I had spent the day getting my Mk1 Escort estate ready for a sprint at Curborough the following day when I took it for a final shakedown and it stalled at a junction.Thinking nothing of it I turned the key and flame shot out from under the bonnet and within seconds the whole front end of the car was on fire with flames 4 - 5 ft high on the bonnet and thick black smoke.
My fire extinguisher was worthless so I hammered on the front door of a near by house and shouted at them to phone the fire brigade,this was before we all had mobiles.
Cars were turning round in the street as soon as they saw the flames to avoid getting anywhere near.
At one point a bus stopped,full of oap's,and the driver tried to help but he couldn't smash the glass to get at his fire extinguisher but then the fire brigade arrived and after I unlocked the bonnet,burning my fingers,they put out the fire.
I discovered later that the fuel pipe to the carb had come loose and covered the engine in petrol so that when I tried to start it a spark set the lot on fire.curse word!
My fire extinguisher was worthless so I hammered on the front door of a near by house and shouted at them to phone the fire brigade,this was before we all had mobiles.
Cars were turning round in the street as soon as they saw the flames to avoid getting anywhere near.
At one point a bus stopped,full of oap's,and the driver tried to help but he couldn't smash the glass to get at his fire extinguisher but then the fire brigade arrived and after I unlocked the bonnet,burning my fingers,they put out the fire.
I discovered later that the fuel pipe to the carb had come loose and covered the engine in petrol so that when I tried to start it a spark set the lot on fire.curse word!