1.11 Don’t Judge A Failure By It’s Cover: The Insane Story Of The Vulcan Shuttle

The Vulcan Shuttle is one of the most infamous cars in drag racing history. A virtually stock bodied VW Beetle with a solid fuel rocket engine for power, it was built ant campaigned by Raul Cabrera and Ron Poole. Ultimately Poole was killed in the car but only after several seasons of successful exhibition competition and more than 100 runs.
The history of the car is incredible and the men behind this wild creation were brilliant. Too often dismissed as a Darwin Award winner, this is the real story of the brains and the guys who designed and built the first solid propellant rocket powered car in United States history and raced it all over the country.

[@ellencabrera8978]

Hi. I am the widow of Raul Cabrera. Most of your info is correct. I would like to share some important info with you about the Vulcan Shuttle. I was there every step of the way. It started in the early 70s. I lived this rocket car business. Raul retired as a pyrotechnic engineer where he earned several U S patents prior to his untimely death related to heart health. God bless his sole.

[@thomaspoole2577]

Ronney Poole is my father thank you for your time and research.

[@chelseyparada1298]

My grandfather helped create this! Incredible!

[@robbnutter4665]

Saw a few of the liquid fueled rocket cars at Orange County Raceway when I was a kid. They were completely silent until they were "turned on". Then they would have times and speeds of modern day day Top Fuel dragsters IN THE 1970's...after only a 2 second burn! Scary fast!

[@tommypoole3228]

I think you did great explaining my grandpas legacy I learned more then what I knew before this video thank you

[@all4runner316]

I've watched pretty much all your videos now, extremely informative, amazing history for motorsport and engineering...needless to say, I have subscribed 👌

[@mikeew3029]

I saw the vulcan shuttle wreck at Capital raceway that night. What a mess. Rolled half way down the track.

[@MiscRocketVideos]

Thanks a ton for this, Brian. I'm 3 years late, but cool history happens that way sometimes. I've mentioned this video on a rocketry forum I frequent, so hopefully you'll get some good views for a cool story. Also, thank you for being clear that it was a mechanical failure that caused the crash and was not related to the rocket motor. Sensationalism is easy, integrity takes effort. I appreciate your integrity!

[@iowa_don]

I remember another VW drag car in the 60's that had a gas turbine engine in it. At one event the car reached a mere 150 ish MPH and became airborne and a terrible crash ensued. I am quite surprised that the Vulcan Shuttle went significantly past 150 and did not crash.

[@ypaulbrown]

the cr you are thinking of was the Black Widow VW, with a Turbonique motor...built in Orlando Florida, on Kent Street.....my Jr High buddy lived cross the street from the shop, so we saw it all the time...I was a reaction fuel motor developed by a guy who was a rocket scientist with Martin Marietta ......not really a gas turbine, there is a lot of information on Turbonique on the internet....hope this helps, a witness of some wild stuff coming out of that very small shop here in Orlando in the 1960's...Paul

[@patryan8065]

You are a very good narrator and keep the complicated subject interesting and flowing. Great job!

[@joshjones3408]

A plastic binder .... "A really long word " "Ammonia percolate " "An Aluminum" Is what the solds on the shuttle used.. once let Be some where eals.. 👍👍👍Great video 👌👌👌👌

[@waldoanddenisestakes639]

The Vulcan shuttle was a funny car with a kit car fiberglass body draped over a a steel space frame. Vandenburg AFB is in Southern California. The shuttle was about the tenth solid motor rocket car. There were 7 built by Fritz Von Opel and Max Valier and Herman Oberth as well as two built by Sig Haughdahl in the 1920s- 1930s. The Walt Arfons and Bobby Tatro Wingfoot Express 2 was Also powered by solid rocket motors in 1965.

[@markb1764]

The ending is very sad but you have to love the creativity of the Florida men

[@jamboostable]

Would be nice to see you do a feature about the VW beetle place in import drag racing history, they were some of the first import drag cars in southern California. Cheers

[@joshjones3408]

Holy crap ....I about feel out my chair....my grandfather was a jet air mechanic for 21 years....am I no every body grandpa has a story...but he said at the Base he was at a guy had stolen a jato rockit .. am pretty sure you know what that is ...but the put it in a Packerd but it he said it dent end well...am not saying he lied to me ...but if it was a real thing that happened... what a ride.

[@joshjones3408]

They should have named that car ....pepcon....😮

[@dannork1240]

I see what you did there

[@rayleehylton8427]

Another great video, thanks Brian

[@orsoncart9441]

I wonder why there is no film of this car performing when it did so many runs!

[@TravisMcKnight-lk7gg]

These types of rockets assists were used in WW2 to help aircraft take off with heavy bomb loads and rocket assisted gliders carrying airborne troops this is where the rocket technology came from concerning rockets using hydrogen peroxide chemical reactions for example like the ME-163 rocket fighter plane .

[@fredbates7693]

Nice job conveying a great, though sad, story. This video also shows me a video can stand alone using only audio. Is the audio better because the data being shared can, save for the still picture, is all being dedicated to audio? 'Just wondering. Again, nice job.

[@pat8988]

That speed in a Beetle is insane. As the previous owner of a Porsche powered ’57 VW, I know how light the steering becomes at speeds above 90. That car would go faster, but I was too frightened to do it.

[@paulmanson253]

At about 100 mph the VW body with the flat body pan becomes a sort of lifting body. Genuine aerodynamic lift. Early 60s,there were Bugs at dragstrips. AA fuel dragsters of the period were about 150 mph,10 seconds quarter mile. Bugs were about 105 mph,11 seconds. And yes,you were correct to be concerned. Flying Bugs crashed shortly after becoming airborne,the results were not pretty.

[@NBSV1]

Well, it did end with a fatal crash. Maybe the rocket being mounted above the wheels helped push it down and increase stability. Although once the rocket shuts off the dynamic change would be dramatic.

[@dwaynesullivan-qo2iz]

Thanks as allway

[@BSKustomz]

2:57 that makes sense

[@nickthompson9697]

Any idiot could dream it up, it takes real talent to survive it more than once.

[@cornholio.2110]

Old Junior high CO2 dragster......3rd there.. so, those Estes C size rocket engines fit. Fishing line melts neighbors picture window. Miss being a kid

[@danielroth8738]

Holy horsefeathers! I thought the thumbnail was photoshopped.

[@davelowman3574]

Star trek fans? It's close to the same color as the Vulcan shuttle from the first star trek movie.

[@brassmonkey7566]

Of course there from Florida.......😅

[@watahyahknow]

solid propellant . that guy had a deathwish or nuts bigger that wreckingballs with a liquid fuel rocket at least you can shut it off the solid one is not stopping untill the fuel has depleted ever seen the mythbusters second try at the rocket car ? kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqPYYa1vjK-qgdE

[@bobroberts2371]

THE CAR HAS BEEN FOUND Famous Vulcan Shuttle Rocket Car found since 40 years Ky Michaelson

[@Nitromessiah]

let me give you some advice.... if viewers are here, don't insult their intelligence. Either they know all about the basics or they will research it later. Just stick to the focus material and drop all the fluff and minutiae.

[@redneckhippiefreak]

lol First I want to say- Thank You for posting this Vid..Truly a stroll down memory lane. I saw this car as a kid .. Secondly.. This car infected me...I was about 8 when I first saw it, I already had a few C and D rockets for my model rockets so the connection was made instantly, but, a few years passed by, gears turning with the idea from time to time and then.. I found a plastic Don Garrets scale Dragster at Roses department store..Naturally, I saved up my lunch money for it and upon purchase, I immediately wrapped a rocket engine in tin foil and crammed it between the axle and the chassis.. The first time I pushed the button, it took off into the air..like a spirling rocket car. XP Well, As kids do, I tinkered with-it for days......I took a lighter to the front and rear wings, bent them both down for aerodynamic effects, It still wanted to take off "at half track" so, I added a 1/4 lb of Dads fishing weights under the nose cone and another 1/4 lb to the rear.. Poof.. Rocket Dragster.. I never built another airborne Rocket again..I instead modified a R/C 10 chassis for remote control and a one way slipper clutch....By the end of the summer, I had an aluminum chassis, rubber wheeled, plastic dragster that I could roll start, fire the rocket, run and steer under rocket power for about 200 yards and even drive back to the "pits"... The bonus part for me.. ..The motors had a charge on them that would eject the rockets parachute for recovery on the way down...So, I tied the parachute to the engine and when it ejected from the aluminium foil engine casing,, it pulled the shoots out of the bag too. XP It was delayed by about 2 seconds but, with that 1/2 lb of lead fishing weights in it and the ability to drive it nearly 20 mph under battery power, it was still rolling pretty good when the shoots popped.. I have to admit, Every time I saw those 2 full Chutes at the end of a run, it was a realised dream for a 10 year old. As time flew by, I lost track of the creation. For over 20 years now, I have been looking through yard sales and thrift stores for another one of those old school plastic scale dragsters, Just to cram a rocket in its rear and push the button again. XP Thanks again for the reminders of how a Childs' imagination can foster discovery and wonder.