We think we know. We had a minor power steering fluid leak that morning before the first session. It was a loose clamp between the rubber hose and hard line. After we tightened that junction, we refilled the power steering reservoir to the full mark. We think the ps fluid overheated, and being full, boiled over. The initial fire from the roof camera in turn 9 was probably the initial boil-over that started the fire. On the back straight before turn 14, we think the big fire there was from the reservoir failing and dumping power steering fluid everywhere. It got all over the track right in front of my rear tires, which made the car slide all over. It seemed to die down as I slowed down in the pits. Right as i stopped though, that's when the flames erupted for the first time on the drivers side. We think a fuel line let go to cause that. All the PS stuff is on the passenger side of the engine bay. Fuel line to the engine is on the driver side. That's our best guess, anyway. The powersteering reservoir is non-existent at this point. Just completely gone.
That end part looked terrifying and I already knew the outcome!
glad you're safe bud.
Glad you got out safely Gary! I think all your time in those high HP Can-Am cars helped you keep it under control in 14/15 :)
what caused the fire?
We think we know. We had a minor power steering fluid leak that morning before the first session. It was a loose clamp between the rubber hose and hard line. After we tightened that junction, we refilled the power steering reservoir to the full mark. We think the ps fluid overheated, and being full, boiled over. The initial fire from the roof camera in turn 9 was probably the initial boil-over that started the fire.
On the back straight before turn 14, we think the big fire there was from the reservoir failing and dumping power steering fluid everywhere. It got all over the track right in front of my rear tires, which made the car slide all over.
It seemed to die down as I slowed down in the pits. Right as i stopped though, that's when the flames erupted for the first time on the drivers side. We think a fuel line let go to cause that.
All the PS stuff is on the passenger side of the engine bay. Fuel line to the engine is on the driver side.
That's our best guess, anyway. The powersteering reservoir is non-existent at this point. Just completely gone.