Japan: we’re back for the second time this week with a video from a drag racing event on the island nation. While we have never personally visited Japan, through mediums like the internet and television we have gotten some glimpses of their culture. Between Hello Kitty, strange proclivities in adult films, bitchin’ sushi, and drifting, we still have a lot to learn. When we showed you top fuel cars running in Japan on a course with zero track prep, it got us more interested to hunt around and see what else we could see about Japanese drag racing. We were happily rewarded with the video below.
This video shows a Japanede exhibition vehicle which for all intents and purposes is a jet funny car, but it looks like a battle tank. We’re talking turret, big fake gun, cammo paint job, the freaking works. This certainly is not the first tank shaped vehicle to find its way onto a drag strip. Who can forget the epic “Hell on Wheels” tank wheelstander (which may be in Australia now) that wowed crowds from coast to coast for many years. We will give the Japanese jet tank an edge over “Hell on Wheels” due to the fact that it certainly has a higher terminal velocity, though.
So why do we think this is doing it wrong? Firstly, how fast could this thing possibly be driven safely with its sheer girth and shape? We bet about 150 or so is all it can muster before the driver is trying to control something that is impossible to steer. The aero of the turret and all the other stuff isn’t helping. Not only that, the thing isn’t exactly leaving the line like a normal jet dragster. When the burner gets punched and the tank begins to roll, we wanted to insert ourselves into the video running along the back corner of the thing and pushing it.We also have no idea how long a run the tank made because as you will see, it takes off and speeds into the distance in front of a crowd of about 10 people. The payoff is coming when it reaches those massive grandstands, apparently. It just seemed odd to have the smoke and fire show back where not a blessed soul can see it. Even odder to have it in front of that audience at all! It saved on equipment and fuel if the driver can just stage and made the run.
Despite our jabs, we’re entertained by the machine and would drive it given the chance. The Secret Weapon is secret no more! Admit it, you had no idea this thing existed.
PRESS PLAY BELOW TO SEE A JAPANESE DRAG STRIP EXHIBITION JET POWERED TANK!
….is that a “NHRA” sticker on the side of the tank?!! (joke) the cheer leaders are a nice touch
Not sure if its the same one, but there is a secret weapon jet tank that is based out of Drayton Valley Alberta Canada. Its part of Brad Janishewski’s Rolling Thunder team. Tim Boychuk ran it at a jet car race I was at in Edmonton earlier this year.
BFD.
That’s not a dragstrip, it’s the straight on a circuit, you can see the pit entrance behind the cones. probably not enough room to slow down if they launched in front to the crowd
Godzilla would outrun that thing!!!
I see more than 10 people. Is this the same course that drag race cars have run all the way around doing small burnouts all the way around the course? I’ve seen the Hemi Under Glass doing that.
Who was the announcer at the end Yoko Ono?? made my ears blead
AWESOME – not
Was there a guy fist pumping at one stage – man he was excited?
The camera guy seemed to be exited about a drum of WATER – WTF
Agree with above comment – can never have enough cheer leaders.
why is the lettering in English?
Easy to say it is being Done Wrong. They do that exhibition as suits them. The cheerleaders are a very nice touch.
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