While we’re not sure of the exact date, we’re relatively certain that multiple rocket cars have not appeared at the same drag strip at the same time since Ronald Reagan was in office and perhaps maybe longer than that. We have been keeping you up to date with regard to the now international exploits of Captain Jack McClure and his legendary rocket cart for the last year or two but there is a whole new wrinkle in the North American rocket resurgence and it comes in the form of Kurt Anderson’s Sonic Stinger rocket dragster. That machine will be with McClure’s rocket kart at Brainerd International Raceway in little more than a week making test passes.
You may be asking, “What’s the big deal?” The big deal is that these cars were written off for dead some years ago after the availability of high grade hydrogen peroxide fuel in the USA was virtually choked off and the stuff you could get was priced as though it were made of gold flakes. Through the efforts of McClure, Anderson, Ky Michaelson and the other members of the Rocket Boys team they have fuel, they have cars, and they have the ability to run them safely and at very high speeds.
These are not JET cars. These are rocket cars that use the chemical reaction of hydrogen peroxide reacting to a silver plated screen. When the peroxide hits the screen it turns to steam and the steam is forced through a nozzle, driving the machines down the track with thrust. There’s a massive misconception that these cars were somehow banned from drag racing. That is false. They are still legal. It was fuel availability that killed them off in the 1980s but that hurdle has been handled by these guys and they are hard at it to bring rocket drag racing thrills back to strips across the country.
This could literally be the start of something big.
HERE’S THE INFO STRAIGHT FROM THE ROCKET BOYS!
Rocket Runs at Brainerd International Raceway 5-29-2015. Kurt Anderson and Capt. Jack will be testing their rockets!
The updated Rocket Powered Sonic Stinger piloted by Kurt Anderson and Capt. Jack McClure with his Rocket Kart will make several historic runs down the 1320 at BIR.
Ky Michaelson will be heading up the safety team with the legendary Rocket Pilots Capt. Ed Balinger (Conklin Comet, The Astron Invader, The Galaxy Crusader, and Rocket Funny Car-The Chicago Patrol) , and Vern Anderson (Pollution Packer, American Dream)
The combined Rocket Car experience of this team has safely completed over 500 rocket runs thrilling crowds and breaking records in the 70 and 80s.
Curt Michaelson, Buddy Michaelson, Kevin O’Kelly, Mike Holdridge, Dan Jordan, and Tim Keseluk will be crewing the event as well.
The facility opens at 11:00 AM and testing will end at 6:00 PM
If only Sammy could have made it……saw and spoke to him at the Pod, top man!
OK….a STEERING WHEEL on a thrust driven vehicle !!! Obviously, none of these morons have been to Bonneville or to any advanced schooling.
The front wheels steer the car, Richard. Rocket cars have been around drag strips since the 1960s….who is the moron now?
Richard, I am not a moron, We have set over 70 State, National and international speed records, some were set at Bonneville,
Here is my bio, lets see what you have acomplished in your life.
http://the-rocketman.com/Ky_bio.html
What a stupid comment. Please enlighten us morons about why these vehicles shouldn’t have steering wheels.
I thought they banned rocket cars, because once you light it, it doesn’t stop until it runs out of fuel. I have read stories about low 3 second runs way back in the day, in a quarter mile, Id love to be there!!!
Blue, solid fuel rockets cannot be throttled but these liquid rockets can and are. The peroxide is pressurized in the tank and you car regulate the flow with a valve. That is what Capt. Jack does.
My last bosses biggest dream (www.flometrics.com) was to have his own Hydrogen Peroxide “still”… As the pseudo safety engineer I was somewhat horrified. We never built it. Once its made though its not too bad to handle. Yes there have been accidents (Virgin Galactic for one) but its a pretty simple, few moving parts technology. Much safer than liquid oxygen and Jet A fueled rockets. Id love to be there to see the fest.
This is awesome. As BK was referring, Hydrogen Peroxide can be distilled. AFAIK you can’t buy 90% in the US but you can legally distill diluted H2O2 to make your own high test.
Kevin
Its amazing at the misconceptions involved when talking about H202 rocket vehicles. Goggle would be an excellent source for those not knowing what has been done with this these types of vehicles safely. I myself have to applaud the passion and the talent that it takes to try to bring back a class of vehicles that was and still is so popular. Just the science involved in this type of motor is astounding. Best of luck to these gentlemen.
I haven’t seen one of these cars since 1979 when Brad Proffitt ran 328 mph at our local track. This just might make the trip to Brainerd worthwhile.
Will NHRA allow them to run all out?
It would be hard to justify 1000 foot for fuel cars if rockets are going 380mph
Wishing the entire RocketBoys gang a barrel-load of success! It’s been a long time comin’. Speed on, brothers!