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300 mph truck disaster!
BobJudy
Member Posts: 6,630 ✭✭✭✭
No reports on the cause yet, but it was a tragic mess. He probably died doing what he loved and my prayers go out to his family. Bob
Comments
Darn, that was messed up. 😟
RIP
RIP
just terrible
prayers to family and friends
like all racing and extreme sports any day can be your last . I would guess he had just a few seconds to realize he was a goner, but I would guess his mind was on trying to save it
RIP to a true showman
It looked to me as if the jet engine let go just after he popped the drag chute and before he got to the pyro display. If in fact it was the jet engine that came apart, lots of hot fragments could have destroyed the rear tires, leading to the out of control tumble.
I will assume that the procedure would be to pop the chute and immediately pull the throttle to idle on the jet. That could conceivably cause enough fuel back-pressure to rupture a fuel line. Or the hot section turbine just let go from fatigue. They don't get brand new engines for those things and that is extremely hard duty. Likely, we'll never hear.
I have seen the Shock wave more than once. They spray fuel into the exhaust blast behind the ABs to create a huge fire trail as part of the show. The engines are GE J-79s which have been around since the mid 50s used on many aircraft notably the F-4. I cant help but believe a turbine shelled and hot pieces ignited the fuel tank. RIP
Running the engine from an F-4 in a truck. Good God.
It is even more unbelievable that the truck had 3 of those jet engines for a combined 36,000 hp! Bob
That's Thunderbird Lead's jet.
While not the driver in this crash, I know the Shockwave's / Shockley's legacy well. I met Les Shockley at his home when I was a kid. I worked with his son Kent for 6 years in the early 90's at a place on the Missouri/Kansas border. He was newlywed at the time and wouldn't drive but I ran into him maybe 6 years back at the OKC airshow and he was driving. It was kind of funny. I went up to the truck after the run had seen him go into his trailer. I talked to one of the crew and asked if I could talk to Kent and that I used to work with him. He asked when and where and gave me the "you're full of BS" look. He flashed a coy smile, got my name, and walked back and opened the door and let me in. He and I were never close, not friends or anything, but if you work together for 6 years you at least have some stories. The one that made him laugh was that I remembered (from 25 years ago) was when his wife was trying to be helpful and she "changed" the oil like she had seen him do. She Popped the hood, and added 5 quarts of oil. Apparently she hadn't paid attention to the whole drain the oil and change the filter part. A few miles down the road, a rod punched a hole in the side of the block.
If you are ever in S.W. Kansas near Galena / Baxter Springs area, their mailbox is a home made rocket. You can't miss it. I am not suggesting bothering them, but it is kinda cool it and among itself.
I have seen the 'Shockwave Jet Truck' twice, First time in 2020 & then in 2021 at my local dragstrip. What an incredible display of sound, fury, and power. Drag racing fans who enjoy watching Top Fuel and Nitro Funny cars in person understand the level of sound & overpressure they produce. As incredible as it seems, they pale when compared to the Shockwave. Absolutely loved it.😎
Was looking forward to seeing it this year. I tip my hat to those daring souls that push the performance envelope and thoughts and prayers to the driver's family. 😪
It appears he ran over 2 or 3 people on the ground. You can see them tumble @ the time he catches on fire.