Landracing Forum

Bonneville Salt Flats Discussion => Build Diaries => Topic started by: Ellwood on September 06, 2013, 04:43:41 AM

Title: Ellwood Toffee Rocket
Post by: Ellwood on September 06, 2013, 04:43:41 AM

Hi, Ive been developing this rocket sled for two and a half years, had her started a few times, but never actually driven her. Next weekend is time to start her, and hoping for some real thrust ( quite a few mods since last time, and now i got sponsored with a 10 KG tube of NOS). Sofie runs on toffee, which when on fire, just loves a good squirt of laughing gas ( NOS).

(http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj292/ellwoodhybrid/rocket2013003_zpsa500c12c.jpg) (http://s275.photobucket.com/user/ellwoodhybrid/media/rocket2013003_zpsa500c12c.jpg.html)

(http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj292/ellwoodhybrid/rocket2013001_zpsb87ac782.jpg) (http://s275.photobucket.com/user/ellwoodhybrid/media/rocket2013001_zpsb87ac782.jpg.html)

So heres hoping that all runs well, and she can then be garaged until Feb 2014 Speedweekend on Ice in Orsa Sweden

Title: Re: Ellwood Toffee Rocket
Post by: manta22 on September 06, 2013, 12:37:24 PM

Be sure to post videos of your run, Ellwood. Interesting project.

Regards, Neil

Title: Re: Ellwood Toffee Rocket
Post by: mitchell968 on September 06, 2013, 11:45:04 PM

very kool . i ve modded some sleds but , not like that.  and toffee ? are you kidding ? can you use the cheap stuff , like a heath bar , or do you have to use that fancy toffee from sweden  ?  please keep us posted.     thanks              mitchell

Title: Re: Ellwood Toffee Rocket
Post by: Ellwood on September 07, 2013, 06:19:02 AM

I shall fix videos. I brew my own toffee, last batch was 2 gallons.

Here is an old video so you get some idea of the project.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOxmGSktMhQ

Title: Re: Ellwood Toffee Rocket
Post by: Ellwood on September 15, 2013, 02:20:29 PM

One video tells a thousand words! zoom forward to the explosion at 10 minutes. Carnage ! I dont think my toffee rocket is gonna make next speedweekend now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT15dJ2ozUw&feature=youtu.be

Title: Re: Ellwood Toffee Rocket
Post by: saltwheels262 on September 15, 2013, 03:14:08 PM

that's a dam shame.
lucky that no one was hurt.

Title: Re: Ellwood Toffee Rocket
Post by: Mobacken Racing on September 15, 2013, 03:41:04 PM

You should use a different fuel, sugar based fuels are extremely dangerous since they tend to clog up the nozzle and turn the rocket into a bomb just like in the video just posted.

Oil soaked cardboard is suitable since it is cheap, easy to "refuel" between each run and has a high energy density.

Title: Re: Ellwood Toffee Rocket
Post by: desotoman on September 15, 2013, 04:52:15 PM

Ellwood,

Here are some still pictures of your video.

Tom G.

Title: Re: Ellwood Toffee Rocket
Post by: grumm441 on September 15, 2013, 06:02:45 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qDdLYkyEi4
G

Title: Re: Ellwood Toffee Rocket
Post by: Ellwood on September 17, 2013, 01:46:01 PM

front view of the explosion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7a-Vsnswl8&feature=youtu.be

Title: Re: Ellwood Toffee Rocket
Post by: desotoman on September 17, 2013, 04:55:09 PM

Ellwood,

I noticed that you started backing up from the rocket just before the fireworks. Did you feel something was going wrong?

Tom G.

Title: Re: Ellwood Toffee Rocket
Post by: Geo on September 17, 2013, 05:25:39 PM

WOW!   :-o  Hope you guys are all OK.

Geo

Title: Re: Ellwood Toffee Rocket
Post by: Ellwood on September 19, 2013, 04:31:44 PM

Hi, yes, we survived alright. But what a tremendous blast. I made one big mistake by pressing the oxygen button - just thought it might give a bit of boost when my laughing gas ran out ! So i guess we all can learn from this by having protective clothing, fire extinguisher, as few folk involved as possible around the rocket, etc. Toffee is not to be messed with. At least my plan of sinking the whole sled in the trailer was a good idea. I wonder how high it would have flown if it wasnt tied down in the trailer and anchored down to the railway line. It will probably cost me 100 dollars to fix Sofie up again.