Is it safe to park on the grass?

[autobonrun]

I recently started driving my 911 to some major race events where the only parking available is on grass.

I noticed on my car and several other sports cars that the grass actually touched the bottom of the car. I assume a catalytic converter gets hot enough to catch it on fire.

Does the exhaust system get hot enough to catch grass on fire? Have any of you heard of this happening?

If so I think I'd better stop driving my 911 to these events.

[JAE]

Oh man, I got the scare of the year with dry grass. Went to one of those parties out in the MOFN and parked in grass that touched the exhaust. It's sooo dry here in Florida, half the state is on fire. Having a beer, relaxing, then I heard - "there's a white Porsh on fire". Holy S#it. The grass was only smoking, but it looked bad. No car damage, but I think my cardio definately over reved.

Joe

[rstoll]

Never park the twin turbo in a hayfield.

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Robert Stoll
83 SC
83 944

[autobonrun]

Originally posted by JAE:
Oh man, I got the scare of the year with dry grass. Went to one of those parties out in the MOFN and parked in grass that touched the exhaust. It's sooo dry here in Florida, half the state is on fire. Having a beer, relaxing, then I heard - "there's a white Porsh on fire". Holy S#it. The grass was only smoking, but it looked bad. No car damage, but I think my cardio definately over reved.

Joe

I think you just answered my question. I'll have to find another way to drive to the races; something that sits up higher.

[Leland Pate]

Hot exhaust and dry grass can be a big danger.

If you know in advance that you might have to park in high grass at an event, just take a piece of 3'x3' plywood to put undernieth the cat and heat exchangers.
Worked for me...

[emcon5]

I would think that a phone call to whoever runs the track you are attending is in order. Tell them your concern, and ask if their insurance covers a grass fire destroying all the cars in their designated parking area. Probably find the parking grass nicely mowed when you get there.

Tom

[autobonrun]

Originally posted by emcon5:
I would think that a phone call to whoever runs the track you are attending is in order. Tell them your concern, and ask if their insurance covers a grass fire destroying all the cars in their designated parking area. Probably find the parking grass nicely mowed when you get there.

Tom

I just took your advice and fired off an email to the facility. I measured the clearance to my exhaust system and it is about 6". On my largest family car it is only 9". The grass was over a foot high. Even if I take the good advice given earlier to bring something to place under my car, once an adjacent vehicle goes, many others will be lost. Hopefully, my email will be taken seriously. I think I'll also call.
Thanks, your response got me to act, not just complain.

[stray15]

In my area people like to make giant mazes in cornfields. Well, this past summer(or whenever they begin harvesting corn) there were a bunch of cars parked in the cornfield and one of them caught fire. Which turned into a dominoe effect and all of the 2 dozen(could be more or less) where destroyed. All the owners could do is stand there and watch their car go up in flames.

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Porsche, Through and through
Tim
'83 944

http://community.webshots.com/user/strayer15

[ClayMcguill]

Ask Robert Earl Keen if he thinks it's a good idea....that's his 2 cars burning to the ground in the photo (taken at one of his concerts).



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Clay McGuill '66 912, '97 Jeep Cherokee www.geocities.com/the912guy



[This message has been edited by ClayMcguill (edited 06-09-2001).]

[campbellcj]

I was on a camping trip years ago and saw a 911 start a little fire by parking over a thick bed of pine needles. Not good. Fortunately, the driver hadn't gotten very far from the car and immediately came back and moved it to a better (clear) spot.