# Has a car or motorcycle ever gone through a vertical loop? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 27, 2009, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-car-or-motorcycle-ever-gone-through-a-vertical-loop/507855 "2009-08-27T01:13:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-car-or-motorcycle-ever-gone-through-a-vertical-loop/507855/1 "2009-08-27T01:13:28Z")
Like [this](http://www.tableandhome.com/prodimages/77682.jpg) one. As I was watching my six year old son play with his Hot Wheels, a though occurred to me: has a real, full-size car or motorcycle ever gone through a vertical loop? ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-car-or-motorcycle-ever-gone-through-a-vertical-loop/507855/2 "2009-08-27T01:16:25Z")
Yes for a motorcycle. In fact now there are people who do 2 backflips on a MC in the air, not on a track. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-car-or-motorcycle-ever-gone-through-a-vertical-loop/507855/3 "2009-08-27T01:18:21Z")
Yes. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/vMTACdUc30g/hqdefault.jpg "Advertisement - Ford Tempo (1984)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMTACdUc30g) IIRC, there was no stunt driver:the car was under remote control…not out of fear of the car falling, but due to the rapid change in G-forces. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-car-or-motorcycle-ever-gone-through-a-vertical-loop/507855/4 "2009-08-27T01:50:13Z")
I thought vertical loops for motorcycles were a pretty common trick. I have seen many of them in person in circus type acts in specially designed cages and even more on TV. I have never witnessed one with a car though but it should be roughly the same idea but the setup would have to be much larger and elaborate. Here is one example: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/YrGm3H3B8Qc/hqdefault.jpg "circus motorcycle cage") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrGm3H3B8Qc) Here is another: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/SUd0B_T-vl8/hqdefault.jpg "Boss Brother Motorcycle Cage Stunt Riding At San Mateo Expo") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUd0B_T-vl8) ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-car-or-motorcycle-ever-gone-through-a-vertical-loop/507855/5 "2009-08-27T01:53:10Z")
> [@Enola\_Straight](#): > > Yes. > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMTACdUc30g](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMTACdUc30g) I had an '86 model and that stupid computer had to be replaced twice. Plus it didn’t function properly during Wisconsins cold winters!:mad: > [@Enola\_Straight](#): > > IIRC, there was no stunt driver:the car was under remote control…not out of fear of the car falling, but due to the rapid change in G-forces. Why would the G-force be any stronger than that felt on a big roller coaster?😕 ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-car-or-motorcycle-ever-gone-through-a-vertical-loop/507855/6 "2009-08-27T02:34:25Z")
Rollercoasters are designed to go upside-down, cars aren’t. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-car-or-motorcycle-ever-gone-through-a-vertical-loop/507855/7 "2009-08-27T02:53:42Z")
> [@Enola\_Straight](#): > > Rollercoasters are designed to go upside-down, cars aren’t. If you theoretically built a roller coaster track that used a car (maybe with different wheels), I don’t see why it wouldn’t be much different. Cars can sustain lots of g-forces. The upside-down part has little bearing on the issue unless you are just referring to engine function which may or may not be any issue with fuel injection and a fairly fast vertical curve. ---
**Author:** ![runcible\_spoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc29f/32.png) [@runcible\_spoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/runcible_spoon)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-car-or-motorcycle-ever-gone-through-a-vertical-loop/507855/8 "2009-08-27T03:29:56Z")
Yeah, isn’t the whole idea that centrifugal force essentially simulates gravity? Even supposing you need 1g to operate, and keep a constant speed, to get 1g at the top you only need 3g at the bottom. According to wikipedia, a typical person can handle 5g before passing out. Might not be pleasant, but you could do it. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-car-or-motorcycle-ever-gone-through-a-vertical-loop/507855/9 "2009-08-27T03:50:53Z")
If you’re a fan of that sort of thing, I recommend you try out [Trackmania](http://www.trackmania.com/), where loops are standard. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-car-or-motorcycle-ever-gone-through-a-vertical-loop/507855/10 "2009-08-27T04:01:07Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > The upside-down part has little bearing on the issue unless you are just referring to engine function … If the g-force at the top is keeping the car on the track (something that’s not tough to arrange), then the engine will be fine - indeed it won’t have any way to know it’s momentarily upside-down. The same is true for airplanes. The stresses involved in a properly executed loop are mild and almost any airworthy aircraft is capable of this. Sustained inverted flight requires special engine adaptions, but in a simple loop the engine is experiencing something not far from what it does in straight-and-level flight, so it has no problems. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-car-or-motorcycle-ever-gone-through-a-vertical-loop/507855/11 "2009-08-27T04:07:46Z")
> [@runcible\_spoon](#): > > Yeah, isn’t the whole idea that centrifugal force essentially simulates gravity? Even supposing you need 1g to operate, and keep a constant speed, to get 1g at the top you only need 3g at the bottom. According to wikipedia, a typical person can handle 5g before passing out. Might not be pleasant, but you could do it. Fighter pilots can go much higher than 5 G before passing out. They are usually trained up to 7G and after that it start to result in red-out but blackout takes even more G’s for a well trained and fit person. I have experienced 3 G’s+ for a sustained period and it feels strange but it won’t hurt any healthy person. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-car-or-motorcycle-ever-gone-through-a-vertical-loop/507855/12 "2009-08-27T06:57:00Z")
[Do it with a lion.](http://lh3.ggpht.com/martinklasch/SJJjj11lxmI/AAAAAAAAE1k/jKS8lJBCTYw/000ksyfq.jpg) I dare you. I double dog dare you. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-car-or-motorcycle-ever-gone-through-a-vertical-loop/507855/13 "2009-08-27T07:13:10Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Why would the G-force be any stronger than that felt on a big roller coaster?😕 Because of the shape of the loop. It needs to be more teardrop shaped ([clothoid loop](http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/Class/circles/u6l2b.html)) so the bottom of the loop is much shallower than the arc at the top. The top of the loop is met at a slower speed and thus less G-force. ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-car-or-motorcycle-ever-gone-through-a-vertical-loop/507855/14 "2009-08-27T23:14:57Z")
You can do it on a [skateboard](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sgnkzOraSQ). Car or motorcycle is easy. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-car-or-motorcycle-ever-gone-through-a-vertical-loop/507855/15 "2009-08-28T02:43:22Z")
Okay, let’s say I had fifty million dollars and the use of the Grand Canyon. Could I build a Hot-Wheels-style track that would let me loop a car? ---
**Author:** ![Zany\_Zeolite\_Zipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zany\_Zeolite\_Zipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zany_Zeolite_Zipper)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-car-or-motorcycle-ever-gone-through-a-vertical-loop/507855/16 "2009-08-28T22:06:57Z")
If it is not in the database, it does not exist. [Fifth Gear](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmoWIhMOjmg) ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-car-or-motorcycle-ever-gone-through-a-vertical-loop/507855/17 "2009-08-28T22:15:26Z")
IIRC Formula-1 race cars, at speed, create enough downward force from their airfoils that they could, in theory, drive upside down around a track (as long as they didn’t slow down). ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-car-or-motorcycle-ever-gone-through-a-vertical-loop/507855/18 "2009-08-28T22:25:18Z")
> [@astro](#): > > [Do it with a lion.](http://lh3.ggpht.com/martinklasch/SJJjj11lxmI/AAAAAAAAE1k/jKS8lJBCTYw/000ksyfq.jpg) I dare you. I double dog dare you. Linky no worky. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-car-or-motorcycle-ever-gone-through-a-vertical-loop/507855/19 "2009-08-28T22:29:55Z")
> [@Zany\_Zeolite\_Zipper](#): > > If it is not in the database, it does not exist. > > [Fifth Gear](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmoWIhMOjmg) That proves it can be done but they were making too much out of the g-forces and it causing the driver to black out. The human body can take g-forces a lot higher than 6g for brief periods of time. He was already committed to the track once he entered the loop anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-car-or-motorcycle-ever-gone-through-a-vertical-loop/507855/20 "2009-08-28T22:39:35Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > That proves it can be done… And they didn’t need fifty million dollars either! _Or_ the Grand Canyon. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-car-or-motorcycle-ever-gone-through-a-vertical-loop/507855.md?page=2)