Landracing Forum
East Coast Timing Association => ECTA Rules Questions => Topic started by: Captthundarr on October 07, 2011, 11:17:07 AM
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Under the fuel system rule , 3.I there is the statement"All components of the fuel system shall be isolate from the drivers compartment or pre-approved by the Technical committee". Here is the issue, I have a fuel cell securely mounted in the luggage well in the rear of our '91 camaro. the cell and well are separated from the rest of the cockpit by a sealed cover. I've been told that I need to install a bulkhead between the 2 areas. This would be vary hard to do without a 4 foot long contour gauge. any input would be appreciated.
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I think you will be ok, as long as it is 100% sealed and vented outside the car. A sealed compartment is isolated from the drivers compartment. I would still check with Joe or keith on this to be sure.
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Keith "peeked" at it but didn't "really" look at it and kept saying this and that won't "go at Bonneville????? Ain't going to B'ville, going to Maxton then Ohio. Just need shake down runs at maxton and a good tech inspection so I don't drag this thing all the way to Ohio just to be told it won't pass. Got 5 copies of the rule book and can just about quote it word for word. If "isolated" means bulkhead use the word bulkhead.
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An alumumun box built to cover the fuel cell should do it. Mine has a small (8"x8") door that is held down by a zuse, that is lifted up to fill the cell. The box isolates the cell from the driver. Works for me.
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An alumumun box built to cover the fuel cell should do it. Mine has a small (8"x8") door that is held down by a zuse, that is lifted up to fill the cell. The box isolates the cell from the driver. Works for me.
Got a box around it ,I'll post pic later.
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"If "isolated" means bulkhead use the word bulkhead."
Doesn't.
DW
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Heres a couple of pics of our set up. to seal the "compartment" would require fitting and sealing the bulkhead to the compound rear glass not easy in the least.
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In the pictures,,That Fuel cell with box over it sure does meets the definition of "Islolated".
Charles
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Thanks for the replies everyone. not trying to beat the system but when I read a rule with pacific :-D language I tend to stick to it. In my jobs as Safety, Health and Environmental manager and industrial maintenance manager I have written many policies, programs and rules and learned that saying what you mean clearly is all important for the effectiveness of the policies, etc.Besides, My wife,Amy, drives the car and the last thing I would compromise on is her safety.
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Isolated means / Tip the car upside down after a hit of between 2 and 20 G's and NOT have any fuel leakage into the drivers compartment.
The "fuel cells" most folks are running are nothing more than cheap blow molded plastic tanks.
A REAL fuel cell is a ballistic bladder contained in a well designed composite or metallic container. I have used both ATL and Fuel Safe brand cells with confidence.
Car racing at Bonneville is expensive. Dying is not.
Living for six months in a burn center at U of M certainly is.
SCTA wording sometimes seems ambiguous, but the rules are meant as requirements. not words to tell you how to build a car. Back in the day, I helped John write the ECTA rule book, and the same approach was taken. There are too many types and styles of cars running in LSR to give specific rules for each car type. We DO NOT want a rule book as thick as NASCRAP or NHRA.
Sorry for the rant, but fire safety is really one of my buttons.
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Thanks Rick.
Nicely worded last paragraph.
DW
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Sorry to be a bubble buster.
Am sitting here w/ 2009 NHRA and 2009 SCTA rule books.
SCTA already 1/8 inch thicker.
Comment about REAL fuel cells and ones made of RV holding tank material, J#Z, for instance, is right on target.
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Isolated means / Tip the car upside down after a hit of between 2 and 20 G's and NOT have any fuel leakage into the drivers compartment.
The "fuel cells" most folks are running are nothing more than cheap blow molded plastic tanks.
A REAL fuel cell is a ballistic bladder contained in a well designed composite or metallic container. I have used both ATL and Fuel Safe brand cells with confidence.
Car racing at Bonneville is expensive. Dying is not.
Living for six months in a burn center at U of M certainly is.
SCTA wording sometimes seems ambiguous, but the rules are meant as requirements. not words to tell you how to build a car. Back in the day, I helped John write the ECTA rule book, and the same approach was taken. There are too many types and styles of cars running in LSR to give specific rules for each car type. We DO NOT want a rule book as thick as NASCRAP or NHRA.
Sorry for the rant, but fire safety is really one of my buttons.
So your telling me you build one chassis to subject to 2 to 20 g's to test your fuel cell set up then build the chassis your going run?????Dag I new LSR was expensive but I don't see all of th folks running in the different classes doing what you segest.
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Isolated means / Tip the car upside down after a hit of between 2 and 20 G's and NOT have any fuel leakage into the drivers compartment.
The "fuel cells" most folks are running are nothing more than cheap blow molded plastic tanks.
A REAL fuel cell is a ballistic bladder contained in a well designed composite or metallic container. I have used both ATL and Fuel Safe brand cells with confidence.
Car racing at Bonneville is expensive. Dying is not.
Living for six months in a burn center at U of M certainly is.
SCTA wording sometimes seems ambiguous, but the rules are meant as requirements. not words to tell you how to build a car. Back in the day, I helped John write the ECTA rule book, and the same approach was taken. There are too many types and styles of cars running in LSR to give specific rules for each car type. We DO NOT want a rule book as thick as NASCRAP or NHRA.
Sorry for the rant, but fire safety is really one of my buttons.
So your telling me you build one chassis to subject to 2 to 20 g's to test your fuel cell set up then build the chassis your going run?????Dag I new LSR was expensive but I don't see all of th folks running in the different classes doing what you segest.
Sorry for being snippy, just finished 11 hrs cralwing on concrete under the car trying to finnish. Just looking for clearity not chastising
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He just means you design and build to those tolerances.. He is just another garage mechanic who can hardly afford to finish his car, let alone build a test chasis.
Right Rick?
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Jb, in lies the issue, the ECTA rules have no specifications to build too. Just what I quoted at the start. I'll build it as tight and right as I can based on how I have to interpet the rules and hope it passes tech. at Maxton to get the wife some seat time.
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Capt,,,, PM sent
Charles
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Just curious why do you want to run the fuel cell inside the car? If you removed the stock tank, the cavity created would act like a parachute at high speed. Why not fabricate a tank to fit in that space and shape it to give you an advantage? Tony
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Tony, the stock tank was removed to facilitate installation of part of the roll cage. With the installation of the cage support cross member the stock tank would not fit. So after rereading the rule book again :-) we decided to mount it in the luggage well and cover it. Currently we don't have time to do what you suggest.we are trying to get the car to Maxton in a couple of weeks so it can go through tech and maybe some shake down runs as this is a new build for us and my wife needs some seat time before we head to Ohio next year. your idea to fab a tank to fit that space occurred to me yesterday although I did not consider that the void left from the stock tank would have that much effect on the car. I learn something every time I read this forum. thanks for the input.
Frank