Breaking the Record: The Farthest Target Hit with a Pump-Powered Rocket
It’s incredible how life comes full circle sometimes. Six years ago, I set my eyes on a particular Guinness World Record: the furthest distance to shoot a pump-powered rocket into a target. The standing record at the time? An impressive 89 feet.
I sent in my application to the Guinness World Records back in November of 2017. Like many of life’s passions, this one, too, ebbed and flowed. But everything changed in 2023.
For my son’s birthday, he received a whimsical dino stomp rocket. This wasn’t just any toy; it was a beacon, reigniting my desire to conquer the record I’d set my sights on so many years ago. Out of curiosity and a dash of nostalgia, I tested out the toy rocket. To my delight, it worked brilliantly.
That initial test was all the motivation I needed. I promptly bought another stomp rocket and began my training. Many days were spent honing my technique, often with my kids by my side, their excited faces echoing my determination. As the days went on, a realization dawned on me: a rocket with rounded ends might offer an aerodynamic advantage. My hypothesis was correct, and soon enough, I purchased a backup rocket, wary of the cheap plastic parts that might betray me during a crucial attempt.
The day arrived. My target? 104 feet, which was precisely the length of our gym floor, corner to corner. I aligned the launcher and taped it down. Calibrating the pressure needed for the perfect stomp. I let the rockets fly.
After each pump, my technique refined, my foot more in sync with the force required. Some rockets missed narrowly, some tantalizingly grazed the target, while others overshot. But persistence is the key. And then, the magic happened: one of the rockets launched perfectly, the satisfying thud as it hit the target resonating like a symphony in my ears. Overwhelmed with joy, I sprinted towards the target, shouting, “C’mon!”
In hindsight, I owe a significant part of this achievement to that dino stomp rocket, a simple birthday gift that sparked revisiting this attempt.
As of now, the record attempt is out for adjudication by Guinness. Fingers crossed!
My journey teaches me time and again that passion, perseverance, and sometimes, a touch of serendipity, can lead to greatness. My name is David Rush, and every week, I try to break a Guinness World Record title. Stay tuned for more adventures!