Dry Ice At Indy

[Larry Hill]

Will the officials turn their head and show a blind eye to competitors using anything, but ice [ you know that frozen water stuff ] to cool the car? Last year dry ice [ you know that stuff not found anywhere naturally on earth ] was seen in the staging lanes being used to cool intakes and fuel !!!!

[james schaechter]

Larry, I asked NHRA tech about this. I don't see why it would not be a better solution than wet ice, but I never got any response. I saw a lot of that stuff last year too. I like it, but I don't want to have any issues with it from tech. I would think it to be a safer deal, but who knows? If NHRA was smart, they could sell the stuff in the lanes! LOL.

[Ed Fernandez]

Originally Posted by james schaechter

Larry, I asked NHRA tech about this. I don't see why it would not be a better solution than wet ice, but I never got any response. I saw a lot of that stuff last year too. I like it, but I don't want to have any issues with it from tech. I would think it to be a safer deal, but who knows? If NHRA was smart, they could sell the stuff in the lanes! LOL.

James it wouldn't be safe if it was either mishandled or left somewhere where a kid or pet could be in real trouble because of it.It can be dangerous stuff.

[james schaechter]

Originally Posted by Ed Fernandez

James it wouldn't be safe if it was either mishandled or left somewhere where a kid or pet could be in real trouble because of it.It can be dangerous stuff.

Ed, please explain. Is it the fact that it could burn the skin or what is it? There are a lof ot things in the lanes or the pits that could hurt a kid or an animal that we use at the track.(if not handled properly) Not trying to be a smart a@@, just wondering.

[Chad Rhodes]

I think the small chance of someone burning their skin is far outweighed by the fact that it leaves no water residue to end up on the track.

[Dave Ribeiro]

Longbob,

You are correct, it will knock you out and burn your skin real bad... If you have it in a car or trailer or enclosed space in can be very dangerous... Should only handle with heavy gloves....Be careful you can be seriously hurt for ever... Keep far away from Kids..

* The other side is it really works, try using the snow or pellets, instead of Ice blocks
Snow & Pellets won't last as long block ice but is much easier to handle ..

.Good Luck & be safe....

[Ed Fernandez]

Originally Posted by james schaechter

Ed, please explain. Is it the fact that it could burn the skin or what is it? There are a lof ot things in the lanes or the pits that could hurt a kid or an animal that we use at the track.(if not handled properly) Not trying to be a smart a@@, just wondering.

James,the posts after mine gave some other reasons.We all know that some people in our sport are more responsible than others.What happens if at the end of the race they just chuck the stuff and go?
I've seen some real nasty situations in the short time (11 years) I've been running stock.Example:
3 years ago at the Toyo Nats.Someone parked near me in the field dumped their black water tank before they left.So leaving dry ice behind wouldn't be out of the question for a cretin like this.
It's only my opinion right or wrong.

[Mike Brogniez]

Dry ice has been used on airplanes food trolleys in specific quantities applications to make it safe.
It does hurt the skin if one comes in direct contact with it.

[dartman]

Originally Posted by james schaechter

Ed, please explain. Is it the fact that it could burn the skin or what is it? There are a lof ot things in the lanes or the pits that could hurt a kid or an animal that we use at the track.(if not handled properly) Not trying to be a smart a@@, just wondering.

If you hold a piece of dry ice too long, it feels like it is burning your skin. Your skin isn’t actually burning, though. What is actually happening is that the dry ice is freezing your skin. The dry ice is carbon dioxide that has been frozen at -110 °F (-79 °C). That’s why it hurts when you hold it too long, because your skin is starting to freeze from its cold. Freezing skin is a bad thing, so I recommend not letting dry ice ’burn’ you.


The reason that freezing and burning can feel the same is because touching things that are very cold can do the same thing to your cells as touching things that are very hot. The burning feeling comes from some of your skin cells being damaged and breaking open. This happens when the cells’ membranes are broken open. (You can think of the cell membrane as the wall of the cell.) If you touch something hot, some of the cell membranes are actually melted, breaking the cells open. If you touch something very cold, the water in your cells turns into ice, forming crystals that can tear through the cell membranes. In either case the result is the same - the cells are damaged. This is what you feel.

[George Fitzpatrick]

Originally Posted by dartman

If you hold a piece of dry ice too long, it feels like it is burning your skin. Your skin isn’t actually burning, though. What is actually happening is that the dry ice is freezing your skin. The dry ice is carbon dioxide that has been frozen at -110 °F (-79 °C). That’s why it hurts when you hold it too long, because your skin is starting to freeze from its cold. Freezing skin is a bad thing, so I recommend not letting dry ice ’burn’ you.


The reason that freezing and burning can feel the same is because touching things that are very cold can do the same thing to your cells as touching things that are very hot. The burning feeling comes from some of your skin cells being damaged and breaking open. This happens when the cells’ membranes are broken open. (You can think of the cell membrane as the wall of the cell.) If you touch something hot, some of the cell membranes are actually melted, breaking the cells open. If you touch something very cold, the water in your cells turns into ice, forming crystals that can tear through the cell membranes. In either case the result is the same - the cells are damaged. This is what you feel.

Wow that was a great explanation. Thank you