Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

For 2023, WWO Sprints will need to add approved fire suppression.  My question is why?  Do we have a serious fire problem?  Seems the rule just adds more costs, more weight, more hassle, more to inspect.  Are we trying to solve a problem that really doesn't exist?

I'm just a fan so I'm not spending the money, but I think it's a good idea. There's no point in waiting until a fire happens and someone gets burned to implement the safety equipment. Then everyone is bitching about the lack of proper safety equipment. 

Wolfgangs career wouldn't have ended the way it did if these systems were around and in the rules.

Good rule.

yes...people like me will bitch about proper safety equipment.  good to see them being proactive instead of reactive.  

Good idea, so long as properly designed and installed.

One ownders how this would perform with a full load of Alky?

See on Summit &  Speedway Motors systems are less than $500, so not a severe costs for a ~$75 car.

The weekend warriors maybe the ones who balk at this, unless all tracks adopt it.

Nice article on these systems: Motortrend Fire

There's a lot of chatter on Facebook, and twitter on this subject. From my perspective, for the value it seems to be worth doing. It wasn't clear to me though if local drivers will be required to run the same equipment when the WOO shows up. However it seems that Knoxville and the WOO generally mimic rules. 

While we're on the subject of safety, I've seen many drivers, fans, drivers wives, complain about the fire suppression requirement, and then ask why are the tracks not required to do training. There is a safety council that was formed sometime after Jason Johnson passed away. I believe Darren Pittman was a prominent member of this council. During a podcast, maybe Open Red, he stated that they walk the tracks to address any issues that can be easily fixed. Hopefully this is still happening in addition to addressing long term needs. 

I do think it's a good idea to have some type of basic safety standard that the WOO requires, and I'm assuming this already exist. If you're a local racer, where no sanctioning exists you SHOULD KNOW the risks. And from what I can tell, something simple as fire extingishers and training are sometimes lacking, so there we are, back to the requirement of the fire suppression system. 

It would be interesting to know that if a track has the money, and facilitey to host a WOO Race, will they get turned down if they do not have adequate safety personnel, whatever WOO considers adequate? 

I've seen others ask if purses are going to raise if this is required, and while that would be nice, it's not feasible, not now not ever. BUTTTTT purses are going up, including more than just where you're finishing in the Main event.

Keep It Real

Just had a fatality in mini-sprints in the North Texas area from a fire this past season.   A little expense, but at least they're not waiting until someone is seriously hurt or killed.   

Late Models and most other forms of dirt racing have this already, it's honestly a wonder why it's taking so long for Sprints.

As for local teams, as with everything else, the local tracks will all adopt the WoO rules and require it.

order now, they will be on back order if they are like everything else.

Fire suppression isn't a bad idea.  I don't know what the requirements are going to be on nozzle placement and bottle size. About the only place I think you could get a big bottle would be the opposite side of were the oil tank is for the dry sump.  Remember one thing people fear about these systems, they go off, they purge all the oxygen out of the surrounding area. A guy upside down with a wing down around the cage may not be a good position for a driver to be in.

This has been in the RaceSaver rules for years as

strongly recommended. We have always had one on our 305 car.

Teams should be required to have an extingisher on their push vehicle as well.

When it comes to safety, costs, weight or anything else, that should not be of concern.

The safety of drivers should always be at the top of any rule book.

Should have been a WoO rule a long time ago.

,

most younger fans do not know about Mel Kenyon, Lee Kunzman, Jimmy Hurtabise and Doug Wolfgang.  All of these drivers could have died.  Hurtabise they formed his hands and fingers in a closed position so Jimmy could steer a car and as he said hold a can of beer in my hands.  Mel was burnt terrible on face and body.  He had to have  numerous operations.  Lee had throttle stick and car was as high as telephone poles outside of track on fire.  Lee had some broken bones and was pinned in car.  He said  if I do not get out of car I will die.  He pulled as hard as he could and got out with terrible burns on face and bodyWe all know about Doug I think.  All of the drivers came back and raced again.  Lee won his first race back but he was so weak they had to tape hands to steering wheel.  These guys were tough.

I'm familar with all those drivers.  Was there anything in those older cars that made fire more of a problem than in today's sprint car designs?  I'm not aware of any driver having been seriously burned in recent memory.  At least in sprint cars.  Maybe I'm forgetting someone who has. 

Where to start!? Kenyon and Hurtabese were both burned in full-bodied indy roadsters-they dont mke a fire suppresion system BIG enough the would have helped Wolfgang.Fire suppression systems aren't very effective in an open body car like are sprint car.This will mean even LESS cars at WoO shows in the future.We are already forced to buy safety equipment for events that have never happened [axle tethers etc]You can bet WHATEVER system is used will have to by WoO "approved" with the appropriate finacial kick back to the sanctioning body ala NHRA

In the last 25 years I wonder just many WOO drivers would have benefited by having fire suppression in their cars?  I assume WRG would have some stats wouldn't they?  Kuzman's crash was 50 years ago.  Aren't fuel systems safer and more robust today?  And better designed?  With effective bladders? 

Anything that can add safety at $600 is cheap.Teathers Hans better seats safer race tracks all help. We have all seen Mario and AJ in open faced helmets with bandanas wearing t-shirts. If Dale Sr had been wearing full face helmet things might have been different.Fire seldom happens but it can1

Zeb Wise tail tank exploded  last year on 8/29/21.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgZ8byjGj84

Bring back Santa Fe, and LaSalle .

Right.  But did he get burned?  Would fire suppression have saved him injuries?  If Zeb was really injuried at all.  Just trying to determine the extent of the problem being addressed with their new mandate. 

to really determine the extent of the issue.. light a match.. hold it under your finger...  You'll figure it out...

Fortunately he was not injured because the fuel sprayed away from the car.

Why not be proactive ?

Bring back Santa Fe, and LaSalle .