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Thread: April Grassroots article

  1. #1
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    Default April Grassroots article

    Very good article by Charles Espenlaub about his fire at Thunderhill. I may reassess my dislike of wearing a balaclava, and check for worn spots on everything.

    Jim Barnsley, Streetwise Service
    WCMA IT2 Neon Twincam
    2009/2010 Regional and Alberta IT2 Champion
    2009 Regional Overall Champion. Second this year, dammit.

  2. #2
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    I always wear a balaclava, even w/o facial hair; it's a great way to keep your helmet from getting quite so badly funked up.
    Vaughan Scott
    Detroit Region #280052
    '79 924 #77 ITB
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  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by 924Guy View Post
    I always wear a balaclava, even w/o facial hair; it's a great way to keep your helmet from getting quite so badly funked up.
    May be hotter n' hell on a 90deg day but worth every penny. I'm amazed at guys I see wearing cotton tshirts under their nomex in the summer in New England...ouch.

  4. #4
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    Anyone who wears Nomex because they think they might actually BE in a fire has already figured this out. Same goes for helmet visors.

    K

  5. #5
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    I've always been a big fan of open-face helmets. After reading this article - and seeing the photos - .... ain't so sure any more...

    GA, shopping for balaclava...

  6. #6
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    I've been making it a point to run DEs with my visor down and 3-layer suit more. It's a motha to do that in the 100+ heat in Texas, but that article definitely makes 30 min of sweating seem like a good compromise.
    The chances of a blown engine and car fire are nearly the same whether you're at a DE or in the middle of a race, so it only makes sense to wear full safety gear.

  7. #7
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    Yeah. you guys should been there.... the car, the fireball, the tears from the crew were all too real.

    Wear your nomex boys and girls...
    Marcus
    miller-motorsports.com - Its always an Adventure (and woefully outdated)
    1.6 ITE/SPU/ST2 Turbo Miata (in pieces... err progress)

  8. #8
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    Didn't folks learn from Dale Jr's ALMS Corvette fire at Sonoma in 2004? If I recall correctly he wasn't wearing a balaclava and was burned pretty good.
    David Russell
    IT Volvo 242

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by rsportvolvo View Post
    Didn't folks learn from Dale Jr's ALMS Corvette fire at Sonoma in 2004? If I recall correctly he wasn't wearing a balaclava and was burned pretty good.
    The story as I understood it was that he wasn't wearing long johns and burned his naughty bits a bit...

    K

  10. #10
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    He was burned in multiple areas. I guess I wasn't as interested in the "naughty bits" as Kirk was.

    Here's a write up on it:

    http://www.nascar.com/2004/news/head...ety/index.html
    David Russell
    IT Volvo 242

  11. #11
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    Interesting that with the number of crashes in NASCAR, many of the drivers choose not to wear nomex underwear or balaclavas.

  12. #12
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    Considering the number of crashes in NASCAR and the small number of fires, I wonder if those guys don't take the threat of fire seriously anymore.

    I read the article today at lunch and two things struck me:

    1) I need to practice getting out of the car with my eyes closed (I think the NHRA has a test for funny car drivers that requires them to locate the parachute and fuel shut-off with their eyes closed) and

    2) A hand-held fire extinguisher (which I have) isn't much good if you are on fire and still driving the car!!

    Bob Clifton
    #05 ITB Dodge Daytona

  13. #13
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    NASCAR has some rather substantial fire suppression systems as i understand them.

    what i think is interesting is how good this article in GRM was and how lame the article in SportsCar was where they discharged a system basically to see what happens.

    SCCA HQ wants us to get the GCR electronically to save money. i wish i could have the cash equivalent of my SportsCar subscription back. i'd use it to extend my GRM subscription.
    1985 CRX Si competed in Solo II: AS, CS, DS, GS
    1986 CRX Si competed in: SCCA Solo II CSP, SCCA ITA, SCCA ITB, NASA H5
    1988 CRX Si competed in ITA & STL

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by tom91ita View Post
    NASCAR has some rather substantial fire suppression systems as i understand them.

    what i think is interesting is how good this article in GRM was and how lame the article in SportsCar was where they discharged a system basically to see what happens.

    SCCA HQ wants us to get the GCR electronically to save money. i wish i could have the cash equivalent of my SportsCar subscription back. i'd use it to extend my GRM subscription.
    Pay the $45 to join NASA and you get a year free to GRM($19.95)!!
    $25 to join SCCA's rival seems like it might be a good deal....LOL. Also, NASA has several all day track days at LRP for $75 less than one of their competitors.:026:

  15. #15
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    i have been a NASA member in the past and did not care for it. ymmv.

    but i might do the 10 year GRM for 99.99 plus free T-shirt for the next go-around.
    1985 CRX Si competed in Solo II: AS, CS, DS, GS
    1986 CRX Si competed in: SCCA Solo II CSP, SCCA ITA, SCCA ITB, NASA H5
    1988 CRX Si competed in ITA & STL

  16. #16
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    I wear all my gear all the time. I did a NASA event with an in car instructor. He wore jeans and a T-Shirt and told me that it wasn't necessary or required to wear a full suit since it was a HPDE. I just told him it was practice for when I don't have a choice. But, I also wouldn't go out without full safety gear. I wasn't gonna go any slower than if I was racing. Accidents happen all the time. By the end of the day someone had rolled their car in one of the turns. Just as easily could have been a fire, etc.

    Grassroots is obviously a better mag, but I have an onboard fire system and have always been curious. Probaly better as video. Speaking of onboard fire systems where and how much to have recharged?

    I don't quite understand the concept of the facial hair thing. What does hair do when it's on fire?

    Burns like everything else.

  17. #17
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    I THINK hair catches fire and it's ON your face. So if one flame gets between your helmet and you, you're more screwed with a beard.
    Jake Gulick


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  18. #18
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    I look at it this way, we spend soo much money on the best tires we can afford, best brakes we can afford. Whats a balaclava, a few bucks? Just as we upgrade the performance, we should look at upgrading our safety systems as money allows as well.

    Of course, not everyone has a family back home to worry about.

  19. #19
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    i always wear of DR jeans

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