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Old 3rd March 2020, 16:36   #11
BRG75
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I had a weekend / evening job when I was at college, serving on a petrol station forecourt.

Blue and white (Esso) warehouse coat and a leather satchel, for the money, which was taken back into the office when the queues died down. So you know the era.

Important thing was, and drummed into us, that with the pump nozzle in one hand, and after removing the car's filler cap, you had to "slap" the nozzle against the filler neck, and hold it there. This was for anti static reasons.

Never did see a spark, or have a problem, but some years later there was phase of cars having a metal chain hanging down to "earth" the body's static build up.

Was that ever really necessary, ??
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1997 420 (Company Car)
1996 216 cabriolet,
198? 213 VDP
1986 SD1 V8 VDP,
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1966 2000.
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Old 3rd March 2020, 17:39   #12
hogweed
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Quote:
Originally Posted by roverbarmy View Post
I've seen batteries explode, covering somebody in acid due to "misplacement" of the leads. Luckily a dousing with a watering can saved the person's face and hands but his overalls and shirt literally dropped off him in shreds soon after!

Well… back in the 70s, my girlfriend and I used to sit in my Escort Sport by the side of Belfast Lough at night, smoking and drinking (yes, I know… it was a long time ago).


One night we suddenly realised that we’d run out of matches. This wasn’t yet in the days when motors came with cigar lighters as standard, so we had a major panic on our hands. Ever resourceful, I realised I had some welding rods in the boot, and figured I could get one of them red enough to light my smoke if I shorted it across the battery terminals



Don’t know if it was a bit of hydrogen, or the battery boiled a bit (the welding rod did turn VERY red very quickly), but there was a big bang, I guess the plastic strip which sealed the top blew off, and my face got sprayed with acid.


I was very fortunate that the sea was only a few yards away – I ran (in near-darkness) over the rocks without breaking an ankle, and stuck my face in the water.


Lucky not to end up looking like the phantom of the opera



I’m a bit more sensible in my old age
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Old 3rd March 2020, 19:38   #13
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Just going down to the petrol station to get a bag of petrol
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9w_MliZEAz4
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Old 3rd March 2020, 20:01   #14
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A few years ago I returned to my car in a multi-storey car park to see another car nestled up to my front bumper, it had rolled across the slightly sloping floor from where it had been parked opposite mine, obviously without the handbrake on.

I was able to phone the owner, to ask him to return to his car, as his name and the telephone number of his driving school was emblazoned across the bonnet and roof.

He offered to buy the new bumper for my car, rather than go through his insurance - possibly too embarrassed.....
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Old 3rd March 2020, 20:26   #15
clf
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hogweed View Post
Well… back in the 70s, my girlfriend and I used to sit in my Escort Sport by the side of Belfast Lough at night, smoking and drinking (yes, I know… it was a long time ago).


One night we suddenly realised that we’d run out of matches. This wasn’t yet in the days when motors came with cigar lighters as standard, so we had a major panic on our hands. Ever resourceful, I realised I had some welding rods in the boot, and figured I could get one of them red enough to light my smoke if I shorted it across the battery terminals



Don’t know if it was a bit of hydrogen, or the battery boiled a bit (the welding rod did turn VERY red very quickly), but there was a big bang, I guess the plastic strip which sealed the top blew off, and my face got sprayed with acid.


I was very fortunate that the sea was only a few yards away – I ran (in near-darkness) over the rocks without breaking an ankle, and stuck my face in the water.


Lucky not to end up looking like the phantom of the opera



I’m a bit more sensible in my old age
Hazelbank per chance?

Talking about the drinking bit, I stumbled across an old full page ad from the 70's in a magazine at my work (I wish I had copied it now). On it was a picture of a 4 speed with reverse gearshift gate instead of numbers, it has a picture of a pint of beer on the first, second and third gear positions with a question mark on the fourth. Below it was the caption stating 'do you really need that fourth?'

They were indeed different times lol.
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Old 3rd March 2020, 20:32   #16
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So yes, although I have never heard of fuel igniting at a garage, if circumstances conspire anything could happen.
THIS is quite a disturbing video, but illustrates how easy a simple spark can do major damage. (both child and father suffered burns but were stable were it was reported.
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Old 3rd March 2020, 20:33   #17
hogweed
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Quote:
Originally Posted by clf View Post
Hazelbank per chance?

Not quite! Jordanstown Loughshore Park. I was at the Poly at the time...


Quote:
Originally Posted by clf View Post
Talking about the drinking bit, I stumbled across an old full page ad from the 70's in a magazine at my work (I wish I had copied it now). On it was a picture of a 4 speed with reverse gearshift gate instead of numbers, it has a picture of a pint of beer on the first, second and third gear positions with a question mark on the fourth. Below it was the caption stating 'do you really need that fourth?'

They were indeed different times lol.

You know, I think I remember that... different times, indeed. This probably isn't the place to go into reminiscences about my days back then as a poteen dealer


But only because there were no Rovers involved. My (cop) mate who did the driving had a beautiful black RS2000 Custom
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