Race on Sunday sell on Monday" has been an unofficial slogan behind racing for decades, as manufacturers used the crucible of high performance to learn lessons that were eventually reflected in commercial products.
That spirit endures even on the heavy-duty side, as a popular "Super Truck" league in Europe shows off corporate colors and components, and in some cases serves as a way to accelerate testing of parts that go into commercial trucks.
High speeds, exaggerated power outputs and even "bumping," as aggressive drivers push their way through a pack, strain everything on the racing tucks. Parts wear and break far sooner than they would on the highway or even in a builder's formal testing program. And lessons learned on the tracks can and do transfer to products for everyday vehicles.
For an engine, "two races will equal three months of development on a dyno," said Henry Gracia, director of the Caterpillar Truck Racing Developments team out of London. "Everything we use in the truck is being pushed at three times normal stress:
