So I'm watching Wooostock at Darlington. No spectators but a pile of cars. People are ready to get out.

Anyway, maybe someone else saw it. Guys car erupts in flames at the finish line. Obvious fuel fire, totally involved. Gets it stopped and it's taking the track crew a little time to get on it. And it takes a long time - I mean a looong time - for him to get out. Long enough that I thought "he's in big trouble". Finally rolled out of the thing, just as the fire crew got on it with spray. Tears his jacket and stuff off because it was so hot.

Interviewed him later. Said he saw someone have a bad fire last year, so he had all his stuff updated. But. His HANS got caught in the cage and he couldn't get out. Had to stop and think and ended up having to take his damned helmet off to get out of the car. Had a head sock on that saved him from being burned. Luckily, he wasn't hurt at all.

Moral of the story? They used to make you do a blindfold test when you got your license. Don't recall seeing that done in a long time. But how many people have ever practiced or tried to see how long it took to get out of the car in an emergency.

Might be a good idea. Put your stuff on, strap in and close your eyes. Then try to do an emergency exit drill. See how long it takes, if you get tangled up in anything or if something needs to moved or adjusted. Consider putting a ON-OFF lever in reach for the master switch to get the pumps shut off fast. Seeing it happen to someone really makes you think.

That is a GREAT idea and reminder. I, for one, am def going to do that. Thanks for the reminder!! It could really, litrrally save lives doing that. Thx.

I also updated all my safety stuff this season. Shoes, socks , gloves and new head sock. The practice of getting out in an emergency has to be one of the best ideas. Hopefully you never have to do it in a real situation. Birdtracker

I am amazed on how long it takes and a window net will really slow you down.I think I took 8sec.

I have a master cut off in car next to shifter, not only for safety, mostly the number of times I’ve gotten all strapped in and then realized I forgot to turn power on outside. The inside switch gets used the most now. Jim

Getting in and out of a car wearing a HANS can be an issue for sure. They stick up a good bit and can get hung up especially in a tight car. The lay back angle and height of the back of them is pretty significant. I went with a Neksgen for those reasons having caught a car on fire before. The little straps to release them from your helmet are not super easy to find when you are not in a hurry.

Now after practicing.... do 5-6 shots of your Fave cocktail and try it again.
In a crash you may get your bell rung. You will act like you're drunk and may not do everything right.

In my 2015 Motorcycle crash after slamming the concrete bairrer at 75 MPH and sliding down the freeway 450+ feet I could not get my helmet off. I tried and tried. I thought I had undone the 'D' binder but had not. The State Patrol Trooper also had to sit me down as I was walking around.... with a broken leg. I rang my bell big time.

Al..... having aided you in getting in your car, I can’t imagine getting out fairly quick.

Enders was stuck in a burning ProMod car for a long time last year because of that I believe. New parts were designed over the winter and are required this year in Pro Mod and Pro Stock. Definitely should be looked at for a new build or upgrade.

Jay some of those old timers move pretty slow. Till the dinner bell sounds.

In my case more of a 10lbs of stuff in a 2lb bag. These modern pro stock style cars can be very tight. Especially when you have a -15 suit o. I keep my belts VERY tight and try t leave the lap belt at that tension all the time. Just not a lot room to adjust them once in. Jay has seen the circus of ingress and egress

And here I thought I was the only one that struggled. Being 6 ft and 270 pds plus 70 years old, it takes me a bit. Thanks for the post CMc, will practice and see if I can get out with helmet on!

This is a great thread! I am definitely going to practice getting out in a hurry. Maybe my window net and steering wheel tilt will need revisions for quick easy operation. I don't know till I practice. And a guy needs to consider, the car could be on the side or on the roof.

Look how quick Nick plewniak got out:

https://youtu.be/lJ8J-iowHN0

Honestly, I had never thought much about it, but this Mustang lit up like a bad funny car fire. And the guy wasn't coming out of it and the track crew had to come to him, took a few moments. Then the interview later on. Had to take his helmet off to get untangled. I just thought that would have been an awful stupid way to get burned or die.

After you guys get this down pat try it with the car on its roof in a 7.50 cert funny car caged dodge Daytona. I needed help.

Would have been interesting to know fuel line routing on that car....

No thanks! My first decent car was a 55chevy,,,,,,, hmmmm

I saw a post From Jason Digby who had a conversation with him. I guess an EGT fitting had a crack around and it shot flame out of the pipe and cut a fuel line.