On video: the world's fastest truck

This is one lorry that you wouldn't get stuck behind on the motorway - Shockwave is the world's fastest jet-powered truck, with a top speed of almost 400mph.

Based on a Peterbilt Semi, the four-ton beast generates 36,000hp and can cover quarter of a mile in six and a half seconds. Power comes from three Pratt & Whitney J34-48 jet engines, each of which produces 12,000hp. They were originally used for US Navy trainer jets.
  
Flat out, Shockwave can hit 376mph, a world record for a jet-powered full-size truck. As you'd expect, fuel economy is nothing to write home about - there's a 190-gallon fuel tank and Shockwave burns all but 10 gallons during each top-speed sprint.

Neal Darnell, Shockwave's driver and owner, said: "It's an awesome experience, you won't believe it until you see it."
 
Neal's son Chris Darnell also drives Shockwave and took his first ride in it aged just seven. He said: "The added afterburners double the horsepower and thrust, so Shockwave literally has six times the power of the jet aeroplane these engines came in."

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"On acceleration, the driver experiences about 6G," added Chris Darnell. "We then stop this beast using two 16-inch ring slot military parachutes, which produce an impact of up to negative 9G. It is some ride."
 
Shockwave was built by Les Shockley in 1984; Neal and Chris bought and rebuilt the vehicle in 2012 and they are currently giving the public a chance to see what it can do at special performances across the USA and Canada.
 
For more information visit flashfirejettrucks.com

On Bing: more pictures of Shockwave
Read about the world's fastest pick-up truck
Read about the fastest cars in the world

By Leo Wilkinson, senior editor, MSN Cars