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VW Beetle Fitted with a Jet Engine

6031769 writes "Ron Patrick has decided to go that little bit further by souping up his VW beetle with a jet engine, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle. Serious planning went into the project. Patrick said, 'We did (computerized) structural analysis and we did stability analysis. And by God, you know what happens? It works!' Contrast with the Rocket Boy to see how it should not be done." Yes, the Darwin award winner was found to be bogus, but unlike the myth, Ron still lives!

8 of 283 comments (clear)

  1. Prior art by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hey i have prior art! I should have patented this...

    Signed,
    Batman

  2. Hmmm... by talkingc · · Score: 5, Funny

    Is there a bumper sticker that says: How do you like my driving? Dial 1-800-EAT-SHIT.

  3. the Volkswagon Irre by donaldGuy · · Score: 5, Funny

    German for nutcase

  4. Here's his personal website w/pics by TubeSteak · · Score: 5, Informative

    http://www.ecm-co.com.nyud.net:8080/jetbeetle/
    http://www.ecm-co.com.nyud.net:8090/jetbeetle/

    Coralizing the link doesn't seem to work for me, but YMMV.

    FYI - It's hosted on his business website, so try not to /. it.
    A mirror wouldn't hurt.

    -http://www.ecm-co.com/jetbeetle/

    --
    [Fuck Beta]
    o0t!
  5. Painted on the Side by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Darwin Express"

  6. Turbonique by cirby · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Back in the 1960s, a company called Turbonique made (along with a rocket-powered turbocharger for "normal" engines), rocket engines for automobiles.

    One of these gadgets pushed a VW Beetle (the old, cool kind, not those new toys) to a 9.36 ET at 168 mph in the quarter mile.

    Later, someone built a rocket-powered go-kart which managed about 240 MPH...

  7. This is what /. is really about by KarmaOverDogma · · Score: 5, Funny

    covering the most awesome truth-is-stranger-than-fiction stuff where every geek looks and says in a Keanu Reeves voice: "Whoa..."

    What a great article!

    --
    uR iGn0ranc3, Their Power
  8. other way around by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Funny

    by souping up his VW beetle with a jet engine,

    Shouldn't it be, "adding a VW-beetle to his jet engine"?