Pretty sure my tricycle did this when I was a kid but I'd have to check with the parents. 
 

I'd like to see, how the driver is seated. He's sitting surprisingly straight up, not bending down, and he doesn't seem to struggle at all to keep the grip on the bar. Also, the stability of the machine is remarkable. How is it achieved without any visible wings or whatever? One might think you'd have to pick your head from the back of your pants after such an acceleration :o)

Here is the slightly longer version with a few more angles:-
 

 
He is strapped in in a number of places. When the pressure is released I think there is a strap to around his chest but his head still gets pulled back some... How he didn't suffer whiplash...

His head does go backwards a bit as the power initially comes on, though it looks like it doesn't go past the vertical and his neck isn't twisted. I wonder if there's a strap we don't get to see connecting the restraint webbing that substitutes for a seat to the front of his helmet, or if the initial acceleration isn't too strong for him to cope with then after that things settle down a bit and the effect of the increased g on the weight of his head makes it easier to keep it down in the slipstream.

Whatever, it's a neat idea for a simple, cheap dragster.

That is very impressive . 161 miles per hour ...nice
 
Kenny

Fill with rainwater (preferably), don't waste it, repeat 76 times then GO!
 
Am I the only one thinking there was a "pressurize the living heck out of it" step missing before the GO? 

craigb
"pressurize the living heck out of it"

Yeah... Minor details haha

craigb
Am I the only one thinking there was a "pressurize the living heck out of it" step missing before the GO? 

Do they still make those little plastic rocket toys? You pour in some water, then fit the rocket on a little hand pump. Pump some air in, then release the catch and the rocket would take off. Naturally you got sprayed with water in the process. I thought of that toy the minute I saw this video.
 
Edit: I just answered my own question. Google says yes, they still make them.

henkejs

craigb
Am I the only one thinking there was a "pressurize the living heck out of it" step missing before the GO? 

Do they still make those little plastic rocket toys? You pour in some water, then fit the rocket on a little hand pump. Pump some air in, then release the catch and the rocket would take off. Naturally you got sprayed with water in the process. I thought of that toy the minute I saw this video.
 
Edit: I just answered my own question. Google says yes, they still make them.

I believe they show that toy in the video.
 
I still remember it.  The most annoying part was trying to figure out which neighbor's yard it fell in and hoping it could be retrieved!

Kalle Rantaaho
 Also, the stability of the machine is remarkable. How is it achieved without any visible wings or whatever? One might think you'd have to pick your head from the back of your pants after such an acceleration :o)

Judging from the side view, I'd guess from the construction that the CG would be very low, obviating the need for any stabilizers. 
 
I'll not hazard a comment on the aforementioned "head/pants" issue.