Mar 4 2008Minivan Is Mega Fun, Jet Engine Powered

The applications are mind-boggling. Do you get an extra blast from the jets when down-shifting?

Check out that guy's fucking back hair in the first video!!! Jesus! His barber must judge when to stop cutting when he reaches his ass crack!!!

i love the VERY beginning of the first video where he looks like he's about to lose control on his very first start...

imagine that on a highway....... ohhhh that'd be fun.
can you say deadly?

If you multiply 7.65 seconds times 8, thats one mile in 61.2 seconds, or just around 60 miles per hour. That doesn't really seem that fast, eh?

Yeah, but that was from a standing stop. I'd like to see its 0-60 time.

But regardless of speed, the cool factor is off the charts. I want one.

Didn't someone get a Darwin award for doing something similar??

I don't know why they angle the nozzles out to the left and right. They would get more thrust if the nozzles pointed out straight back.

First of all it's 7.65 x4 if you want to go by your math since it's a quarter mile. Also are you forgetting that it will continue to build up speed in the next 3/4 miles?

A thruster pointed straight back is great for speed but shit for going straight.

it's been a long time since i was at school, but i'm pretty sure a quarter mile isnt written as 1/8 mile

Carie: honorable mention or somesuch. turned out to be urban legend.

if you click on the video and go to youtube you can see teh guys comments that did the van. it is 1/8 mile time, NOT 1/4 mile like some peple are assuming.

"this is the first run at the dragstip. I didn't run the fire show down the track and I got on the brakes before the end of the 1/8th mile. 7.65 at 96 mph. 1.87 60 foot time"

#1: it's a 3rd generation dodge caravan...it's automatic (no down-shifting)

Geekologie writer: are you sure it's the 1/8th mile? I wouldn't be surprised if it was, but just making sure.

#4: your math is all wrong (read other comments)

#9: the writer put on there that the time is for the 1/8th of a mile, so you would multiply by 8, but in any case, that's not what you do with 1/8 mile or 1/4 mile times anyway.

#6: I'm sorry, I have to disagree...the 16-wheeler with three turbine engines, (ShockWave Jet Peterbilt) is way better, and does look cool.

So here's my thing: Yes it has a cool turbine, BUT: the dodge caravan is a V6 FRONT WHEEL DRIVE, which is terrible for drag racing and the like. They'd get a better chance of making something if they had thicker tires...those skinny tires are NOT racing tires, but I can't expect them to get something real after they spent God-knows how much putting the turbine in the back. Also, I'm surprised the brakes (which I will assume are also stock given everything else is stock) have enough force to hold the wheels in position while that turbine is going at full speed (again, get thicker tires).

Now I'm not saying I wouldn't like to tear some asphalt up with that thing, but it's impractical and not cool at all. Having said that: only a redneck...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31RWj-h4kHM (race begins 2:51)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFIGIGY9DUw (race begins 2:02)

Oh and I forgot to add that this vehicle has the drag coefficient of Elton John's eyebrows.

i still love BRITNEY SPEARS! no matter what happens..i support her!! It is said she has a nice profile on iblowgoatsdoyou.com. It's a celebrity dating site. Is she looking for date or love or.. there?

i had a girlfriend once.

i'm guessing it's 1/4 mile & the dude that posted the video, didn't go to school :=)

why do i get the feeling my G35 coupe would burn that jet packed minivan??? or at least be able to keep up to it... obviously i dont have a jet pack in my trunk.

Although a 7.65 is not fast for an 1/8 mile time, having a trap speed of 96mph is decent for that distance. It also has a very slow 60 ft time. So it takes off slow, but does pick up speed quite fast as indicated by the final trap speed.

And Guate6 some of your comments dont make any sense at all! You make it sound like as if it makes a difference if this thing was front wheel drive. Do you honestly think this jet engine is powering the transmission??? Its pushing the car with force, not powering the wheels via a transmission. The vans transmission is obviously disengaged in neutral.

Also because of that reason, there is no need to have wider wires as no torque is being directly applied to the tires so you do not need better grip in this case, the tires are not going to be spinning on the spot like traditional drag cars.

Your post fails on many levels!

Matt

Correction above, it is to read wider tires not wires.

Matt

Good luck getting jet fuel at the local gas station.

I think it has more in common with a helicopter than a jet. There is one turbine, with to exhausts to cool the output and reduce noise(a bit at least). These would be all but useless for providing thrust. Also the van rears up like the rear wheels are being driven, and you can see a drive shaft going from the turbine to a what is probably a chain going through the floor to the not so stock rear diff. So, technically this could be an all wheel drive. /rational thought

Wonder where I could pick up one of those turbines...........

from the builder's mouth... "the driveshaft is telescopic heavy wall square tubing and it drives a custom transfer case feeding a 9 inch ford rear axle" so there you go.

well, the jet engines might be cool but it must be hell on the flux capacitor.