Glad he is ok, was the fire so big that the on board fire suppression system couldn't extinguish it?
Mark Carlyle Has Fire in His Corvette While Testing
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Instructor
Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Clackamas OR
Mark Carlyle Has Fire in His Corvette While Testing
Saw this on another site thought I would pass it on.
During a test session at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, today, May 26, Mark Carlyle’s Corvette caught fire in the engine bay just as he went through the traps on a soft-for-him pass at 7.24 at 207 mph.
He was able to get the car stopped, even though he had minimal use of his brakes, and the track’s Kurt Johnson and his safety crew worked to extinguish the flames, which reignited about three times before being brought completely under control.
Carlyle was out of the car quickly, and declined a ride to the hospital to be observed, but indicates he is unhurt, even though flames poured through the car.
“As soon as I crossed the traps, I saw the hood pop and I could see flames, so I shut the power off and hoped the fire would go out, but it didn’t,” said Carlyle. “All I could think about was getting the car stopped, and as soon as I did, I pushed the door open and it closed on me, so I pushed it open again and held it there to get out.”
His crew members this weekend – Tom Willing, Jared Grabiel, Bob Williams and tuner Patrick Barnhill of PTP Racing – had been working hard and were close to having the car tuned for next weekend’s Chevy High Performance Nationals in Georgia.
“After looking at it, we found that an O-ring on the fuel injector on cylinder seven failed and allowed fuel to spray on the header,” said Carlyle. “We will head to PK Race Cars to get the chassis repaired, and I hope to have the car ready in time for Holley Fest in Bowling Green.”
Carlyle, who was in good spirits as multiple fans gathered around him and his car when it was brought back to the pit area, jokingly told everyone they could go to www.carlyleracing.com and buy a shirt or hoodie, and all proceeds will be used to help put the car back together.
Photos and words by Mary Lendzion
Please click here for more photos:
http://www.nmcadigital.com/2013/05/2...while-testing/
http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=11
Hope to see Mark out soon.
During a test session at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, today, May 26, Mark Carlyle’s Corvette caught fire in the engine bay just as he went through the traps on a soft-for-him pass at 7.24 at 207 mph.
He was able to get the car stopped, even though he had minimal use of his brakes, and the track’s Kurt Johnson and his safety crew worked to extinguish the flames, which reignited about three times before being brought completely under control.
Carlyle was out of the car quickly, and declined a ride to the hospital to be observed, but indicates he is unhurt, even though flames poured through the car.
“As soon as I crossed the traps, I saw the hood pop and I could see flames, so I shut the power off and hoped the fire would go out, but it didn’t,” said Carlyle. “All I could think about was getting the car stopped, and as soon as I did, I pushed the door open and it closed on me, so I pushed it open again and held it there to get out.”
His crew members this weekend – Tom Willing, Jared Grabiel, Bob Williams and tuner Patrick Barnhill of PTP Racing – had been working hard and were close to having the car tuned for next weekend’s Chevy High Performance Nationals in Georgia.
“After looking at it, we found that an O-ring on the fuel injector on cylinder seven failed and allowed fuel to spray on the header,” said Carlyle. “We will head to PK Race Cars to get the chassis repaired, and I hope to have the car ready in time for Holley Fest in Bowling Green.”
Carlyle, who was in good spirits as multiple fans gathered around him and his car when it was brought back to the pit area, jokingly told everyone they could go to www.carlyleracing.com and buy a shirt or hoodie, and all proceeds will be used to help put the car back together.
Photos and words by Mary Lendzion
Please click here for more photos:
http://www.nmcadigital.com/2013/05/2...while-testing/
http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=11
Hope to see Mark out soon.
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