AVPIN (Iso-propyl-nitrate) was used in the early '60s as a rocket fuel by a company in the USA, which built both direct thrust motors and a sort of 'rocket turbine' motor, the turbine being linked to a gear train similar to a differential, thus enabling it to drive the wheels. Company was called Turbonique Inc. The only application in this country I ever heard of was by a chap called Allen Burgess (then editor of 'Karting' magazine)who put together a mini dragster using two direct thrust motors on what was basically a standard Class 1 kart chassis. From reports I've read, it only ran briefly, the first time at the Blackbushe Dragsfest in about '63. It may well still exist gathering dust in someones garage. Regretfully the timing gear used in those days wasn't set up for such a low slung vehicle, thus no 1/4 mile elapsed times or speeds were recorded. I know from experience that timing gear in the '80s would have registered the vehicle! (13.975 seconds in a 250cc kart)