Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
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Dominic Scelzi encountered a frightening incident last weekend at the Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway.  A broken fuel line led to a cockpit fire.  The safety crew at Tulare performed extremely well.

Here is video of the incident:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfoJwO7uPIg

Here are some discussion points from this incident:

• This incident illustrates the need for a safety crew response (at least one member/vehicle) to all stopped racecars.  Cockpit fires can be difficult to detect from outside the racecar.  Driveline failures, foreign object injuries, and medical issues can also be difficult to detect.  A push truck to the back of the car isn’t enough.  A safety crew response should be initiated to the racecar until it can be verified there is no issue.  You can always send them back if they are not needed.

• Professionalism:  This safety crew is well-staffed and wearing appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment).  Nobody was running around like wild idiots.  They moved with purpose in a deliberate manner.  There was nobody in shorts and a t-shirt trying to save the day because these guys had things under control. 

• Suppression Agent: This crew appears to be using AFFF (aqueous film forming foam) suppression agent.  AFFF forms a blanket over the burning fuel or surface.  This blanket suppresses the vapors.  Vapor suppression is the key to extinguishing a flammable liquid fire.  The AFFF typically performs better than a conventional fire extinguisher because of its ability to suppress vapors.  Also, there is no rapid introduction to air to the fire with an AFFF solution.  The powder inside of a conventional fire extinguisher is propelled by compressed nitrogen.  This gush of compressed air can temporarily increase fire activity.  (An exception to the previous statement:  Purple K fire extinguishers are very effective for flammable liquid fires.)

• Scene Control:  The vehicles were positioned well.  The initial truck arriving on scene was able to spray foam prior to even stopping.  During the initial stage of the incident, only the safety crew was near the incident.  That is big.  The concern and intentions of the push truck drivers, crew members, officials, family is understandable.  When there is a quality safety crew available, it’s best to let them do their job.  I’ve seen safety crews have to race push trucks and other vehicles to the scene of a crash in order to park appropriately and perform their duties without interference.   

The Tulare Thunderbowl safety crew performed very well.  That sort of response should be the standard in our sport.

Ben Truetken

"If you're gonna run the bottom, you might as well get 
a real job."

Safety crew was awesome!!!  

The could have been Cold Fire you put it in a water extinguisher and it comes out as a foam and cools thing off fast. And doesn't hurt race car part or you if you don't soak you self in it.

Purple K if it gets in a Engine will kill it. Same with brakes and other parts of a car. Purple K works great on a gas fire. I was a member of SCCA for many years.We got away from purple K and started using cold fire.

You're right.. That might have been Cold Fire.  By text book definition, Cold Fire isn't AFFF.  But for application purposes, it operates in an identical manner and is just ass effective.  

"If you're gonna run the bottom, you might as well get 
a real job."

Good job Tulare Thunderbowl Safety Crew!

The Scelzi's want to thank the safety crew for a quick response and Sparco for making safe firesuits and underwear. Dominic is improving and he is hopeful he can race this weekend following the fire, which occurred because the team accidentally left a fuel line loose. Here is the latest press release:

Scelzi Hopeful to Compete with World of Outlaws in Stockton This Weekend

Inside Line Promotions – FRESNO, Calif. (March 19, 2015) – Dominic Scelzi is on the mend after being involved in a fire last Saturday.

Scelzi sustained second and third-degree burns on his left leg during a World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series race at Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare, Calif., following a mechanical problem. Scelzi was battling for a transfer position in the C Main when a fuel line, which hadn’t been tightened properly during the rush to get him on the track, came loose.

“For clarification on the fire last weekend a fuel line was left loose on accident and didn’t break,” he said. “It was just an unfortunate accident that thankfully wasn’t worse.”

Scelzi, who visited a doctor on Thursday, said he is hopeful to be able to compete this Saturday and Sunday at Stockton Dirt Track in Stockton, Calif., for the FVP Western Spring Shootout with the World of Outlaws.

SEASON STATS –

8 races, 0 wins, 1 top five, 2 top 10s, 2 top 15s, 3 top 20s

UP NEXT –

TBD

MEDIA LINKS –

Website: http://www.GaryScelziMotorsports.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DominicScelzi41

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gary-Scelzi-Motorsports/225890834113599

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT – Sparco

Sparco is a leading manufacturer of racing gear, including suits, gloves, helmets, shoes and more. For additional information, visit http://www.SparcoUSA.com.

“Sparco has by far the most comfortable racing suit on the market,” Scelzi said. “They are the safest suit you can possibly buy and they are the best looking. I can’t thank Sparco enough for everything they do for me and my brother every single year.”

Scelzi would also like to thank Whipple Superchargers, Fowler Packing, Fuel Delivery Services, Inc., AXA Equitable Insurance with Bob & Gina Estrada, Carlucci Transport, Panella Trucking, Roth Motorsports, Scelzi Enterprises, Red Rose Transportation, Red Line Oil, FK Rod Ends, Kaeding Performance, Brown and Miller Racing Solutions, Sweet Manufacturing, Weld Wheels, Simpson Race Products, Blast Tech, Tim Jones, G&J Truck Sales, K&N Filters, Schoenfeld Headers, ButlerBuilt Professional Seat Systems, ARP and Big & Deep Ag Development for their continued support.  

INSIDE LINE PROMOTIONS –

Inside Line Promotions specializes in affordable public relations and media management for motor sports drivers, teams, sponsors, tracks, series, events, organizations and manufacturers. ILP Founder Shawn Miller leverages professional journalism with new media technologies and social networking to improve your exposure and the return on investment for your sponsors.

To meet the media relations needs of your program by joining Team ILP, contact Shawn at 541-510-3663 or [email protected]. For more information on Inside Line Promotions, visit http://www.InsideLinePromotions.com.  

I have witnessed this very same thing happen.

The brand new uniform the driver had on that day saved him from very serious burns. He changed his uniform, fixed the problem and raced again that very night.

Whatever he paid for that uniform was well worth the money.

.

i run the fire crew at Thunderbowl Raceway. Thank you for your positive comments. Dominic Scelzi did a outstanding job getting the car stopped and getting out of a burning cockpit. Dominic's fire suit did its job. The three fire crew members on that side of the track did a good job spotting trouble and were there under 10 seconds. We use AR-AFFF (acohol resisent AFFF) it is the best to fight these methanol fires. A big thank you to Steve Faria he backs this fire crew 100% and has made it priority to have a staffed and ready fire crew. 

Quick response from the safety crew!  My son, Darren Pifer, had a similar incident last may when he had a fuel leak. The track we were at didn`t have a fire crew on hand. Had I known that we would not have even unloaded the car. Darren was in UPMC Mercy hospital burn unit in Pittsburgh PA for 27 days, and had 2nd & 3rd degree burns to both his legs which required skin graft surgery.

We now have a cold fire fire system on his car. I hope tracks will all learn from this video of Dominic, and thank God he will be fine.

BIG ATTA BOY to a Great  Fire Crew saving the driver from Serious INJURY, this  did not happen by accident. Perhaps more Tracks & Promoters could take some  lessons. I have suggested to people that if a fire safety crew  a race  track needs good training often the local Fire Department is more than willing to provide this service. The other fact in this incident was the Quality FIRE SUIT  in place . Get well Dominic I met & exchanged a few words with  Gary in Las Vegas who is  a good represenative of the  racing community        

thanks to the great job you and your crew do.

Kudos guys.