Spa Francorchamps and fire extinguisher?

[boxsey]

There were mutterings last year that Spa would require all cars going on track to have a fire extinguisher. It didn't seem to materialize in the end. Is there any more news on the subject from those that have already been to Spa this year?

[foxsasha]

You need one although no one checked to see if I had one when I was there earlier this year.

[terryb]

I have been a few months ago and not checked or picked up for no extinguisher.

[terryb]

I have been a few months ago and not checked or picked up for no extinguisher.

[doogalman]

After about a dozen trackdays there this year, i've known no-one to be checked.

[boxsey]

Thanks all. There's nothing about it on the information I've got from the TDO we're using but it was still good to get some feedback from those of you that have been this year.

[Lorientfo]

When we ran it earlier this year it was specified in the contract I believe that all vehicles should carry a fire extinguisher but it makes no mention of size so a small handheld one in the glove box would fit the bill technically. Keep in mind that it's a big old track and there might be a big gap between marshals depending on how many the TDO has paid for (2 options I think) so if you are unfortunate enough to have a fire you might be very glad you had something to keep it at bay until they arrive on the scene.

[227bhp]

Sorry to deviate, but how do you reliably secure a FE into a track car? They come with clips, but in a heavy accident I can imagine it would come undone with obvious possible consequences.
You could always put it in the boot, but not in a hatchback with no rear seats and if you did and an impact secured the boot shut you be pretty much buggered there too...

[DiscoColin]

227bhp said:

Sorry to deviate, but how do you reliably secure a FE into a track car? They come with clips, but in a heavy accident I can imagine it would come undone with obvious possible consequences.
You could always put it in the boot, but not in a hatchback with no rear seats and if you did and an impact secured the boot shut you be pretty much buggered there too...

If you are talking about a conventional one then you really ought to have a bracket for it bolted to the car (for factory fit extinguishers in countries where they are mandatory they are often attached to the front of the drivers seat. If you had a fixed bucket then that is a location that you could use with a bracket bolted directly to the floor. Otherwise there is always the 911 GT3 CS option : bolted to the passenger footwell floor).

There are alternatives though - fire-eaters are single use pyrotechnic extinguishers and are the size of a baton flare. They are most effective on enclosed areas like engine bays and fit in the door pockets of many cars (I have one there in both my 3 series and my 911). I got mine via a friend who was participating in a group buy on one of the Lotus forums.

[227bhp]

DiscoColin said:

227bhp said:

Sorry to deviate, but how do you reliably secure a FE into a track car? They come with clips, but in a heavy accident I can imagine it would come undone with obvious possible consequences.
You could always put it in the boot, but not in a hatchback with no rear seats and if you did and an impact secured the boot shut you be pretty much buggered there too...

If you are talking about a conventional one then you really ought to have a bracket for it bolted to the car (for factory fit extinguishers in countries where they are mandatory they are often attached to the front of the drivers seat. If you had a fixed bucket then that is a location that you could use with a bracket bolted directly to the floor. Otherwise there is always the 911 GT3 CS option : bolted to the passenger footwell floor).

There are alternatives though - fire-eaters are single use pyrotechnic extinguishers and are the size of a baton flare. They are most effective on enclosed areas like engine bays and fit in the door pockets of many cars (I have one there in both my 3 series and my 911). I got mine via a friend who was participating in a group buy on one of the Lotus forums.

I've never seen fire eaters, they're interesting.
Actually, I just Googled hand held in car ones and I see they clip into a bracket as I mentioned, but also have a quick release band around them as well, kind of answered my own question!

[shim]

Belgium law requires a Belgium registered car to carry a fire extinguisher within reach of the driver. HEnce why I think Spa now has the rule mentioned for trackdays.

[shim]

Belgium law requires a Belgium registered car to carry a fire extinguisher within reach of the driver. HEnce why I think Spa now has the rule mentioned for trackdays.

[boxsey]

shim said:

Belgium law requires a Belgium registered car to carry a fire extinguisher within reach of the driver. HEnce why I think Spa now has the rule mentioned for trackdays.

Thanks Shim, that rings a bell as to what I heard last year about cars in Belgium now needing to carry fire extinguishers on the road (and Spa extending that law to their track) but I didn't pick up on the point about the car being Belgium registered. Which in theory excludes us!

I've now bought a small hand held extinguisher that the AA sells, to keep in the car just in case. It's got a bracket that could be used to secure it in the car if necessary but I'll aim to leave it in the garage while out on track.