Leaded race fuel in Canada??????

[cicero819]

I know this isn't going to be a popular thread fro me but here goes. Better get use to it because Tetra-ethyl lead isn't a great substance to leave behind us when we are gone and gentlemen it's imprint is there for a long time, it's being ingested by millions of people every day, it's one of the nastiest product ever introduced in our environment. I for one being a responsible racer doesn't want anyone to shove it down our throat anymore than anyone else but it's a fact that we can live without it. General Motors has spent millions of dollars(before they become Government Motors) in studies confirming that no evidence of valve seat recession cause by removing of tetra-ethyl in racing or conventional usage gasoline. Most engines that had factory-installed hardened valve seats,and many flame hardened cast iron seats survived the elimination of lead, although when the flame hardened seats were resurfaced they were more inclined to recession problems mostly caused by an overaggressive mechanic or engine builder with a new valve seat tool.Run lead free Avgas for a fifth of vp racing fuels. It's my opinion and I know what is said about opinions. Claude Ruel

[Doug Domm]

Well Claude I must say that I am NOT enviromentally ignorant as I have made many changes in my life to be greener. However I do live in the prairie provinces of Canada and my race car shop alone with heating and electrical etc. leaves a larger footprint than my race car could ever leave. The comparatively miniscule amount of leaded race fuel I would consume in a year don't mean spit. Doug

[Rory McNeil]

Also Claude, I really doubt that NHRA has fuel specs for low lead AV gas. Don`t forget that Stock & S/S cars need to burn a NHRA accepted brand & grade of fuel, and we do need to have our fuel analyzed when competing at an NHRA divisional or Nat`l event. Personally, my 85 Mustangs 8.4-1 compression 302 runs at least as fast on Chevron 92 octane unleaded pump gas, but I can`t run it at a NHRA race, so I run VP C12.

[cicero819]

Doug never did I want to morale anyone, all I was pointing out that leaded fuels leave an undesirable side effect near were we race, the land adjacent to the race track, Environment Canada and EPA had conducted test from soil samples near Sanair many years ago after a Major Event (the Grand National)and found an unacceptable high level of lead near or next to the track on the level of 100 times higher level than those samples near major highways and Freeways. Rory I was just entertaining the thought, why not look at another source of unleaded alternative instead of being gouge by unscrupulous retailers. I know NHRA wants but why not try another form of fuel. This is by no way me being green but sometime we have to beat the government to the punch before they take us out for the count. Claude

[Rory McNeil]

Claude, a number of years ago, Enviroment Canada set up some air quality collecting and sampling devices at Mission Raceway, during a typical bracket race, and from what I understand, the testing results were virtually negligable. More recently, they did a similar testing at Eagle Motorplex near Cache Creek BC, and again the results were minimal. I would have to think that the "damage" caused by lead would be many times greater from the decades of use in virtually every motor vehicle in Canada until the early 80`s. Trust me, if I could burn everyday unleaded pump gas (at approx. $4.50 a US gallon)in my low compression Stocker, instead of the VP C12 (at $12. per gallon) at a NHRA event, AND pass fuel check, I would. However, what NHRA "wants", is what we are required to use at a NHRA event. I am certainly no "tree hugger", but the cost saving (& ready availability) would be a big plus. Of course, the pump gas would likely not be ideal in an earlier high compression engine, so there will alway`s be a demand for the "good stuff".

[Doug Domm]

Claude, did they test before the event as well or just after the event as you mentioned? Doug