Club Arnage

Club Arnage => General Discussion => Topic started by: 24hourman on June 23, 2006, 07:33:24 pm



Title: firework displays
Post by: 24hourman on June 23, 2006, 07:33:24 pm
There have been fireworks at Le Mans since the first race in 1923 (Although officially organised) Are the huge campsite displays great fun or a disaster waiting to happen?


Title: Re: firework displays
Post by: Lawnmower Man on June 23, 2006, 09:01:14 pm
Well If Brick is reading he has a photo of the injury I sustained from a Rocket that returned to Earth via my left shoulder.
The people camping next to us had a firework Malfunction where the hot bit that goes skyward  then explodes came out sideways in to our eating area.   I also think that there was a Firework malfunction in the Display at DfH.

t.


Title: Re: firework displays
Post by: Robspot on June 23, 2006, 10:44:06 pm
The campsite displays ARE great fun but it does raise the question "what if your display injures someone and they decide to sue you?"

I can't see any insurance company granting Public Liability Insurance to a bunch of pissed blokes (even the extremely sensible Brethren  ;) )


Title: Re: firework displays
Post by: knetter on June 23, 2006, 10:59:54 pm
There was a little incident with fireworks in our campsite, however they were from our neighbours, probably the same as lawnmover man had, they fired a morter or something that came into our campsite and exploded on the ground, but nearly injured someone in JPC's team.

We ran over to chop the guys head off, but it wasn't on purpose as we thought it might have been and the guy apologized numerous times, so we drank some more beer and forgot about it.

rusty was extremely sensible and carefull with his setup, did not see anything go wrong during the display. Fire extinguisher was near all the time during the display.


Title: Re: firework displays
Post by: alibongo on June 24, 2006, 01:35:27 am
Unfortunately there is allways scope for a malfunction with fireworks, even proper display teams have their share of hick-ups, I saw a big mortar shell go into the crowd at a display, not nice......those things pack a punch and generate a serious amount of heat.....just treat them with the respect they deserve or it will end in tears !!!


Title: Re: firework displays
Post by: Rusty on June 24, 2006, 01:48:08 am
All of our ordnance went skywards that is why I use large mortars, no fallout other than shell cases. I had one spotter to make sure everything left the ground. Everything else was electronically fired.

Most damage is caused by smaller pyro, in particular small rockets and hummers.

The only lesson here is to buy large.

Rusty



Title: Re: firework displays
Post by: jpchenet on June 24, 2006, 01:54:33 am
All of our ordnance went skywards that is why I use large mortars, no fallout other than shell cases. I had one spotter to make sure everything left the ground. Everything else was electronically fired.

Most damage is caused by smaller pyro, in particular small rockets and hummers.

The only lesson here is to buy large.

Rusty



So.........next year.......even bigger!!!  ;D ;D ;D ;D


Title: Re: firework displays
Post by: Rusty on June 24, 2006, 02:04:33 am
Yep, that's the way to go dude.
You need a pyro licence in the UK for K4. I've been firing that sh**t for 20 years.

Friday night was a very very small nugget. If you want large then chuck in the bucks man and I'll blow everyone away, bar non. Those muckers were only 75mm, Brezac supply 100mm, yahoo !!!!

Oh, and safely too ( me excluded of course but you do need to be that close to get the full effect ).

Rustyola

 ;D


Title: Re: firework displays
Post by: Rusty on June 24, 2006, 02:30:26 am
I saw a big mortar shell go into the crowd at a display, not nice......those things pack a punch and generate a serious amount of heat.....just treat them with the respect they deserve or it will end in tears !!!

That would have been caused by not loading the shell properly or using a small shell in a large mortar tube, equally disastrous.


Title: Re: firework displays
Post by: Paddy_NL on June 24, 2006, 02:35:28 am
after seeing the Brethren busy with the fireworks at our pitch on Friday, I wouldn't trust myself anymore with even a fire cracker. These guys know what they're doing! 8)


Title: Re: firework displays
Post by: Gordonwr on June 24, 2006, 08:31:19 am
I have a scar on my head as a result of some fallout from the MB display, but I'm not complaining it was a brilliant show. Well done to all, bigger next year then?


Title: Re: firework displays
Post by: Fran on June 24, 2006, 08:42:02 am
Hmm - I dont really remember seeing many fireworks on friday - seemed less than usual.  :-\


Title: Re: firework displays
Post by: Lawnmower Man on June 24, 2006, 10:40:24 am
I didn't see the prep work for the Bretheren Display.  But I do know from talk at the time and obviously some posts here that much care was exercised in putting on the display.   

To me, it makes perfect sense to go bigger and better.   I'm sure a firework is much safer going off at 200ft than at 20ft.

What bothers me is the people that just go out and buy the Biggest Cheapest fireworks they can.  Then let them off on in a crowded campsite after they have loaded themselves up with copious amounts of booze. 

With regards to the firework that got in to the DfH bar.    I don't know what display it was from, I wrongly assumed it was one of the fireworks in the DfH/Bretheren display.   Please accept my appologies.

t.


Title: Re: firework displays
Post by: termietermite on June 24, 2006, 10:53:24 am
Thought the firework display on MB was fab.  Well executed and seemed pretty expertly done to me.  I was very relieved when my mate realised he had left his rockets behind in the UK as, yeah, amateur night with these things is just plain scarey, especially with all those tents about.  Bretheren, you can have the contract for official firework display in my book.  As for some of the less-practiced in this art - please leave them at home.


Title: Re: firework displays
Post by: Lawnmower Man on June 24, 2006, 10:58:58 am
Unfortunately there is allways scope for a malfunction with fireworks, even proper display teams have their share of hick-ups,

Yes they do.   I don't know what the regulation distance is for the crowd to be positioned at an organised display is.
But I'll wager it's in the order of hundereds of yards.   Even with all of the precautions things can still go wrong.

The firework that malfunctioned next to us wasn't even 100 inches away.

I'm afriad having been on the wrong end of two fireworks in and wittnessing a third incident.  I really am anti impromptu firework displays. 

t.


Title: Re: firework displays
Post by: Rusty on June 24, 2006, 12:25:50 pm
The recommended safe distance for display/public is 25 metres and the fall out area behind 75 metres.

Rockets are probably the most catastrophic disasters I have witnessed usually when the motor isn't powerful enough to lift the body or they tip again due to weak motors and head straight down resulting in a ground burst. I personally won't use them unless there is a good deal of space, and I never buy cheap.

There was a group on KN a couple of years ago that managed to set fire to a whole load of there gear due to a similar malfunction. The ensuing panic and pandemonium was almost comical, thankfully no one was seriously hurt.

And as for the booze/fireworks combination, well I don't think I need to comment on that one.

Rusty


Title: Re: firework displays
Post by: Ferrari Spider on June 24, 2006, 12:34:19 pm
Echo those comments, many years ago a competitor during the Cowes Friday night firework display took a red distress flare in the stomach, because some pratt fired it horizontaly across the achored boats.  It wasn't very appealing watching this person die.

The net result flares were band outright from then on.


Title: Re: firework displays
Post by: termietermite on June 24, 2006, 01:07:31 pm
I also remember one amateur night when rockets were planted straight in the ground - I kid you not!  The resulting explosion was something to be heard.  Luckily nobody hurt but it was a near thing.


Title: Re: firework displays
Post by: Steve Pyro on June 24, 2006, 01:40:42 pm
Some tosser fired a couple of parachute flares on HA on Sunday night.

I've seen these burn through tents and car paintwork in the past.


Title: Re: firework displays
Post by: Ferrari Spider on June 24, 2006, 01:46:30 pm
Some tosser fired a couple of parachute flares on HA on Sunday night.

I've seen these burn through tents and car paintwork in the past.


One burned through our deck during a Cowes week Friday night display,  Right on the foredeck, fish and chips, Pimms, Gin and Tonic weren't strong enough to quench the fireball, got into the sail locker and at 5k a pop plus for the sails we weren't happy.


Title: Re: firework displays
Post by: jpchenet on June 24, 2006, 02:06:37 pm
The firework that came into the bar area was let off by one of the Beermountain Team (the one in the kilt). I believe he'd set a Roman Candle style firework on top of the bank without securing it or digging it into the ground. The candle went off, knocked it over onto it's side, and the finale of the coloured airbombs was shot straight at us and exploded in Leigh's face just behind me. Very fortunate not to have any burns, although his vision was shot away for about a minute. The only permanent casualty were a couple were a couple of pairs of white under garments that now sport a brown go-faster stripe!


Title: Re: firework displays
Post by: nopanic - neil on June 24, 2006, 03:29:15 pm
The Bretheren did a great job; they must be part time gardeners or miners as they were well buried.



Title: Re: firework displays
Post by: TonyT on June 26, 2006, 09:24:11 am
There seemed to be an 'official' display on Thursday night (midnight) on the Bugatti circuit. They spent all day setting it up.

It was a great show as well. Anyone else see it?


Title: Re: firework displays
Post by: Robspot on June 26, 2006, 09:33:22 am
The Bretheren did a great job; they must be part time gardeners or miners as they were well buried.



I'd be careful about calling The Brethren gardeners or miners, you're only uphill or marmite short of a kicking there  :o


Title: Re: firework displays
Post by: Christopher on June 26, 2006, 04:14:54 pm
Having not received an injury or belongings damaged from an un-official display, I presently don't have a problem with it, but I can understand other less fortunate people's views on the matter.

What does surprise me is that a group of self proclaimed 'well-to-do Le Mans long timers' (camping next to the fence in Karting Nord) decided to set off fire works during Saturday night whilst the race was going on. The fireworks were directed over the track!

Nice distraction for the cars hurtling past!


Title: Re: firework displays
Post by: clkgtrlm1 on June 29, 2006, 06:15:48 pm
Having not been involved in any incidents myself, I must say that the displays are greatly appreciated and much part of the event, however echo that they have to be done safe, fireworks and booze don't mix very well (plus they don't light afterwards).

Have had experience of gas cylinders exploding vertically upwards on one occasion where some fool had lit an oil drum! The cylinder fortunately landed safely without harm, but some damage was done to surrounding tents by pieces of burning chicken carcass.

Moral, when you are going to burn stuff, try to predict all consequences.


Title: Re: firework displays
Post by: Boney2728 on June 29, 2006, 09:19:34 pm
We had some TW@T firing potatoes at our campsite , could be dangerous they should use corgettes instead.


Title: Re: firework displays
Post by: nickliv on June 29, 2006, 10:22:30 pm
I must hold my hands up to popping a few gaz cylinders on the waste ground by the HA roundabout on Friday evening, at about dusk. (About 20 mins before the fireworks kicked off over there)

I've done it many times before, well buried upside down (In a mixture of weedkiller and sugar, - burns VERY hot) so that when the seal round the base pops which it's designed to do) the lid goes up about 50 feet, and you get a rather good rising fireball.

Everyone went woo, just like when a firework goes off. Well, the ones that weren't scopping widdle into cars.

Does this mean I'm an intenational terrorist? Hope not.

Did you see them and like them? Hope so.




Title: Re: firework displays
Post by: Boney2728 on June 30, 2006, 08:51:34 pm
I must hold my hands up to popping a few gaz cylinders on the waste ground by the HA roundabout on Friday evening, at about dusk. (About 20 mins before the fireworks kicked off over there)

I've done it many times before, well buried upside down (In a mixture of weedkiller and sugar, - burns VERY hot) so that when the seal round the base pops which it's designed to do) the lid goes up about 50 feet, and you get a rather good rising fireball.

Everyone went woo, just like when a firework goes off. Well, the ones that weren't scopping widdle into cars.

Does this mean I'm an intenational terrorist? Hope not.
Sums up the Houx really full of hooligans. Stopped going there in 95 . Seems like this element is spreading though. Think i may camp in the woods next year . :D




Title: Re: firework displays
Post by: nickliv on June 30, 2006, 09:16:36 pm
The woods is where I was setting them off. Even I wouldn't camp there.


Title: Re: firework displays
Post by: Boney2728 on June 30, 2006, 10:48:59 pm
Yea i would advoid the woods as well if you knew what i have dropped there... ;D


Title: Re: firework displays
Post by: nickliv on July 01, 2006, 03:14:47 pm
When in France....