A day with Rocket Rob
04-15-2009, 10:01 AM
#51
RE: A day with Rocket Rob
RR, I don't remember that about Pontiac. I remember some kind of experimental Indy car that was banned...probably Andy Granatelli's. When electric cars take over, what will hot rodders talk about? Who's got the meanest set of windings?
04-15-2009, 02:05 PM
#52
RE: A day with Rocket Rob
<GM like several other automakers had been researching gas turbine engines since the 1930s. Its aviation engine division, Allison, was awarded the US Army contract to produce jet engines after the War. Since GM designers were creating jet like cars and the company’s engineers were building real jet engines why not put the two together?
They did in 1954, GM introduced its first turbine car, the Firebird I. It was the hit of that year’s Motorama. Chrysler had been building prototype turbine powered cars but their vehicles looked like everyday sedans. The Firebird design was in synch with its futuristic powerplant.
Though never intended for production it was more than just a show car. The Firebird I was capable of rocket like speeds of 230 miles per hour. The engineers kept pushing for more and more speed. This thrust developed exhaust temperatures of more than 1250 degrees F, which made it somewhat impractical in traffic, unless you wanted to torch everything in your wake.
In 1956 General Motors unveiled its next, rocket shaped, turbine car, the Firebird II, complete with all the gadgets and goodies, that according to the PR film shown at the Motorama made the car ready " for the electronic highway of the future.†>
More? [link=http://www.greatcarstv.com/history/gms-jet-powered-cars.html]http://www.greatcarstv.com/history/gms-jet-powered-cars.html[/link]
"Torch everything in your wake" - sounds a bit like MJD's new plane.......
04-15-2009, 09:21 PM
#55
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RE: A day with Rocket Rob
Some examples of electric hod rod coffee talk:
" I got extra 50 watts to the wheels with gold power connectors"
"listen to that sweeeet motor hum at 80 mph"
"I can do 21.3 in the quarter"
"my car slows down when I turn up the radio."
"I can't wait 'till the new Weiand commutor windings are available from Jeggs"
" I got extra 50 watts to the wheels with gold power connectors"
"listen to that sweeeet motor hum at 80 mph"
"I can do 21.3 in the quarter"
"my car slows down when I turn up the radio."
"I can't wait 'till the new Weiand commutor windings are available from Jeggs"
04-15-2009, 09:22 PM
#56
RE: A day with Rocket Rob
They'll be lucky if 10 people show up to watch the first all electric Top Fuel final.
Does anyone recall a company called Turbonics? They had a little "stand alone" turbine system that directly drove the rear axle [IIRC]. I don't remember what they used to create the power, but they used to take out small ads in the car magazines.
Does anyone recall a company called Turbonics? They had a little "stand alone" turbine system that directly drove the rear axle [IIRC]. I don't remember what they used to create the power, but they used to take out small ads in the car magazines.
04-16-2009, 09:54 PM
#57
RE: A day with Rocket Rob
CP, I do remember that thing. I even saw a promo vid they put out a few years ago. Like you I don't know how it worked.
My how this thread has wandered...TJ are you still on the left coast? Take a ride up past Valecitos over to I-5 and see all the pretty windmills on the hills.
My how this thread has wandered...TJ are you still on the left coast? Take a ride up past Valecitos over to I-5 and see all the pretty windmills on the hills.
04-16-2009, 10:49 PM
#58
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RE: A day with Rocket Rob
The thread may have wandered, but it's fun, so who cares!
Yes, I'm still on the left coast, I'm in Olympia WA right now. Can't seem to find a hobby store, the ones I found in the phone book are closed. There is on about 40 miles away and if I am still here over the weekend I'll go check it out.
Yes, I'm still on the left coast, I'm in Olympia WA right now. Can't seem to find a hobby store, the ones I found in the phone book are closed. There is on about 40 miles away and if I am still here over the weekend I'll go check it out.
04-17-2009, 02:27 AM
#61
RE: A day with Rocket Rob
Take a trip up to the Boeing Museum in Seattle while you are in the 'hood TJ. Very much worth the drive. BTW , The Hops and Props is sold out unless you want to be a Designated Drover.
http://www.museumofflight.org/hopsandprops
http://www.museumofflight.org/hopsandprops
04-17-2009, 09:56 AM
#63
Senior Member
RE: A day with Rocket Rob
ORIGINAL: RocketRob
To hell with the Boeing Museum - - go to Boeing Surplus Sales
CP, Tell me it's still there?
To hell with the Boeing Museum - - go to Boeing Surplus Sales
CP, Tell me it's still there?
I went home in '07 and we visited just as they were rolling out the closing dates. Pretty sure they are gone now, Mom and I used to go when I would visit. In better times they had Carbon cloth and titanium.
