Who wears racing suit for DE events
03-29-2017, 11:40 AM
#181
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What do you guys make of the available single layer 2 piece suits available? Apparently can only be washed 4-5 times for someone doing HPDE that's probably good for 2-3 years 
.
I know its thin material, and rated SF1 only, but has to be better than a shirt and jeans, no?
Usually pretty affordable to, $100 or so new...
.I know its thin material, and rated SF1 only, but has to be better than a shirt and jeans, no?
Usually pretty affordable to, $100 or so new...
03-29-2017, 02:30 PM
#182
Registered User
Searched ebay, and there are dozens of used Nascar SFI/5 rated suits for sale... many cheap...
So, how would it look if I showed up at a novice PCA track day in bright yellow/black suit with full sponsorship patches everywhere?
Menards... Mello Yellow... Energy Drinks... etc
Nothing like standing in your full regalia next to the guy in gym shoes and jeans...
So, how would it look if I showed up at a novice PCA track day in bright yellow/black suit with full sponsorship patches everywhere
?Menards... Mello Yellow... Energy Drinks... etc
Nothing like standing in your full regalia next to the guy in gym shoes and jeans...
03-29-2017, 03:19 PM
#183
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Whenever I read one of Roger's longer posts my only takeaway is that polyester is going to melt to my man parts and need to be surgically removed.
When I get into my car everything I am wearing is fire resistant. If I am doing less than that it means I am being stupid and you should remind me of this post!
When I get into my car everything I am wearing is fire resistant. If I am doing less than that it means I am being stupid and you should remind me of this post!
03-29-2017, 07:58 PM
#184
Allowing for a degree of shock/panic/concussion mixed with poor or no visibility in a cabin fire, that's probably seldom true already, but the other thing I mentally failed to allow for is just how long it may take to slow a burning car from track speeds, and just how hot a forced-air fed fire can burn in that time.
I don't know what percentage of on-track fires start while the car is still in motion (not many in DE probably) but on that rare occasion I'd want to be wearing the best protection I had. Can't imagine any self-consciousness about wearing a suit at DEs would weigh up against my feelings if flames got to me in a car that I still had to stop first before bailing out.
03-29-2017, 08:23 PM
#185
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i bought Sal a really nice suit on eBay that had been worn maybe five times by a pro driver. Ok, it's got lots of patches but patches on your suit look better than patches on your skin! Seriously, don't worry what the dork in shorts and sneakers thinks. Get something comfortable and wear it! Of course she got a Traqgear cool shirt for xmas this year. Can't be too safe...
03-29-2017, 08:34 PM
#186
Originally Posted by 996tnz
Allowing for a degree of shock/panic/concussion mixed with poor or no visibility in a cabin fire, that's probably seldom true already, but the other thing I mentally failed to allow for is just how long it may take to slow a burning car from track speeds, and just how hot a forced-air fed fire can burn in that time.
.
Also for those of us with tight cabins and non-Halo seats, a lateral collision may induce LOC.
In which case *good luck* getting out in the sub-5 sec range.
I'll be investing in a nomex skiv/thong and long johns pronto.
Anyone who has a link to those pls share.
03-29-2017, 08:48 PM
#187
i just did the coolbox and shirt...
wow.. it was awesome, ill never drive in a car again with out a fire suit and the cool box makes it that much more fun.
when the water flowed through for the first time i thought i was drenched like something broke.
ice cold blood ruining through my veins.
i wear some traqgear though as my back up
wow.. it was awesome, ill never drive in a car again with out a fire suit and the cool box makes it that much more fun.
when the water flowed through for the first time i thought i was drenched like something broke.
ice cold blood ruining through my veins.
i wear some traqgear though as my back up
04-27-2018, 12:15 AM
#188
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I just tried out my own TraqGear underwear and they are awesome! So much so that I wrote a review on them:
https://tracksideinnovation.com/tq1
Just my two-cents' worth on the subject. I will always wear at least nomex underwear and balaclava if I'm instructing someone in a street car with all interior intact. If the car is stripped out, I'll upgrade to the race suit on top - it's just not worth the risk!
https://tracksideinnovation.com/tq1
Just my two-cents' worth on the subject. I will always wear at least nomex underwear and balaclava if I'm instructing someone in a street car with all interior intact. If the car is stripped out, I'll upgrade to the race suit on top - it's just not worth the risk!
04-27-2018, 09:01 AM
#189
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I just tried out my own TraqGear underwear and they are awesome! So much so that I wrote a review on them:
https://tracksideinnovation.com/tq1
Just my two-cents' worth on the subject. I will always wear at least nomex underwear and balaclava if I'm instructing someone in a street car with all interior intact. If the car is stripped out, I'll upgrade to the race suit on top - it's just not worth the risk!
https://tracksideinnovation.com/tq1
Just my two-cents' worth on the subject. I will always wear at least nomex underwear and balaclava if I'm instructing someone in a street car with all interior intact. If the car is stripped out, I'll upgrade to the race suit on top - it's just not worth the risk!
I’ll add that folks need to prepare for the worst, especially if driving a purpose built car.
Last week, I was leaning checking a camera inside a pro-built Trans Am car at a Track day while the owner was starting the car and warming It up. Unbeknownst to both of us, it was about to get very warm inside and out.
About thirty seconds after ignition, we heard it before we saw it, a huge wall of flame into the passenger compartment from numerous openings in the firewall (hmmm) area and around the trans tunnel. The car was on fire!
Turns out one of the end caps off the fuel rail had loosened/fallen off and filled the vee with fuel. It finally poured down the back of the motor over the bellhousing and ignited on the right side header collector.
The driver was in a t-shirt and shorts (after all, he was just starting the car to warm it up, right?) but still took a good amount of time to get out through the fixed window opening. I leaned back in to trip the fire system (had to pull the pin first) and then realized that the power was still on for the fuel pump even though he had turned off the ignition before exiting the car.
It was really scary. And thankfully, no one was hurt. But everyone should prepare for a) the quickest shut down and exit plan from a car on fire, b) having extinguishers ready and available and c) every moment in the car you need to be prepared.
04-27-2018, 09:49 AM
#190
The Penguin King
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Last year I finally started wearing my suit all the time in my GMX-5 Cup regardless of what kind of track time I was getting (DE, test days, race...). It's tight quarters in the car and getting in and out is not as quick as I'd like. I had been wearing it over cotton until I started with the Battery Tender series. They require SFI underwear, so I bought the Traqgear RacePro SuperLight shirt and longjohns. I am amazed at how comfortable and cool they are. Absolutely terrific stuff.
04-27-2018, 02:57 PM
#191
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Thanks! I'm glad that you found the article informative! You're totally right and wow, what a story! That of course goes into all of the things we can be doing to make sure that it's easy to make everything truly turns OFF when we turn the key, flip the switch, press the button, etc. Right now my current race car has a nice kill switch, but it's not in the spot I want it to be, so I'll be moving it to be very convenient so that, if the time comes, it's a quick 1-2 punch of kill switch/fire system and I'm out of that car!
04-27-2018, 04:39 PM
#192
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04-27-2018, 05:33 PM
#193
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The driver was in a t-shirt and shorts (after all, he was just starting the car to warm it up, right?) but still took a good amount of time to get out through the fixed window opening. I leaned back in to trip the fire system (had to pull the pin first) and then realized that the power was still on for the fuel pump even though he had turned off the ignition before exiting the car.
It was really scary. And thankfully, no one was hurt. But everyone should prepare for a) the quickest shut down and exit plan from a car on fire, b) having extinguishers ready and available and c) every moment in the car you need to be prepared.
This is the same as saying "I'm not racing - it's only DE."
$hit happens so it is better to be prepared.
...and good thing you were there to help him with the fire and keep a level head.
04-27-2018, 06:06 PM
#194
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I moved quickly, barked a few commands, hit the extinguisher IN the car, grabbed more extinguishers from nearby trailers, told guys NOT to open the hood while I sprayed underneath, looked for continued sources of combustion (how we realized the fuel pump was still pumping when we couldn't knock down the fire), but most of all, stayed pretty calm.
It's happened to me (on track) and near me before, so it wasn't a super huge deal, except to the three or four others in this area of the paddock. Response time was slow because folks didn't know to call EMS in the other end of the paddock. Glad no one was hurt.
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Specializing in Professional, Private Driver Performance Evaluation and Optimization
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04-27-2018, 06:57 PM
#195
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I agree Peter and Mike here. I always suit up when riding with or driving a client.
And yes, I have been in a client's Ferrari Challenge car when it caught fire at speed in the Kink at Road America ...
And yes, I have been in a client's Ferrari Challenge car when it caught fire at speed in the Kink at Road America ...