MythBusters/Jet-Assisted Chevy, Pop Rocks and Soda

Jet-Assisted Chevy, Pop Rocks and Soda
Pilot 1
Airdate	January 3, 2003
— N/A	0x02 → Vacuum Toilet, Biscuit Bazooka, Leaping Lawyer
MythBusters — Pilots

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Jet-Assisted Chevy, Pop Rocks and Soda is the first pilot episode of MythBusters, and the first episode overall. The myths in this episode involve a '67 Chevy that had a JATO rocket put on it which went 300 mph and became airbone, killing the driver, and the combination of Pop Rocks and soda which supposedly killed Mikey from the Life cereal commercials.

Guest Stars: Dirk Gates, Andy Granatelli, Erik Gates, George Callaway, Fernando Arguis, Sgt. Bob Stein, Dr.Benjamin Stanley

Myths

Jet-Assisted Chevy

The Myth

A man put a JATO rocket on a '76 Chevy Impala and subsequently went 300 mph, became airborne and collided into the side of a cliff

The Method

Two things were needed to test this myth: the car and the rocket. Neither of them proved easy to obtain. After being turned down multiple places looking for the car, or something pretty similar, they finally found one. As for the JATO, they could not obtain one, even after asking the military for one and asking them to supervise. They instead used 3 hobby rockets which each actually put out more force than a JATO, but in shorter bursts. That's why they got three, so that they would be set off in succession.

The Outcome

While the car did go fast, it did not obtain speeds near 300 mph, and did not become airborne. Therefore, this myth was busted.

Pop Rocks and Soda

The Myth

Mikey, from the Life cereal commercials, died from eating 6 packs of Pop Rocks with 6 cans of soda.

The Method

Using a pig's stomach to simulate a human's stomach, they would pour 6 packs of Pop Rocks and 6 cans of soda into it and see if the stomach would burst.

The Outcome

While the stomach did expand some, which would cause much discomfort, it did not explode. Therefore, this myth was busted.

Notes

• The Pop Rocks myth usually specifies Coke, but in this episode it was just referred to as soda to avoid legal troubles. Additionally, all cans of soda were blurred.

Quotes

• Adam: "This is so exciting! I'm gonna have a 'grinectomy'." (Referring to how excited he was about putting a rocket on a car.)