Re: Dart on fire and no one to put it out
[Re: quick77rt ]
#1074174
09/13/11 09:42 PM
09/13/11 09:42 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,330 Lynchburg, VA
Leon441
master
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master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,330
Lynchburg, VA
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Uknow what really bites on this deal. This track does an awesome job prepping the track. They seem to be one of the better facilities. I fealt that they were on top of things. Man, a desperate hope of a fire truck. No one there. Hey I can start it and use it myself. Nope don't run. Probably no water on it either.
This track has taken collections up for people in bad accidents. I'm sure no collections for blowed motors or trannies. But, there is no question the damage could have been minimized if the track had been better prepared. Something failed on this car. It is part of racing but, like said, if there is not going to be anyone to aid in your personal safety why have belts cages or anything. Screw it just take the chance. Looks like the track did.
Everyone talks fire extinguisher or fire system. Halon would have cut the blaze. Providing there was no heat and gas to fire up again that is a fix. A fire extinguisher if found and used quick enough may have saved some material. Once that glass hood was on fire neither would have put it out. Just too hot. Nothing would have beat a man in a working fire truck to meet you at the turn and very possibly save your life.
Donald is furious as everyone would be. The first thing he did was thank God for saving his life and helping him keep his cool and not killing anyone that was trying to film his car burning. I always liked Donald from the first time I met him in 94' when he towed my wifes car for us early one morning. I'm sure he will get through this. Mike also had a lot in this car. These guys really took a hard blow. We all suffer with racing from time to time. Sure hope they can get through this one.
Leon
Career best 8.02 @ 169 at 3050# and 10" tires small block power.
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Re: Dart on fire and no one to put it out
[Re: Leigh]
#1074177
09/13/11 10:37 PM
09/13/11 10:37 PM
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,379 MD
Kevins493
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,379
MD
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That really sucks to see. I've always carried an extinguisher in the car, but i doubt halon would have put it out. Here's the original thread on yb, there were people talking about setting up a paypal or something of that nature. http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=408145&page=9
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Re: Dart on fire and no one to put it out
[Re: Kevins493]
#1074178
09/13/11 11:05 PM
09/13/11 11:05 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,813 Blue Ridge, VA
Plumb Wired
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,813
Blue Ridge, VA
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Thanks for all of the sympathy and well wishes.
I don't want to say to much as we don't where this may go legally.
As I said in my post on YB, yes we should have had a fire system on the car and there WILL be one on the Dart or any other guy I have anything to do with in the future. However I do not think a 5 pound Halon nor a small extinguisher mounted somewhere in the car would have done any good. A 10-15 pound foam system maybe.
Also, Donald killed the power to everything on the overhead switch panel as he went across the finish line. He was out of the throttle at 4.82 seconds according to the Racepak and then killed the master cutoff switch at the back of the car when he got out.
With all of the damage we may never know what started the fire. I will tell you it got hot enough to melt the front bowl off of the carb as well as the boosters & squirters out of the carb.
Mike Gray
RIP Monte Smith
aka: OutlawFish '98 Bickel Dodge Dakota PST
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Re: Dart on fire and no one to put it out
[Re: RapidusMaximus]
#1074183
09/13/11 11:57 PM
09/13/11 11:57 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,266 Renton Washington
Triple Threat
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,266
Renton Washington
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Donald, Mike, I'm terribly sorry to see this happen, really does make me sick to watch that video. If we can help in any way please don't hesitate to ask.
-Dustin 67 Dart, 9 second, 392" G3 Hemi 68 Barracuda 340 F/SA
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Re: Dart on fire and no one to put it out
[Re: gearjammerdart]
#1074186
09/14/11 01:05 AM
09/14/11 01:05 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,697 Renton Wa
topfueldart
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,697
Renton Wa
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This sickens me. Mike and Donald, I feel for you, and wish there was some way I could help. Hopefully the loss doesn't keep you down long. Andrew
11.48 @ 120 with a 1.80 60' 318, stock 1.88 heads, stock 904, Pump Gas, 13 lbs of boost.
9.94 @ 134, 318 on pump gas, 14 lbs w/ Eddies, transbrake 727, 3600 lbs, 3.54 gear and 28's.
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Re: Dart on fire and no one to put it out
[Re: Gary Robbins]
#1074188
09/14/11 02:27 AM
09/14/11 02:27 AM
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,019 Finland
mafo
super stock
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super stock
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,019
Finland
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That s a shame, one of my favorite cars
-65 Valiant,420", all motor,2700#, dot tires, 8,42 @ 160,2
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Re: Dart on fire and no one to put it out
[Re: jef408]
#1074191
09/14/11 02:18 PM
09/14/11 02:18 PM
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,642 Chicago, Illinois
donscuda
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,642
Chicago, Illinois
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I hate seeing fires like that... I used to part of the saftey crew for the UDRA before it shut down, we ran pro mod, alcohol funny cars, and alcohol dragsters. I was part of the crew on the top end, and we had to pull a couple of guys out of some pretty bad fires over the years. I'm glad the driver is ok, but I agree with everyone here, there is no excuse for the track to not have AT LEAST a couple of people, one with a fire suit and a couple of extinguishers on the top end...
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