14 replies to this topic

[Johnny D]

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=_6EtF-Ll4hM

J~

[Keith Andrews]

Thank goodness no one got hurt, that was quite an explosion.  I'm a little surprised the crew wasn't better prepared/trained for the cars arrival with the fire extinguisher/safety pin. 

[Sphinx]

Me too.  I was surprized they were jacking up the car prior to fully extinguishing the fire.  Glad no one was hurt.

[Jim Drago]

The crew guy that counldn't operate a fire extinguisher would be on his way out the door this morning. I think I would be holding a fire safety training class at Childress this off season
Jim

[LarryKing]

Much more entertaining than the tire explosion was the airing of Menard's comment to his crew, “Hurry up you dumbasses, come on!"

[AW33COM]

The crew guy that counldn't operate a fire extinguisher would be on his way out the door this morning. I think I would be holding a fire safety training class at Childress this off season

 

 

Not long ago, I helped to stage cars in a Porsche Club before they were gonna go out for a session.  I was shocked how many of them had a fire extinguisher in the car that had the pin put IN along with the SEAL.  You can't remove the seal while on fire.  Seems like for insurance purposes the extinguisher is required, but it does not have to be ready, neither do the drivers have to know how it works. 

[Jim Drago]

“Hurry up you dumbasses, come on!"

Those were my exact "PC" thoughts!

[Alberto]

Not long ago, I helped to stage cars in a Porsche Club before they were gonna go out for a session.  I was shocked how many of them had a fire extinguisher in the car that had the pin put IN along with the SEAL.  You can't remove the seal while on fire.  Seems like for insurance purposes the extinguisher is required, but it does not have to be ready, neither do the drivers have to know how it works. 

It looks racy.  That's all that matters isn't it?  

[Rob Burgoon]

Not long ago, I helped to stage cars in a Porsche Club before they were gonna go out for a session.  I was shocked how many of them had a fire extinguisher in the car that had the pin put IN along with the SEAL.  You can't remove the seal while on fire.  Seems like for insurance purposes the extinguisher is required, but it does not have to be ready, neither do the drivers have to know how it works. 

 

Out west the extinguisher in the car is primarily for putting out a grass fire if you have an off and set the dry grass alight.  If I'm on fire and stopped, I'm not getting the extinguisher, I'm getting out!

[Chris Ashcraft]

The seal on extinguishers are actually meant to stay on until use...they will break just by pulling the pin. They are made that way so you wont have an accidental release...ask me how i know...lol..still funny that a "PRO" NASCAR guy cant use an extinguisher

[dstevens]

The crew guy that counldn't operate a fire extinguisher would be on his way out the door this morning. I think I would be holding a fire safety training class at Childress this off season
Jim

That's a big time OSHA violation if they don't have training even if they are contractors.  At the gig they have us train online every year and also do a live test.  No excuse for what happened. The response of the track crew was weak as well.   About the only thing they did right was not have the fueler connect the dump can...

[Jim Creighton]

The crew guy who went to the car with the bottle was the fuel man. He was the only one in full fire gear as required by NASCAR. The problem is they handed him a fire bottle with the pin still in it. And of course, he has on double layer gloves as required and he could not get the glove finger through the pin to pull it. He had already pushed the lever and that increased the stress on the pin.

 

The crew knew what the problem was, an earlier blowout had wrapped the outer liner around the rear housing and the brake heat caught it on fire. The car had no brakes when it came in so he could not stop at the fire safety trucks like most drivers are trained to do. They look for the flashing lights, aim the car, stop and abandon ship. Ask any cup driver what they fear most and besides their wife, they will always say fire. The safety truck actually was there pretty quick considering it was behind pit wall when he came in off the track. It also has to be dispatched by race control and they have to hear from pit road official what's going on. Race control was still involved with the cars on track and the caution coming out.

 

Everyone was lucky because that tire could have severed an arm, leg, etc. Probably the only exciting thing all day except for Jeff Gordon almost taking out JJ. I might have become a Gordon fan had he finished what he started. I know Matt K pretty well and he's a nice guy. Probably one of the most even tempered drivers in Cup. He raced with us in Hooters Cup in 1997 before he moved to NASCAR.

[AW33COM]

The seal on extinguishers are actually meant to stay on until use...they will break just by pulling the pin.

 

 

In a race car there should be no seal, no pin IN when you're going out on a track.  Otherwise forget it, extinguisher should not be required. 

 

 

Out west the extinguisher in the car is primarily for putting out a grass fire if you have an off and set the dry grass alight.

 

I agree with this, and I'm sorry for being off topic, but I wonder if the personal extinguisher ever helped a race car driver in racing, or it only adds unnecessary cost and ballast. 

[Ron Alan]

That's a big time OSHA violation if they don't have training even if they are contractors.  At the gig they have us train online every year and also do a live test.  No excuse for what happened. The response of the track crew was weak as well.   About the only thing they did right was not have the fueler connect the dump can...

Jackson!! Have missed your input...hope all's well! Dont be a stranger!

[Sacslider]

I agree with this, and I'm sorry for being off topic, but I wonder if the personal extinguisher ever helped a race car driver in racing, or it only adds unnecessary cost and ballast. 

 

Absolutely personal extinguishers have a place in a racecar.  Having used one to put out another competitors car which was on fire, before climbing inside that same racecar to access the driver, I can assure you that they have their useful moments.

 

As a side note and very off topic, please be sure that when you install a fire system the activation system (pull knob) is very securely mounted (ie to metal not plastic on the interior of the car).  It must absolutely work the first time, period.