It has been an elusive chase, but Leon Smith the owner and driver of the law dropping Kenworth dump truck that we named the “Thump Truck” has finally collected his first 13-second time slips. The numbers came up on the scoreboards at Mason Dixon Dragway in Maryland last weekend during a diesel drag race and truck pull event the track hosts every year. If you have not read the story of this truck, you need to CLICK HERE and check it out. The profile on Leon’s massive hot rod is one of the most popular stories we have ever had on the site.
As a refresher Leon’s truck is powered by a 12.7L Detroit Diesel Series 60 engine that is backed with an 18-speed Eaton-Fuller manual transmission. The transmission part is important to remember when you watch these videos. He is a freaking wiz with the gear lever in that truck. I have ridden on the street with him and if there is a guy who can shift a big rig style transmission faster, I’d like to see him. The motor has a huge set of compound turbos, a cylinder head that has hours and hours into it, and a fuel system that has been very highly worked over. He can tune it up with a lap top, seen that happen, too.
Leon reports that he has long had the power to get into the 13s but has not been able to harness it on the strip to actually get the truck there. It just wants to spin the tires so a deft touch is required through the first few gears until the gearing gets taller and the truck has a head of steam. To prove how bad ass a shifter he is, we’re going to show you three runs below. All three are in the 13s and you’ll marvel at how consistent the thing is.
Oh, this is a working truck, too. Leon has an excavation business at home and when the truck is there it is pulling trailers, hauling material, and making him a living. Don’t believe us? Scroll down under the videos for photographic proof.
PRESS PLAY BELOW TO SEE THE THUMP TRUCK BUST THROUGH THE INVISIBLE WALL OF TIME AND RUN INTO THE 13S!
Crazy
Dang Brian….never thought Buford would lose a race with a DUMP TRUCK!!!
Leon is a BADASS for building AND USING this thing!!
I can assure you he isnt shifting 13 times in that video. Those are close ratio gear boxes. he can afford to skip several gears in one shot. Im guessing he shifts maybe 5 times max.
I counted 4 times that he changed gears in the last video. Just have to watch the stacks and see when the black smoke stops for a split second… literally.
how i miss the truck drags ocir