Nearly every racer's worst fear is getting caught in a car fire. Fortunately, modern safety technology has made fire a reasonably rare occurrence in racing. When done well, your fuel system should protect against most instances where a fuel fire would have certainly erupted a few decades ago. But the trick is the fuel system-from the fuel cell to the carburetor-must be installed correctly and without cutting corners. This month we are going to take a look at a few things you can do to protect yourself and make sure the only flames on your race car are the ones you paint yourself.
Few things on the race track...
Few things on the race track are actually under your control. That is why, even if you are the world's greatest driver, you should still give matters of safety-including everything between the bumpers-your best efforts.
All racing fuel cells feature...
All racing fuel cells feature some type of vent for fumes. Run the vent tube and anchor it several inches above the fuel cell to ensure that fuel cannot splash out of the tube. A breather like you see here is also a good idea to ensure dirt cannot work its way through the vent to contaminate the fuel system.
This is the nearly complete...
This is the nearly complete Mini Stock owned by Patrick Norwood. Although some may disagree with the electric fuel pump, this is a very clean and well-designed setup for the fuel cell.
In Norwood's Ford the fuel...
In Norwood's Ford the fuel cell is held in place inside its cage by 1 x 1/4-inch aluminum straps. Notice that the bolts connecting the aluminum strap to the fuel cell cage also go through the flange of the fuel cell itself. The cage is bolted to the rear clip in four places so that it can be easily removed from the car for cleaning and inspection.
Don't depend on the fuel cell...
Don't depend on the fuel cell to do its job by itself. Every chassis should include a fuel cell "cage" constructed out of steel tubing that ensures the cell won't be ripped loose from the car in the event of a hard hit to the rear clip.
A view from underneath that...
A view from underneath that shows the fuel cell cage structure. The rear bumper hoop extends the width of the fuel cell and down equal to the depth of the cell to prevent a hard hit from the rear getting to the fuel cell itself. While it is important to make sure the hoop is big enough to adequately protect the fuel cell, it is also important for it to not be too big or else the hole in the center can leave the fuel cell vulnerable.
Many don't like the idea of...
Many don't like the idea of running an electric fuel pump, but Norwood says he's never had a problem with one. But notice the placement of both the fuel filter (center) and fuel pump (left). Both are mounted inside the tubing framework of the rear clip so that they are unlikely to be damaged in a wreck. This minimizes the chances of fuel leaking onto the track.
The rear firewall obviously...
The rear firewall obviously hasn't been fabricated yet, but you can see where abrasion-resistant insulation has been added through the driver's compartment. You may also want to consider running your fuel lines through a metal tube where it crosses the driver's compartment. Norwood prefers to run his fuel lines on the left side of the car to keep it away from heat produced by the headers. (On a Mini Stock the headers run down the right side of the car.)
Where the fuel line passes...
Where the fuel line passes through the front firewall, Norwood has protected both the fuel line and the insulation with yet another piece of tubing that acts as a grommet to both protect the lines and seal the hole to protect the driver from an engine fire.
Obviously, this is only a...
Obviously, this is only a mockup engine, but notice how the insulation is carried up all the way to the carburetor. Also, the line has been anchored just below the strut tower to keep the fuel line as stable as possible (and out of the way of hot or moving engine parts).