Fire systems, they're important...

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Cope

Fusing with fire
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Just got a text from a friend who was out racing, he had some engine trouble resulting in a fire and no fire system.

Turning this beauty work of automotive engineering into complete junk.

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Why he didn't have a fire system I cant say, it's not like he couldn't afford one. I've been putting off buying one for my car because of the cost but after seeing this it realy makes me rethink putting off buying one... The driver is fine but the car may be a total loss.
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I wouldn't call that a total loss, but sad for sure. A halon fogger and a few nozzles back there.
 
I cant remember but the car may be a full carbon fiber monocoque chassis.
 
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my helmet after a fire back in 1990, the 5 point harness melted, arm restraints melted to my firesuit, and my fireproof gloves came apart because the thread that they were sewn with melted.
 
Dam....

Were you ok?
Did you have a fire system?

With all the money we spend to build a race car, it seems like 600-1,000 bucks it totally worth the investment.

I have an NHRA approved extinguisher and mount but I have doubts about its ability to put out a real fire.

When the poop hits the ventilator I dont wanna wait for the saftie guys. I want the fire out NOW..
 
When I rolled my Daytona at Norwalk in 2010 fire was the only thing that entered my mind. Being on my roof and sliding for 1/4 mile I couldn't get out as the doors wrap around the roof. I had my hand on my Halon system until the safety guys got there and helped get me out. Halon is great stuff but it removes the oxygen from the air so I would have been my resort setting it off.


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wrecked daytona 001 by John Cadamore, on Flickr


The day before my wreck on an 8.42@160 mph pass.


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norwalk d by John Cadamore, on Flickr
 
What size and what system are you running?
I'm gonna start saving my nickels.
 
Yeah,, thats why I said the Halon "back there"....we have it in our central offices and one bottle went off for some unknown reason. Claxons sounded (didnt even know we had them in there) and strobes went off. everyone (all 3 of us) just walked out within 15 seconds. You would/could walk out if all (20+) the bottles went off but you still have about 15 seconds before it gets dangerous in there as it is heavier than air so itll will "flood" the floor and then start to fill the room.
 
i wore triple layer suit, head sock. top n bottom nomex underwear, nomex socks, shoes and gloves. I actually had 3rd degree burns over 19% and 1st and 2nd over the remaining 81%. the nomex helped, but my worst burns were everywhere my firesuit was tight, like elbows, knees etc. those sleek svelte finely tailored firesuits look good, but the baggier the suit is, the better it protects from thermal burns. I also got bad lung burns and pneumonia from breathing in the soot, from the burning plastic on the helmet shield. the fire extinguisher didnt do much. needed to be about a 40lb tank to have really helped. buy the very best personal gear,,,,trust me
 
Dam, glad you made it out.

Thanks for sharing, and the info about the suit. I would have never thought about that.
 
I thought I read that the new fe36 gas is much friendlier to breath
Than Halon. All the new systems seem to be Fe36 as halon is now banned for environmental reasons.
 
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