Santa Pod Euro Finals
Discussion
Boosted LS1 said:
Furyous said:
That is criminally sad, but as already said, motorsport is dangerous.
I ve often watched the crowds stood around a fueller during its pit warm up, and thought to myself, "Have any of you ever seen a blower or rod let go in a fuel motor ?"
These people are standing not more than 10 feet away from a 7000hp NITRO bomb.
I ve often watched the crowds stood around a fueller during its pit warm up, and thought to myself, "Have any of you ever seen a blower or rod let go in a fuel motor ?"
These people are standing not more than 10 feet away from a 7000hp NITRO bomb.
I don't think it was the engine that let go although I thought I saw a flash and extra smoke. Aren't the blowers strapped down under a kevlar bracket or something to contain a big burst? Wasn't it something to do with the chutes and a boilt or similar letting go at 300 odd mph or nearabouts? I could see debris on the track. I'm not sure about the criminasl angle either, motorsport is dangerous and accidents happen. Wonder if there's public liability cover or not, anybody know. Maybe they can't get that.
I feel quite sorry for the driver and team as well as the family of the bloke who died.
Boosted.
Sorry, didnt make my point very clear there.What I meant was more that people are knowingly placing themselves in a postion of danger in the pits, and yet the poor bloke who was probably 50 feet away, took the big one.
Yes blowers are strapped down with ballistic blankets, but can you picture the scene of a pit warm up, the guys have warmed it thru, then blip the throttle a few times...imagine the carnage if it fireballed there and then......
And as has already been said, its probably very wise not to speculate on the matter in any shape or form.
Finally, I have posted in the website feedback section asking Ted if we can have a Drag Race forum, all those in favour, please post on there.
Cheers
F
Furyous said:
Yes blowers are strapped down with ballistic blankets, but can you picture the scene of a pit warm up, the guys have warmed it thru, then blip the throttle a few times...imagine the carnage if it fireballed there and then......
Cheers
F
A fuel motor is under very minimal load during warmups in the pits, and so any kind of fireball would be very very unlikely in those circumstances. Even if a fuel line came off, due to the stoichemetric value of Nitro, a fire would be unlikely. I have seen a demonstration where a lighted match was thrown into a pool of nitro on the floor, the match went out!
Edited by jon c on Tuesday 12th September 20:12
JWB said:
Removed.
Unusual for a bellhousing to allow any scatter as theyre usually "explosion" proof titanium. Having said that even they will give way when confronted with some of the forces found in a drag racing monster.
Looks like an unfortunate set of circumstances conspiring.
Edited by Gazboy on Wednesday 13th September 08:55
jon c said:
Furyous said:
Yes blowers are strapped down with ballistic blankets, but can you picture the scene of a pit warm up, the guys have warmed it thru, then blip the throttle a few times...imagine the carnage if it fireballed there and then.....
F
A fuel motor is under very minimal load during warmups in the pits, and so any kind of fireball would be very very unlikely in those circumstances. Even if a fuel line came off, due to the stoichemetric value of Nitro, a fire would be unlikely. I have seen a demonstration where a lighted match was thrown into a pool of nitro on the floor, the match went out!
I know that, I was just trying to demonstrate the point that it doesnt really matter how far away you are safety wise, shit just happens.
As for titanium clutch cannons, this one looked pretty beat after this happened :
www.eurodragster.com/santapod/live/2006fiaeuropeanfinals/pictures/saturday/pic14.htm
This is Smax's clutch letting go at the top end on Saturday.I watched them strip it down afterwards, and it was mostly very small pieces that came put, not the normal 12 inch diameter clutch plates.......
It really was a freak accident and we shouldn't lose sight of this. Unfortunately it is being sensationalised in certain quarters. Remember that there are many more deaths in horse racing, eventing, etc.
Sadly we are already under close scrutiny from the health and safety people, though so far it has mostly been common sense. As an example, we are not allowed petrol generators in the pits from next year, plus we have been warned to keep flames, especially barbeques well away from fuel. We could do with a crack down on the number of pit bikes - they can be a real pain, especially with kids blasting around on them. We very nearly ran over one when he went for the gap behind my truck, only to see the tow rope at the last moment.
It was a frustrating weekend for my team as the MSD ignition went down. It turns out they use a clocked Motorola chip with a "limp home" mode that I got to know well.... So now its on to sequential injected methanol with a new ECU, hopefully in time for the Flame and Thunder show.
Sadly we are already under close scrutiny from the health and safety people, though so far it has mostly been common sense. As an example, we are not allowed petrol generators in the pits from next year, plus we have been warned to keep flames, especially barbeques well away from fuel. We could do with a crack down on the number of pit bikes - they can be a real pain, especially with kids blasting around on them. We very nearly ran over one when he went for the gap behind my truck, only to see the tow rope at the last moment.
It was a frustrating weekend for my team as the MSD ignition went down. It turns out they use a clocked Motorola chip with a "limp home" mode that I got to know well.... So now its on to sequential injected methanol with a new ECU, hopefully in time for the Flame and Thunder show.
Furyous said:
I know that, I was just trying to demonstrate the point that it doesnt really matter how far away you are safety wise, shit just happens.
As for titanium clutch cannons, this one looked pretty beat after this happened :
www.eurodragster.com/santapod/live/2006fiaeuropeanfinals/pictures/saturday/pic14.htm
This is Smax's clutch letting go at the top end on Saturday.I watched them strip it down afterwards, and it was mostly very small pieces that came put, not the normal 12 inch diameter clutch plates.......
Did you see what the catch can looked like as well??? Looked like someone had hooked it up to an airline!
The whole incident is subject to police enquiries and all this speculation is not helping. An official statement will be made in due course, and untill then I think this thread should stop making any theories public which could prejudice the enquiry, or individuals who may, or may not, have been involved.
Jon
Jon
jon c said:
The whole incident is subject to police enquiries and all this speculation is not helping. An official statement will be made in due course, and untill then I think this thread should stop making any theories public which could prejudice the enquiry, or individuals who may, or may not, have been involved.
Jon
Jon
completely agree with Jon, there is no offical word, speculation and the press sensationalising the news won't help anyone at all. Just let the investigators get on with their jobs, find the cause and then we'll see
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