There are two ways that you might know Bandag. One is if you are in a field that uses retreaded tires…Bandag is a retread company and they are the tire of choice for fleets like UPS. Or, you know the truck with two engines, two superchargers, four turbochargers, and just in case that all wasn’t enough, nitrous. The rig is known as the Bandag Bullet, and while it’s more often been seen with Kenworth bodywork, for Summernats 33 it rolled in wearing a Western Star nose instead. Both are built by PACCAR, so it’s not that big of a leap from one brand to another.
1,500 cubic inches of compressed anger bark through an Allison automatic and out to a Eaton rear axle with a Detroit locker in the back, and there’s plenty of power to swing this eight-ton beast around…something like 2,800 horsepower and 5,600 ft/lbs of torque is the figure we keep finding.We just know that this is one big beast and it’s still roasting retreads today to put them to the ultimate torment test. It’s a smoke machine more than anything, even with the smoke from the Australian bushfires blanketing Canberra.
And then people are wondering why the wether is getting hotter?
Couple of things, firstly it’s no longer sponsored by Bandag, so it’s now the Bullet burnout truck.
Secondly, it’s a full Western Star cab and nose, and modified chassis iirc.
Thirdly, Western Star is Diamler trucks, along with Freightliner and Detroit Diesel.