36,000HP Jet-Powered Truck Can Hit 400 MPH

Feb. 19, 2014 12:00 PM ET by Adam Lynton Trucks / 109 Comments

This thing can outrun a Japanese bullet train.

Meet the world's fastest jet-powered truck. Dubbed "Shockwave," the four-ton Peterbilt Semi comes powered by three jet engines that generate a monstrous 36,000 hp helping it to reach a world record top speed of 376 mph. Demolishing the quarter mile in just 6.63 seconds, the truck was captured at a show in Ontario, Canada. Owner and builder Neal Darnell said: "On acceleration the driver experiences about 6G. We then stop this beast using two 16-inch ring slot military parachutes which produce an impact of up to negative 9G. It's some ride."

First built by Les Shockley in 1984, father and son team Neal and Chris rebuilt Shockwave in 2012 and have been tearing up the tarmac across North America ever since.

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Adam Lynton

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Switching careers after a few years in finance with a Mathematics and Philosophy degree under his belt, Adam worked for various publishing houses and established his own English editing company. He then spent almost a decade covering the automotive industry as Managing Editor and most recently Editor-in-Chief, specializing in breaking news coverage, in-depth car reviews and opeds. A member of the Automotive Press Association and International Motor Press Association, he will occasionally leave the office to attend a car show or drive something exotic.

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