4/23/2003: Jet-powered go-kart
 

http://cellar.org/2003/jetkart.jpg

If you're not so interested in getting blasted up into space on a private rocket, maybe you'd rather just stay on the ground and go really fast. That seems to be the fancy of this Swiss engineering company called Meditech, which was pointed to in the latest ZZZ Online. The page pointed to is a compilation of a lot of their projects.

And I have a great slogan for them: "Darwin Award-Winning Designs". Any one of these projects could kill you in any number of interesting ways.

If you go on a modem, be patient while you wait for the page to load because it is all images - it's huge. And poorly laid out and such. But amongst their projects:

- Several jet-powered bikes that set world record speeds: 245 km/h (about 150 mph)
- A working "rocket man" jet-pack so you can just fly around
- An after-burning jet bolted onto a stock hatchback of some sort
- Jet cars powered by steam

I want one of each. I probably only need them for about five minutes each.

They claim on the page that one of their next projects is to put that jet above on a jet-pack, you know, so you'd strap it on and fly it. That's clearly completely insane, but it seems these people are already way over the edge.

They should sell a rocket-powered wheelchair with this thing, to use after you paralyze yourself.

This engine would sure deter tailgaters!

UT beat me to the reference.
 

     I thought of the Darwin Awards as soon as I saw the thread title. Having seen the pic I thought it was even more appropriate. So why do I want one???

They've got 50 more ways to leave your lover.

Is this cart gas turbine powered through a gearbox, or is it just being pushed along ala a jet aircraft? I only ask because there appears to be a chainwheel astride the axle to the left of the engine. Not that this would make much of a difference as it would still be ridiculously overpowered, but still...

And, as an afterthought...where are the brakes?

I've looked at the web site...these people are clearly insane. Creative, brilliant...but insane.

Actually, that's the inboard rear disk brake. But looking at the photo again it appears there are no front brakes. Yowza.

That's the exact same go-cart frame I had when I was a kid. 'Cept mine only had a 1-cyl Tecumseh engine. These things only come with one brake, and it looks like they removed all the other rear-end hardware. That seat doesn't look too comfortable, either.

The seat doesn't look very comfortable. You probably wouldn't live long enough to notice.;)

"meditech" -- no wonder.
 

These guys sell medical equipment; the jet-powered suicide machines just help drive business ;)

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p.s. this is my first post, I've been enjoying iotd for years so it was overdue... hi all.

Hi. I've decided I won't pick on you, so let's be friends.

That's rare for dave so I would take advantage of his kind offer if I were you.

I'm all about rocket packs. I thought we were all sposed to have these by now. This would cut commute time tremendously... unless you're ducking patriots all the way to work.

At least it has a really cheap plastic front bumper (recycled milk cartons maybe?). No seat belt, although it may be better to ditch the vehicle and let it go on it's merry way if things go south.