Barbequed PT Cruiser

[Speed]

While enjoying the hot tub one evening in Myrtle Beach, we smelled rubber burning, then saw thick, black smoke. Turns out a PT Cruiser in the parking lot was on fire. I grabbed the D200 and snapped a few shots...

[another view]

And a medium rare Geo Prizm too - thought they were an endangered species...

[poker]

Quick thinking! No wonder your handle is "Speed".

I'll probably see that car selling in Los Angeles in 2 months at some mystery car lot.

"NEW INTERIOR!!" "THIS CAR IS A HOT DEAL!"

[Speed]

More like blackened! Cripy on the outside, and warm on the inside.

"thought they were an endangered species..."

This one is. We later saw a rollback carting the Prizm off. The PT Cruiser had already been carried away by then.

[Speed]

It helps that I usually have my camera with me!

"I'll probably see that car selling in Los Angeles in 2 months at some mystery car lot."

Oh, I hope not!!!

"NEW INTERIOR!!" "THIS CAR IS A HOT DEAL!"

Yeah. Be sure to run Car Fax on it!

And don't forget: "Great Beach Car!"

Ooops, wrong photo!

This was a fire we passed on the way home in Hampstead. Taken with the D200, through the rear window while travelling 60 MPH down the highway. (I was saving this one for another post)

[Speed]

Here's the photo I meant to include with that last post.

I thought it was funny seeing the water pouring out the door.

Hence the "Great Beach Car" bit.

[PrevailingConditions]

Don't you just love a good car-be-que? We had a car catch fire in our parking lot, but all I had was the cell phone. Unfortunately, due to legal problems it sat there for at least three months before it was carted away.

Any idea what caused this one to flame up?

[poker]

I thought it was funny seeing the water pouring out the door.

Next time you see water flowing from a burning car, please consider using a very slow shutter speed to create the white milky water fall look to add drama to shot.

Just kidding...thanks for sharing dude!

[drg]

Hope you had the Marshmallows handy!

[Speed]

"please consider using a very slow shutter speed to create the white milky water fall look to add drama to shot.

Just kidding...thanks for sharing dude!"

I knew I forgot something! My tripod. Dang, and I thought I was doing good to have my camera.

Next time...

[Speed]

Hehehehe!

"We had a car catch fire in our parking lot, but all I had was the cell phone. Unfortunately, due to legal problems it sat there for at least three months before it was carted away."

That must have stank. Having a burnt car just sitting there taking up space.

"Any idea what caused this one to flame up?"

No clue. Most folks think it was electrical. Who knows?

Thanks for the comments.

I really like the "car-be-que". Very original.

[Speed]

Unfortunately, we did not. We were in the hot tub when the fire broke out, and we just didn't think to take marshmallows with us to the hot tub!

Besides which, I wasn't too keen on getting too close to a burning car. Chemicals, toxins, gas, oil, ... I just don't think they'd add much flavor.

;-)

[mjs1973]

You mean they don't blow up like they do on TV?

My truck has survived 2 fires now. The second was just a couple of months ago when the floor dimmer (yes, I still have a floor dimmer) burned up on the way to work. The smell of electrical fire in the cab is finally starting to go away.

Nice pics Speed!

[Speed]

Actually, that was what I was thinking it was going to do! Gas is very volatile, and I wasn't about to get fried in a fireball. On reflection, I realize that most, if not all, gas tanks are made of plastic these days. So they melt instead of blowing up.

There were lots of pops and booms as the windows and tires blew out though!

"My truck has survived 2 fires now. The second was just a couple of months ago when the floor dimmer (yes, I still have a floor dimmer) burned up on the way to work. The smell of electrical fire in the cab is finally starting to go away."

My uncle has had a truck fire as well. His fuse box melted. And that smell...it permeates everything. You're lucky your's is starting to go away.

"Nice pics Speed!"

Thank you my friend!

[another view]

On reflection, I realize that most, if not all, gas tanks are made of plastic these days. So they melt instead of blowing up.

Hadn't thought about that, but it makes sense. OTOH, I don't think I'd trust that for getting any closer to it either! I can relate to that smell, too. I share a 16'x16' office with one other guy, and occasionally someone will bring in a burned up electrical part looking for a replacement. That smell lingers for a long time...

[Speed]

"I don't think I'd trust that for getting any closer to it either! I can relate to that smell, too. I share a 16'x16' office with one other guy, and occasionally someone will bring in a burned up electrical part looking for a replacement. That smell lingers for a long time..."

I've seen gas blow up before. Being in the Air Farce, I've seen plenty of things blow up - some of which weren't suppose to! In missiles, the safe evacuation distance was 2000 feet, which could be decreased to 600 feet if there wasn't a known explosion hazard. (How you determine that I'm not sure) So I'll always err on the side of safety.

Most things that burn leave an odor. Wood isn't too bad - it dissipates fairly quickly. Buildings aren't too bad either - most of the time. It depends on what was in them. But vehicles, electronics, anything with rubber, plastic, or other chemical compounds, the odor just doesn't seem to ever go away.

BTW, my old Apple II GS fried several years ago when Dawn was on it playing a game. (The power supply burned) So I can relate about burned electrical components.

[4XTaco]

Fried electronics really stink... worst thing I have smelled? I walked into a closed office after we had a battery UPS burn up over the weekend- Luckily no fire ensued and nothing exploded.
The office smelled of burnt electronics and an acidic smell. Had to air the office out for a couple days... and I got the lucky task of removing the over heated battery packs. The casings had softened and had expanded so I had a hard time removing the batteries for replacement.

[Speed]

Literally!!!!

"worst thing I have smelled?"

I don't doubt that!

"Had to air the office out for a couple days... and I got the lucky task of removing the over heated battery packs."

Ugh! You have my sympathies!!!

[DaveLC2]

What a bummer for the PT Cruiser Geo Prizim owners. The PT looked like a GT Turbo version too. Amazing pictures from your D200 btw.

Dave

[Speed]

"The PT looked like a GT Turbo version too. Amazing pictures from your D200 btw."

Thanks Dave! I was in the right place at the right time with the right gear!

I love my D200. It is an incredible camera, and the more I use it, the more I love it.