This 67' impala could waste any of us!

yelowjaket · 11-11-2002, 09:32 PM

The Arizona Highway Patrol were mystified when they came upon a pile of smoldering wreckage embedded in the side of a cliff rising above the road at the apex of a curve. The metal debris resembled the site of an airplane crash, but it turned out to be the vaporized remains of an automobile. The make of the vehicle was unidentifiable at the scene.

The folks in the lab finally figured out what it was, and pieced together the events that led up to its demise.

It seems that a former Air Force sergeant had somehow got hold of a JATO (Jet Assisted Take-Off) unit. JATO units are solid fuel rockets used to give heavy military transport airplanes an extra push for take-off from short airfields.

Dried desert lakebeds are the location of choice for breaking the world ground vehicle speed record. The sergeant took the JATO unit into the Arizona desert and found a long, straight stretch of road. He attached the JATO unit to his car, jumped in, accelerated to a high speed, and fired off the rocket.

The facts, as best as could be determined, are as follows:

The operator was driving a 1967 Chevy Impala. He ignited the JATO unit approximately 3.9 miles from the crash site. This was established by the location of a prominently scorched and melted strip of asphalt. The vehicle quickly reached a speed of between 250 and 300 mph and continued at that speed, under full power, for an additional 20-25 seconds. The soon-to-be pilot experienced G-forces usually reserved for dog-fighting F-14 jocks under full afterburners.

The Chevy remained on the straight highway for approximately 2.6 miles (15-20 seconds) before the driver applied the brakes, completely melting them, blowing the tires, and leaving thick rubber marks on the road surface. The vehicle then became airborne for an additional 1.3 miles, impacted the cliff face at a height of 125 feet, and left a blackened crater 3 feet deep in the rock.

Most of the driver's remains were not recovered; however, small fragments of bone, teeth, and hair were extracted from the crater, and fingernail and bone shards were removed from a piece of debris believed to be a portion of the steering wheel.

Ironically a still-legible bumper sticker was found, reading
"How do you like my driving? Dial 1-800-EAT-****."

www.darwinawards.com

vetteeatr · 11-11-2002, 10:08 PM

I dont even know what to say. Thats just beyond amazing. I cant even comprehend that.

Wow......

I wonder if he had any idea that he would be going that fast... If so all i have to say is

Balls

5.0 Pony · 11-11-2002, 10:41 PM

hey, should i get one of those instead of a supercharger? I think that might have a little more kick to it.............

just be like, yeah im flying, goin three hundred miles an hour then BAM! over, but my 1/4 mile time would be sweet...

vetteeatr · 11-11-2002, 11:00 PM

Can I buy those off Ebay?

11-11-2002, 11:25 PM

How cool would it be to show up at a street race sporting that type of mod? If one could control it and not reach that extreme speed it should be considered fair game since everyone's saying "run what'cha brung"? .....food for thought.

MidNiteBlu 5.0 · 11-12-2002, 03:54 AM

Damn some people can be real idiots. I bet it was fun while it lasted!

Dark_5.0 · 11-12-2002, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 20LbsBoost
I hate to re-hash old discussions but would that be considered a "power adder"?

Would it be fair to show up at a street race sporting that type of mod? If one could control it and not reach that extreme speed it should be considered fair game since everyone's saying "run what'cha brung"? I bet a lot would cry "foul".....food for thought.

It would still be run watcha brung...........The theory behind this is anything you have done to your car I could also do to mine if I was so inclined. The fact that the next guy may have more stuff done to his car than you just means hes further ahead of the game than you. Any REAL racer realizes this and brings his car up to a competitive level. Alot of people need to realize that racing is just like life, it isnt fair. People that always whine that life isnt fair and cant compete end up shooting thereselves. Which leads me to believe that maybe handguns should be an available option on honda civics.

Peace,

1969Mach1 · 11-12-2002, 12:32 PM

You know that had to be one hell of a ride. If the doctors told me I had a few days to live I'd probably do the same thing. =) Wouldn't it be cool to pull up to the lights and take off in that thing. lol I'm surprised the tires didn't blow at those speeds befoer he applied the brakes. How big are those things anyway?

§am.

silver_pilate · 11-12-2002, 02:43 PM

Yeah...that one happened quite a while back. I heard about it a number of years ago.

You know it's gotta suck for the guy in the car. I imagine he had almost a minute to contemplate the idiocracy of his actions before he smashed into the mountain. Better have made his peace, 'cause what are you gonna do?

What I want to know is how he secured the rocket to his car. Those things carry a wollap.

--nathan

srv1 · 11-12-2002, 09:40 PM

that is an urban legend. never happened. check with Arizona state records and you will not find it, cause it never happened!!

but a cool story though!

srv1 · 11-12-2002, 09:44 PM

5.0 Pony · 11-12-2002, 10:31 PM

Come on don't you guys know about the secret tool? Im sure he used duct tape to secure the rocket, that stuff can be used for everything

BAleR · 11-13-2002, 09:54 AM

Dark 5.0 : "It would still be run watcha brung...........The theory behind this is anything you have done to your car I could also do to mine if I was so inclined. The fact that the next guy may have more stuff done to his car than you just means hes further ahead of the game than you. Any REAL racer realizes this and brings his car up to a competitive level. Alot of people need to realize that racing is just like life, it isnt fair. People that always whine that life isnt fair and cant compete end up shooting thereselves. Which leads me to believe that maybe handguns should be an available option on honda civics.

Peace,"

dark 5.0, i think that is the smartest thing iv ever herd you say!

91LX2Bfast · 11-13-2002, 10:32 PM

That story is old as all hell and yes it is just an Urban Legend.

11-14-2002, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dark_5.0
It would still be run watcha brung...........The theory behind this is anything you have done to your car I could also do to mine if I was so inclined. The fact that the next guy may have more stuff done to his car than you just means hes further ahead of the game than you. Any REAL racer realizes this and brings his car up to a competitive level. Alot of people need to realize that racing is just like life, it isnt fair. People that always whine that life isnt fair and cant compete end up shooting thereselves. Which leads me to believe that maybe handguns should be an available option on honda civics.

Peace,

Excellent point and very well written. You've convinced me that my view was narrow minded and without rules, such as street racing, anything's fair game.

stevstum · 11-14-2002, 01:20 PM

I agree life isn't fair. I just watched a video clip of a 600 hp Supra highway racing a 2002 s/c Cobra. Was it a fair race some my say no because the Supra owner Knew what he had and the Cobra didn't. I think it was fair because like eveyone is saying there are no rules on the street when you are racing.

20lbsboost I read your last post I think you had your ***** handed to you by someone with N2O and need to talk this out with your Shrink. GET OVER IT!

Dark_5.0 · 11-14-2002, 01:30 PM

I have had my @ss handed to me many times by cars and trucks with nitrous.

I even once made a post bitching about people using nitrous, since then I have learned the real racer motto.

Run Watcha Brung!!!!

11-11-2002, 09:32 PM	#1
yelowjaket Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Phoenix, AZ-USA Posts: 114	This 67' impala could waste any of us! The Arizona Highway Patrol were mystified when they came upon a pile of smoldering wreckage embedded in the side of a cliff rising above the road at the apex of a curve. The metal debris resembled the site of an airplane crash, but it turned out to be the vaporized remains of an automobile. The make of the vehicle was unidentifiable at the scene. The folks in the lab finally figured out what it was, and pieced together the events that led up to its demise. It seems that a former Air Force sergeant had somehow got hold of a JATO (Jet Assisted Take-Off) unit. JATO units are solid fuel rockets used to give heavy military transport airplanes an extra push for take-off from short airfields. Dried desert lakebeds are the location of choice for breaking the world ground vehicle speed record. The sergeant took the JATO unit into the Arizona desert and found a long, straight stretch of road. He attached the JATO unit to his car, jumped in, accelerated to a high speed, and fired off the rocket. The facts, as best as could be determined, are as follows: The operator was driving a 1967 Chevy Impala. He ignited the JATO unit approximately 3.9 miles from the crash site. This was established by the location of a prominently scorched and melted strip of asphalt. The vehicle quickly reached a speed of between 250 and 300 mph and continued at that speed, under full power, for an additional 20-25 seconds. The soon-to-be pilot experienced G-forces usually reserved for dog-fighting F-14 jocks under full afterburners. The Chevy remained on the straight highway for approximately 2.6 miles (15-20 seconds) before the driver applied the brakes, completely melting them, blowing the tires, and leaving thick rubber marks on the road surface. The vehicle then became airborne for an additional 1.3 miles, impacted the cliff face at a height of 125 feet, and left a blackened crater 3 feet deep in the rock. Most of the driver's remains were not recovered; however, small fragments of bone, teeth, and hair were extracted from the crater, and fingernail and bone shards were removed from a piece of debris believed to be a portion of the steering wheel. Ironically a still-legible bumper sticker was found, reading "How do you like my driving? Dial 1-800-EAT-****." www.darwinawards.com __________________ 90redGT -Flowmaster mufflers -BBK 2.5" H-Pipe w/cats -BBK equal length shorty headers -K&N -BBK 65mm Throttle Body -Edelbrock performer 5.0 intake -3.73 gears

11-11-2002, 10:08 PM	#2
vetteeatr Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Olney, Illinois, USA Posts: 212	I dont even know what to say. Thats just beyond amazing. I cant even comprehend that. Wow...... I wonder if he had any idea that he would be going that fast... If so all i have to say is Balls __________________ !988 GT World Windsor Sr.'s, Harland sharpe rockers, 3.73 gears, pulleys, no ac, hurst shifter, 10:1 pistons, BBK full length headers and H-pipe with flows. Under extensive work for porting and fly cutting to accept my new cam and to match my soon to have systemax intake DROOL Best E.T. 13.20 with edelbrock RPM intake and 70mm TB

11-11-2002, 10:41 PM	#3
5.0 Pony Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Nebraska Posts: 127	hey, should i get one of those instead of a supercharger? I think that might have a little more kick to it............. just be like, yeah im flying, goin three hundred miles an hour then BAM! over, but my 1/4 mile time would be sweet... __________________ 1988 Mustang 5.0 LX Convertible -Mac Cold Air Intake -K&N Cone Filter -9mm FMS Spark Plug Wires -Hedmann Headers 2.5" O/R H-Pipe -Flowmaster 40 series 2.5" Catback

11-11-2002, 11:00 PM	#4
vetteeatr Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Olney, Illinois, USA Posts: 212	Can I buy those off Ebay? __________________ !988 GT World Windsor Sr.'s, Harland sharpe rockers, 3.73 gears, pulleys, no ac, hurst shifter, 10:1 pistons, BBK full length headers and H-pipe with flows. Under extensive work for porting and fly cutting to accept my new cam and to match my soon to have systemax intake DROOL Best E.T. 13.20 with edelbrock RPM intake and 70mm TB

11-11-2002, 11:25 PM	#5
20LbsBoost Guest Posts: n/a	How cool would it be to show up at a street race sporting that type of mod? If one could control it and not reach that extreme speed it should be considered fair game since everyone's saying "run what'cha brung"? .....food for thought. Last edited by 20LbsBoost; 11-12-2002 at 08:36 PM..

11-12-2002, 03:54 AM	#6
MidNiteBlu 5.0 I got something to say Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,557	Damn some people can be real idiots. I bet it was fun while it lasted! __________________ 91 LX Hatch 5.0 - made for the twisties 89 LX Hatchback 5.0 5spd. stolen/stripped 4/7/05 http://www.mustangworks.com/cgi-bin/...splay.cgi?3494 1987 Toyota Pickup Ricer Haters Club Member #33 Want a custom gauge cluster for your Vintage Mustang? www.jmeenterprises.com

11-12-2002, 12:32 PM	#8
1969Mach1 HEY I CAN SET A NAME NOW! Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,556	You know that had to be one hell of a ride. If the doctors told me I had a few days to live I'd probably do the same thing. =) Wouldn't it be cool to pull up to the lights and take off in that thing. lol I'm surprised the tires didn't blow at those speeds befoer he applied the brakes. How big are those things anyway? §am. __________________ 1969 Mustang Mach 1Sold 351-4V Windsor, 4 Speed MACH 1 - Moving At The Speed Of Sound. 1979 Mustang Indianapolis 500 Pace Car For Sale - Email me for Info 302-2V, 3-Speed Auto One of 2,106 made One of 405 sent to Canada. Yes those are caution lights, and No you can't pass me when there on. Ricer Hater's Club - Member #4

11-12-2002, 02:43 PM	#9
silver_pilate DURKA DURKA!! Join Date: Sep 1997 Location: Lubbock, TX...(TX panhandle) Posts: 1,418	Yeah...that one happened quite a while back. I heard about it a number of years ago. You know it's gotta suck for the guy in the car. I imagine he had almost a minute to contemplate the idiocracy of his actions before he smashed into the mountain. Better have made his peace, 'cause what are you gonna do? What I want to know is how he secured the rocket to his car. Those things carry a wollap. --nathan __________________ '91 GT, Coast 347, 9.5:1 compression, full intake, Wolverine 1087 cam, exhaust, Keith Craft ported Windsor Jr. Irons (235 cfm intake, 195 cfm exhaust), AOD, PI 3500 converter, Lentech valve body, 3.73's (4.10's in the works), and Yokohama ES100's out back. Daily Car: '04 Infiniti G35 Sedan 6MT

11-12-2002, 09:40 PM	#10
srv1 Get down..... Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Room 103 Posts: 2,095	that is an urban legend. never happened. check with Arizona state records and you will not find it, cause it never happened!! but a cool story though! __________________ Cobra brakes are on! Finally..... ------------------------------------------------

11-12-2002, 09:44 PM	#11
srv1 Get down..... Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Room 103 Posts: 2,095	__________________ Cobra brakes are on! Finally..... ------------------------------------------------

11-12-2002, 10:31 PM	#12
5.0 Pony Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Nebraska Posts: 127	Come on don't you guys know about the secret tool? Im sure he used duct tape to secure the rocket, that stuff can be used for everything __________________ 1988 Mustang 5.0 LX Convertible -Mac Cold Air Intake -K&N Cone Filter -9mm FMS Spark Plug Wires -Hedmann Headers 2.5" O/R H-Pipe -Flowmaster 40 series 2.5" Catback

11-13-2002, 09:54 AM	#13
BAleR Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 42	Dark 5.0 : "It would still be run watcha brung...........The theory behind this is anything you have done to your car I could also do to mine if I was so inclined. The fact that the next guy may have more stuff done to his car than you just means hes further ahead of the game than you. Any REAL racer realizes this and brings his car up to a competitive level. Alot of people need to realize that racing is just like life, it isnt fair. People that always whine that life isnt fair and cant compete end up shooting thereselves. Which leads me to believe that maybe handguns should be an available option on honda civics. Peace," dark 5.0, i think that is the smartest thing iv ever herd you say! __________________ 1994 Ford Mustang LX Red White top 5speed (stock) Team DRT

11-13-2002, 10:32 PM	#14
91LX2Bfast Registered Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Warrington, PA Posts: 694	That story is old as all hell and yes it is just an Urban Legend. __________________ '97 T-bird LX 4.6L 2V, auto SVO heads/intake, Vortech T-trim, front mounted intercooler, blower cams, Cobra crank, Manley H-beam rods, JE pistons, Aeromotive fuel system w/ 42# injectors, and much more No times yet

11-14-2002, 01:20 PM	#16
stevstum Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Salem, Or. USA Posts: 233	That was an old "Darwin Award" winner I agree life isn't fair. I just watched a video clip of a 600 hp Supra highway racing a 2002 s/c Cobra. Was it a fair race some my say no because the Supra owner Knew what he had and the Cobra didn't. I think it was fair because like eveyone is saying there are no rules on the street when you are racing. 20lbsboost I read your last post I think you had your ***** handed to you by someone with N2O and need to talk this out with your Shrink. GET OVER IT! __________________ Steve Stumbaugh 89 LX 5.0 5sp, Removed air silencer Mac High Flow Air Filter Motorcraft 8mm wires Autolite platinum plugs Mac O/R h-pipe Flowmaster American Thunder 3:55 gears Accel Super Coil (42,000) 75 mm Mass Air Meter

11-14-2002, 01:30 PM	#17
Dark_5.0 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Staging lane Posts: 4,337	I have had my @ss handed to me many times by cars and trucks with nitrous. I even once made a post bitching about people using nitrous, since then I have learned the real racer motto. Run Watcha Brung!!!! __________________ 92' LX-Big brakes, Lots and lots of suspension, GT40X heads, Ported cobra intake, stock cam, Vortech SC trim. 00' Lightning-Stock 88'CRX-13 second ego killer

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