where do you put your fire extguisher?

Congrats on getting behind the wheel of another Ferrari!

I have my extinguisher right beside the driver's seat, a custom-made aluminum bracket I made, which mounts using the seat mount bolts.

I used to make a series of brackets that mounted the extinguisher in front of the seat. There is someone else making these now, which I'm sure someone will post their contact info.

 

He does indeed make them but i, too, lost his info. The look like this when mounted.
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Check out: www.ferrariclub.com/faq/extinguisher.html

 

I use this:

http://www.tradetutor.com/raceprep/

 

Could someone please post a referral to the person who fabricates these holders.

I have a 308 and have an extinguisher onlt held in place by wire ties. (NOT GOOD!!!)

 

There was a person who sold them on Ebay last year; you could look there. The link I posted is "do it yourself" or a shop that welds.

Here is the info for the Ebay guy. he could make you one:

http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8149&highlight=fire+extinguisher

 

George you have PM

 

I VELCROed mine to the passenger seat adjustment bar. Similar to just about every other 328 owner.

 

That wouldn't be acceptable for a track event, where "a fire extinguisher securely mounted" is a requirement... velcro won't qualify and pass the tech inspection!

 

Mine is a securely mounted 1lb chrome for street use only. I Velcroed the bracket w/ 2 -1 inch belts around the seat lever (aint no stick on). You could zip-tie the bracket to the lever as well. SCCA requires a 5lb min onboard. My RX7 & 240Z have the 5lb bolted on the deck behind the seats.

 

I have a BIG extinguisher and I mount it where it is ALWAYS easy to reach as I've learned from experience that those little tiny extinguishers are NOT going to do the job! These pics are from April, 2003 at the Pantera Club track event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway outer racetrack. The following year I was back, the car looked showroom new, there were no more incidents, and my new nickname among the Pantera guys is "The Flame". I guess the flagman got his toes toasted as I passed under the start-finish line tower.


Hey guys - please do NOT tell my wife - I'll never get out to the track again.
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HOLY ****! You are one lucky guy.

 

Yeah - I was incredibly lucky. You have no idea how it feels to look in your rearview and see a wall of flames right behind your head. I steered off the track and bailed out right in front of two officials. The corner workers at the end of the front straight each had giant fire extinguishers on wheels. They emptied one and went halfway through the other before all the flames were finally put out. As you see, I was wearing a fire suit that day and always wear 3 ply nomex on the track - even in the 100 degree heat we get out here in Vegas. It seems everyone out east wears firesuits. It amazes me that almost no one wears them out here on the west coast.

Since then I had one other scare at Spring Mountain Motor Park. I looked into the rearview and saw billowing smoke. I pulled over and yelled "bail out" to my passenger before yanking out the extinguisher shown here. This time there was no one else around with extinguishers so I was very fortunate to be only a burst coolant hose. It's amazing to me how some track events do not equip their corner workers with extinguishers. I'm very grateful to the Pantera Club of Northern California and the SCCA workers they had on hand that day for saving my skin and my beloved BIANCO.

 

I'm breathing new life into this thread with a question: On a 328, how close to the top of the tunnel are the coolant lines running between the engine and the radiator?

I have a 2.5# halon fire extinguisher I'm thinking of mounting to the top of the tunnel which lies ahead of the gear-shift console and under the dash. It's a nice fit beneath the aircon vents, it puts the extinguisher easily at hand, and keeps it out of the way of driver and passenger.

Thinking of mounting the bracket with self-tapping screws, say 1/2 or 3/4-inch. Obviously, putting a hole in a coolant line would ruin my whole day.

I'm looking for observations and advice. . . .

Cheers, Mark

 

Mark
Remove the "tunnel" cover and bolt the bracket to the cover, with a reinforcing plate underneath.
This way, you can't drill through anything (particularly wiring harness!) and is a much better installation than self tappers.

john

 

I am not sure that some of you have considered the forces involved in an incident. A few years ago, a mother was pulled over in the UK for not having her young baby securely fastened in the car. She figured she could hold the child in the event of an accident until someone pointed out that in a 30 mph accident the baby would exert something like 30 tons of force or her arms, and, needless to say, become an unfortunate and unwitting projectile. I am sure I have some of the data incorrect, but the reality is the forces involved in a crash can be extreme. A poorly fastened extinguisher will become a projectile and can severely hurt you. There is a reason, borne of hard experience, for the FCA regs. Sheet metal screws, velcro and other fastenings are no substitute for a securely mounted bottle.
Philip
A one time FCA track event organizer.

 

John & Philip,

Thank you for the advice. OK, sheet metal screws are out. And if the tunnel cover looks flimsy (I haven't taken it off yet) and unlikely to stay in place during an accident because of the extra weight attached to it, that's out, too. I suppose others have had good reason to attach their extinguishers to the seat hardware. . . .

I'll also consider attaching it in some way to the spare wheel. I don't need to "make a statement" by having it visible in the cockpit, although having it there could save a few seconds in an emergency--which is what it's all about.

Thanks again, Mark

 

Anyone have a good link to someone who builds the automatic fire extquisher systems?

 

http://www.trackhaus.com/product-exec/product_id/71

IMO, AFFF automatic systems are the ONLY way to go. IMO, a steel manifold vs aluminum(lower melting point) would be more useful in a fire because it would stay intact during a fire.


2.3-Liter FireCharger Fire Extinguishing System

Revolutionary new product dramatically increases safety and reduces costs and maintenance.

The 2.3-liter AFFF System was designed to offer the best protection to the driver and equipment in a competition environment. It may be equipped with up to 3 nozzles for the engine, fuel cell and most importantly the driver. This system comes complete with 10 ft. of aluminum tubing, all required AN fittings, instructions, 3 nozzles, mounting brackets, tubing clamps, adjustable manual release cable, and the charging kit.


Key Benefits

As with all FireCharger Systems, this is re-chargeable at the track by you for under $65.
This system has the capability of using up to 3 nozzles to provide coverage to even obstructed engine or driver compartments.
AFFF will not cause electrolysis like all dry chemical extinguishers can It will not harm paint or finishes and it cleans up with water.
Meets sanctioning body requirements for an on-board fire system.

Detailed Description
If your car was on fire do you know if your fire suppression system would work? That’s the problem with current fire systems. The propellant can slowly leak out of the bottle and the gauge could still read “charged”. When you need it the most you could end up with a wimpy discharge of fire suppression media. Not good.

Another key problem with current systems is that if you did have to discharge your system you could have a nightmare of a time trying to find a source to recharge it. You might have to send it back to the factory for a very expensive and time-wasting refill. What if you needed to back on the track before the system was sent back to you? And have you ever tried to clean out the corrosive foam generated by many of the current systems?

Firecharger patented a system designed to solve many of the issues challenging current fire suppression systems. The key benefit is that for $50 - $65 you can recharge your system yourself. Fast. Another benefit is that you can annually recharge your system – preferably at the start of each season – and KNOW that your system will work when you need it the most. Do you know when your current system was examined last? Additionally, you can keep spare media with you at the track. If you activate the system you can make repairs to the car, clean out the foam, and use a spare set of media to get you back on the track - the same day.

Firecharger uses an environmentally friendly fire extinguishing agent called AFFF or Aqueous Film Forming Foam. Unlike Halon, which is no longer manufactured, AFFF is not ozone depleting and is considerably easier to clean up after a discharge. The Firecharger systems are the lightest AFFF systems available so you can pack more fire extinguishing punch with a similarly weighted system.

We offer two Firecharger sizes to choose from: 4.6 Liter and 2.3 Liter systems. For added protection we recommend using the largest system you can fit in your vehicle.

 

That's awsome information. Thanks a bunch.

Cheers
Rick

 

SS braket mounted to seat rail bolts
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The mount available from http://www.bkauto.com/ferrari/index.php in a TR:
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