[Elarson]

Watch this video and ponder using better a better fire suit, gloves and head sock than NHRA requires.

https://bangshift.com/bangshift1320/...he-hindenburg/

A couple of points to make:

1) Looks like a very typical mid-level bracket car...not unlike what many on this board may drive. Nothing extreme like a nitro car or Pro Mod.

2) It took 26 seconds from onset of fire till first application of fire fighting. Not a bad response time from the track crew but think about this..... an SFI 3.2A/10 suit is only rated for 19 seconds before second degree burns set in. The typical 3.2A/5 suit is good for only 10 seconds. Adding a nomex undershirt, socks, etc. is a cheap way to add more protected duration.

Eric

[Scott Roberts]

Originally Posted by Elarson

Watch this video and ponder using better a better fire suit, gloves and head sock than NHRA requires.

https://bangshift.com/bangshift1320/...he-hindenburg/

A couple of points to make:

1) Looks like a very typical mid-level bracket car...not unlike what many on this board may drive. Nothing extreme like a nitro car or Pro Mod.

2) It took 26 seconds from onset of fire till first application of fire fighting. Not a bad response time from the track crew but think about this..... an SFI 3.2A/10 suit is only rated for 19 seconds before second degree burns set in. The typical 3.2A/5 suit is good for only 10 seconds. Adding a nomex undershirt, socks, etc. is a cheap way to add more protected duration.

Eric

Cleary a no brainer, especially in a fuel car.

[Skip Fix]

HMP is a very narrow track. Trees on the right asphalt circle track on the left.
Lots of the circle track cars use an in car fire suppression system-something to think about in a drag car?

[Tom Vaught]

During the SCCA Racing Days, 1988 (years ago) Teched a lot of Trans Am Cars.

So I had one guy (Irv Hoare) who was fighting a rule of a fire suppression nozzle under the hood and one in the car. He wanted to put both of them under the hood. I told him no deal. So he complained and did it his way anyway.

And they did have a fire sometime later, fire under the hood and spread to the drivers compartment. He had a good suit so no bad burns but the fire scared him.

So the next race BOTH nozzles were in the driver's area. Had to tell him this time,
Ok to have two Nozzles in the drivers compartment but you still need to have one under the hood. So we compromised and he installed 3 nozzles. Met the rule and his kid (the driver) was safe in the driver's area.

Having the air systems in the car with air pumped in the helmet also seems to keep the flames away from the driver's head/upper shoulders but still one more thing to service.
Drag Race Car (like yours Eric and Mike) might benefit from it too. Help with not breathing the Methanol.

Tom V.

[Elarson]

We have breathing air pumped into my helmet. It keeps fumes and flames out.

Eric

[Dragncar]

I have a welding hood that does the same thing. You dont want to breath burning chrome, nickle ect.

[twooldgoats]

I have a 5# fire system in my car (better than nothing) and nozzles in the engine compartment and in the driver's compartment. I figure it might help until the track crew arrives. Of course, you have to be conscious to activate it, so my wife (crew chief) mentions it to track personnel so they know the car is equipped.

I also wear a -15 suit and funny car gloves (thanks for that last tip, guys, after your fire). All that stuff means I don't run the car in mid-summer in Tucson, but it provides some peace of mind when I do run it. I keep telling myself, if it was easy to run sevens, everyone would do it.

Jim

[Jack Gifford]

I'm not looking forward to sweltering in a -20 suit whenever my lakester is ready to run. But the stringent SCTA safety rules have certainly proved their worth over time.

[Elarson]

My experience over the years is that the best thing to do to alleviate the sweltering feeling is pumping cooling air into my helmet. That keeps my glasses and shield from fogging up too.

Eric

[Tom Vaught]

Glad you guys already have that air system in place.

I have inspected systems where a racer used ICE (with air blown across it) and it helped add a slight bit of moisture to the eyes during a long session on the track.

Tom V.