The Shockwave jet truck which is not operated by Neal and Chris Darnell is a showstopping monster wherever it goes. Few things inspire more awe than a full sized semi-truck with three turbine engines strapped to its back spewing smoke, flame, and noise like nothing else on Earth. As one of the big attractions featured during the Summit Racing Equipment Motorspors Park Night Under Fire this year, the boys were ready to put on one hell of a show and boy did they! During one of the longest and most violent “smoke and fire” routines we have ever seen, the big truck literally peeled the asphalt up behind the starting line in massive chunks like carpet. The intense heat of the turbine engines and fire along with the amazing amount of rushing air from the same engines cause the asphalt to lose adhesion and blow to pieces.
The fans go nuts when the see it and race officials likely did for another reason. Kurt Johnson, the track manager was up all night devising the necessary plans for the track to hold the event that was scheduled to be run the very next day! He could not have the racers driving through the moon craters left by the truck so he went to work and got it handled in the fashion the world is used to at that facility.
There are jaded drag race fans that curse jet cars and all that stuff but those guys can stuff it when it comes to this truck and the ones campaigned by Bob Motz along with a handful of others. They are amazing things to watch and as mentioned earlier, the length and sheer enormity of the smoke and burner pop show that Darnell puts on here is something else. Of course that contributed to the demise of the asphalt but hey, if you are going to make an omelette you have to break a couple of eggs, right?
Awesome…They pack that place!
This video comes shortly after the video was posted by the spectator who got smashed in the face by pieces of the asphalt and is threatening to sue. He received stitches and likely has a scar he will claim as disfigurement. I am sure the required announcements went out regarding where to stand and not stand – but the video shows a significant number of people directly in harms way. I’m sure no-one anticipated the roadwork becoming projectiles but you have to wonder when something like this kill these kinds of shows or shut down the track due to law suits… a shame. I love jet cars and I love this beast.
Ain’t even got the brains to be an idiot – that sums up the total moron who staged this!
I’m not a fan of kerosene sprayers, anyway….
When we staged races at the airport, we’d usually book a couple of jet dragsters. We’d tell people to move out from behind the road barriers behind the staging lanes. They would not – until they fired up those jets and all the debris in the area started flying back in that direction. Why the hell do you think we didn’t park cars over there LOL. We’ve had Motz and Shockwave both at Abilene. I have pictures in front of Motz with him tearing down the fence, nearly blowing over the dumpster 100′ back of the burnout box. Pic in my office of Shockwave next to the tower trying to roast about 100 people. you can see them trying to get away from the heat. I can’t remember if it was Motz or the Shockwave that “broke in” Dallas Raceway at their only national event. He blistered the brand new concrete back of the burnout box.
Some links:
Motz cooking the chain link in the background:
http://raceabilene.com/misc/racepics/2006/Tjam06_A.jpg
Dallas – pockmarked staging
http://raceabilene.com/misc/racepics/IHRA2009/burnt.jpg