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This is my first year that I am going to have my 63 judged. When I got my Judging Guide in the mail the other day,I saw the checking of a fire extinguisher in the guide. It states " Check and mark Fire Extinguisher on the Scoring Form ". Is There any guidelines on what kind of extinguisher or some suggestions on a extinguisher.
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Re: Fire Extinguisher
I have no wisdom to dispense regarding your real question. Futhermore, I didn't know this rule/guideline existed! Much more importantly, I do have advice for all classic car owners!!! Sunday I pulled my 63 SWC out of storage/our shop to drive to a local mechanic to have a new clutch assembly put in. My girlfriend was going to follow me... I was on my way out the drive way and I thought for some odd reason that I should have a fire extinguisher - sometime I think that I have a direct line/connection with God. So I stopped the car and ran in and picked one up - took me about 20 seconds! My girlfriend thought that was wierd I suppose. I drove about half a mile down the road and my exhaust manifold broke! Smoke was coming from under the car's engine. I lifted the hood and saw a small fire dancing. I thought to myself this would be a good time to have a fire extinguisher! Voila, I had one. Two important facts; if you have voices inside your head listen to the louder(est) one and always-always carry a fire extinguisher in your car. How much do they cost? How much room do they take up? How much is your car worth now? How much is your car worth after a engine/electical fire? Sorry if anyone thinks this message is foolish, but for the people that don't think about it happening to them, they are the ones that are foolish - tic-toc goes the clock and it may happen to you - I hope not. I love being with my girlfriend and watching romatic fires, but sometimes somethings are inappropriate! -
Re: Fire Extinguisher
Howdy Ted,
The JG allows 3 points each for the following items; battery cut-off switch, NCRS decal displayed on your car and a fire extinguisher. If you have all three, you get one bonus point for a total of ten. I have carried a fire ext. for many years, haven't had to use it on my car yet, but I have put out two fires on other cars. Buy a good quality dry chemical or C02 ext. and mount it where it is out of the road but can still be reached. Good luck on your judging! BillComment
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I agree with the extinguisher idea but...
...the God part is a little weird to me. If God didn't want your car to burn why would He send you in for a fire extinguisher and then break your exhaust manifold? Why wouldn't He just leave your exhaust manifold intact to begin with and let you go on your way?
JPComment
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Re: Fire Extinguisher
I would not get dry chemical. It makes a huge mess if you have to use it. Get Halon, it is more expensive but cleanup is a nonissue.
My $0.02, Alex
'66 A/C Coupe NCRS#22298Comment
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Re: Fire Extinguisher
Ted, I'm in the same boat as you...I'm having my '78 judged for the first time this summer at the NW Chapter meet. I carry a small halon extinguisher...it's pretty small and fits in the center compartment. I'm not sure what it's rated.
I believe the JG calls for an extinguisher of the 'appropriate' size (paraphrasing from memory.) Is this small halon unit big enough? Does it have to be a minimum rated 10BC? Any help/advice from judges?
Thanks.Comment
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Re: Fire Extinguisher
I had a '59 Ford (beater) that started an electrical fire under the dash. The insulation fell down and started the rug on fire. A trucker stopped and gave me a dry chemical extinguisher. It put the fire out but two years later white powder was still falling out of the dash everytime I hit a bump. My advice is don't buy dry chemical.
EdComment
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Re: Fire Extinguisher
It doesn't make any difference how big or how small your fire ext. is. as long as it is a real extinguisher. It should be properly charged. Usually it should have a gauge and show that it's charged. It also should be your fire ext., not the guys' next to you that you borrow!
Texas Chapter NCRSComment
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Need another book, Ted....
Most others have given the thought behind the 'why' for fire extinguisher. What hasn't been said is the Flight Judging focus is on restored vs. un-restored cars. That means they've been apart (to do restoration) and often there's more than one 'opps' here/there in putting 'em back together (beyond bolt headmarks, Etc.). So, it simply makes good sense to encourage safety. Plus, most (including me) feel better just knowing the car next door on the judging field has an extinguisher ready & willing to go to work....
On the other book issue, in addition to the Judging Guide, there's an omnibus publication, NCRS Judging Reference Manual, that explains the whole process. It gives standard deduction guidelines, rights of judges as well as owner, and lays out the W3 (who, what, where) of our factory concours process. If you had a copy, part of your question that wasn't completely addressed (what type of extinguisher & how big?) would be answered.
Specifically, Section 2, NCRS Judging Purpose, Standards, Guidelines, Rules & Procedures; Rule 25, Safety, Security, Other Allowance & Scoring Bonus reads:
"The following are allowed with no scoring deduction: ... B. An appripriate size and type fire extinguisher, large enough to reasonably expect the capability of extinguishing an engine fire. ..."
TRUST me on this one -- Nobody is going to TEST the fire extinguisher you supply to verify whether or not it will actually extinguish a fire in your engine compartment or its size/capacity for the job!!! CComment
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Re: Fire Extinguisher
Reason for fire extinguisher was the start of a fire in a Corvette on the show field at National Convention in 1992.
Only once have I encountered a situation in which the extinguisher displayed (it need not be attached to the car - in fact I recommend against attaching a mounting bracket due to potential damage to the car) seemed too small and that one was small enough to fit into a pocket.
Dry powder, in addition to being messy as mentioned, also is highly abrasive and if used on an engine that is running will do severe damage to internals of engine - but will not do as much damage as a fire.
Terry
TerryComment
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