Attention SOAR Endurance Teams

[kneedragger88]

Attention endurance teams, starting this year any team NOT using a dry break system must have a ground strap to ground any static while fueling. This strap can be very simple. A bare metal object such as a old car rotor etc a length of wire and an alligator clamp. The metal obviously sits on the ground and when the rider comes in the clamp MUST be affixed to a bare metal piece on the bike while fueling. This will be added to the official rulebook shortly,
This should not be a burden to teams as a simple system can be manufactured using junk laying around most shops.

[VFR.CBR]

Really?
I'm not convinced of the science behind this.
Is this brought about by the horror clips of gasoline explosions at gas pumps ignited by static discharge? In those cases the static charge is generated by the operator getting into and back out of the vehicle. Most commonly the static charge is generated by the synthetic clothing against the synthetic seat covers. Ground straps on these vehicles have no effect.
Fuelling a race bike is different; very little in the way of synthetics, the rider getting off the bike is probably not fuelling the bike, the time of year when these events take place it's very hard to generate a static charge (humidity). Where there is potential to generate a static charge is the fuel moving through a plastic fuelling rig. I'd feel safer if the fuelling rig & operator were grounded or better yet a grounded conductive fuelling rig (no plastic).

[caboose483]

How does a dry break system eliminate the need for a ground strap? Ima confused.

[VFR.CBR]

How does a dry break system eliminate the need for a ground strap? Ima confused.

The dry break has a few advantages over an open gas can & funnel system in this regard:
Usually they're metal, once the fuel rig is connected to the bike there is no chance for static differential.
The fumes from the tank or fuel rig are both contained until after a connection is made. (even if there is a static spark between the bike & the fuel rig, there are no fumes to ignite)
The fumes from the tank are (usually) vented back to the fuel rig, so there are no fumes in open air, reducing the chance of a fire.

Dry break is the way to go if you can. The biggest threat of fire in the pits is spilling fuel onto hot parts.

Besides being much safer, a dry break fuel rig can also be quite a bit quicker.

[caboose483]

Thx

[kneedragger88]

Plastic against metal can allow a static charge. A ground strap to the ground bleeds off a static charge before it can build enough to spark. A proper dry break has a metal shoulder that makes contact with the inner sleeve of the female which making the tank,can and fuel in the can all one. Next time you see a gas tanker up close take a look at each corner. There is a ground ball, there for the same reason.
Seen way too many pit fires while endurance racing over the years and this is just a small step to try and help. I dont feel its much of a burdon.