Did the Hoff actually drive Kitt into the back of that Semi trailer or was that movie magic?

Talk About It Here!!!

MythMod

They proved that it can actually happen in the show. Its simple actually, due to the fact of the law of motion. There is three steps to this, the car driving to a speed that can get them close to the rig. Step 2 is actually when the front tire is almost over the end of the ramp and the back tire going onto the ramp. The velocity of the car is at 0 even if the speedometer is reading something else. Step 3 is easy because the car velocity is 0 and driving over the ramp into the rig would be easy. So its not movie magic, it actually can be possible.

How about a re-visit and you back out of the moving semi, and drive off.

I just finished watching the "Big Rig" episode. I live 45 miles from the Madras Speedway where they did the "Knight Rider" segment. I was wondering what the odds were that the day they filmed that segment, it happened to be one of the 13 days of rain a year that we get in Central Oregon. Great Show!! Keep it Up!!!!

If the car had Front Wheel Drive, would we see the same results or would it need to keep up speed until rear wheels hit ramp and then jam brakes before hitting front of trailer? Engine power is transfered to front wheels rather than rear. In the episode they used a rear wheel drive vehicle.
I can't sleep till I know.
Anybody have a front wheel vehicle and semi with rar tailgate available? Mythbusters, dont make me try this myself... i am sure you have the answer. PS I am addicted to your show!!

It's not a myth! It's already been done in hollywood on film.....in movies!! Do a real myth.

^^^^a front wheel drive car could be different.

what if the car was a manual transmission instead of an automatic? In a manual transmission the sudden change in speed would cause the car to stall yes? and you would either stop at the end of the ramp or just roll right back off with no power brakes? what do you guys think? depends on the gear/speed/rpm's?

Front-wheel drive/rear-wheel drive, manual/auto transmission won't matter in the least. All that's needed is enough differential speed between the semi and the car. Come to that, the car could be coasting in neutral, and if it was say, 20kph faster than the semi as they met, the car would simply roll up the ramp.

no i don't doubt the car would stay in a constant motion. But i just believe if you were in a manual transmission the car would stall with the sudden change in wheel speed at those speeds.

What about an AWD car. Wouldn't it totally ruin your transmission to have two completely different wheel speeds?


i believe this myth is confirmed. But after i watched the show, it just didn't feel right because there were alot of other different variables that were not addressed. Specifically, the type of transmission and drive type the car has.


edit: now that i re-read your response. I guess your right, if you were going like 10-20 mph faster then the truck you could just go into neutral at the last second and you would be fine. But if you wanted to use the cars power to drive it up the ramp at a slower and more safe speed like they did in the show, it has the be a fwd or rwd AUTOMATIC car for it to work

Wow hasnt anyone watched FEAR Factor with joe rogan they have done this many many times even in the rain....