Race Suits, Helmets and Gloves

[BajaBronco13]

Though I don't anticipate racing anytime soon, I'm curious what you racers are running. Are you running two to three layer suits? Are you were nomex gloves? Shoes? And what helmets are you wearing? I'm sure most are wired but any details on what makes a good helmet (other then the obvious, fit) to you would be interesting to hear. Thank you.

CP

[retroblazer]

For me, a two layer suit with nomex underwear. Helmet, I just replaced my Bell Vortex with a G-Force Air Helmet. I loved my Bell, but it was $700 vs. $300 for the G-Force. My former company, Fresh Air Systems did the design work for the air flow inside the helmet. It works pretty well for stock. The first consideration for me is weight. Everything else can be modified. Fit, air flow, shield seal, can all be adjusted. Given what shields cost, check for availability and cost.

[Mr. Pickle]

I wear an HJC wired helemt and a single layer suit. The only draw back to the HJC that I have found is that the shields are ridiculously expensive.($80 compared to $34 for the Shoei) Also, before you buy a helmet make sure it is up to the new SCORE specs. I do not have them in front of me but I know that the Shoei's are not to spec but the HJC's, Bells, Simpsons, etc, are. For gloves I wear motorcycle gloves, I didn't like how the thick gloves felt. When I was getting started in racing and asking the same questions as you a seasoned vet told me this about shoe selection... "wear a pair of shoes that you would be comfortable running 10 miles in.... cuz you are probably going to get stuck in the middle of no where and are going to have to walk that far." So with that said I wear a comfortable pair of narrow running shoes.(not a lot of room around the controls of a 1600 car) I also wear a set of under armor shorts and shirt to help prevent getting rubbed raw. These are just my preferences and I bet there are a lot of people out there who would disagree with my choices. By the way, I have raced every SCORE race this season with this 'setup' and have not been called out on any rule violation.

[Mr. Pickle]

Oh yea, I also wear a kidney belt to help support the internals form sloshing around too much.

[Blanco]

What percentage of racers wear gloves or dont?

I see lots of both out there... & personally wonder if I could get use to them.
I've heard lots of guys say well since I always wore them on bikes I was already use to them..

[retroblazer]

I have worn Ringer mechanics gloves, but most of the time I wear Nomex or Carbon X gloves. The bitch about saftety equipment is you don't appreciate it until after you need it. We all know how bad it hurts just getting small burns, I can't even imagine what it would be like not to use your hands for months while in the process of getting skin grafts. Did you know that you shouldn't wear rings or metal banded wrist watches? That even though they may be worn under Nomex, that they can still conduct and transfer a serious amount of heat.

[Blanco]

Chris, I know you've been racing & wheeling most of your life.

Have you ever actually been in an incendent where gloves saved your hands? :confused:

& you know what, This queston goes out to everyone.

[chupakabras]

i bought my suit for $120 so, it must be a 1 layer suit, and mechanix gloves, running shoes or hiking boots, :D

[kkspeedracer]

i would recommend gloves of some kind...the first time you get your thumb or hand in the center of the wheel while navigating a sand wash at speed you'll know why. you can get simpsons or RCR gloves out of summit fairly cheap they also double as mechanic gloves on hot parts out in the desert. the biggest reason was stated previously.. SAFTEY.. unless you have a helo like the TT guys.

[Blanco]

I've heard it said that you should'nt wash your race suit because it degrades it? :confused:

Is this true?

I bet those suits get really stinky, with all the heat/Sweat of the Desert.

Would I just have to keep buying new suits when the stank gets unbareable. :(

[Moss2]

I've heard it said that you should'nt wash your race suit because it degrades it? :confused:

Is this true?

I bet those suits get really stinky, with all the heat/Sweat of the Desert.

Would I just have to keep buying new suits when the stank gets unbareable. :(

As I understand it the biggest issue with washing is with the Cotton or Proban treated suits. (The cheapest ones) The fire retardant treatment I guess loses its effectiveness with reapeated washings. The place I bought my Nomex suit from said no problem washing it because the fabric is the retardant. The label recommends dry cleaning but mine goes in the machine.

Havent had to test gloves in direct fire but they sure save a lot of other injuries. Flying rocks, cactus, shoveling, hot parts, sharp sheet metal cab parts etc can make a mess of your hands. I can still envision a certain trophy truck driver digging frantically with his bare bloody hands because he didnt carry a shovel, tow strap, or wear gloves.

This thread seems really familiar. Deja vue maybe..

[straightaxle]

I've heard it said that you should'nt wash your race suit because it degrades it? :confused:

Is this true?

I bet those suits get really stinky, with all the heat/Sweat of the Desert.

Would I just have to keep buying new suits when the stank gets unbareable. :(

There are some low dollar suits that are made of a treated cotton, not Nomex, and I have heard that the treatment will wear off after repeated washings. The Nomex suits are only a few bucks more. Nobody wants to smell a stinky suit! Hands down, drivers that have been burned ALWAYS say burns are the hardest and most painful injury to recover from. Do everything you can to protect yourself from fire and to prevent a fire from starting in the first place.

A personal complaint I have with me current suit is that it does not have a zippered pocket anywhere. My old Simpson suit did. You have to carry your drivers license when you race, and probably should carry your passport if you race in Mexico, in case they have to fly you out.

I use cirlce track gloves with a SFI safety rating for driving. They have a thin leather layer that contacts the wheel, but otherwise are pretty light and don't distract from the driving part. They would not work well if they were used while making repairs. I carry an extra set of work gloves for that. The driving gloves can be had pretty reasonably and seem to last for several seasons.

[retroblazer]

Chris, I know you've been racing & wheeling most of your life.

Have you ever actually been in an incendent where gloves saved your hands? :confused:

& you know what, This queston goes out to everyone.

NO, thank God, I have never been in a fire, but in the fifteen years that I sold safety equipment, I met in person, people that were burnt.

[RelentlessPursuitRacing]

Have you ever actually been in an incendent where gloves saved your hands? :confused:

Uhhh, errrrr..YES! Not in a race car, but at work. I will be using fire rated gloves. I will likely run the thin ones, but definately will be fire rated. LAYERS is huge.....even if the first layer is just 100% cotton.....but, DON'T wear materials that will easily burn or melt under your race suit. If not using nomex or other fire rated material, 100% cotton is best. NO undergarments with iron IRON-ON's and prints and crap. People have totally avoided serious burns, except for the IRON-ON's shadow burned into their skin. NO BS!

[BajaBronco13]

Does anyone carry any medical information on their body such as a med card with blood type info or maybe have a printed sticker on their helmet? God willing, you'll never need the info but just in case.

[retroblazer]

Does anyone carry any medical information on their body such as a med card with blood type info or maybe have a printed sticker on their helmet? God willing, you'll never need the info but just in case.

Although it is recommended to put your blood type on your helmet, no emt's or otherwise is going to rely on that info for a transfusion.

[BajaBronco13]

DJ Safety is just down the street from my home in Los Angeles. I had them create a custom set of three point seat belts for my Jeep CJ. I know they offer race suits and gloves. Does anyone have any experience with their gear?

CP

[retroblazer]

DJ Safety is just down the street from my home in Los Angeles. I had them create a custom set of three point seat belts for my Jeep CJ. I know they offer race suits and gloves. Does anyone have any experience with their gear?

CP

Most safety gear is SFI rated, so there is a good basis to compare minimum fuction. It really comes down to what fits you the best and the standard trade offs of quality vs. price. I don't have any direct experiance with DJ, but next time you're visiting, ask them how long they've been making gear.

[GATRELL]

Does anyone carry any medical information on their body such as a med card with blood type info or maybe have a printed sticker on their helmet? God willing, you'll never need the info but just in case.

SCORE recomends that you put the info on your helmet, suits not a bad idea either.

[BajaBronco13]

SCORE recomends that you put the info on your helmet, suits not a bad idea either.

Gatrell, what information other then your blood type is recommended to put on your helmet?

CP

[chupakabras]

Gatrell, what information other then your blood type is recommended to put on your helmet?

CP

your name, blood type, allergies, that's the common questions a dr will ask, right?

[chupakabras]

i don't know if you, but, we share helmets during a race, we only have 2 helmets, so, i think in this case to have the info on our suits will work better, we don't share suits, haha, i will put my info on the helmet once i have my own not shareable helmet, right,:D

[RelentlessPursuitRacing]

i don't know if you, but, we share helmets during a race, we only have 2 helmets, so, i think in this case to have the info on our suits will work better, we don't share suits, haha, i will put my info on the helmet once i have my own not shareable helmet, right,:D

Chupa, a piece of tape on the helmet would work. You just have to stick the new tape with the new drivers info on it when you change out.

[chupakabras]

Chupa, a piece of tape on the helmet would work. You just have to stick the new tape with the new drivers info on it when you change out.

once you're in a race mode, i don't know if we are gona be able to remember to take off or put the new tape, mmm, or maybe put on booth sides of the helmet the info of the drivers that share, that's why you need to put not just the blood type but your name too, hope not to loose your wrist band, your id, or i don't know how they will know whoy you really are, right?:confused:

[AngerIssues]

Me: cheap suit 109 bucks, mechanix or other golves... for wear on the hands... but mostly... too many times having to work on a very hot part... or oily part... I wouldn't race without SOME kind of gloves.

Helmet, cheapest, up to specs, but light and comfy. That is very important. Maybe I error on the side of cheap and stupid...

I wash my suit every race, but don't dry it. If my car catches on fire, I fully plan (hope) to be a spectator and not part of the weanie roast.

Hiking boots... due to thorns, stickers, etc. I wouldn't dare try to dig out in 250 dollar Momo shoes.

Medical stuff... I don't even know my blood type. Did I mention "weanie"?

he he. Only the good die young, so I plan on being around a VERY long time!!

ken