Walt Arfons from Akron, Ohio has been credited
for building the original Green Monster jet car. Walt is also
credited for building one of the most interesting and potential
fastest drag racer ever built and definitely the cheapest car
to run because it ran on supper heated water. Yes, water, the
same thing we drink every day. This newest creation was built
in just six short months by Arfons in his shop in Akron at the
cost of only $7,000. This vehicle has a remarkable power to
weight ratio. The dry weight of the car is only 825 lbs., Bobby
Tatroe the driver adds 200 lbs. and the water that is used for
propellant weighs 600 pounds so the over all weight is 1,625
lbs. when it is rolled up to the starting line. Now here is
what is remarkable about this car, it looses 600 lbs. of water,
which is turned into steam in a matter of seconds as it speeds
down the quarter mile track. This steam rocket has a unbelievable
amount of instant power. The steam rocket produces almost 5,000
lbs. of thrust, Walt heats the water to about 400 degrees Fahrenheit
and at that temperature the tank pressure is at about 300 lbs.
Walt brought the car out to the Akron Municipal Airport for
its first initial test run. On its first run the driver Bob
Tatroe had his hands full when the G forces were unbelievable
at about the 1,000 foot mark the car was estimated at over 250
mph when a 30 mph crosswind ended the high speed run with a
spectacular crash. Bob walked away with a few cuts and bruises
and a lot of respect for his steam powered car.