WARbike (Wildts Astro Racer)
Posted by ArtisticHoney101@reddit | WeirdWheels | View on Reddit | 18 comments
WARbike (Wildts Astro Racer)
Is a top fuel dragster bike built by Will Wildt in America during the 70-80’s (over 10 years development & build), powered by two Turbonique T-32 (2x3320hp) thrust rockets.
In 1967the NHRA had banned the use of Turbonique turbines for drag racing so the bike was never able to compete and remained a show piece for his Motorsport Unlimited TV show.
GlockAF@reddit
Is this a peroxide dragster?
sebwiers@reddit
Similar principle, different monopropelant. Thermolene / propyl nitrate.
dr_xenon@reddit
Are they rockets or turbines? Do they drive the rear wheel or is it just thrust from the rockets?
ArtisticHoney101@reddit (OP)
It uses a Turbonique auxiliary rocket engine, which was a specialized, highly dangerous type of supercharger/rocket thrust system popular in drag racing during the 1960s.
Kaio_@reddit
How on earth does that integrate into the engine to work as a supercharger?!?!
JCDU@reddit
Read up on those Turbonique things, they're absolutely fucking wild.
froglicker44@reddit
Apparently these things burned special fuel to spin a turbine which drove the rear axle via a special differential. Also they were known to explode.
JP147@reddit
Turbonique made many different products including turbine axles, thrust rockets, rocket powered superchargers and electric hybrid superchargers.
Some of their products made cars go fast, some were just scams that didn't work.
They also advertised their highly specialised and extremely dangerous turbine drag axles as something that can be easily installed on your family car at home to increase performance, which caused some legal troubles.
JCDU@reddit
https://www.theautopian.com/this-rocket-powered-motorcycle-was-built-to-hit-275-mph-in-a-quarter-mile/
ailyara@reddit
what is it good for
Oiggamed@reddit
Not cornering
DemandNo3158@reddit
Killer drag racer, all or nothing engine. 10 second run time was sufficient for most applications. No throttle, on-off switch. Thrilling by all accounts! Thanks 👍
ArtisticHoney101@reddit (OP)
Despite its impressive specifications and innovative features, the WARbike never raced on a track. Wildt used it primarily as a showpiece, demonstrating it as part of his crusade to raise awareness and support for motorsports. The bike was displayed on a turntable and transported in a trailer, embodying Wildt's mission to save motorsports from decline.
Fun_Reference_270@reddit
Did they even test drive it?
dr_xenon@reddit
Absolutely nothin’ - say it again - HUH!
MiketheBike88@reddit
I remember watching Will's show and he would stare straight into the camera and drone on and on and on...
I thought "how did this guy get all these women in bikinis to hang out with him?"
That was crazier than the bike. Never did figure it out.
ozzy_thedog@reddit
Bill Wildt has a YouTube channel with some very long videos explaining all of this
UglyLikeCaillou@reddit
sick