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AND I'M ADAM SAVAGE.
WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN YOU STRAP A ROCKET TO A '67 CHEVY.
OH, YEAH.
Narrator: COMING UP...
WE TURN A CHEVY INTO A 350-MILE-PER-HOUR ROAD WARRIOR.
THIS IS SO EXCITING.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO HAVE A "GRINECTOMY."
POP ROCKS AND SODA --
URBAN MYTH, OR RECIPE FOR DISASTER?
Adam: DUDE, YOUR STOMACH'S GONNA BURST.
HERE ON "MYTHBUSTERS,"
WE'RE NOT JUST GOING TO RETELL THE STORIES.
WE'RE GONNA PUT THEM TO THE TEST.
WE'RE PREPARED TO PUT OUR BODIES ON THE LINE.
THERE'S JUST ONE PROBLEM.
SOME AREN'T MYTHS AT ALL.
WHICH ONE WOULD THAT BE?
I DON'T KNOW YET.
SO WHY SHOULD YOU TRUST THESE GUYS?
WELL, JAMIE AND ADAM HAVE OVER 30 YEARS
IN MODEL-BUILDING, ANIMATRONICS, AND TOY PROTOTYPING.
THEY'VE WORKED IN FEATURES, TELEVISION, THEATER, AND GAMES.
THIS IS M5, MY SPECIAL-EFFECTS SHOP.
COME ON IN AND HAVE A LOOK AROUND.
Narrator: JAMIE'S AMASSED AN AWESOME COLLECTION
OF TOOLS, TALENT, AND TECHNIQUES.
IF WE CAN'T FIND IT HERE...
I'M TRYING TO LOCATE A PIG'S STOMACH.
Narrator: ...THERE'S ALWAYS ADAM'S ECLECTIC COLLECTION.
I COME FROM THE PLANET BUTTHEAD.
Narrator: AND IF THAT FAILS...
...THE GUYS ARE BACKED BY EXPERTS IN FOLKLORE,
CRIME, MEDICINE, AND ENGINEERING.
AH! OW! OW!
Narrator: JAMIE AND ADAM ARE SUPPOSED TO BE EXPERTS
IN WHAT'S REAL AND WHAT'S NOT.
AND THEY'LL NEED EVERY TRICK IN THE BOOK.
SO WHERE DO WE BEGIN? WHAT DO WE GOT?
LET'S GO.
THIS IS THE BIG ONE.
WHAT WE HAVE IS A 1967 CHEVY IMPALA
THAT WAS TAKEN OUT INTO THE DESERT,
AND SOMEBODY HAD PUT A ROCKET BOOSTER ON IT.
THEY FOUND OUT ABOUT IT
BECAUSE THERE WAS A SMOLDERING WRECKAGE
THAT THE HIGHWAY PATROL THERE FOUND.
WE PIECED TOGETHER A GENTLEMAN, OR AN INDIVIDUAL,
THAT HAD OUT A JATO, OR A ROCKET-ASSIST TAKEOFF UNIT,
ON AN OLDER-MODEL VEHICLE.
THE GUY APPARENTLY WAS AN AIR FORCE SERGEANT,
FORMER AIR FORCE SERGEANT.
HE MADE SURE HE HAD A LONG STRAIGHT ROAD,
AND THERE WAS NOTHING AROUND.
HE GOT UP TO HIGHWAY SPEED, ABOUT 80 MILES AND HOUR,
FIRED THE THINGS OFF.
THE CAR HAD ACCELERATED FROM, LIKE, 80 TO 300 MILES PER HOUR
IN A COUPLE OF SECONDS.
THERE WAS A CURVE IN THE ROAD -- A SLIGHT INCREASE OR UPGRADE --
AND A MOUNTAIN SHORTLY THEREAFTER.
SO HE APPLIES THE BRAKES, AND, OF COURSE, THE BRAKES BURN OUT.
THEY FOUND ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF OF SKID MARK.
HE DIDN'T MAKE THE TURN.
HE WENT AIRBORNE, AND HE CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN
APPROXIMATELY 100 OR SO FEET UP IN THE AIR.
DO WE HAVE ANY CORROBORATION OF THIS, OR ANY PHOTOS,
OR ANYBODY COME FORWARD?
WELL, THAT'S OUR JOB TO PURSUE THAT.
AND WE NEED TO GET A HOLD OF A '67 CHEVY
OR SOMETHING CLOSE -- AS CLOSE AS WE CAN TO IT.
AND NEED TO GET A HOLD OF A JATO
OR A RATO, OR, AGAIN, SOMETHING EQUIVALENT TO IT.
I FORESEE SOME WRECKAGE, ACTUALLY.
WELL...
PERSONALLY.
THERE'S SO MANY VARIABLES HERE IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW,
A CAR THAT'S GOT TO ACCELERATE EVEN TO 150 MILES AN HOUR
FOR A 35-YEAR-OLD CAR.
IT'LL LOOK REALLY COOL.
IT'LL LOOK REALLY COOL.
I MEAN, THAT'S GONNA BE BIG FLAMES SHOOTING OUT THE BACK.
IT'S GONNA BE GREAT.
I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING MORE FUN THAN DOING THIS.
YOU KNOW WHAT? I REALLY CAN'T.
I FIRST HEARD ABOUT THE STORY APPROXIMATELY 1994,
WHEN MY JOB WAS SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM A LOCAL REPORTER
ASKING ABOUT A DARWIN AWARD THAT WAS ON THE INTERNET.
THE WAY THE STORY READ
WAS THAT THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
OR THE HIGHWAY PATROL
WAS THE ONES THAT DID THE INVESTIGATION ON IT.
I THOUGHT IT WAS A VERY REAL POSSIBILITY
THAT IT COULD'VE HAPPENED,
BECAUSE ARIZONA IS HOME TO SEVERAL AIR BASES.
THUS, A MILITARY PERSONNEL COULD HAVE GOTTEN AHOLD
OF A JATO UNIT TO USE IN THIS FASHION.
Narrator: JATO, OR JET-ASSISTED TAKEOFF,
HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE THE SECOND WORLD WAR.
WE SHOULD CALL THEM RATOs
BECAUSE EACH CANISTER IS FILLED WITH SOLID ROCKET PROPELLANT.
A SINGLE UNIT PUTS OUT 1,000 POUNDS OF THRUST
FOR 12 TO 15 SECONDS.
UP TO EIGHT JATOs ARE USED
WHEN LARGE MILITARY AIRCRAFT ARE OPERATING WITH HEAVY LOADS
OR FROM SHORT RUNWAYS.
DO WE THINK THE MILITARY'S
JUST GONNA HAND OVER ONE OF THESE JATO BOTTLES?
WHAT WE DO IF THEY DON'T ACTUALLY LET US HAVE ONE?
WELL, I KIND OF DOUBT THAT THEY WILL.
THIS IS NOT THE KIND OF THING THAT YOU WOULD WANT
TO LET THE GENERAL PUBLIC HAVE ACCESS TO.
[ BEEPING ]
Woman: Air Force public affairs.
I'm not at my desk right now, so leave a message.
WE'D LOVE TO HAVE THE MILITARY THERE AND INVOLVED.
WE WOULD LIKE THE ASSISTANCE OF THE BLUE ANGELS.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET AHOLD OF
AND GET THE MILITARY'S ASSISTANCE
WITH OPERATING ONE OF THESE RATOs OR JATOs.
JUST SO IT'S CLEAR WE'RE NOT TRYING TO GET --
JUST GET A HOLD OF ONE OF THESE THINGS
AND DO WHATEVER WE WANT WITH IT.
WE WANT YOU INVOLVED.
Okay.
WELL, WE ACTUALLY GOT TO TALK TO SOMEBODY.
SHE SAID, "THEY'RE VERY EXPENSIVE UNITS,
"AND THAT I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S GOING TO BE POSSIBLE.
THIS IS AN UNUSUAL REQUEST."
[ CHUCKLES ]
MOST GOOD URBAN LEGENDS HAVE GOOD DETAILS --
NAMES, PLACES, DATES.
IN THIS CASE,
OFTEN IT'S A CHEVY IMPALA THAT THE MAN WAS DRIVING.
SO WE NEED TO FIND A '67 CHEVY.
I WONDER WHERE WE'RE GONNA DO THAT.
WELL, I PICKED THIS UP AT A FLEA MARKET, ACTUALLY.
THIS HERE IS A '67 CHEVY IMPALA.
THAT'S OUR GOAL.
HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO FIND A JUNKER,
SOMETHING WITH A CRAPPY BODY.
ALL WE NEED IS FOR IT TO RUN.
[ HORNS HONKING ]
WE LIVE IN AMERICA WHERE
UNLESS YOU'RE IN NEW YORK OR A PLACE THAT HAS A SUBWAY,
YOU MUST HAVE A CAR TO SURVIVE.
[ HORNS HONKING ]
NOT AN IMPALA -- WE GOT A PONTIAC.
AND IT RUNS? THE PONTIAC RUNS?
NOT AT THE MOMENT.
IT JUST NEEDED THE TRANSMISSION ON.
OH.
YEAH, YOU KNOW.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
AND A CAR NOT ONLY IS ABOUT SURVIVAL,
BUT IT'S ALSO A SYMBOL OF ADOLESCENT FREEDOM.
WHEN YOU GET A CAR, YOU CAN LEAVE THE NEST.
[ HORNS HONKING ]
WE'RE GONNA BE PUTTING SOME ROCKETS ON TOP OF THE CAR
AND SENDING IT --
OH, LIKE THE GUY IN THE DESERT, THE OLD URBAN LEGEND.
IT'S A '72 IMPALA OR '69 IMPALA YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE.
WE'LL TAKE ANYTHING THAT LOOKS LIKE --
I MEAN, A FALCON WITHIN A COUPLE OF YEARS.
SOMETHING OF THAT VINTAGE AS LONG AS IT RUNS.
DON'T CARE ABOUT --
T-BIRD, THUNDERBIRD?
WELL, GOT TO BE CHEAP.
WELL, $750.
THAT'S VERY PLAUSIBLE.
[ HORNS HONKING ]
IT'S ALSO A SYMBOL OF SEX.
THIS IS WHERE A YOUNG MAN CAN HAVE
HIS FIRST *** EXPERIENCES, IN THIS CAR.
[ LAUGHTER ]
OH, YEAH.
THAT'S THE [BLEEP]. WE'RE DONE.
IT'LL BE KIND OF A SHAME TO DESTROY IT.
WE DON'T HAVE TO DESTROY IT.
OH, THAT'S SO BEAUTIFUL.
OH, MY GOD, I'M LOVING THIS.
LOOK AT THAT. WOW.
IT'S AUTOMATIC WINDOWS.
OH, YEAH.
IS THAT YOUR PREMISE, THOUGH, TO DO THAT URBAN LEGEND?
YOU SHOULD GET A CHEVY
'CAUSE I ALWAYS HEARD THE STORY WITH A CHEVY.
I ALWAYS UNDERSTAND IT BEING A '69 TO '72 IMPALA.
Jamie: OKAY.
Announcer: CHEVROLET -- THE BEAUTIFUL SHAPE FOR 1965.
Narrator: THE CHEVY IMPALA IS AN IDEAL CANDIDATE
FOR URBAN-LEGEND STATUS.
IT WAS FIRST INTRODUCED IN 1958.
FROM THE START, IT WAS A PRESTIGE CAR
WITHIN THE REACH OF THE AVERAGE AMERICAN.
Announcer: A COMPLETELY NEW LOOK TIME CANNOT WASH AWAY.
Narrator: BY THE END OF THE MILLENNIUM,
SALES EXCEEDED 13 MILLION,
MAKING THE CHEVY IMPALA THE MOST POPULAR FULL-SIZED CAR
IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
Announcer: SEE THE BEAUTIFUL SHAPES
OF CHEVROLET FOR 1965 AT YOUR CHEVROLET DEALERS NOW.
WE NEED IT TO RUN.
THIS ONE MAY RUN. IT'S GOT A BUM MOTOR IN IT.
YOU'RE GONNA PUT ROCKETS ON IT. IT'LL GO.
WE'RE GONNA DESTROY THE CAR.
OF COURSE YOU ARE. THAT'S HALF THE FUN.
THANK YOU ANYWAY.
Narrator: DESPITE ITS POPULARITY,
THE IMPALA IS PROVING AS HARD TO PROCURE
AS A JATO ROCKET.
[ DIALING ]
WE CALLED YOU LAST WEEK CONCERNING PROCURING A JATO.
PROCURING A JATO OR A RATO.
SO FAR, WE'VE HAD VERY LITTLE LUCK
WITH GETTING ANYBODY TO RETURN OUR CALLS.
I'M SERGEANT BOB STEIN
WITH THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY,
AND YOU'RE WATCHING "MYTHBUSTERS."
[ HORNS HONKING ]
Narrator: JAMIE AND ADAM ARE FOLLOWING A PROMISING, NEW LEAD
ON THAT '67 CHEVY.
WELL, WE'RE GONNA STRAP SOME ROCKETS TO ITS BACK END.
YOU KNOW THAT THING WHERE THEY TOOK IT OUT IN THE DESERT?
I GOT THE PERFECT CAR FOR YOU.
YOU GOT IT.
Narrator: IT'S A '67, ALL RIGHT,
BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, AN OLDSMOBILE.
HEAVY.
Narrator: SO FAR, WE HAVEN'T SEEN A SINGLE '60s IMPALA.
Jamie: WE WERE LOOKING AT A T-BIRD
THAT THEY HAD FOR $750.
IT WAS PRETTY NICE.
Narrator: ADAM'S BEAUTIFUL T-BIRD's ALREADY BEEN SOLD.
Jamie: '67.
[ TIRES SCREECHING ]
THIS IS YOUR CAR IF YOU WANT A CAR TO PUT A ROCKET ON.
SHE'S FAST.
Narrator: JUST AS WE'VE GIVEN UP HOPE
OF FINDING OUR CAR IN TIME...
[ HORNS HONKING ]
IT'S OFFICIALLY AN IMPALA.
WOULD IT BE ALL RIGHT IF I DRIVE IT AROUND THE BLOCK?
OH, YEAH.
OH, WHOA!
OH, WATCH THIS CAR.
I GOT IT, LADY.
Narrator: IT'S A WORKING... '66...CHEVY IMPALA
WITH SOME DECIDEDLY NONSTANDARD FEATURES.
[ BOTH LAUGHING ]
THIS IS, WITHOUT A DOUBT, OUR CAR.
IT'S DESTINY.
I THINK THE HYDRAULIC ASPECT OF IT
IS JUST HYSTERICAL, YOU KNOW?
THIS THING -- WE GET A COUPLE -- GET THE ROCKET,
MOUNT IT RIGHT UP HERE.
I MEAN, THIS IS NICE AND STURDY.
WE'RE GONNA MOUNT IT ON TOP?
THAT'S WHAT THE LEGEND SHOWS.
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
WE ARE 8.5 MILES FROM WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR.
Narrator: IT'S 100 DEGREES.
WE'RE THREE HOURS FROM THE SHOP,
AND, THANKS TO A BLOCKED FUEL FILTER,
OUR ROCKET CAR IS DOING EXACTLY ZERO MILES PER HOUR.
THANK GOODNESS ADAM'S GOT THE GOLD BREAKDOWN PACKAGE.
SO THE AIR FORCE APPARENTLY CALLED US BACK
AND TURNED US DOWN ON THE JATO ROCKET?
PERMISSION DENIED.
DID THEY CALL US BACK AGAIN
JUST TO DENY PERMISSION AGAIN WITHOUT BEING ASKED?
TWICE.
SO WE GOT THESE THINGS.
HOW ARE WE GONNA -- THESE ARE THE HOBBY ROCKETS.
THIS IS LIKE AN EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE TUBES.
HOW ARE WE GONNA FIRE THESE OFF?
WELL, THESE ARE ACTUALLY MORE POWERFUL THAN THE JATOs.
THE ONES THAT, YOU KNOW --
BUT THEY'RE SMALLER. HOW'S THAT POSSIBLE?
WELL, WE'RE GONNA USE MORE OF THEM.
WHILE THEY'RE RUNNING, THEY PUT OUT 1,500 POUNDS OF THRUST
AS OPPOSED TO 1,000 POUNDS.
BUT THEY ONLY LAST FOR FOUR SECONDS.
WE'RE GONNA GET SEVERAL OF THEM
AND WE'LL SET THEM OFF SUCCESSIVELY.
SO WE'RE GONNA PUT THREE OF THEM ON,
AND WE'LL PROBABLY PUT THEM ON THE CAR, LIKE THIS.
WE HAVE A QUALIFIED OPERATOR
THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LICENSE --
A FEDERAL LICENSE --
TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE THESE THINGS AND OPERATE THEM.
I WOULD HOPE SO.
YEAH, AND SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE THOSE GUYS SET THEM OFF.
SO THAT'S WHAT IT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE.
YEAH, THAT'S ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.
WE'LL HAVE TO REINFORCE IT AND EVERYTHING.
Narrator: THAT'S ALL FINE IN THEORY,
BUT IT'S AN AWFUL LOT OF POWER TO PUT ON THE ROOF OF A JUNKER.
ONE POUND OF THRUST IS TWO HORSEPOWER.
SO ONE OF THOSE ROCKET MOTORS
AT 1,500 POUNDS OF THRUST IS 3,000 HORSEPOWER.
YEAH.
THAT'LL MAKE OUR CHEVY ALMOST FOUR TIMES AS POWERFUL
AS AN INDY CAR.
THINK OF PUTTING ANOTHER CAR ON TOP OF THIS CAR.
IT'S THAT KIND OF WEIGHT THAT'S UP THERE.
SO WE WANT TO PROBABLY BUILD SOME KIND OF STEEL CAGE
WITHIN THE CAR'S BODY TO SUPPORT THIS.
YEAH, WE NEED TO HAVE A --
WE DON'T JUST WANT TO TRY AND STRAP IT TO THE ROOF.
YEAH, THAT WOULD BE A BAD IDEA.
IT COULD PROBABLY RIP THE ROOF RIGHT OFF THE CAR.
Man: OH, WE HAVE FIRE.
OH, HOW ABOUT THAT? THERE.
[ LAUGHS ]
ADAM, YOU'RE GONNA GET SICK.
I BELIEVE I'M ALREADY SICK.
[BLEEP] GIVE ME THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER.
WHAT THE [BLEEP]
THIS TIME IT'S NO JOKE.
THE FIRE'S BURNING THROUGH THE HYDRAULIC LINES.
[BLEEP].
THAT'S SAWDUST WITH THE HYDRAULIC FLUIDS --
A NICE, LITTLE KIND OF WICKY THING.
YEAH. [ LAUGHS ]
Adam: I WAS THINKING
THAT WE WOULD DRILL UP THROUGH HERE
AND BOLT THE TOP FRAME ON HERE.
Narrator: WITH THIS DESIGN, THE WHOLE ROOF STRUCTURE
BECOMES PART OF THE ROCKET RACK.
WELL, IT'S A START.
1, 2, 3, LET'S JUMP TOGETHER.
Narrator: THESE TUBES
WILL HOLD THE HOBBY ROCKET MOTORS FIRMLY IN PLACE.
FINS FOR THE ROCKET.
NOW IT TURNS OUT, BESIDES THIS LEGEND,
OTHER PEOPLE HAVE STRAPPED ROCKETS TO CARS BEFORE,
HAVEN'T THEY?
YEAH, THERE ARE WORLD SPEED RECORDS
THAT HAVE OCCURRED BY USING THIS.
Narrator: IN 1965,
WALT ARFONS BUILT THE FIRST ROCKET-POWERED LAND-SPEED CAR.
WINGFOOT EXPRESS II WAS INITIALLY DESIGNED
WITH 10 JATO UNITS.
BUT THAT WASN'T NEARLY ENOUGH.
TWENTY-FIVE ROCKETS EVENTUALLY BLASTED THE CAR
TO AN UNOFFICIAL TOP SPEED OF 605 MILES PER HOUR.
OF COURSE YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THOSE ARE UNUSUAL CARS.
THEY'RE USUALLY VERY LONG AND --
THEY'RE BASICALLY LIKE ROCKETS WITH WHEELS.
SO THIS ALSO BEGS THE QUESTION,
WHERE DO WE FIRE THIS CAR OFF?
THERE ARE SOME LAKES, DRY LAKE BEDS
TO THE SOUTH OF HERE TOWARD L.A.
SO WE'LL PROBABLY TRY ONE OF THOSE FIRST,
TO SEE WHETHER WE CAN GET ACCESS TO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
JAMIE'S HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT GETTING BEHIND THE WHEEL.
IF THIS BEHAVES LIKE THE LEGEND SAYS,
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A 3,000- TO 4,000-POUND PROJECTILE
OUT THERE.
AND I GUESS THE OTHER THING THAT I THOUGHT,
WITH THAT IN MIND, IF WE DO LOSE CONTROL OF IT,
OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T WANT TO BE IN THE CAR.
SO WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA --
YOU DON'T WANT TO BE IN THE CAR?
I WOULD LOVE TO BE IN THE CAR, BUT --
I THINK YOU SHOULD DRIVE THE CAR.
WELL, I THINK I SHOULD, TOO,
BUT WE'VE RADIO-CONTROLLED CARS BEFORE,
AND IT'S A LOT OF FUN, SO --
OH, SO WE'LL MAKE IT RADIO CONTROLLED.
I THINK THAT'S THE SAFEST WAY OF DEALING WITH IT.
OH, THAT'S THE COOLEST TOY EVER.
YEAH, THIS IS A BIG KID'S R.C. CAR.
YOU KNOW HOW TO DO IT?
IT'S NOT QUITE AS SIMPLE AS A RADIO-CONTROLLED TOY.
AT 300 MILES PER HOUR,
THE FORCES ON THE STEERING SERVOS WILL BE IMMENSE.
SERVOS ARE MOTORS THAT ARE POSITIONABLE
SO WE CAN PRECISELY CONTROL THE STEERING ON THIS.
WE NEED TO HAVE SOMETHING PRETTY GOOD
BECAUSE IF IT'S GOING THAT FAST,
WE NEED TO REALLY BE ABLE TO DIAL IN ON THE AIM,
OR IT MAY GO OUT OF CONTROL.
THE TRANSMITTER ALSO HAS DANGEROUS LIMITATIONS.
ONE OF THE THINGS IS THAT THESE RADIO CONTROLS
ARE ONLY GOOD FOR 1,000 METERS OR SO, PLUS OR MINUS.
ABOUT HALF A MILE.
IF THIS THING IS GOING 300 MILES AN HOUR,
IT'S GONNA GET OUT OF RANGE FROM US REAL QUICK,
EVEN IF WE'RE DRIVING ALONGSIDE.
SO WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA HAVE TO THINK OF WAYS
OF EITHER GETTING A REALLY -- GONNA HAVE TO GO OUT AND RENT
A REALLY, REALLY FAST CAR,
OR WE'LL HAVE TO GET A HELICOPTER.
PROBABLY BE THE SAFEST WAY OF DEALING WITH IT.
I'M GONNA TRY AND START IT.
ALL RIGHT.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
YEAH!
JAMIE'S GONNA NEED EVERY BIT OF CONTROL
WHEN HE HITS TOP SPEED.
A 350-MILES-AN-HOUR CHEVROLET IMPALA --
ALL THE WINDOWS WOULD POP OUT OF IT, AND THE ROOF WILL PULL OFF.
Narrator: ANDY GRANATELLI KNOWS ALL ABOUT SPEED.
HE HOLDS 21 HALL-OF-FAME RECORDS.
MANY WERE SET IN CONVENTIONAL VEHICLES.
HE CLAIMS THE TOP SPEED FOR A STREET MACHINE --
AN AWESOME 241 MILES PER HOUR.
AT THIS VELOCITY,
WIND RESISTANCE IS THE BIGGEST ENEMY.
THE CAR WOULD BECOME AIRBORNE.
AT A LITTLE OVER 200 MILES AN HOUR, THE CAR WOULD --
RAISE THE FRONT OF IT AND FLIP OVER.
'CAUSE THE AIR WOULD GET UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF THE CAR.
YEE-HAW!
Narrator: JAMIE PLANS TO USE THE CHEVY'S HYDRAULICS
TO COMBAT THOSE FORCES.
LOWERING THE HOOD
SHOULD GIVE CONSIDERABLE AERODYNAMIC EFFICIENCY.
IT WILL ALSO HELP WITH WHAT HE'S BEEN TOLD
IS THE MOST VITAL FACTOR.
Jamie: THE MOST DIFFICULT THING ABOUT THIS WHOLE DEAL
IS PROBABLY GETTING THIS STRAIGHT ON THE CAR.
THERE'S NO REAL TRUE CENTER LINE
THAT WE KNOW IS ACTUALLY THE DIRECTION
THE CAR IS GONNA GO.
WE HAVE...
ACCORDING TO THE EXPERTS, A 60-DEGREE MISALIGNMENT
IS GONNA PUT ABOUT 100 TO 150 POUNDS OF PUSH
ON THE TAIL OF THE CAR.
YEAH, COME OVER THAT WAY.
Adam: WHOA!
AAH!
AAH!
I'M OKAY.
I'M ALL RIGHT. I'M ALL RIGHT.
I'M JUST FINE.
NOTHING'S BROKEN. NOTHING'S HURT.
UNH!
THAT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A SHOCK.
I JUST HAD A MASSIVE RELEASE OF ADRENALINE.
OKAY, SO...
Adam: I AM MY OWN STUNT DOUBLE.
THAT WAY.
ALL RIGHT.
YEAH, THAT'S AS GOOD AS ANYTHING,
SO THAT'S RIGHT ABOUT 86.
AND...
THAT'S RIGHT ABOUT 86.
BEAUTIFUL!
LET'S PACK THIS PUPPY DOWN.
I CAN'T WAIT TO SET THIS THING OFF.
I'M GONNA BE IN A HELICOPTER --
AND I'VE NEVER RIDDEN A HELICOPTER BEFORE --
RADIO-CONTROLLING A 3,000-HORSEPOWER
ROCKET-DRIVEN, RADIO-CONTROLLED CAR.
WHAT COULD BE BETTER?
YOU COULD JUST KILL YOURSELF WHEN YOU WERE DONE,
'CAUSE IT AIN'T GONNA GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT.
IT'S ALL GOING DOWNHILL FROM THERE.
HI. I'M ANDY GRANATELLI,
AND YOU'RE WATCHING "MYTHBUSTERS."
AND SO THE FUN BEGINS.
IT'S SUCH A TREAT TO SEE THE SUN RISE OVER THE DESERT.
WHAT AM I SAYING?
IT'S A TREAT TO FIRE OFF A ROCKET CAR IN THE DESERT.
YEE-HAW!
Narrator: FINALLY, ALL THE PIECES ARE COMING TOGETHER
ON THE LAKE BED.
WITH A BIT OF LUCK,
WE'LL SOON KNOW IF THE JATO ROCKET MYTH
IS INDEED POSSIBLE.
I'M JUST SETTING THE FAIL SAFE ON THIS.
THESE RADIOS ACTUALLY LEAVE AN INSTRUCTION WITH THE RECEIVER
TO RETURN TO A CERTAIN POSITION
IF THEY SHOULD LOSE COMMUNICATION.
Narrator: JAMIE WILL BE JOINED IN THE CHOPPER
BY ERIK GATES.
HE AND HIS BROTHER, DIRK, HAVE OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE
IN AMATEUR ROCKETRY.
THEY PLAN TO FIRE THE MOTORS BY REMOTE CONTROL.
GO, 1, 2, 3, 4.
1, 2, 3, 4.
Adam: JAMIE'S GONNA DO A DRY RUN IN THE CAR.
THE ROCKET GUYS I THINK ARE GONNA DO A TEST FIRE
SO ALL SYSTEMS ARE GOOD.
I EXPECT IT'S PROBABLY ABOUT AN HOUR OR TWO
TO ACTUAL FIRING.
[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]
Narrator: THE REMOTE CONTROL AND FAIL SAFE
ARE WORKING PERFECTLY.
EVERYTHING WENT FINE ON THAT DRY RUN.
WE GOT ALL THREE... TO FIRE IN SEQUENCE.
IT WAS A PERFECT RUN.
WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT AT ALL HAPPY.
THE REASON BEING THAT
UNLESS SOMETHING GOES WRONG ON THE FIRST TEST,
IT MAKES ME NERVOUS
[CHUCKLES]
BECAUSE THAT MEANS SOMETHING'S GONNA GO WRONG LATER.
HOW ARE YOU DOING? ADAM SAVAGE.
Narrator: IF THIS NEW VISITOR IS RIGHT,
JAMIE MAY JUST GET HIS WISH.
Callaway: I LOOK AT IT,
AND THE MOUNT'S NOT STRONG ENOUGH, NUMBER ONE.
THE MOUNT'S NOT STRAIGHT, EITHER.
WE WARNED THEM ABOUT STRAIGHTENING THE MOUNT.
IT'S GOT TO BE DEAD STRAIGHT,
OR IT'LL STEER THE CAR THE WHOLE TIME.
Narrator: GEORGE SHOULD KNOW.
NOT ONLY DID HE WORK ON THE APOLLO PROGRAM,
HE'S CONDUCTED NUMEROUS SPEED TRIALS OUT HERE.
EIGHT POINTS WELDED INTO THE FRONT OF THE CAR.
I HOPE IT WORKS,
'CAUSE I DON'T WANT YOU TO DIG UP MY LAKE BED.
Narrator: NOT EXACTLY COMFORTING WORDS
FOR OUR FINAL BRIEFING.
THE HELICOPTER'S GONNA DO A PASS AROUND,
JUST LIKE WE DID THE LAST TIME.
ABOUT THE TIME THAT IT PASSES IN FRONT OF THE CAR,
I RELEASE THE BRAKES,
AND THE CAR IS GONNA START TO ROLL.
LIKE THE MYTH,
OUR PLAN IS TO GET THE CAR UP TO 80 MILES PER HOUR
BEFORE FIRING THE ROCKETS.
WHEN THE MOTORS GO,
THEY'RE GONNA HAVE A TENDENCY TO SCARE YOU.
SO WHEN YOU'RE HEARING THE 3, 2, 1, BRACE YOURSELF.
DON'T VEER.
IT'S GONNA GET A 15-FOOT FLAME OUT THE BACK.
YEP.
Man: IS THAT -- WHEN THE ROCKET FIRES,
IS IT GONNA CAUSE THE...?
WE DON'T KNOW. WE DON'T KNOW.
THE CAR MIGHT END OVER END, WHATEVER.
YOU WANT TO BE FAR ENOUGH WAY THAT YOU HAVE,
YOU KNOW, SEVERAL SECONDS.
AND IF YOU DO --
A GENERAL RULE OF THUMB WITH THAT KIND OF THING,
IF YOU DO SEE SOMETHING COMING AT YOU,
GO OFF AT RIGHT ANGLES TO IT.
DON'T TRY TO OUTRUN IT.
Narrator: THE CREW ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES
WHO'LL BE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THE ROCKET CAR.
IT SEEMS TO HAVE ATTRACTED THE INTEREST
OF SECURITY AT NEARBY EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE.
LET'S HAVE A GOOD BURN, MAN.
GET YOUR GAME FACE ON.
Man: GOOD LUCK.
THIS IS SO EXCITING.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO HAVE A "GRINECTOMY."
Adam: GREEN LIGHT TO GO.
THEY'RE STARTING THEIR CIRCLE NOW.
BRAKES ARE COMING OFF.
WE ARE GO.
Man: NOTHING'S HAPPENING.
WE ABORTING?
WE'RE ABORTING. WE ARE ABORTING.
WE ARE ABORTING.
LET'S ABORT THE WHOLE THING.
OKAY, HELICOPTER'S COMING IN.
DOESN'T IT GO THROUGH THE INSIDE?
Narrator: LOOKS LIKE THE CAR'S OLD GREMLINS
ARE BACK TO HAUNT US.
WITH ALL THE FOCUS ON HORSEPOWER AND THRUST CURVES,
WE NEVER DID FIX THAT FUEL PROBLEM.
Jamie: THE PROBLEM IS THAT THIS IS AN OLDER CAR,
AND WE'VE BEEN STIRRING UP SEDIMENT
IN THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK,
AND IT'S GOTTEN INTO THE FUEL FILTER
AND CLOGGED THE FUEL FILTER.
ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS PULL THE FILTER OUT
AND FLUSH IT OUT ONCE IN A WHILE.
WE SHOULD GET A GOOD RUN HERE SOON.
THAT SORT OF ANSWERS MY NEED FOR A SMALL FAILURE.
I'LL ACCEPT THAT ONE AS A SMALL FAILURE.
Man: LOUD AND CLEAR -- WE HAVE A GREEN LIGHT TO GO.
GREEN LIGHT TO GO?
CAR'S STARTING TO ROLL.
OKAY, WE'RE IN LINE.
OKAY. COMING ON A FULL THROTTLE.
I'M COMING OUT WITH THE ELECTRONICS.
ALL RIGHT.
OKAY, GOOD LUCK.
GO AHEAD AND SET THEM OFF.
OKAY, HELICOPTER'S AT SPEED.
FIRING IN 3, 2, 1, FIRE.
3, 2, 1, FIRING.
3, 2, 1, FIRING.
WE GOT THEM ALL.
Narrator: IT'S BEEN A LONG ROAD, BUT FINALLY WE HAVE LIFTOFF.
THREE ROCKETS, FOUR SECONDS,
AND 1,500 POUNDS OF THRUST APIECE.
THAT'S 3,000 HORSEPOWER FOR 12 SECONDS,
JUST LIKE A JATO.
THAT WAS HYSTERICAL.
THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS.
WHAT KIND OF SPEED YOU THINK IT GOT TO?
I DON'T KNOW.
THE HELICOPTER WAS HAVING TROUBLE KEEPING UP WITH IT.
Narrator: THE CHOPPER'S TOP SPEED IS 130 PER HOUR.
HEY!
YEAH!
THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL.
WE LOST TRACK OF IT.
WE COULDN'T KEEP UP WITH IT WITH THE HELICOPTER.
ONCE THOSE THINGS, THOSE SUCKERS LIT,
IT JUST LIKE...
IT'S ONE THING TO SEE THEM GO UP.
IT'S ANOTHER THING TO SEE THEM GO HORIZONTAL.
JUST THE DUST TRAIL FROM THE CAR --
IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL.
IT WAS LIKE...
I WAS QUITE IMPRESSED.
I WAS HOPING IT WOULD GO GOOD, AND IT DID.
YOU KNOW, A LITTLE APPREHENSIVE, BUT NOW NO.
JAMIE DID HIS HOMEWORK.
Narrator: OVER THE YEARS,
MANY HAVE CLAIMED THEY WERE THE INSPIRATION FOR THIS STORY.
FOR THOSE WHO REALLY TRIED IT, THE RESULTS WERE THE SAME.
IN 1957, DODGE WAS FILMING AN AD ON THIS SAME LAKE.
THEY REPLACED THE GAS TANK WITH A SINGLE JATO BOTTLE.
THE CAR TOPPED OUT AT 140 MILES PER HOUR.
SO, JAMIE, GIVEN THE STRUCTURE OF THE ORIGINAL MYTH,
THAT THE GUY IGNITED THE ROCKET,
ACCELERATED TO, LIKE, 350 MILES PER HOUR SUPPOSEDLY,
HIT THE EDGE OF A CURVE OF THE ROAD
AND WAS AIRBORNE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS
BEFORE HITTING THE SIDE OF A CLIFF,
DO YOU THINK IT'S POSSIBLE?
DIDN'T HAPPEN.
THEY'D HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST
AROUND FOUR TIMES THE POWER THAT WE DID.
BACK IN '46,
ANDY GRANATELLI AND HIS BROTHERS DID JUST THAT.
THEY PUT EIGHT JATOs ON AN INDY RACER.
THE EXPLOSION WAS HORRENDOUS.
AND THE THRUST WAS SUCH THAT YOU COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
WE LOOKED AT EACH OTHER AS IF WE WERE GOING TO THE MOON.
THE ROCKET LEFT, NOT A LITTLE FIZZLE LIKE THIS,
BUT FOR 300 FEET LONG, FOR WIDER THAN THE ROAD,
AND HIGHER THAN THE TELEPHONE WIRES, A TAIL OF FIRE.
AND THE CAR ACCELERATED UP TO APPROXIMATELY 180 MILES AN HOUR.
AND BELIEVE ME, I MEAN, IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE.
Narrator: ANDY'S ANTICS MAY WELL BE THE ORIGIN
OF THE JATO MYTH.
ONE THING'S FOR SURE.
WE CAN ALL QUIT CALLING
THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
THERE NEVER WAS A CRASH SITE FOUND IN ARIZONA --
NOTHING EVEN VAGUELY FAMILIAR.
ON OCCASION, WE STILL GET PEOPLE INQUIRING ABOUT IT.
AND WE POSTED IT ON OUR WEBSITE, STATING THAT IT IS A MYTH.
THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN, THOUGH.
YEAH, IT WAS GREAT.
JUST THOSE FEW SECONDS BEING IN THAT CHOPPER,
TRAILING BEHIND THE CARS, SEEING THOSE THINGS SET OFF --
IT WAS INDESCRIBABLE.
JUST SEEING THAT CAR KIND OF GO.
I MEAN, IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.
IT WAS GORGEOUS.
Narrator: COMING UP NEXT...
POP ROCKS AND SODA -- MYTH OR RECIPE FOR DISASTER?
I'M JAMIE HYNEMAN.
YOU'RE WATCHING "MYTHBUSTERS."
[ LAUGHS ] I HOPE HE CUT THAT OUT.
SO DO YOU REMEMBER POP ROCKS?
YEAH, THEY WERE INVENTED IN 1956,
THE YEAR OF MY BIRTH.
YES.
THE LEGEND WE'RE APPROACHING NOW
IS THE LEGEND THAT LITTLE MIKEY
FROM THE "LIFE" CEREAL COMMERCIAL.
I REMEMBER IT SO CLEARLY.
THE KID GOES, "LET'S GET MIKEY TO TRY IT.
HE WON'T EAT IT. HE HATES EVERYTHING."
WHATEVER MIKEY COULD EAT, EVERYONE COULD EAT.
THAT WAS THE IDEA.
ANYWAY, MIKEY, AT ONE POINT, BECOMES A TEENAGER.
HE ATE SIX CAN OF SODA AND SIX POUCHES OF POP ROCKS.
AND THIS HAS SOME KIND OF CHEMICAL REACTION
IN HIS STOMACH.
AND EXPLODES AND HE DIES.
SO THE MYTH IS
THAT A COMBINATION OF SIX PACKS OF POP ROCKS
AND A SIX-PACK OF SODA
IS A LETHAL COMBINATION OF GASES
THAT WILL MAKE YOUR STOMACH EXPLODE.
WE'D LIKE TO DETERMINE A COUPLE OF THINGS.
WE WANT TO SEE HOW MUCH PRESSURE IS GENERATED
BY A RAPID INFUSION
OF SIX PACKS OF POP ROCKS AND SODA.
[ CRACKLING ]
WE'D LIKE TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH PRESSURE
A STOMACH CAN WITHSTAND.
I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS,
AND I THINK TO IMITATE A STOMACH,
THE PRESSURES OF A STOMACH,
THAT THE BEST COURSE IS TO USE A PIG'S STOMACH,
WHICH IS ACTUALLY
PHYSICALLY VERY CLOSE TO A HUMAN STOMACH,
WHICH CAN HOLD ABOUT
BETWEEN ONE AND TWO PINTS, GENERALLY, OF LIQUID.
I'M TRYING TO LOCATE A PIG'S STOMACH.
A PIG'S STOMACH.
Woman: Mm-hmm.
UM...
WOULD THIS -- SHOULD WE CONTINUE FURTHER?
[ Laughs ]
IS IT ABOUT THE SIZE OF A HUMAN STOMACH?
Man: I really couldn't tell you.
[ Laughs ]
HOW LARGE IS IT?
OBVIOUSLY IT'S DEFLATED, RIGHT?
WHAT?
Like a swimming cap.
LIKE A SWIMMING CAP.
A VERY, VERY MEATY SWIMMING CAP.
ORIGINALLY, THE IDEA WAS TO CREATE
AN INSTANT CARBONATED SODA BY GENERAL FOODS.
CAN I TRY SOME?
YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
THEY DISCOVERED ACTUALLY THAT WHEN YOU ATE THOSE NUGGETS,
THERE WAS LIKE A SIZZLE, OR A POPPING SENSATION
IN YOUR MOUTH.
I'LL TELL YOU IT'S BEEN 25 YEARS,
BUT I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS GONNA FEEL LIKE.
HAVE YOU EVER HAD THEM BEFORE?
ALL RIGHT.
AND IN 1975,
THEY DECIDED TO LAUNCH POP ROCKS AS WE ALL KNOW POP ROCKS.
MM-HMM.
MM-HMM.
IT'S KIND OF GROSS.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NORMAL CANDY
OR NORMAL STANDARD HARD CANDY AND POP ROCKS
IS THAT WHEN THE CANDY ACTUALLY IS STILL, LIKE, MELTED,
YOU PUT CARBON DIOXIDE UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS
OR PRESSURES THAT I BELIEVE IS 600 PSI.
[ CRACKLING ]
Narrator: THIS ISN'T GETTING US ANY CLOSER
TO THAT PIG STOMACH.
DOES IT HAVE, LIKE, THE ESOPHAGUS
AND THE INTESTINES ATTACHED AT ALL?
No, no, no, no, no. Just the stomach.
I NEED ALL THE TUBES ATTACHED TO IT.
WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO GET IT WITH AS MUCH
OF THE ATTACHMENTS TO IT, AS POSSIBLE?
No, no.
Narrator: IT TURNS OUT
THAT THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION
HAS LISTED THE ESOPHAGUS AND BOWEL
AS HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES.
Adam: 580 TO 5 SOUTH.
IT LOOKS LIKE THAT SAYS 580 IS GOING.
I THINK WE SHOULD JUST GET A REAL PIG AND FEED HIM.
THAT'D BE KIND OF FUN TO WATCH ONE
AND SEE WHAT A PIG DOES WHEN YOU FEED HIM A BUNCH OF THOSE.
Adam: SEE, AGAIN,
THERE GOES YOUR LACK OF POLITICAL UNDERSTANDING.
YOU CAN RAISE SO MUCH HELL WITH THAT.
Jamie: IT'S BETTER TO KILL THE PIG FIRST AND THEN GIVE IT TO HIM?
ABSOLUTELY.
PEOPLE ARE MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT ARRANGEMENT.
ALL RIGHT, HERE WE ARE.
FOUR STOMACHS.
TERRIFIC.
THAT'S THEM.
THE SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS ON THE THING,
COMPLETE WITH ESOPHAGUS AND INTESTINES.
IT'S ACTUALLY BECOMING A REALITY.
Narrator: THAT'S ONE IMPORTANT MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
Jamie: YUMMY.
THAT LOOKS LIKE RIGHT OUT OF ALIENS, DOESN'T IT?
LOOKS LIKE I CAN FEEL -- ALL RIGHT.
YEAH, I'VE GOT MY FINGER ALL THE WAY DOWN IN THERE.
SO, THAT'S -- I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE'S --
WHICH ONE'S THE INTAKE AND WHICH ONE'S THE OUTPUT.
THE WORST PART IS THE BREATH COMING OUT OF HERE.
[ LAUGHTER ]
CAN I HAVE A DOUGHNUT?
IT'S INTERESTING
THAT THE THE VALVES ON THIS THING ACTUALLY WORK.
IT'S HOLDING ITS PRESSURE.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE'RE NOT --
WE JUST PUT AIR IN THERE AND WALKED AWAY.
AND HOW DO YOU THINK WE'LL GET THE POP ROCKS AND THE SODA
ACTUALLY INTO THE STOMACH?
TO GET THESE IN THERE, WE HAVE TO GET THEM WET,
UNLESS WE'RE GONNA -- THEY'RE NOT GONNA POUR.
THEY'RE GONNA STICK ALONG THE SIDE,
THEY'RE GONNA IMMEDIATELY CLOG THE HOLE.
YOU KNOW, I HAD AN IDEA.
YEAH.
WHAT IF WE GOT A HOLD OF SOME TEA BAG-TYPE STUFF
AND KIND OF *** THEM UP IN LITTLE PACKETS
AND DROP THEM DOWN IN THERE?
IT'S TOO BIG. [ SIGHS ]
WELL, THE PACKET'S NOT GONNA WORK.
IT'S TOO BULKY AND SO THAT'S THAT.
I THINK WE WANT TO EQUATE A WORST-CASE SCENARIO HERE.
YOU KNOW, LIKE THE POP ROCKS ARE GOING IN
IN ONE BUNCH, ALONG WITH THE SODA,
I GUESS AS RAPIDLY AS YOU COULD DO IT --
AS RAPIDLY AS SOMEONE MIGHT DRINK IT.
BIG SYRINGE THEN.
A BIG SYRINGE?
THE MYTH APPEARS, I BELIEVE, WAS IN 1979 --
FOURS YEARS AFTER THE CANDY WAS LAUNCHED.
AND ACTUALLY HAS DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES
FOR THE BRAND NAME.
[ CRACKLING ]
SALES DROPPED DOWN TO ALMOST NIL.
OKAY, SO, ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT
IS HOW ARE WE GONNA HANG THIS THING?
WHAT ABOUT MOUNTING IT IN OUR SKELETON OVER THERE?
SURE.
THERE'S PLENTY OF TIE POINTS IN THE RIB CAGE.
YEAH, AND WE'LL GET TO SEE FLUID DRIBBLING OUT
OF THE SKELETON.
AND YOU WANTED THE DRAMATIC EFFECT.
THAT'LL DO IT.
YEAH, AND, OF COURSE, ACTUALLY THE INLET TUBE
WILL COME UP AND OUT THROUGH THE MOUTH OF THE SKELETON.
AND YOU KNOW WHERE THE OUTLET TUBE IS GOING.
NO. WHERE IS THE OUTLET TUBE GOING?
OH, DON'T MAKE ME SAY IT.
BY THE TIME WE'RE DONE,
HE'LL BE PLAYING THE PIANO, JUST LIKE OLD TIMES.
WHAT THE COMPANY TRIED TO DO TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM
WAS BASICALLY THEY RUN AROUND 45 ADVERTISEMENTS --
BIG, FULL-PAGE ADVERTISEMENTS -- IN MAGAZINES,
AND THEY WROTE ABOUT 50,000 LETTERS
TO DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOLS, HEADMASTERS IN SCHOOL,
EXPLAINING THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM.
FREQUENTLY, LEGENDS ARE BELIEVED.
AND WHAT HAPPENS IS SOMETHING CALLED OSTENTION.
OSTENTION MEANS THAT A LEGEND IS
BELIEVED TO THE POINT THAT YOU CHANGE YOUR BEHAVIOR.
ONCE A BELIEF IS OUT THERE,
IT'S PRETTY DIFFICULT --
YOU HAVE TO TAKE SOME GARGANTUAN STEPS TO DISPROVE IT.
Narrator: WE'VE GOT TO MIX UP ONE LAST INGREDIENT
BEFORE THE EXPERIMENT CAN BEGIN.
Jamie: I'D SAY IT'S ABOUT A PH OF 2.
Adam: OKAY, SO THAT'S THE EQUIVALENT
OF ONE STOMACH'S CONTENTS OF HYDROCHLORIC ACID, YES?
THAT'S 1.7 POUNDS OF WATER.
GASTRIC JUICE IS SECRETED, ACTUALLY,
WE BELIEVE, AS A PROTECTIVE MECHANISM.
IT'S NOT DESIGNED TO AID IN DIGESTION.
IT'S DESIGNED,
THE HYDROCHLORIC ACID ALONG WITH PEPSIN,
IS DESIGNED TO KILL THINGS.
SO, IT'S KIND OF PROTECTION OVER
WHEN WE WERE BACK THERE FIGHTING THE HYENAS FOR THE BONES.
Narrator: IT MIGHT NOT AID IN DIGESTION,
BUT WE THINK A QUART OF HYDROCHLORIC ACID
WILL BE CRITICAL TO BUSTING THIS MYTH.
Adam: OH, YEAH. OH, YEAH.
YOUR GLOVES.
NOW THE FUN BEGINS.
ONCE YOU'RE POURING THE LIQUID,
I'LL BE OPENING CANS OF SODA, HANDING THEM OFF TO YOU.
WE'RE CLAMPED EVERYWHERE.
ALL RIGHT.
Adam: OH, MAN.
ALL RIGHT, MIKEY'S HAD TWO CANS.
HE'S OUT OF CONTROL.
OH, MY GOD, HE'S GOING FOR ANOTHER ONE.
MIKEY!
ALL RIGHT, MIKEY, MAN,
YOU CAN'T DRINK THOSE LAST TWO CANS OF SODA.
DUDE, YOU ARE AN ANIMAL!
DUDE, YOUR STOMACH'S GONNA BURST.
ALL RIGHT, HERE IT COMES.
THIS IS THE PLUNGER.
SLOW DOWN.
HE DIDN'T DRINK IT THAT FAST.
LISTEN.
YOU CAN HEAR THOSE POP ROCKS GOING FOR IT.
OH, THAT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.
OH, THERE GOES A BURP.
MIKEY'S BURPING.
COME ON -- OH, MAN!
LOOK HOW BIG THAT STOMACH'S GETTING.
[ LAUGHS ]
ALL RIGHT!
IT'S MORE OR LESS GOT IT.
ALL RIGHT.
WOW!
OKAY, I WOULDN'T HAVE CALLED
THAT HE COULD DRINK ALL THAT SODA AND POP ROCKS AT ONCE.
THAT'S HUGE.
THAT'S LIKE THREE TIMES THE SIZE OF WHAT IT WAS.
WE'RE NOT READING ANY REAL PRESSURE IN HERE.
BY ITS NATURE, THE HUMAN STOMACH IS A CAPACITANCE ORGAN.
THAT MEANS IT'S DESIGNED TO STRETCH.
RECEPTIVE RELAXATION IS THE CONCEPT IN HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY.
SO IT WILL RELAX AND STRETCH AND STRETCH UP TO SOME LIMIT.
SO MY GUESS IS MIKEY'S FEELING A LITTLE ILL RIGHT ABOUT NOW.
I KNOW I WOULD BE.
YOU THINK WE SHOULD GIVE HIM SOME TIME TO DIGEST?
SURE, WHY NOT?
YOU GOT TWO BUILT-IN VENTS,
ONE ON EITHER SIDE OF THE STOMACH,
THAT SHOULD BE THE PLACES THAT THIS AIR GOES,
IF YOU REACH THOSE KINDS OF PRESSURE.
Narrator: EVEN WITH TIME FOR DIGESTION,
THE POP ROCKS AND SODA JUST DON'T PRODUCE ENOUGH GAS.
WE PUT SIX CANS,
ABOUT ANOTHER ALMOST A LITER OF ACID,
SIX DOSES OF POP ROCKS.
I CAN STILL HEAR IT. CAN'T YOU?
YOU CAN STILL HEAR IT CRACKLING.
POP ROCKS ARE GOING.
Narrator: SO DOES THIS MYTH CONTAIN ANY ELEMENTS OF TRUTH?
Dr. Benjamin: THE HUMAN STOMACH CLEARLY CAN RUPTURE.
THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
YOU CAN GET RUPTURE
IN BLUNT TRAUMA AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS, FOR INSTANCE.
Adam: IT'S STARTING TO GET KIND OF SPECIAL IN HERE...
FROM AN OLFACTORY STANDPOINT.
Narrator: AFTER A QUICK RESET, WE'RE GONNA TRY AND SEE
IF WE CAN MAKE OUR PIG'S STOMACH EXPLODE.
[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]
WHO THE HELL COULD BE CALLING ME?
I CAN'T ANSWER THAT.
I'M TYING A PIG'S STOMACH INTO A SKELETON.
CLAMP.
MY NAME IS FERNANDO ARGUIS,
VICE PRESIDENT OF POP ROCKS INCORPORATED,
AND YOU'RE WATCHING "MYTHBUSTERS."
Adam: NOW IT TURNS OUT
THAT IN THE ANNALS OF MEDICINE IN THE LAST CENTURY,
THERE ARE A HALF-DOZEN CASES
OF PEOPLE'S STOMACHS EXPLODING FROM AN EXCESS OF CO2,
USUALLY FROM SOMETHING LIKE BAKING SODA.
WE'RE GONNA SEE HOW THE BICARBONATE SODA
COMPARES TO POP ROCKS IN TERMS OF EXPANSION OF THE STOMACH.
ALL RIGHT.
ONE -- LET'S DO THREE.
THAT'S AN AWFUL LOT OF SODIUM BICARB.
WELL, I'VE TAKEN TWO WITH HEARTBURN.
Narrator: UNLIKE POP ROCKS, THE BAKING SODA AND ACID REACT.
INJECTING ACID.
ALL RIGHT.
THE RESULT IS CARBON DIOXIDE GAS -- LOTS OF IT.
OKAY, ONE DOWN.
YUMMY, AND GOOD FOR YOU.
SINGLE MOST POPULAR FOOD ITEM IN THE UNITED STATES.
THREE CANS DOWN.
FOUR.
COME ON, YOU GOT TO DRINK A LITTLE FASTER, PIGGY.
FIVE.
SIX.
WE'VE FULLY DRUNK THE SODA.
BICARBONATE.
YOU READY?
READY.
OH, YEAH.
OH, MY GOD!
HE'S STILL DRINKING.
NOW IT'S GETTING REALLY BIG.
HE CAN'T HOLD IT ANYMORE.
CLAMP IT.
SEE WHAT THE PRESSURE IS READING.
WHOA! OKAY, THAT'S MUCH BIGGER THAN BEFORE.
IT'S STILL HARDLY READING.
IT'S READING ABOUT A HALF A PSI.
THERE ARE PROBABLY LOTS OF FOLKS OUT THERE
WHO HAVE FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS
BEEN USING BAKING SODA.
AND IN THE AMOUNTS THAT WOULD BE PRESCRIBED TO REDUCE ACID,
THERE IS VERY, VERY LITTLE GAS FORMED.
IT USUALLY STAYS IN SOLUTION, COMES OUT,
DOESN'T CAUSE VERY MUCH BY WAY OF DISTENSION,
IF YOU STAY WITHIN THE LIMITS THAT ARE RECOMMENDED.
Narrator: HERE ON "MYTHBUSTERS,"
WE'RE NEVER AFRAID TO PUSH THE LIMITS.
OKAY, READY?
READY.
OOH, I FEEL THE PRESSURE.
IF YOU HAVE A STOMACH
THAT'S GREATLY DISTENDED BY A LARGE MEAL,
AND THEN YOU ADD ON TOP OF THAT EITHER GAS,
IN THE FORM OF SODIUM BICARBONATE,
TO TRY AND RELIEVE ACID INDIGESTION,
YOU CAN, IN THOSE VERY, VERY UNUSUAL SITUATIONS,
SEE GASTRIC RUPTURE.
BUT NO ONE SHOULD HAVE THE IMPRESSION
THAT THIS IS COMMON BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION.
OKAY.
WHOA! WOW!
WELL, THAT DID CAUSE A REACTION.
THAT TURNED OUT TO BE A LITTLE TOO MUCH.
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT WE CALL A HELL OF A SATURDAY NIGHT.
OH, MY GOSH.
TOTALLY BLEW.
WITH THE ADDITION OF A LITTLE MORE STOMACH ACID
AND THE BICARBONATE OF SODA -- WHAT WAS THAT, TWO TABLESPOONS?
YEAH.
IT RIPPED A HOLE RIGHT IN THE BACK.
I FELT THE PRESSURE AS I WAS PLUNGING IT.
YOU KNOW, IT WANTED TO PUSH THE PLUNGER BACK OUT AGAIN.
YEAH.
AND THEN THAT FINAL BIT --
I DON'T KNOW IF WE WERE WATCHING WHAT THE METER SAID,
BUT IT MIGHT HAVE SPIKED.
YEAH.
IN A BODY, SOMETHING LIKE TWO OR THREE PSIs
IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE.
I CAN'T IMAGINE A HUMAN CONSUMING THAT MUCH CRAP.
WELL, MAYBE I CAN, ACTUALLY.
WELL, THE SODIUM BICARB WITH THE PERSON'S OWN STOMACH
SEEMS TO ME TO BE THE MAIN THING.
SOMEBODY THAT'S JUST TAKING, YOU KNOW,
EATING CANDY OR SOMETHING, I DON'T SEE IT HAPPENING.
Narrator: "MYTHBUSTERS" TRIED TO CONTACT JOHN GILCHRIST,
THE ACTOR WHO PLAYED LITTLE MIKEY.
HE NEVER RETURNED OUR CALLS.
ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST.