Anybody else working on their rocket car? I want to have someone to race, or at least another car to follow mine down the track.

Salty Dog Tour

They have a rocket power wheelchair class? LOL..we just might have to get to work if they do. I'm always lookin for a reason to end up in the Guinnes World Record books

Hey Ed...up for it bud? LOL
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Dipstick Streetrod Association Member
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Lead, follow, or get outta the way..unless your EdCroozer..Ya gotta watch out for that Deuce in the rear view mirror!

I haven't started mine yet, John. I've been doing some thinking and planning tho....if that counts. I'd better get working on it, there isn't much time left. Somebody suggested to use an Estes D-12 engine and when I look up rockets on the internet there are so many to choose from I get real confused. I think a trip to the hobby shop is in order.

I noticed some had two engines...one facing forward and another mounted facing down and forward at about 45 degrees. I'm assuming the second one is to keep the car on the ground. Have you done any practice runs yet? What size wheels are you using?
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George

I was told that D 12 was the biggest to use but you can use as many as you like. My brother has designed his around the D 12 and he has built a really nice looking car. Mine is more on the form follows function route. I am using 8 engines. I have always figured that if this much is just right, more must be better. I will wait to fire it the first time when we get there. I think they may be planning a special award for people with cars like mine.

Salty Dog Tour
Bonneville or Bust

Hmmm....8 engines...form follows function...the first thing that pops into my head is a piece of balsa wood with axles and wheels and the 8 engines duct taped to the board. But I know you are a shop teacher so I'll bet it's a little more sophisticated than that. I looked up the info that was posted about the Rocketcar World Championship and a 90 foot course was mentioned with no means of guidance, and electronic ignition...not many other rules. It's going to be fun. I'm glad you posted this...I've got to get busy.

If there's any rocketeers out there I might have a few questions.
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George

Duct tape! I knew I could hold the wheels on with duct tape but I had not thought of using it for the engine mounts. Brother and I make up the SO-MO rocket car team. Our motto, We are not very good, but we're slow.

I do not have a clue as to what I am into.

sounds like Tim Taylors riding mower with the jet on it!
Slammin, you could always strap a JATO bottle to the chair and I'm certain you would set some kinda record!! lol My chair folds so its not structurly sound enough for that much push....there used to be a story floating around Ft Hood Texas when I was there years ago about some idiot that strapped one of them bottles under the back of a '56 Chevy.
I guess the concept was ok but apparently he didnt get it on straight and he lit it off on main street and made it as far as the main gate where he was estimated to be doing well over 100 mph and then it went off road on the north side right towards a national defence compound. He lit the sky up so bright that someone thought the Nuculear site was going off. They never found anything left of him or the car.....Believe It, Or Don't <...............har har har
FredP


so whats wrong with primer?

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Fred P.

Where did this come from?? Where?when?? I NEED INFO HERE GUYS! This in just crazy enough!!
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Never let your mind wander..it's much too small to be left on its own.

Charter Member: Dipstick Street Rod Association

I'm not positive this is right, but I think it all started at a BBQ on the left coast, a few years ago, which was attended by quite a few members of the original RRT board. They had a pinewood derby track set up to have a big race. Well, boys will be boys and a couple of rocket cars showed up and it has evolved from there. I'm sure DrJ knows a lot more of the history, since the pinewood derby track is his I think. Maybe the rocket cars started first at Bonneville and someone brought their Bonneville racer to the Pinewood Derby. I don't really know what came first....obviously.

Anyway, there has been some rocket car racing at Bonneville in the past and this year there has been a challenge made by some of the owners of the faster cars to bring on the competition. As true hotrodders, quite a few of us have accepted the challenge. I expect someone will invent the "Unlimited" class this year.

Since this is my first trip to the salt, I don't have a clue as to what the surface is like and I have about that same amount of knowledge of rockets, so if mine makes it to the finish line I'll be amazed. I've got a pretty good design tho...I think. Most likely it will turn around and take my head off or something.
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George

Hmmmm....George, you don't mean something like this, do you?


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phil


It's not a NOMAD, it's a Yeoman!
Not an engineer, but I DO drive a train.

LOL...I could see something like that happening.


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George

Basic rules are maximun 6" tall, 8" wide and 12" long, 4 wheels, no larger than D 12 rocket engine but you can use as many as you want, no guidance, and no parts that come off during the run. Run side by side, first one to the finish line is the winner. I heard that the idea came about in a bar at Calgary. Something about a bunch of guys in a drinking club that has a side intrest in hotrods.

Salty Dog Tour
Bonneville or Bust

John, I've been trying to email you at jkimbrou@joplin.com and I get an "unable to deliver" message. Do you have a new email address? Did you get my email about the sticker?
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George

George,

Sorry, I have been working on the air conditioning job on the 31 Doodge all day and I just now checked the computer. (I am not going to let that Dodge beat me.)

You have the right email address. Do you need a sticker? My neighbor has a sign shop and he has been making them for me. I have had him make more but I do not know if he has them yet. My brother is having dash plaques made and I think he has made some T shirts.

We leave 2 weeks from tomorrow and plan to spend Thursday night at Sumners. What are your plans?

Salty Dog Tour
Bonneville or Bust

Speaking of Sumner...
He's been rather quiet lately, all's well I hope.
How about it, bud? What's the word?
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Ken

Does this have anything to do with the Darwinian Theory and removing oneself from the genepool??? lolol FredP

so whats wrong with primer?
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Fred P.

Wow
I worked for Centuri Eng. in 1968 to 1974 I was the dir for R & D, this sounds like a blast...(Sorry had to say that)
This may be just what I need to come out of retirement...lol
Safty things to remember even though these are cars I would still use fin to stablize and hold them on the groung.
We made some boats one time.....no they did not work well...lol sure was exciting how ever LOL
You guys have fun and play safe...let us know hear how they went ..Good Luck
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Keep the shinie side up

Her is a picture of my cousin Rocket Funny Car.In the mid-‘70s, Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) rocket powered cars were allowed on the nation's drag strips. Their light weight and incredible power produced unbelievable ETs even though they were mandated to shut off at half track.

Before the rockets could run, they had to have an annual inspection by the NHRA, the insurance company, and a rocket expert. After a couple of fatalities the sanctioning bodies and insurance companies banned them and the few who built these cars were forced to park them or take them overseas.

Sammy ran his 1976 Mustang II (later re-bodied as a Vega) and set track records everywhere he raced. Here are some numbers: 1/8th mile 1.91 seconds; 1/4 mile 4.40 seconds -- both on a shut-off run at Englishtown in June of 1977. He also ran a (are you ready for this?) 3.58-second 1/4 mile pass at Zanvoor, Holland, in 1985 where there were no speed restrictions.

Before Sammy got into rockets, he ran a series of Nitro Funny Cars and Top Fuel Dragsters.

He also set a Land Speed Record of some sort on ice as he outfitted the car with ski-like contraptions and made two shots on frozen Lake George, NY.


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"Big Al" Liebmann
"Righty Tidy..Lefty Loosey"

Charter Member: Dipstick Street Rod Association
Technical Advisor - Barris/Kind Chrysler City Coup'e Kustom

Now that is a serious rocket car. A little out of our field but really neat. Mine is almost done but turned out really strange looking. Brother tested his Thursday night and made some good passes. I am a little dissappointed as I thought we would have several contestants and now I have no idea how many will show. 2 weeks from tonight we will have the race. If nothing else we will have a quiet match race between brothers.

Salty Dog Tour
Bonneville or Bust