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Re: Flywheel Explosions

To: "Ryan, Richard" <RRyan@frk.com>, "Jari Tabell"
Subject: Re: Flywheel Explosions
From: "Mike Cobine" <mcobine@earthlink.net>
Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2001 17:53:42 -0400
As far as I know, they still require them, except on rear engine cars
(although a transverse engine car like a Spec Racer still poses a threat,
but then it allows the stacked hoop roll bar extension).

Same with NHRA except I think they may require even on rear engine cars as a
flywheel into the crowd of 20,000 doesn't make for good headlines.  How
about some drag racers in here?

When my friend's small block broke the flywheel, the scattershield stayed
attached to the transmission, but broke all the back off the block, so that
the transmission fell out and dragged on the ground and the engine dropped
back until the headers dragged.  Incredible fireworks display at night.
Made it real hard to drive it home.

These pictures were from Finland I think.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Ryan, Richard" <RRyan@frk.com>
To: "'Mike Cobine'" <mcobine@earthlink.net>; "Jari Tabell"
<jari.tabell@pp.inet.fi>; "vintage-race mailing list"
<vintage-race@autox.team.net>
Sent: Saturday, July 28, 2001 3:20 PM
Subject: RE: Flywheel Explosions


> When we raced our 2000 I used a piece of special conveyor belting as the
> scatter shield.  It was approved by SCCA tech.  I bolted it to the inside
of
> the trans tunnel.  As the motor and trans were removed and reinstalled
> (again and again) it never got in the way.  It was also very light.
>
> In the past the SCCA only required scatter shields when a flywheel
explosion
> could injure the driver.  Therefore most rear engined cars did require
one.
>
> Mike---Has SCCA changed and no longer require one?
>
>
> Dick Ryan  ex. 24022
> (650)312-4022
> Risk Management Dept.
> SM 2000/2
> FAX (650)312-5830
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mike Cobine [mailto:mcobine@earthlink.net]
> Sent: Saturday, July 28, 2001 7:39 AM
> To: Jari Tabell; vintage-race mailing list
> Subject: Re: Flywheel Explosions
>
>
> This is why SCCA has required a containment on the flywheel for a long,
long
> time.  Usually, it meant a Lakewood Scattershield for those with separate
> bellhousings.  Those with bellhousing/transmission in one piece usually
had
> to come up with a bolt-on containment of some sort, although many used a
> metal shield inside the transmission tunnel.  The shield inside the tunnel
> is really insufficient, as you can tell by the damage in these pictures.
>
> With a scattershield, you really need to use the block plate with it, as a
> friend who didn't discovered a 35 lb Chevy flywheel can literally rip the
> entire back of the block off of the scattershield.
>
> Mike

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