"...A Rotary Powered GLC managed...Driver and Navigator..."
Hmmm, sounds like ol' Hendrik Blok and his crazy rally car to me. He ran the
exhaust through the firewall and under the navigator's seat to protect it from
crash damage, but didn't insulate it very well because insulation weighed too
much! In the middle of one stage the navigator's seat caught fire.
Matter of fact, I now remember seeing that explosion. It was at the start of a
stage on the Olympus Rallye out of the ORV Park. He was still in 1st gear where
everyone else was shifting to 3rd. We heard a bang, saw a flash of flames from
under the car, then both doors flew open and Hendrik and his navigator dove out
of the car while it was still moving.
Hendrik was a real character.
Gordon Glasgow
Renton, WA
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net
> [mailto:owner-datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Thomas Walter
> Sent: Friday, August 31, 2001 6:41 AM
> To: road
> Subject: Fiesty Morning & Keeping the facts straight
>
>
> A few days ago, there was a story about a RX-7 flywheel that
> "just exploded". Some of the "facts" were just wrong, as I
> have never heard of one letting loose "when cruising down the
> road".
>
> Yep, the RX-7 & "other guy" were involved in a street drag race.
> No one on the street, nor close. Pretty late at night. The
> RX-7 had just tach'd well beyond 10,000 rpm when the clutch was
> dumped. That make a lot more sense.
>
> Lots of other little errors, too, about the story. Hey, if you
> were involved in drag racing in the middle of the night, would YOU
> tell the cops "I was dumping the clutch at 10,000 street drag
> racing... or Gee, I don't know happened?" Thankfully no one was hurt.
>
> No names on this one. The Eugene paper did "embellish" story
> a bit, as did someone even more. Cool fiction to drive a point
> home that flywheels will let loose. Mazda's have a double whammy
> as they use a LARGE nut on the end of a "crankshaft". And can hit
> some very high rev's. I remember when A Rotary Powered GLC managed
> to let loose isn't flywheel the same way. Driver and Navigator walked
> away with minor burns & lack of hearing (flywheel parts cut fuel line,
> the electric's... fire was out as soon as it started...).
>
> Why on earth someone would someone be working on the fuel system, yet
> note "change the flywheel" on the invoice is well beyond me. Especially
> when he noted "first Rotary I had worked on". The cracks form under the
> eccentric nut. No way to "visually" inspect the flywheel bolted up in
> the car.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Tom
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