Did any of you catch the Master Blasters program tonight on Science Channel (193 on my satellite service)? The goal was to rocket launch a "sports car" over football goal posts and float it down without a scratch by parachute. That was the idea, anyway. Unfortunately, their sports cars were...MINIs, in a red team vs blue team sort of program.

The Coopers appeared to be brand new, but the program was filmed in '05. They had 4 days to prepare the cars, which could be fully dismantled and lightened on the interior, but not on the exterior. There was a ramp that was at least 45 degrees--probably more--to be used by both teams.

Not to keep you in suspense any longer, neither team had 100% success. Team red had a spectacular failure of one rocket, which put the Cooper into a flat spin as it somewhat less than gently came down to earth. Their length over the ground was about 130 feet. Didn't split the posts, and the parachute wasn't able to fully deploy. Wouldn't have mattered, anyway, with the spin/spiral the car achieved. Scratch one CR MC.

Team blue had more success. Their rockets fired cleanly, the car launched well off the ramp and truly flew. Yes, it split the posts (at high altitude), but the parachute failed to...uh...deploy. There were few recognizable parts.

Interesting program, but a sad one for two lovely Coopers.

 

I wish I had there money. I would just keep the Mini's.

 

Actually it was pretty sad for both of 'em ... I don't think there were any salvageable parts off the spinner, either. That blue one flying was a thing of beauty, though ... it was airborne for over 1/4 mile. Neither car would have been usable after that anyway, so I kinda didn't mind the extra spectacular 'landing'.

I think they should try something like that with a Chevy Suburban.

 

Or Tahoe. Or Expedition. Or...

You fill in the blank. ANYTHING except two unsuspecting MINIs.

 

That reminds me of the Top Gear episode where they sent a classic Mini off of a ski jump in Lillehammer.

 

Here's the YouTube of the Master Blaster episode with the jet powered MINI Coopers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMBOTLJn3FA
Spectacular, though it was sad to see them destroyed it was a really awesome looking.


And here's the YouTube of Top Gears episode of the MINI ski jump.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9yJlw5ujzFo&feature=related