Thread: Racing fuel cells

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Seen some crazy stuff chasin racin. But the Smitty's Garage sprint car can seem to come up with stuff nobody has ever seen. Pictured is the fuel cell (tail tank) that holds methanol alcohol racing fuel. These tanks are designed just like the fuel tanks in modern day fighter jets with an outer shell and a bladder inside to contain the fuel in crashes. Well as you can see the plate that covers the hole where you put the bladder thru is blown out ?????? After many questions and phone calls we figured out that the vent hose for the fuel cell was lit off by fire belching from the exhaust headers (normal) This is a very good example of why all racing sanctions should mandate fuel cells. If this would have been the average fuel tank without a bladder that a lot of guys use,our driver would have got a good test of his fire suit ! By the way the vent hose has been relocated. And please dont confuse those inexpensive plastic fuel tanks that are sold and advertized as a fuel cell with the real thing. TANK.JPG

You think you've seen some crazy stuff? You should have been lookin' over my shoulder for the last few decades!!! Fire was and is my worst fear and I have trailered more than a few for fuel system stupidity. Any infraction involving fuel is MAJOR, but one of the worst is to run fuel lines in the driveshaft tunnel. I used to see this all the time, but word got around and in the last few years that I teched, I didn't find the lines there any more.

The vent/rollover valve is located on the top plate that you can just barely see in the top of the picture. Normally I just put a small filter on that fitting and all is well. But a few weeks ago we where at a World of Outlaw show and those guys all had a hose off the vent run down to the bottom of the chassis. Well monkey see monkey do,my partner ran a hose down the side of the chassis and that is the results.

That's wild! Do you have another picture from a bit farther back, or maybe an overall shot of the car to help put that into perspective? Just having trouble visualizing from that close-up.

tank2.JPGRoger.Iv'e got another picture of the side but not very good,I'll post it though. Both pictures are of the tail tank off of the car sitting on top of a race tire. On a sprint car that tail tank is bolted on the rear of the chassis with nothing seperating the driver from the tank except the back of the aluminum seat,maybe 3 inches of air and his firesuit.

Heres a couple internet pictures that may put it in perspective.sprint4.jpgsprint3.jpg

OK, that explains it crystal clear - I was trying to visualize it mounted, and the tire tread had me all messed up!! That also makes it soooo much more scary, to know where it's mounted, and that the tank "puffed" like that due to the vent flash! Like you said, but for the bladder the driver would have been in a cloud of fire!!

Originally Posted by rspears

OK, that explains it crystal clear - I was trying to visualize it mounted, and the tire tread had me all messed up!! That also makes it soooo much more scary, to know where it's mounted, and that the tank "puffed" like that due to the vent flash! Like you said, but for the bladder the driver would have been in a cloud of fire!!

Yup, but with methanol theres no color to the fire. usually don't know your on fire till stuff starts melting ! or the fire crew see ya rolling on the ground.

On the sprinter's we used to run the old tank strap, too. Tank and bladder rested in a cradle, the strap held it in place....There were two bolts, one on either side that secured the strap and tank to the frame...Used to cut these two bolts about half way through with a die grinder, on the first impact when you flip the car the tank would break away from the car. Never liked having methanol running down my neck when the car was upside down!!!! Another scary thing on a sprinter was an oil fire if you kicked a rod out the side!!!! Thoroughly checked the quality of a firesuit on a couple of them deals!!!!!

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

Another scary thing on a sprinter was an oil fire if you kicked a rod out the side!!!! Thoroughly checked the quality of a firesuit on a couple of them deals!!!!!

Heck Dave,thats when ya just pull her outa gear and coast right up to the fire truck ! But of course in them days that involved fumblin tween your legs to find the in/out box lever after you get the screen door spring loose that holds it in gear, but most of the time you was too busy with the task at hand. Now days you just flip the little lever in the cock pit,easy.smeasy. I'm telling you these young uns driving now days don't know what they where missing.

Originally Posted by HWORRELL

Heck Dave,thats when ya just pull her outa gear and coast right up to the fire truck ! But of course in them days that involved fumblin tween your legs to find the in/out box lever after you get the screen door spring loose that holds it in gear, but most of the time you was too busy with the task at hand. Now days you just flip the little lever in the cock pit,easy.smeasy. I'm telling you these young uns driving now days don't know what they where missing.

Bunch of spoiled kids if you ask me!!!!!! Heck, they even have power steering and brakes that will stop the car, plus that barn door lookin' thing on top of the car!!!!! You just haven't raced til you did a 50 lapper in a non-winged sprinter with no power steering!!!!! Think I still have a CAE in and out box laying on a shelf out to the farm!!!!