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The episode recreating the "Rocket Car" myth was probably one of the first episodes I ever saw -- and boy, was I dissapointed.

Quite obviously, there is no "correct" version of this or any other myth; but still, I was very dissapointed that one of the most renowned versions of the "Rocket Car" myth available online [1] was apparently not taken into account, or indeed even mentioned. I don't mean to sound unappreciative, but having read this fabulously detailed (and very entertaining) tale, it is hard to not to notice that the episode could have been so much, well, better.

How come? Did you not know about this version, or did it just not suit the form of the show and the plan for the episode?

My question(s): When selecting myths and performing busts, to what extent do you strive toward (for lack of better term) "historical accuracy", and to what extent does a good show (ie. being visually captive and not requiring too much theory or explanation) take precedence? How much proper research work goes into each myth?

[1]: http://www.wagoneers.com/pages/RocketCar/rockit.ht ml

You know the fish symbols born-agains sometimes have on their car? It's like that, only with feet and the word "Darwin" in or under it. Kind of like the one at the end of http://www.wagoneers.com/pages/RocketCar/rockit.ht ml

A little while ago I was reading some snopes at work (bored) and somehow I managed to surf over to this story. Very long, but incedibly interesting.

The account you linked is probably fictional (where's the name of the town? Pictures of the wreckage? How come it's written just like a short story?), and even if it isn't the author certainly wasn't the first guy to attach a JATO to his car-- Motor Trend published phographs 20 years before the date he claims.

Whenever referring to this particular legend, this is the link to reference...

http://www.wagoneers.com/pages/RocketCar/rockit. ht ml
is vaguely entertaining regarding the JATO on a car legend. Whether it's an explanation or the product a few hours of boredom is up to you...

/.
Clearly, you have never encountered a Mercedes UniMog, which can dominate a tractor pull with its 75hp engine. Mogs can pull a 16-ton trailer... it's all about the gearing you know (and German metallurgy - you can keep your crappy Detroit steel).

Oh, and I'm talking about the REAL UniMog, not the fake mog-inspired SUV that just went on the market under the same name.

--Charlie

Actually, check out this site for an extremely detailed account of how this guy and some friends actually strapped a JATO rocket into a car and ran it down an old set of rail road tracks. I warn you, this is a really lengthy and descriptive account.


"The Force. It surrounds us; It enfolds us; It gets us dates on Saturday Nights."
-- Obi Wan Kenobi, Famous Jedi Knight and Party Animal.

"The Force. It surrounds us; It enfolds us; It gets us dates."

Well, if you look at the parent directory of the Rocket Car story, you will find the same Hotmail account as was mentioned in the cDc version. Since the Wagoneers version has a working link to the after.html page that the cDc was missing, I would guess that Cardhouse has the definitive version. Whether the story is true or not, I cannot say and will not guess.