johnsopa

I was a Thunderbolt for a DE event on Friday. During the drivers meeting, we were told that if we had a mechanical and couldn't make it in to the pits, that we should stop on the track asphalt, but off line. Reason provided was that a car pulled off (went off? not sure) onto the grass at Lightning the prior week. Grass caught on fire since it's been so dry and then car then caught on fire and was possibly destroyed.

Does anyone have details on what happened?

Not sure how I feel about stopping on the track vs driving off onto the grass, but I guess that's better than catching my car on fire.

ANGST

This happened at Summit Point a couple years ago, car had an off , not serious at turn 3 . He smelled the grass smoldering and was moved it carefully back onto the track , despite the flaggers telling him to stay put. He likely saved a fire by not listening to the flagger .

DDun911

This is why I carry a fire extinguisher in addition to fire system. Watched a racer put a grass fire out under his car at NJMP.

johnsopa

I have the small Porsche unit under the passenger seats, but I'm not sure whether what would work. What unit do you use?

dgrobs

Saw this happen at VIR a couple years back during a Chin event. It was a day on the Patriot course.
Car had a mechanical right before rejoining the full course before the roller coaster. Pulled off onto the grass on the right and was engulfed in flame pretty quickly. Driver got out and was fine, but the car was done.
That was the only time I saw this happen in real time, and hopefully the last.
I now always check what the weather has been for the week before I'm at a track and take extra notice of places to pull off if it's been really dry.
Seeing a car in full flames that time really scared the crap out of me and taught me to look at the previous weeks weather before a track event.
I happened to get the red flag when I crested the hill after the right turn off the full course before the uphill esses, so unfortunately, I watched the whole thing unfold in real time. Really wish I hadn't, and I thought the red flags should have come out much earlier, maybe even right when the smoke first started.
From what I was told, they went to black flag past the incident, but those of us behind it were stuck there for a while. A few of us got the full view of everything. Was very relieved to see the driver out of the car when the flames first started.
Be careful out there folks. If it's been really dry leading up your event, exercise extra caution concerning pulling off the track under a mechanical. Plan ahead for something like this for sure.

De Jeeper

I was at the event and actually i was 1 flag stand away under a red flag while it burned.

Driver pulled over between 1 and 2 on the left side due to a damage front bumper caused by the apron in 1. While in the grass the car filled with smoke so he restarted and moved foward but the fire melted return the fuel line and it look like the delorean in back to the future just hit 86mph. Driver shut it back down and got out if the car.

Car was a newer cameo with long tube headers. Fire was contained and car was functional and repairable. A lot of grass was burnt. I probably have some video but not sure ill post without drivers permision

Cuda911

It's always been our region's policy to pull over off-line if disabled, and we don't even have grass at any of our tracks.

tgibrit

out of curiosity, who put the fire out? driver/marshalls/other?

johnsopa

Off-line as in still on the track asphalt?

dgrobs

Yes.

I also find it a little funny that someone from California says there's no grass there.....

Mike in Chi

Same thing happened at Blackhawk Farms years ago. 928 was a total loss.

Cuda911

Yep, on the pavement. All our tracks are in the desert.

dgrobs

Not that kind of gra.......never mind.

Cuda911

dgrobs

Fantastic!!