TRG Race Transporter Sustains Heavy Fire Damage - TRG Resolved to Make It to Daytona.
01-25-2004, 03:50 PM
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TRG Race Transporter Sustains Heavy Fire Damage - TRG Resolved to Make It to Daytona.
TRG Race Transporter Sustains Heavy Fire Damage; Team Resolved to Make It to Daytona
Sonoma, CA and Gila Bend, AZ – January 25, 2004
The 53-foot TRG race transporter, en route from Sonoma, CA to Daytona, FL for the running of the 2004 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, sustained heavy fire and smoke damage when an axle failed in the rear of the transporter, causing a suspected electrical or tire fire. The driver, Jerry Cowans, was unhurt in the incident. Team TRG immediately jumped into action, as crew members flew into Phoenix from multiple locations and drove to remote Gila Bend, AZ to assess damage and begin transferring salvageable equipment from the damaged trailer to a new, freshly purchased one.
Team owner Kevin Buckler, whose team has won the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona twice running, commented on the flurry of activity that has been his weekend. “When we found out late Friday night,” said Buckler, “our first reaction was disbelief, then relief when it became apparent that Jerry wasn’ t hurt. As he stood on the side of the road in the middle of the desert in Arizona, he let us know that the #66 and #67 cars were heavily smoke damaged, but appeared to be mechanically unharmed.”
The immediate problem facing the team was getting the undamaged equipment to Florida in time for the race. Buckler started placing phone calls to acquaintances and business contacts around the country, and within a number of hours had arranged for the purchase and pickup of a new race trailer. At 2:00 a.m. Pacific time on Saturday morning, the deal was consummated, just as the team’s travel agent was finalizing agendas and travel arrangements for crew members flying to and from all points. Several crewmembers flew from Los Angeles, Denver and Sacramento to Phoenix, where they discovered that the hydraulic systems in the trailer were not functioning, preventing the crew from removing the cars from the trailer.
Simultaneously, a leased tractor and TRG’s new trailer were en route from Los Angeles, CA to Phoenix to begin the process of transferring equipment from one rig to the other.
”The thing that stands out for me from this whole event,” said Buckler, “is the response of my crew to our emergency. They had all just packed up the old trailer and sent it down the road to Daytona. All the bins were closed, all the tools were in place, and every sticker on the cars was perfect. They had all gone back to their homes for one last weekend of rest before the season started. But every last one of them has the same determination I have – to deal with adversity, handle the situation like professionals, and just put their heads down and go to work. There’s no way on earth that I would bet against my crew getting us to Daytona in time. Anybody can ride the ship when it’s just cruising along, but when something like this happens you really find out what your team is made of. My guys reacted just as I expected.”
Pictures of the incident and the most recent developments can be seen at: http://www.theracersgroup.com/team/daytona_04.htm
Driver line-up: http://www.theracersgroup.com/team/p...tona_04_66.htm
All the News that's fit to print
:http://www.theracersgroup.com/
Sonoma, CA and Gila Bend, AZ – January 25, 2004
The 53-foot TRG race transporter, en route from Sonoma, CA to Daytona, FL for the running of the 2004 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, sustained heavy fire and smoke damage when an axle failed in the rear of the transporter, causing a suspected electrical or tire fire. The driver, Jerry Cowans, was unhurt in the incident. Team TRG immediately jumped into action, as crew members flew into Phoenix from multiple locations and drove to remote Gila Bend, AZ to assess damage and begin transferring salvageable equipment from the damaged trailer to a new, freshly purchased one.
Team owner Kevin Buckler, whose team has won the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona twice running, commented on the flurry of activity that has been his weekend. “When we found out late Friday night,” said Buckler, “our first reaction was disbelief, then relief when it became apparent that Jerry wasn’ t hurt. As he stood on the side of the road in the middle of the desert in Arizona, he let us know that the #66 and #67 cars were heavily smoke damaged, but appeared to be mechanically unharmed.”
The immediate problem facing the team was getting the undamaged equipment to Florida in time for the race. Buckler started placing phone calls to acquaintances and business contacts around the country, and within a number of hours had arranged for the purchase and pickup of a new race trailer. At 2:00 a.m. Pacific time on Saturday morning, the deal was consummated, just as the team’s travel agent was finalizing agendas and travel arrangements for crew members flying to and from all points. Several crewmembers flew from Los Angeles, Denver and Sacramento to Phoenix, where they discovered that the hydraulic systems in the trailer were not functioning, preventing the crew from removing the cars from the trailer.
Simultaneously, a leased tractor and TRG’s new trailer were en route from Los Angeles, CA to Phoenix to begin the process of transferring equipment from one rig to the other.
”The thing that stands out for me from this whole event,” said Buckler, “is the response of my crew to our emergency. They had all just packed up the old trailer and sent it down the road to Daytona. All the bins were closed, all the tools were in place, and every sticker on the cars was perfect. They had all gone back to their homes for one last weekend of rest before the season started. But every last one of them has the same determination I have – to deal with adversity, handle the situation like professionals, and just put their heads down and go to work. There’s no way on earth that I would bet against my crew getting us to Daytona in time. Anybody can ride the ship when it’s just cruising along, but when something like this happens you really find out what your team is made of. My guys reacted just as I expected.”
Pictures of the incident and the most recent developments can be seen at: http://www.theracersgroup.com/team/daytona_04.htm
Driver line-up: http://www.theracersgroup.com/team/p...tona_04_66.htm
All the News that's fit to print
:http://www.theracersgroup.com/
01-25-2004, 09:27 PM
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Wow, best of luck to the team. Ironically, the Thunderhill enduro team I was on had a trailer failure just last month as well -- but *nowhere* near as bad as this! I can somewhat relate...
01-25-2004, 10:40 PM
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Hmmm, something weird going on here, last year the StaSis Audi Trailer had a fire enroute to a race. They are directly across from TRG at Sears Point.
Heavy smoke damage can be a pain, when I crewed for StaSis 3 months later we were still finding smoke residue in the race car that survived the fire and the car that needed to have a new front end put in still smells funny.
Pete
Heavy smoke damage can be a pain, when I crewed for StaSis 3 months later we were still finding smoke residue in the race car that survived the fire and the car that needed to have a new front end put in still smells funny.
Pete
01-25-2004, 10:41 PM
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Look at these pics of the inside. I wouldn't say this is "not too bad" but then I am far from an expert on transporter fires.
http://www.theracersgroup.com/team/daytona_04.htm
http://www.theracersgroup.com/team/daytona_04.htm
01-25-2004, 11:07 PM
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Hi Guys,
Just as an update - the fire was so hot in the interior - that the Nomex crew and drivers suits are "toast". I've got a couple of extra crew suits I'll be sending down, to replace a few that were lost... As well, just as an FYI - Kevin, Deb and Shane all send their best, and wanted me to post a "Thank you"....
About 10 minutes after I posted the note to Rennlist - they had several Rennlisters in the AZ area send us PMs - asking what they can do - and their houses were open to TRG and the team.
On top of that - one Rennlister had an enclosed '03 Mercedes/Freightliner RIG and offered to get it to AZ overnight to assist moving equipment/cars. This Rennlister is in Lincoln, Nebraska....
I read these things - and know what Rennlist is all about. The threads earlier this week about the "Free Classifieds" or what's said on other sites pales in comparision....
So to each of you - my thanks....
John D.
Just as an update - the fire was so hot in the interior - that the Nomex crew and drivers suits are "toast". I've got a couple of extra crew suits I'll be sending down, to replace a few that were lost... As well, just as an FYI - Kevin, Deb and Shane all send their best, and wanted me to post a "Thank you"....
About 10 minutes after I posted the note to Rennlist - they had several Rennlisters in the AZ area send us PMs - asking what they can do - and their houses were open to TRG and the team.
On top of that - one Rennlister had an enclosed '03 Mercedes/Freightliner RIG and offered to get it to AZ overnight to assist moving equipment/cars. This Rennlister is in Lincoln, Nebraska....
I read these things - and know what Rennlist is all about. The threads earlier this week about the "Free Classifieds" or what's said on other sites pales in comparision....
So to each of you - my thanks....
John D.
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01-26-2004, 01:55 PM
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I know how transporter fires can stink and ruin everything.
In 2000, on the way to the GI Joes 200 in Portland, our truck driver had a brake fire on the aft axle, eventually starting the rear end of the trailer on fire. Luckily the fire didnt make it into the trailer, but a lot of heat sure did. After getting two complete new axle assy's installed in Wyoming, our driver finally made it to the track. That trailer stunk up the whole paddock within minutes of him arriving. Keep in mind the paddock at PIR is outdoor.
Anyhow, we got the roll-up door open and found the floor was warped from heat. It was so warped, it had jammed out fuel rig into the ceiling, forcing us to sledge hammer the floor down just so we could unload the trailer! All of the firesuits, crew wear etc. stunk so badly. We even left the doors open all night in attempts to air it out. That trailer stunk throughout the rest of the season.
What a mess!
Sounds as though TRG did it the right way by buying another trailer. I am sure insurance will take care of the burnt one..
In 2000, on the way to the GI Joes 200 in Portland, our truck driver had a brake fire on the aft axle, eventually starting the rear end of the trailer on fire. Luckily the fire didnt make it into the trailer, but a lot of heat sure did. After getting two complete new axle assy's installed in Wyoming, our driver finally made it to the track. That trailer stunk up the whole paddock within minutes of him arriving. Keep in mind the paddock at PIR is outdoor.
Anyhow, we got the roll-up door open and found the floor was warped from heat. It was so warped, it had jammed out fuel rig into the ceiling, forcing us to sledge hammer the floor down just so we could unload the trailer! All of the firesuits, crew wear etc. stunk so badly. We even left the doors open all night in attempts to air it out. That trailer stunk throughout the rest of the season.
What a mess!
Sounds as though TRG did it the right way by buying another trailer. I am sure insurance will take care of the burnt one..
