Jet car racer Terry Rosberg was making exhibition passes on Sunday in his American Thunder jet-powered Pro Mod at the Wilkesboro Dragway in North Carolina, not far from his home in Rockingham, when things turned ugly in a hurry.
Rosberg had just completed a 4.40-second, 180 mph pass on the 1/8-mile strip and got both parachutes out when he suddenly lost control of the 1941 Willys-bodied machine, powered by a Pratt & Whitney J60 turbojet aircraft engine, and careened into the opposite lane, barrel rolling twice and landing back on its wheels.
While we won’t pretend to know all of the inner working of a jet car, the last thing we’d want to do is take a tumble in something that emits flame and has kerosene onboard. Perhaps we’ve just seen too many jet cars on fire over the years to believe anything good can come from being strapped in so close to something so volatile, but that’s just us.
Incidentally, Rosberg had two cameras — one of the nose and one on the tail of the car — recording during the run. The camera mounted up front, as you’ll see, doesn’t quite survive the tumble; the rear camera, however, takes you for the exact ride that Rosberg went on…up and over and over once more.
Luckily, there was no fire and Rosberg was able to walk away with only the usual bumps and bruises. The car appeared to take the accident particularly well, and fortunately for Rosberg, he has another car, a jet dragster, to keep him occupied while the Willys is under the knife.