Gizmodo: rocket car

Rocket Car Will Hit 1000mph in 40 Seconds, Empty Bowels in About 5

John Herrman — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 08:50:00 EDT

Britain's Minister of Science Lord Drayson is announcing today the commencement of the Bloodhound rocket car project, which will propel current land speed record-holder and RAF Pilot Andy Green to speeds of over 1000mph. This is another step in the sporadically intense fight for the fastest car in the world, but the Minister has a half-hilarious, half-reasonable excuse for it: it'll get British students interested in taking advanced science classes. Nobody really cares about stuff like that because, well, 1000mph.

The first part of the run will be propelled by a jet engine, originally designed for the Eurofighter. After the Bloodhound reached 300mph, propulsion duties will be taken over by an experimental "bespoke" hybrid rocket, during which time the driver will be subjected to 2.5Gs of acceleration force until he hits 1050 mph. The whole process will take about 40 seconds, amazingly.Naturally, possible blackouts, horrific crashes and mechanical malfunctions are all in the cards here. Dont' worry though — according to the Times, he is preparing in the most ludicrous way possible: "He will practice... in a stunt aircraft, flying upside-down over the British countryside." No date for the run has been set, but we should get a few more details after the Minister Drayson's formal announcement today. [Times Online]

Rocket Car Mod is Like Steampunked Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Kit Eaton — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 08:48:00 EDT

Forget boring hydrogen-hybrid supercars and the like: a one-off vehicle mod like this recently-spotted Rocket Car is how to really impress passers-by. Built by Baron Margo, its shiny bullet-shape is all pipes, rocket exhaust (with what look like real jet engine parts), dials and a whirling propeller that apparently spins as you drive, keeping time with a ring of flashing lights. Basically it's like the car that Chitty Chitty would dream of being when it grows up, and I can almost forgive its steampunk-esque nature as it's just so astonishing. [LAMetblogs]

V1 Rocket Car—Goodbye, Eric

Haroon Malik — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 18:20:00 EST

Here's what we know: 1) There is a car. 2) It has a freaking rocket attached to it. 3) If this is not the product of PS mastery, we would like to volunteer weekend intern Eric to test it out. Benny, as you probably all know, is still busy growing his hair back from last year's ~~self-imposed torture~~ back, sack and crack wax.. [Abnormal Photographs]