Rocket Powered Funny Car

The liquidated would have had a jet engine in it, which was fueled by jet fuel, basically kerosene.

Lew’s car was a Hydrogen Peroxide powered Rocket Funny car and had almost no moving parts. The car had a fuel tank, a few valves, 2 tanks of nitrogen gas that were used as the “pusher” for the fuel, about 10 feet of stainless steel piping behind the fuel tank, then the combustion chamber with the catalyst for the reaction, and a nozzle. That was it. The valves were the only moving parts in the “drivetrain” assembly.

The guy that designed the “engine” was literally a Scientist that worked for NASA building rockets.

These cars did not really produce fire. The only thing coming out of the back of the cars was very hot steam and a ton of thrust.


Lew told me he was continuously looking for sponsors to fund his Funny cars. Regular Funny cars are always breaking parts and are very expensive to run.

Lew’s idea with this car was to build a Funny car that did not break any parts. That meant his need for sponsorship money was greatly reduced. He wouldn’t need tires, pistons, rings, no blowing up rear axles, because there wasn’t one, etc. The rear axle was simply a solid tube with a bend in the middle for mounting requirements, with a pair of hubs on each end for the tires to mount to. It was basically a skate board with a set of big tires on it and an “engine“ that produced a ton of thrust.


When Lew would run it, they would do a little bit of showmanship.. They would get the car in position then put only a little bit of fuel in it. Then Lew would fire it up, and only go a little down the track. (Like they were warming it up.)

The guys would push it back to the starting line, lift up the body and fuel the car. Then he would let her rip, go down the track under power for about 1/3rd of the track, coast the rest of the way and go through the traps at around 247 MPH.

Once done they would simply clean off the car and it would be ready for the next run.
Duane

 

There is a scene in this old 1979 movie "Hot Rod" of a rocket car.

50.22 in the movie

 

That looked like Sammy Miller in Vanishing Point.

I think that’s the first time I ever saw one running. Thanks Dave.
Duane

 

summernationals or springnats in the early 70's. think it was air force sponsored? 3 wheel machine goes 4.99 @3oo. pretty wild back then. when he popped the chute, it was only on the front wheel.
so where or what is going on with that old car?

 

A guy near Pittsburgh bought the car, (I don’t remember his name.) and his friend bought Vanishing Point. They wanted to have both cars.

From what I have been told almost all the Rocket cars were either damaged/destroyed or are otherwise gone now.

At one time I was offered a ton of money for just the shell/body. A guy wanted to build a front engine dragster and wanted the 71-73 Mustang body. I refused to do it. I imagine some of these cars were dismantled and recycled into other cars.

Those may be the only ones left, I don’t know.

These cars were only allowed to be exhibition cars in the states. I don’t think they were ever allowed to race against each other.

You have to remember I was never into racing, so I never really tracked any of these cars.
Duane

 

ttt for a friend.