I have a sparco seats, 5pt sparco seatbelts, and a rollbar in my car. Is this all I need or is there anything else I would need for a safe track day?

 

You need a head/neck restraint or HNR, such as HANS, Simpson Hybrid etc. Some drivers use fire resistant gear- suit, boots, gloves, balaclava. Full face helmet preferred by many. Consider hearing protection. Stay hydrated. get a good nights sleep.

 

The first item is a must, not an option with race harnesses.

Have fun!

 

As mentioned, you need a head/neck restraint since you have harnesses. Once you have racing seats, many trackday clubs also require you have either an FIA approved seat (not expired), or a seat back brace.

Tell us a bit about the car. Nothing wrong with extra safety gear, but fireproof gear is not necessary for a trackday in most cars. If the car is substantially modified (aside from safety gear), I'd lean toward having the gear.

 

VIR is now requiring drivers in DE’s to wear full gear (suits/sock/gloves) if there is any exposed chassis metal in the cockpit (like panels and carpet stripped or missing).

 

From the VIR Policies on their site.

Fire Suits –If you are running a track-prepared car you must wear a fire suit. A “Track Prepared Car” is defined as any vehicle in which the cockpit has been altered or modified in any way so that any part of the chassis or any firewall has been exposed. This will be enforced by the track renter unless waived under contract.

 

^ Good to know. Making 1st visit to VIR in early October

 

Thanks - I got a HANS device yesterday

 

You will want to confirm these questions with the organizers of your event. Some organizations and tracks have additional rules/policies, as pointed out by ProCoach.

 

...and, as implied by the phrase "unless waived under contract", check with your organizer well in advance. We were there instructing for Tarheel BMW CCA last week-end` (blazing HOT!) and that was the case. A minimum of natural fiber long pants and long-sleeved shirts in "race-prepared" cars were required. At VIR, it's a "race-prepared" car if it has any one or more of these: a roll bar, race seat/s, stripped interior, harnesses, etc.

 

so who is right? there are lots of cars with rollbars and seats that have not stripped out the interior. mine is.

 

The rules are more and more restrictive at some tracks each year. Pretty sure that exception will disappear over time.

It's the participant's responsibility to assume that the published track policies are in place "unless waived under the track rental contract."

I would be very careful. It's caught out a few people who have traveled from far away. The pro shop there sells a lot of suits, gloves and underwear the evening before or the first day, at most events.

I don't care. I wear gear as a matter of course. But I'd make sure before you come.

 

I was speaking to someone recently about this as well and it seems confusing. However, I do believe if the organization (like PCA. NASA, SCCA, etc) signs the track waiver not requiring the protective garments, it's not a concern. The question is, will the organizations sign the waiver or comply with the track?

 

Most comply with the track, but given how litigious folks are, I have already seen fewer and fewer clubs and organizations sign the waiver over time.

Heck, they even require this for their member driving days. There was not a lot of pushback.