Class Racers Please Read!!

[mcintosh]

My name is Dane McIntosh (#5733) and run in Stock Eliminator. I would like to make known some of my thoughts on fuel sampling.

In my opinion, the current requirements are very dangerous. I have had 40+ years hauling fuel to ag customers, oil field customers and retail outlets. I also have 20+ years of transporting fuel from the refineries.

#1 All vehicles (ie: race cars) have to be grounded - remember it is on four rubber tires. When you touch the vehicle at ANY time - you are the ground and this is when a spark can occur. Your damp feet (even in rubber soled shoes) will make continuity.
#2 Very Important - nothing electrical can be on - the fuel pump CANNOT be used to retrieve the sample.
Exxon Mobil quidelines include: no cell phones, no radios and no lights (nothing electrical) on while loading fuel. All trucks have to have shielded alternators and starters and no catalytic converters.
#3 Plastic containers, buckets and hoses are totally banned. Metal buckets w/ground straps only.
#4 You never expose gas vapors to anything hot ie: the engine you just shut off at fuel check.
#5 You never set any containers on a table that is not grounded - NHRA's table?
#6 You never allow fuel to come in contact with your skin, rubber gloves should be used. When a spark and fire erupts you may have a chance to elude a catastrophic injury.

I have been force fed by Exxon Mobil some horrific film of fires where toddlers and moms were killed by leaving vehicles running while fueling. These "real life" films leave an unforgetable memory and you do make every effort to not let it happen to you.

I would only support gravity sampling directly from the fuel tank or cell with a 1/4 turn brass valve into a metal container that is on the ground as the metal container will ground itself and the vapors will stay low.

N.H.R.A. needs to consult with the fuel experts - who will agree with what I've stated and change the sampling policies.

Thanks

[J Giermanski]

Good post some very good points here. Just out of curiosty I have to ask, why no catalytic converters? Is it because of the heat they can generate?

[Robert Pare Racing]

Dane, good information there. It can be exciting when taking a fuel sample from a fuel injected car after a run. I have a petcock at the tank to take a sample, but NHRA told me at Reading a few years ago it was no longer allowed.

[Chad Rhodes]

Originally Posted by Robert Pare Racing

Dane, good information there. It can be exciting when taking a fuel sample from a fuel injected car after a run. I have a petcock at the tank to take a sample, but NHRA told me at Reading a few years ago it was no longer allowed.

there is a reson that you can't sample from the cell, and must sample from the front of the car. I think there is some good info in that post, and its definetly all OSHA and DOT compliant. However I think that accommodating those requirements would make the fuel check process completely impractical. we are dealing with 2-4oz of fuel here, in cars that in alot of cases have a maximum capacity of 3-5 gallons. This is also after a run. Liquid Gasoline is not the issue, Gasoline vapors are. there just isnt that much vapor that can escape through an 1/8NPT fitting.

[mannymen]

Real easy fix for all of this is to scrap Fuel Checks altogether. NHRA doesn't check for nitrous every run so why bother. Heck why not just provide an oil sample from the pan and have the chemists inspect it for everything not legal

[Ed Fernandez]

Originally Posted by mannymen

Real easy fix for all of this is to scrap Fuel Checks altogether. NHRA doesn't check for nitrous every run so why bother. Heck why not just provide an oil sample from the pan and have the chemists inspect it for everything not legal

That's right,dumb us down a little more.Remember ERC?How much a gallon?Just use common sense at fuel check.
Maybe no weight check either.Or helmets and pants.It's too hot in the car.

[Joe Schweigert]

Originally Posted by Robert Pare Racing

Dane, good information there. It can be exciting when taking a fuel sample from a fuel injected car after a run. I have a petcock at the tank to take a sample, but NHRA told me at Reading a few years ago it was no longer allowed.

For the FI guys take the sample from the return line you only need to hold on to the cup with one hand

[Robert Pare Racing]

lol..its the splish splash that had me worried. Its no biggy now, but the first couple of times were a little tense. I am a bit high strung as it is.

[Mike Fuller]

I agree with most of what was said concerning pumping fuel and wearing rubber gloves. If you have a chance to get a MSDS on gasoline you will never want this stuff touching your skin again. When they first started fuel check I had a drain valve at the rear of the car,but that was no longer allowed after the first year of checking fuel. It will take a serios accident to happen before NHRA/IHRA understands the danger involved with checking fuel using the current method.