AVGAS - Brisbane

[BrisZX9R]

Does anyone know where you can get Avgas in brisbane, without a CAMS license? OR how hard/easy is it to get a cams license or a fuel passport?

Also does anyone know why you know have to have a special license to buy avgas? I was told it's because it's leaded fuel. is this really true?

[robracer]

I have an Avgas / leaded fuel pass book & the Govt is pretty tuff on it.... it is leaded & therefore every single ltr is traced from supplier to end user.... To be honest with you get ELF or just run Prem unleaded.
We only use BP Avgas for the older 2 valve zed engines but when you order the shit & it takes 3 weeks to come in it can be a hassle + its damn expensive.
Only some BP servos supply what is called BP100, (leaded fuel) suggest you do a ring around as it is only a few selected ones would supply it & they would more than likely need to order it in for you. as for the pass book contact MA for the application

[photomike666]

Not sure about BP, but shell do power race which is 100

[ttc]

We used to sell a fuel at the bike shop RF100 (shell)

Don't know if that shop still has it though

[Tack]

I used to buy avgas from moorabbin airport when I was in Melbourne. I was told that the reason that they restricted its use was that there was no "road taxes" applied to it like regular fuel therefore it was not to be used by road cars as a fuel substitute.

After they made it hard to get we used shell racing 100 or 130 depending on compression ratio or boost. I was wondering why you wanted it?

[oldmanmike]

You can still get leaded fuel ( avgas ) at Moorabbin airport, BUT, you will need a leaded fuel passbook.

To get a leaded fuel passbook you apply to MA ( http://www.ma.org.au/Content/MA/FormsRu ... _Forms.htm ).
As well as a race licence, you will also need a valid reason ie. class or racing dictates or allows the fuel like 125GP.

I would imaginge that you would be able to buy avgas at the local ( light aircraft ...cessna's etc ) airport in Brisbane just the same, providing you have the documentation.

If you need leaded for an older bike that's just for road use, you would probably have to make do with premium unleaded and a lead substitue additive.

[chuffed]

Vp racing fuels do a unleaded 100,101,103 and 109 that is oxygen enriched and setup will give you more horses than any 100 octane leaded fuel. No fuel passbook needed, though it comes at a price.

vpaustralia@froggy.com.au

They have a distribution centre in rocklea somewhere i think

[Gosling1]

Some interesting changes regarding aircraft kerosine will be taking place from 1 January 2009....

(OK, I'll call it AvGas 'coz it sounds so much cooler.... )

Currently, anyone wishing to purchase AvGas needs a fuel passbook from their local Controlling body - for bike racers, thats MA. This rule is current until 31/12/08.

From next year, you will no longer require an MA passbook - but you *will* need to be a member of a sporting organisation, which has applied for and been granted, an exemption for the use of Leaded Fuels in Motorsports. For a few of us here, thats the PCRA.

If you show your Club membership card to a supplier, and they are satisfied (ie, you are who you say you are, and most suppliers will probably need photo evidence in order 'to be satisfied'), then you can purchase leaded AvGas without any further requirements.

There is a thread about this on the PCRA website. Its about bloody time, I used to just rock up to the local airport, and fill a couple of jerry-cans for about $28 each back in 2001 !! It was a piece of piss..........didn't even have to show a membership of a club !!

[Sulli]

http://www.etracingfuels.com/index.html
there is a contact person for brissy

[BrisZX9R]

Thanks for all your input.

Will have to see what i can arrange. I only want about 20lts per month maximum. If I can get a "passport" I can buy 200lts for $600 from shell direct and thats about the cheapest I can find.

[robracer]

Just a small warning if you plan on buying 200ltr... we have done that before & shared between 4-5 riders over a 2 day meeting but if you are expecting it to last a year than you might have a problem in that the fuel will loose its octane rating over time you do not know how fresh the drum is when you get it, then it is going to sit around as you slowly use it up. I am only going off what I have been told by others so you might want to investigate the lifespan of the fuel you are going to purchase.

[BrisZX9R]

Oh Damn.. thanks Rob.. didn't even consider that...

[robracer]

Another thing is it is probably pretty dangerous to keep that much fuel at home ?

[Wattie]

if its anything like methanol, (Model car fuel)

it draws in the moisture fron the air. so its better to keep it in smaller drums as you use it.

eg if you got 200L,

put it in 10 20L drums, and use them 1 at a time,

but this still wont help the problem of the octane rating dropping i dont think.

[Gosling1]

.....if its anything like methanol, (Model car fuel).....it draws in the moisture fron the air. so its better to keep it in smaller drums as you use it..

Methanol is 'hygroscopic', which is the technical jargon for 'absorbs moisture form air', and yes, you have to decant methanol into smaller containers with air-tight seals, to ensure that no water is absorbed. Its a huge pain in the arse.

AvGas is 'not' hygroscopic - its a form of high-octane kerosine, and there is no issue with storing it in 200l drums......as long as the drums are emptied quickly. It will go *off* after a period of time, but the difference is not as crucial as if it was being used as its manufacturer intended - ie, for use as a track fuel, if you could empty a 200l drum inside 3 or 4 months, you would be hard-pressed to notice any real difference in performance. But, don't leave it for 12 months........

some specific racing fuels (think VP), do have specific shelf-life's.

But there is one thing I can guarantee - once you have used hi-octane kerosine, everything else seems very 'ordinary' by comparison. The only pump-fuel that comes remotely close is BP Gold.