Ranger pickup. Presently, the Rocket Ranger is outfitted with a Ford Powerstroke(R)/International 6.0-liter diesel engine which comes incorporated with Hypermax intercooled series turbochargers, injectors and Mach 7 performance module, dual SPAL USA 12″ high-performance cooling fans and a ZF 6-speed transmission.
Prior to this, the Rocket Ranger qualified for the land speed record three times but faced difficulties making the back up run. During the first back up run, a failed piston forced the team to change the truck’s engine in Utah’s 100-degree heat. Further, an oil pump interfered with the second back up run.
Later it came down to the 11th hour, but in the end the truck had a record breaking performance. The team is thrilled to beat the existing land speed record to become a member of Bonneville’s 200 mph club with the Rocket Ranger. The driver said that the team may revisit the Bonneville Salt Flats in October to bang its own land speed record.
In 2001, Rocket Ranger set its first land speed record at the SCTA/BNI World Finals with a Roush-built NASCAR(R) Nextel Cup(R) engine enlarged to 371 cubic inches. It was able to reach 205.208 mph crushing the existing ‘Modified Mid/Mini Pickup’ class mark by almost 25 miles-per- hour.
In 2003, it returned to Bonneville to use a Powerstroke diesel engine for the very first time for a land speed record attempt. The Rocket Ranger reached a mind blowing speed of 222mph but was powerless to complete a back up run due to an electrical problem caused by an intercooler explosion on a previous run.
According to Mark Kitlinski, sales and market manager for bus & truck, SPAL USA, the going was tougher this time. He proudly expressed the credentials of the team and said it would not have been possible without the support of Hypermax, International Truck, Ford Motor Company, and Creative Werks Inc.
[Via: Auto Spectator]
