Efini~FC3S

iTrader: (4)

Right up until the second your car is on fire...

I seriously doubt you'll be worrying about your tires if and when you might be engulfed in flames.

mx5-kiwi

But will he be worrying about being on fire as he slides off a corner at speed in to a wall or gets beat to the finish line and that elusive but briefly mentioned bottle of champagne due to worn out tyres?

NiklasFalk

iTrader: (1)

The strange thing about racing under FIA is that there is only one level of protection, their decided minimum level. There are no gear (with FIA badges) available that provide more, but different ways to meet this minimum level.

Once you have the safety gear needed, the frequency of replacements/upgrades can always be discussed.
My 9 year old suit is still accepted, the gloves wear out, the underwear gets unfresh (balaclava gets replaced most often), shoes gets worn, ...

How often should you upgrade/refresh and how stupid are you if not getting the latest & greatest every time?

Sunday was no fun though (no champagne this weekend)

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

Niklas, are you OK?

For future reference, I think you get better lap times if you do NOT drive into the metal barriers.

NiklasFalk

iTrader: (1)

One bent tie rod, one bent rear hub bolt, cracked headlight and some bent metal under the headlight.
Other than that just scraped bumper skins, no bent fenders at all (GF front fender).
Miatas are built like Tanks.

Race2 was run with 1/4" toe out left rear, interesting turn-in in right hand turns to say the least.

I did not feel a thing, just anger over my decision to go for a disappearing space in the start.

Back to discussing suits, I was not on fire at all.

OGRacing

iTrader: (1)

Every year we get a fresh batch of "check this out" of the newest X-extreme-super-duper-cool-billy-bob-sweetness-system-for-drivers gear. Some of them are great evolution of safety equipment. Some are kinda just marketing ploys to grab everyone's attention. When we get new gear in we try to alert everyone to the engineering feats, and just don't mention the marketing ploys.

Just to pick on sparco because we love them
For example:
Marketing new idea: Sparco released X-Cool systems. it's supposed to remove sweat off your body faster keeping you cooler and safer. All we can tell is that it makes the suit smell like mint. the mint smell does remind you of cool summer drinks, but we haven't seen any data as to how well it works. The x cool does wash out of the suit. You need to buy the X cool care kit, and wash the suit to add the x cool back in.

Engineering Feat: Sparco has released the Sparco Extrema RS-10 Racing suit. HOLY COW!! this thing is a revolution.. It's got every certification and it's 1/2 the weight of normal suit. I have PJ's that are heavier. if you get the white one you would rather walk around in that suit all day at a 90* event. It would be cooler to wear it around then let the sun heat up your skin.


The level of protection to get a FIA certification is leaps and bounds higher than SFI requirement. Many US race organisations will accept a FIA rated suit, even if it carries no SFI rating. Even though it's a minimum requirement, it's still not a easy standard to obtain.

How often you replace a suit is due to how often you use it. Think of it like your favorite pair of jeans, the ones you like to put on every week. you wear them so much that the material becomes thin, and starts to simply disappear. On a suit, once you'r knees start to pop thru the fabric it's to late, and you should've replaced it long ago. that's why if holes protrude through a outer layer of a fire suit your safety officer will flag you. It's in a fear that the holes on the inner 2 layers are even bigger!

The time to replace a suit is when you start to see a (1) small holes from usage. When a hole forms it's because the material in that area is worn thin, and no longer able to live up to it's safety rating. A cut is a different story. if a cut happens from waking close to a sharp object then it's alright to fix it. the surrounding material should be still good and able to protect you in a fire.


The safest suits are the FIA rated suits. It would be wise to buy a FIA rated suit. After that you're buying creature comforts. a Yaris and a Porsche are both going to get you to work, but one you'll get out of it happy. For me personally I have large shoulders so i look for suits with arm gussets. someone who drives a formula car will want crotch gussets. (anyone that has experience with Formula harnesses will agree with me.). if you're doing endurance racing then back gussets and removal straps will be important. If you race in circle track you'll want boot cut legs.. i don't know why, they just like boot cut.


I didn't want to say anything. You seemed so proud of it, and frankly i was shocked at the level of commitment to DIY a cool shirt. Generally i tell people that are building their own cool system to buy the cool shirt. The tubes that carry the water are fire resistant and resist melting.

Dunning Kruger Affect

I have an OMP Sport 2-layer that has seen more action on Halloween and fuel stops than actually in the car. It's definitely the right price for the gear and I feel fairly safe and comfortable wearing it, but I'll probably be picking up a more comfortable suit (an OMP proper or Sparco depending on fit) before I hop back into a car that requires it.

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

Maybe my water tubing will rupture and i can get my 800gpm boat bilge pump to help with the fire. You've got to think positive!

OGRacing

iTrader: (1)

you got your own fire truck, right in the car lol!!


Guys,
When you do buy a suit from us you can return it if it's not used. Example. Don't use it for a track day then return it, that's unethical. When you get your suit, TRY IT ON THAT DAY, get in your car, chase the cats around the house, and make sure it's a good size for you. If it doesn't fit call us, we'll exchange it free of charge.

GeneSplicer

iTrader: (14)

^^ that's reassuring, props
When it comes time, I'll check out your selection

Dunning Kruger Affect

Yeah, most race shops worth their weight will have a similar policy. I just needed a suit for Chump Car and I had tried on an OMP Sport before.

Good to know that OG will actually take care of their customers.

OGRacing

iTrader: (1)

We've been doing this a long time (founded in 1990) and taking care of the customer has always been #1.

Seefo

iTrader: (5)

If you are lucky, OG also gives free windshield sun shades! Just don't use it on track...

OGRacing

iTrader: (1)

yes, you must remove them before going on track hahahah

Leafy

iTrader: (1)

you know, saying 24 years is more impressive than 1990. Cause you know, 1990 was only like 10 years ago man.

Seefo

iTrader: (5)

Someone started smokin early today...

sixshooter

iTrader: (12)

I know, right? /15yr old girl speak

<--Knew Six Mix-A-Lot before he liked big butts.

unk577

A good article of safety equipment, especially the fire suit.

Fighting Fire: Grassroots Motorsports

unk577

Not sure if I agree with this statement. Can you provide a link supporting it?

At a temp that will cause the skin to begin to break down sweat should be evaporating very quickly. Structural fire fighting gear is multi layer and does a pretty good job of protecting you(until someone compresses those layers eliminating any air gap and burning you ie: a pat on the back can leave a nice red hand shaped tattoo)

NiklasFalk

iTrader: (1)

It's not the thought of sweat coming from the skin due to the fire, it's the bodily juices absorbed by the Nomex layers prior to the fire that get vaporized and can steam boil your ***.

But I'd argue that it also depends on the size of the fire. 10 seconds engulfed in a fireball until you get out is what's imagined when testing, but that is not the only type of fire (ankles, wrists, neck are often the worst places, tight layers but not much sweat collected there).
But even in the worst case decent gear will increase you chance of survival, but I would not expect to just dust off the charred suit, go to the pits, put on the extra set of gear and use the spare car for the next heat.