On April 19th, 1995, Timothy McVeigh used a rented Ryder truck packed with explosives to drive up to the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City and explode it. This act caused widespread panic.
Goodyear All American Speedway (formerly Coastal Plains Speedway) has long been famous for its Bomber Car racing division, where near-bare stock cars have been modified specifically for racing purposes, and rules have been put in place emphasizing affordability and safety measures.
What is a bomber car?
A bomber car is a motorsport vehicle often found in racing events. Designed to be fast and maneuverable while being capable of carrying large amounts of fuel, they are trendy worldwide, and numerous races take place every year around the globe.
Car bombs (also referred to as van bombs, truck bombs, or lorry bombs) are improvised explosive devices placed within a vehicle and detonated to kill or injure people and damage buildings and other property. Car bombs are commonly employed as weapons of terrorism or guerrilla warfare and may be activated by opening the door, starting the engine remotely, depressing the accelerator or brake pedals, or opening doors.
Drivers from Onslow County compete in the Bomber division using stock cars stripped to near bareness. It has quickly become one of the Bullring’s most entertaining series.
Bomber car racing
Bomber division drivers compete with sparse stock cars and have helped expand Bullring participation levels as racing fans seek affordable yet entertaining racing action. A car that would likely be scrapped can cost as little as $2,500 to transform for use in this class, with drivers investing additional dollars into safety features and high-octane fuel for optimal performance.
The Bomber car is popular because it’s fast, maneuverable, and can carry large quantities of fuel — perfect for long-distance races. These races can often be close and provide an exciting new form of motorsport nationwide. Plus, their durability ensures they remain fast despite any bumps they take along their path!
Bomber car history
At the turn of the 19th century, bombs planted in vehicles were being deployed against ships for deadly effect, known as hellburners, and used by the Dutch to devastating effect against besieged Spanish forces. Mario Buda may have performed what may be considered to be the first suicide car bombing when following in the footsteps of Luigi Galleani’s anarchist theory, he placed an explosive-laden horse-drawn carriage near JP Morgan & Company on Wall Street before it detonated and exploded.
During the 1948-49 conflict between Israel and Palestine, Zionist guerrillas frequently employed cars or trucks as their preferred weapons. One group called Stern gang broke off from Irgun and used an explosive-packed truck to drive into a British police station in Haifa, killing four policemen with it.
Today, bomber car racing is a globally popular activity. These lightweight racecars are fast, maneuverable, and carry ample fuel storage capacity – ideal for long-distance races.
Bomber car technology
Bomber cars are fast, maneuverable, and can transport large fuel volumes. Their versatile design has proven popular worldwide in races. Bombers also handle damage relatively well compared to other racing vehicles and repair quickly after races, making them an excellent option for drivers seeking a competitive race experience.
The Evil Midnight Bomber’s car from The Tick television series is an explosive-equipped modified Volkswagen Beetle capable of transporting explosives. Additionally, its sophisticated computer makes it an effective bomber vehicle.
Terrorist groups such as Daesh have deployed suicide car bombs with devastating results, yet recruiting and training suicidal members remains one of the significant obstacles they must navigate. By equipping militants with GPS technology that integrates with vehicular control systems, providing militants the means for vehicular suicide bombing without endangering combatants is a severe risk that we must address as we move forward with this promising technology.