Safety...gone too far?
#16
FWIW - there are companies that already make FR cotton dress shirts, t-shirts, henleys, etc in the $40 - $60 range. Marketed to electricians, welders, LEO's, etc. They also make FR cotton pants and FR denim jeans.
FR cotton is only rated to NFPA 2112 and is meant to protect against flash fires of short duration. The standard calls for flash fire testing to be conducted at three seconds with a pass/fail rate of 50% total body burn under ASTM F1930 (Standard Test Method for Evaluation of Flame Resistant Clothing for Protection Against Flash Fire Simulations Using an Instrumented Manikin) testing protocols.
Better than being naked, but not all that much protection in a burning vehicle.
FR cotton is only rated to NFPA 2112 and is meant to protect against flash fires of short duration. The standard calls for flash fire testing to be conducted at three seconds with a pass/fail rate of 50% total body burn under ASTM F1930 (Standard Test Method for Evaluation of Flame Resistant Clothing for Protection Against Flash Fire Simulations Using an Instrumented Manikin) testing protocols.
Better than being naked, but not all that much protection in a burning vehicle.
#18
I like the idea as I wear an FR shirt (henley from FR Depot), pants (jeans by Carhart), nomex socks (Sparco) and shoes (Oakley) and would love Nomex type protection via casual clothes versus a racing suit.
#19
Smart way to go. Thanks for the input!
#20
I've always thought that if you buy safety equipment that it should be of the quality that racing organizations endorse. Fires are extremely rare at DE's and I don't think that an FR shirt would provide much protection. If you are worried about fires then buy a 3-ply NOMEX suit.
BUT... I think its a great idea! Why? It gets everyone thinking about safety equipment and that is ALWAYS a good idea. Many DE'ers in the lower groups, i.e. folks who are not gutting their interiors for a cage, would consider the purchase of reasonably priced protective garments especially if they are sold at the track. Also great idea to offer the garment to clubs/regions for branding and inclusion in their goodies-for-sale lines.
Good luck!
-- Mindy
BUT... I think its a great idea! Why? It gets everyone thinking about safety equipment and that is ALWAYS a good idea. Many DE'ers in the lower groups, i.e. folks who are not gutting their interiors for a cage, would consider the purchase of reasonably priced protective garments especially if they are sold at the track. Also great idea to offer the garment to clubs/regions for branding and inclusion in their goodies-for-sale lines.
Good luck!
-- Mindy
#21
For DEs/instructing particularly when it's cooler, I wear a lightweight, zip up, long sleeve, high collar sweatshirt. It's almost a heavy T shirt material, so not hot over a tshirt, the collar zips up to cover your neck under the helmet/hans, it has a small pocket for the chatterbox/credentials. The clubs hand out Tshirts, short sleeve buttondowns and fleeces for instructors, but something like this made out of FR material with the club logos would be great. My old standby is wearing out and I haven't found anything like it...
#22
I've always thought that if you buy safety equipment that it should be of the quality that racing organizations endorse. Fires are extremely rare at DE's and I don't think that an FR shirt would provide much protection. If you are worried about fires then buy a 3-ply NOMEX suit.
BUT... I think its a great idea! Why? It gets everyone thinking about safety equipment and that is ALWAYS a good idea. Many DE'ers in the lower groups, i.e. folks who are not gutting their interiors for a cage, would consider the purchase of reasonably priced protective garments especially if they are sold at the track. Also great idea to offer the garment to clubs/regions for branding and inclusion in their goodies-for-sale lines.
Good luck!
-- Mindy
BUT... I think its a great idea! Why? It gets everyone thinking about safety equipment and that is ALWAYS a good idea. Many DE'ers in the lower groups, i.e. folks who are not gutting their interiors for a cage, would consider the purchase of reasonably priced protective garments especially if they are sold at the track. Also great idea to offer the garment to clubs/regions for branding and inclusion in their goodies-for-sale lines.
Good luck!
-- Mindy
For DEs/instructing particularly when it's cooler, I wear a lightweight, zip up, long sleeve, high collar sweatshirt. It's almost a heavy T shirt material, so not hot over a tshirt, the collar zips up to cover your neck under the helmet/hans, it has a small pocket for the chatterbox/credentials. The clubs hand out Tshirts, short sleeve buttondowns and fleeces for instructors, but something like this made out of FR material with the club logos would be great. My old standby is wearing out and I haven't found anything like it...
#23
Just adding my $0.02 worth. When racing, I wear the required suit, gloves, etc… I save my Carbon-X under garments for race weekends. On DE weekends, I typically wear old cotton slacks and the short sleeve instructor shirt issued by my local club. On the rare weekend when it is cold, I might wear a cotton based sweatshirt. I personally do not like getting in the passenger seat and seeing the Green or Blue student fully suited up. It seems to set expectations that are not productive in a DE learning environment. For the more advanced students, it is OK but I personally would not go out of my way to encourage it. IMHO, the niche market you are after is being met by existing products. Maybe expand your horizons to include the racing community with a lightweight, breathable FR long sleeve T-shirt that has a competitive price point with the lower end NOMEX shirts. The selling point that would make you unique is that your shirt would be comfortable to wear while the similar priced NOMEX is hot and heavy. Your market should include the Circle Track and Drag Racing crowds as well as Road Racing and DE/ Track Days. BTW, I had a similar idea when I did my MBA but my “team” just could not get there head around the idea so it was dropped. Good luck.
#25
Just adding my $0.02 worth. When racing, I wear the required suit, gloves, etc… I save my Carbon-X under garments for race weekends. On DE weekends, I typically wear old cotton slacks and the short sleeve instructor shirt issued by my local club. On the rare weekend when it is cold, I might wear a cotton based sweatshirt. I personally do not like getting in the passenger seat and seeing the Green or Blue student fully suited up. It seems to set expectations that are not productive in a DE learning environment. For the more advanced students, it is OK but I personally would not go out of my way to encourage it. IMHO, the niche market you are after is being met by existing products. Maybe expand your horizons to include the racing community with a lightweight, breathable FR long sleeve T-shirt that has a competitive price point with the lower end NOMEX shirts. The selling point that would make you unique is that your shirt would be comfortable to wear while the similar priced NOMEX is hot and heavy. Your market should include the Circle Track and Drag Racing crowds as well as Road Racing and DE/ Track Days. BTW, I had a similar idea when I did my MBA but my “team” just could not get there head around the idea so it was dropped. Good luck.
Do you wear one at every DE? I agree safety is necessary, but it's often 90+ degrees at our DE's and street cars usually don't have a cool shirt system. Of course, if we ever encountered a fire, everyone would wished they had a suit on. Overall, I'm looking at increasing the safety of the sport, even if just a little, with a product that most will wear and enjoy.
#26
#27
I like the idea expressed about a FR long sleeve T. Most clubs I track with suggest only natural fibre clothing as well as long sleeve shirt. The idea being to keep bare skin to a minimum.
I think you might be onto something here ... good luck with this
BG
I think you might be onto something here ... good luck with this
BG
#29
Here is an idea for you to expand your market too. Most corner workers wear some kind white shirt and painter paints. They typically do not have any kind of real personal safety equipment. A lightweight, long sleeve white FR shirt with a chest pocket which is at the lower end price scale would/should be well received in the world of corner workers. At the club race level, these guys/gales are neither buying Carbon-X nor NOMEX type of personal protection but I think there is a real need for something. Maybe you can fill that need?
#30
Def already part of the design. So, when you wear a balaclava, you are fully covered. Thanks!