@M: I completely underestimated the collective rocketry genius about to emerge in the comments. Yeah, we're just hopped up on coffee but this place is teeming with rocket scientists.
I think it's time to launch my plastic fantastic GTO into Martian orbit.
You know, this place used to always be about ridiculous crap: dekatora, DAF/FAF, caminoization, 90's indie rock. So it makes me sad to see the comments fill up with "not news/slow news day" comments when an off-beat post is, uh, posted.
For 4th of July a few years back, some friends and I mounted rocket motors to a number of scale cars including a "Canned Heat" R/C car and a 1:18 scale Chevy Impala low rider. I weighed down the R/C car to keep it from getting airborne and the weights just made the car spin like a top and was rather anti-climactic.
The Impala wasn't quite up to the urban legend, but it did shoot across the parking lot rather impressively and smashed into a wall. To make it more faithful, we then filled the trunk with Black Cats and lit it on fire. That was pretty damn satisfying.
You should try to break the end of the canisters and watch that car fly!
As kid I did my own version: Estes rocket motor (imported from the US by an American friend) plus Lego car. Result: Lego bricks all over the driveway and a rocket motor embedded in the wall across the street. Needless to say it was a one time event, but boy was it fun! Even more fun than firecrackers in a Playmobile truck...
We made a version off this in Eight grade shop class. The cars were wood ala pinewood derby. The canisters were CO2. Cars were launched two at a time. There was a spring loaded arm with two nails, triggered by a single rip cord. The bottom of cartridge opens easily, nothing was needed to hold the car back. Just a fast swat with a stick with a ail should it.
Peter, you have to be the luckiest guy on the planet. Not only do you get to tool around Europe and photograph some of the nicest vehicles ever produced, then blog about them on one of the best automotive websites around, you get to post stories about your drunken exploits with a Ferrari toy and N2O canisters.
You are my hero, and we need to have a beer someday.
@Skunky: The least productive office ever. Imagine trying to have meetings, when the only thing people are hearing is: WEEEOOOOOOOSSHSHHhhhshhhHSHHHh...
I was hoping to click through and find out this was actually miniaturized with pseudo-tilt-shift photography. Then you had to go ruin my fantasy with that picture with the twenty-foot soccer ball and giant Marlboro pack.
Wow, I am a sucker. Just bought two coins, one for me and one for my dad's birthday. Hopefully the eBay seller will give something to Jalopnik for the publicity!
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I think it's time to launch my plastic fantastic GTO into Martian orbit.
05/08/09
You're aright, Pete. And so's your mom.
Er....well....you know what I mean.
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Better?
05/08/09
The Impala wasn't quite up to the urban legend, but it did shoot across the parking lot rather impressively and smashed into a wall. To make it more faithful, we then filled the trunk with Black Cats and lit it on fire. That was pretty damn satisfying.
And now we race LeMons cars, heh.
05/08/09
That's effing brilliant.
05/08/09
You should try to break the end of the canisters and watch that car fly!
As kid I did my own version: Estes rocket motor (imported from the US by an American friend) plus Lego car. Result: Lego bricks all over the driveway and a rocket motor embedded in the wall across the street. Needless to say it was a one time event, but boy was it fun! Even more fun than firecrackers in a Playmobile truck...
05/08/09
Cars were launched two at a time. There was a spring loaded arm with two nails, triggered by a single rip cord. The bottom of cartridge opens easily, nothing was needed to hold the car back. Just a fast swat with a stick with a ail should it.
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You are my hero, and we need to have a beer someday.
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Is this the last two in the box?
making whip-cream
suuuuuuuuuuure
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(awaits the flaming trolls)
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