diff --git a/src/flyable.hpp b/src/flyable.hpp
index 5dd56eee9..f431544cf 100644
--- a/src/flyable.hpp
+++ b/src/flyable.hpp
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ public:
 
     virtual void hitTrack    () {};
     void         explode     (Kart* kart, MovingPhysics* moving_physics=NULL);
-    bool         hasHit      ()               { return m_has_hit_something; }
+    bool         hasHit      () { return m_has_hit_something; }
     void         reset       () { Moveable::reset(); }
 };   // Flyable
 
diff --git a/src/items/plunger.hpp b/src/items/plunger.hpp
index c0a2b1c42..ce8ec0e87 100644
--- a/src/items/plunger.hpp
+++ b/src/items/plunger.hpp
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ public:
                 ~Plunger();
     static  void init     (const lisp::Lisp* lisp, ssgEntity* missile);
     virtual void update   (float dt);
+    virtual void hitTrack () { explode(NULL); }
 
-};   // Missile
+};   // Plunger
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/items/rubber_band.cpp b/src/items/rubber_band.cpp
index 2c14375d0..1148f5b55 100755
--- a/src/items/rubber_band.cpp
+++ b/src/items/rubber_band.cpp
@@ -86,27 +86,29 @@ void RubberBand::removeFromScene()
  */
 void RubberBand::update(float dt)
 {
-    const Vec3 &p=m_plunger->getXYZ();
-    const Vec3 &k=m_kart.getXYZ();
+    // Don't do anything for plungers who already hit something.
+    if(m_plunger->hasHit()) return; 
 
-    Vec3 diff=p-k;
+    const Vec3 &p = m_plunger->getXYZ();
+    const Vec3 &k = m_kart.getXYZ();
 
-    // See if anything hits the rubber band, but only if there is a certain 
-    // distance between plunger and kart. Otherwise the raycast will either
-    // hit the kart or the plunger.
-    if(diff.length2()>2.0f)
+    btCollisionWorld::ClosestRayResultCallback ray_callback(k, p);
+    // Disable raycast collision detection for this plunger and this kart!
+    short int old_plunger_group = m_plunger->getBody()->getBroadphaseHandle()->m_collisionFilterGroup;
+    short int old_kart_group    = m_kart.getBody()->getBroadphaseHandle()->m_collisionFilterGroup;
+    m_plunger->getBody()->getBroadphaseHandle()->m_collisionFilterGroup = 0;
+    m_kart.getBody()->getBroadphaseHandle()->m_collisionFilterGroup = 0;
+
+    // Do the raycast
+    RaceManager::getWorld()->getPhysics()->getPhysicsWorld()->rayTest(k, p, 
+                                                                      ray_callback);
+    // Reset collision groups
+    m_plunger->getBody()->getBroadphaseHandle()->m_collisionFilterGroup = old_plunger_group;
+    m_kart.getBody()->getBroadphaseHandle()->m_collisionFilterGroup = old_kart_group;
+    if(ray_callback.HasHit())
     {
-        diff.normalize();
-        const Vec3 from=k+diff;  // this could be made dependent on kart length
-        const Vec3 to = p-diff;
-        btCollisionWorld::ClosestRayResultCallback ray_callback(from, to);
-        RaceManager::getWorld()->getPhysics()->getPhysicsWorld()->rayTest(from, 
-                                                              to, ray_callback);
-        if(ray_callback.HasHit())
-        {
-            m_plunger->explode(NULL);
-            return;
-        }
+        m_plunger->explode(NULL);
+        return;
     }
 
     // Otherwise set the new coordinates for the plunger and the kart: