Max Power Posted August 24, 2006 Share Posted August 24, 2006 The MGP practice session was delayed last night due to a large diesel spill from some vehicle apparently coming down the mountain road. This sort of thing is highly dangerous at the best of times, having been off a motorcycle myself on a spill from a bus.To have it happen during a biking event and for such a long distance on the course and then stop suddenly on entering Ramsey is highly suspisious. I wonder if this sort of thing is taken as seriously as it should be. I mean, who can afford to throw diesel fuel away at that sort of rate, unless you don't pay for it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigDave Posted August 24, 2006 Share Posted August 24, 2006 It is supposed to be taken very seriously with offenders being fined very large sums if their vehicles are caught leaking diesel. Unfortunately spotting offenders who spill diesel and proving it is virtually impossible. I nearly wiped out on a diesel spill in Baldrine recently right on a nasty bend. I was in a car and only just kept it on the road so I'd hate to think how a bike would have fared. I reported it to the police who said they knew about it and the DOT were on their way to sort it, which 30 minutes later on my return journey they were there washing the road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catchy Posted August 24, 2006 Share Posted August 24, 2006 there often seem to be suspicious diesel spills during the races here dont there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahc Posted August 24, 2006 Share Posted August 24, 2006 I have never heard of any suspicious diesel spills. Care to elaborate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Sausages Posted August 24, 2006 Share Posted August 24, 2006 Paranoia / Conspiracy theory syndrome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manxchatterbox Posted August 24, 2006 Share Posted August 24, 2006 Stu Peters knew all about this when he was interviewing some dude on his lunchtime show apparently it was a big long slick..surely they should be able to trace the culprit ...cos surely its dangerous going round with a tank leaking fuel that may ignite?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mojomonkey Posted August 24, 2006 Share Posted August 24, 2006 These types of spillages are a serious problem but I'd put money on the fact that you'd not be able to get a diesel spill to ignite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manxchatterbox Posted August 24, 2006 Share Posted August 24, 2006 not even if it spills onto a hot prop shaft??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mojomonkey Posted August 24, 2006 Share Posted August 24, 2006 Diesel has a much higher flashpoint than petrol and need a high compression engine to explode. You can throw a match into a pool of diesel and nothing will happen (although I don't recommend any tries this for fun). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manxchatterbox Posted August 24, 2006 Share Posted August 24, 2006 but wasn't there a horrific incident when a diesel train caught fire 'cos of a leaking fuel tank?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mojomonkey Posted August 24, 2006 Share Posted August 24, 2006 but wasn't there a horrific incident when a diesel train caught fire 'cos of a leaking fuel tank?? I don't know, you tell me. All I'm saying is that diesel isn't actually flammable unless in the right environment for combustion. A diesel spill or even diesel spilling onto a hot prop shaft is not going to ignite. The danger with diesel spills is that it is very slippy and difficult to spot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manxchatterbox Posted August 24, 2006 Share Posted August 24, 2006 "...leaking diesel fuel poses a fire hazzard...." http://www.fra.dot.gov/downloads/Research/...train%20fire%22 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mojomonkey Posted August 24, 2006 Share Posted August 24, 2006 "...leaking diesel fuel poses a fire hazzard...." http://www.fra.dot.gov/downloads/Research/...train%20fire%22 I can't be bothered to read all of the article but it seems to be about train design. A large volume of diesel spilling onto a running engine may be dangerous but as I said earlier diesel needs the right environment for combustion. This topic is about diesel spills and I stand my belief that the danger with diesel spills is that it is very slippy and difficult to spot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manxchatterbox Posted August 24, 2006 Share Posted August 24, 2006 also:- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/...rash/467008.stm but slippy surface catches out the unwary... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mojomonkey Posted August 24, 2006 Share Posted August 24, 2006 The volume of liquid involved in a train crash and in a normal diesel spill on a road are just not comparable. As I suspect I might be boring people that is the last I'm going to say on this topic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.