jpreston

iTrader: (4)

If you're already used to being on track in Texas without a cool shirt, I'd skip it to start. Put the cool shirt money into getting a better suit up front and then get a cool shirt later when funds allow. Get a nice suit and a decent helmet then cheap out on all the other stuff. I cheaped out and bought a $450 bell 2-layer suit, and I hate it. It's heavy and seriously hot (even in Ohio/Indiana), and it's still nicer than the g-force/etc. stuff I've seen.

I don't know how soon you need a suit, but if you can wait til winter, saferacer and some of the others always have really nice suits on closeout for much more reasonable prices. If funds allow, I'll be buying the nicest Sparco I can afford this winter. The last sparco x-light suit I saw in person felt like a heavy pair of gym shorts.

Asx

iTrader: (1)

I started with a G-Force 3.2a/5 suit and all the cheapest gforce other crap I could get. Spent money on a nice bell helmet. Now I'm slowly upgrading the rest of my equipment as it wears out.

The cheap G-force 3.2a/5 suits are pretty damn hot, I can't wait until I get enough saved to by a sexy A* or sparco one.

Nate99

Man there's some nice stuff on there... really digging that Scott Speed Red Bull suit but I don't have a grand to drop on it. Thanks for the link.

codrus

I suspect the cool suit probably improves laptime any better than any other $300 mod you could legally do to the car. I've never used one, but a friend of mine liked it so much that he used to wear it while driving his Miata to/from the track in August, not just while on-track!

Handy Man

Haha, yea some of them are badass. A friend of mine picked up a Miller Lite suit, its definitely a fan favorite. My Irwin suit is a Simpson MTO.21, which cost around $1200 new, and I got it for $300 in perfect condition.

ckearns

Start acquiring it a piece at a time to take the shock out of the total price tag. Everything but the suit and HNR is pretty standard fare and should be relatively easy to get over time. Don't cheap out on the suit - the nicer stuff is more breathable and has more comfort features. You'll be in it a lot, and if you don't love it, you'll come to hate it. Like with everything else track related, buy right or buy twice.

Put the bigger ticket items out to family for birthday and xmas gifts or start asking for gift certificates to offset cost. Take 1/3 of what you spend on parts and put it in a safety gear fund. Keep an eye out for deals and buy on close out. The lighter the better. Go for the 3.2/5A stuff so you don't have to wear drawers. Don't get anything in black since it's Texas. Don't get anything white since you can't keep it clean.

Re: cool suit - it's a godsend. It works with hangovers, works with heat, works with humidity. Build it now and start using it when you're ready to get back on track. I'd also consider it a go-fast item. Cool core = cool brain = fewer mistakes. Staves off fatigue when you're getting after it and up on the wheel lap after lap.

Buy the shirt and build the rest. Dry box cooler (online), bilge pump (bass pro), tubing (HD), connectors (online), insulation (HD), switch (anywhere), and a way to tie it all down (u-bolts through the trunk floor with a tie strap is what I do). Get an extra set of connectors so you can remove the cool box without having to pull the tubing out of the car. Since you're looking to join an endurance team, you should also put together a pigtail that will connect whatever shirt you get to both FAST and Cool Suit systems - the connections are different.

spoolin2bars

iTrader: (1)

ebay stores always have deal on safety gear. My top of the gforce line gloves were $130 on saferacer. $60 shipped on ebay buy it now. Also check nasaforums and sccaforums for deals on safety gear.

hustler

iTrader: (6)

Thanks to everyone. I think I may have found a Lemons ride in Houston so I'm going to choose carefully.

Why do my Simpson 3.2 shoes not have a date tag? Does this mean they last forever?

I was leaning toward this OMP suit, but this is half the price. Is it a mistake to take that half-price deal? If I can save enough money I'd like to get a HANS. I will keep an eye out for an old one.

Also, I have another problem I did not discuss earlier. No suit fits me because I'm a gym rat. Even with the XL suit I was wearing I needed help to get my shoulders out of the suit, and my torso is so long that most suits cut into my ****...I also only have a 31" waist.

hustler

iTrader: (6)

Am I going to pay tax out the *** on something I order from GB?

This suit is nearly top-tier, and cheaper than what I can pay for bottom-tier 3-layer here.

Efini~FC3S

iTrader: (4)

I have a 2011 A* GP-Tech and even though it's a very nice suit, I have the same problem as you. I have either a size 54 or 56 (can't remember off the top of my head) but my bodybuilding.com shoulders and back are too big, and my sweet six pack and small waist are too small. To get a suit big enough for my shoulders and back, and long enough for my height, I end up with a suit that has way too big of a waist. I have to tighten the belt all the way until there is no velcro left and it's still baggy.

I don't know if there is a solution other than a custom made suit *read if you think $1000 for a suit is expensive...* Are fat americans to blame?

Splitime

iTrader: (24)

I wonder if I should sell my once used Defender.... now that I'm car less. Crap and my brand new helmet with bling blue face plate... Argh.

FatKao

Nomex thread and extra velcro. Likely don't even need the nomex thread since it doesn't enter the soft and fleshy side.

I have the same problem, not to the same extent as you guys since you actually work out but I have broad shoulders and a 31" waist. I don't own a single shirt that fits me in the shoulders and the midsection except for stuff that was tailored/made to fit me.

I ended up getting the OMP sport suit, has the right SFI certification and for the 2-3 times a year I use it I'll deal with it being a bit hot. I'm sure a ton of suits are better but this isn't something I wear every time I'm on track like a HANS or helmet so I'm ok with getting something that is a bit crappier to save a bit of coin.

Cool suits are amazing, run it if your team has the rest of the setup. When running the VIR-24 in August last year I couldn't wait to get into the car so I could flip the suit on because it was so damn hot outside the car. In the recent VIR-14 I barely used it since the temps were so mild and it was raining/overcast 1/2 the time. It was still nice to be able to flip it on for a few minutes to instantly cool down. I almost want to throw a cooler in my DE car for the few weekends where it's close to or over 100*.

hustler

iTrader: (6)

PM me bro price.

hustler

iTrader: (6)

16" forearms are a bitch to stuff into the sleeves too, lol.

Stock

www.upr.com

Call them. Talk to them. They are super helpful when it comes to suit sizing/fit/comfort. If you've never worn one then remember that often times fit/comfort are worth an extra ~$300...

bellwilliam

iTrader: (1)

my Cool suit DIY
http://www.trackhq.com/forums/f195/d...-ice-box-3260/

Handy Man

How many times do I have to tell you? raceimage.com

they are custom fitted, albeit to someone else, but you just have to look hard enough to find one made to your dimensions (you could even be lazy and just call the guy, he's very helpful). I'm SURE there are plenty of NASCAR pit crew members that are gym rats, so you shouldn't have much trouble finding something that works.

ckearns

PM me a bro price on one of the six speeds in your stash. /hint

hustler

iTrader: (6)

Without that spare I could not track my car.

hustler

iTrader: (6)

1. I will not find a 48/31/32
2. I don't know how long the suit is good for once I find that size.
3. They're more expensive than the Sparco Jade suit