Do Ya or Don't ya ????

deviant · Postby **deviant** » Tue May 03, 2011 12:42 pm

ooops...double post

colster3 · Postby **colster3** » Tue May 03, 2011 7:42 pm

I had a couple of high speed 'offs' at my last race meeting at WP - admittedly it was raining but found the gravel trap twice, the second time not far off the fence at Turn 2 :shock:

All the way along that 'ride' I kept thinking "thank goodness I am going backwards rather than forwards"!

As a result I have bought a proper car racing helmet and Hans device.

I always wear a 2 layer suit and fireproof long-johns as well a two hole balaclava - even on SOTS days.

I use the 2 hole balaclava as I always think of Niki Lauda and the horrific burns to his head and face - admittedly there is allegedly a whole bunch of stories surrounding how that happened (and here isn't the place to discuss that :mrgreen:

) I just figure that I would rather put up with the discomfort and keep my good looks

- some say I have a great face for radio!!

evil_weevil · Postby **evil_weevil** » Wed May 04, 2011 6:37 pm

since I started doing supersprints back in 2009 I bought a suit, only a single layer though. also have gloves and boots.

now I have the nomex underwear and getting a 2 layer.

evil_weevil · Postby **evil_weevil** » Thu May 05, 2011 6:22 pm

buy from US?
this seems good

http://www.discoveryparts.com/cgi-bin/s ... p&pid=1083

Tony · Postby **Tony** » Thu May 05, 2011 7:16 pm

As with anything else related to safety, you should buy the best you can possibly afford. It's no good after the fact wishing that you'd spent that bit extra.

I bought an OMP three layer, ex Formula 1 team suit on eBay for a paltry $450. It would appear as though it had only been worn a couple of times; there are some good bargains to be had if you keep a look out.

CAMS requirements are here: http://www.camsmanual.com.au/pdf/10_gen_req/GQ05_Schedule_D_Q211.pdf, and the interesting aspect is that unless specified otherwise in the Supp Regs, a race suit is not required for speed events until you get to the international level :shock:

.

Some info and video footage of the Reindler / Owen accidnet here: http://www.speedcafe.com.au/2011/05/05/cams-to-review-reindlerowen-accident/. It's fairly bloody sobering!

Postby **mx5racing** » Thu May 05, 2011 7:43 pm

Fortunately accidents involving fire are relativly rare. That said any precautions you can take are well worth it.

As we all know most accidents are impact ones and the following clips at a club event at VIR show what can happen when your out enjoying yourself at a track day.
1st clip shows the closest call ive seen in a while...
http://www.vimeo.com/22240697
2nd one shows even when you get it all right it can sometimes end badly.....
http://www.vimeo.com/22306701
All cars involved had hit oil sprayed on the track and the outcome although not good, could have been so much worse.

Buy the best you can afford and make your car as safe as you can.

Remember its still safer than driving on the road!!

deviant · Postby **deviant** » Thu May 05, 2011 9:36 pm

Yes luckily fire is very rare and I think that a crash or roll over is far more likely to happen.

Look at this one. Not even as quick as you would take such a corner on the road and still it ends up on its roof! I tip my car in to that corner with a decent lick of speed.

Edit: I just watched that 2nd video, it makes you feel sick watching it. To hear the other impact in a race car means it was some hit. Luckily in to the passenger side door (VIR is in the US). I wonder though, the debris / compromised surface flag was acknowledged yet they all seemed to carry on at a fair whack!

Thinking about it I never really gave the idea of a compromised surface that much extra thought on track but I have never come across it either...I feel like I am an observant driver and keep my vision fixed an appropriate distance ahead so hopefully I would spot some sort of tell tale on the surface before I find with my car.

MattR · Postby **MattR** » Sat May 07, 2011 3:10 pm

two things to note from this topic,

The first and most important, these suits and clothes are NOT fireproof, they are fire resistant. The FIA rated gear has been tested to resist fire for up to 25 seconds. If the fire is severe and long enough the saftety gear WILL burn.

The safety gear is the beat protection available, but you can and still will get burns, as seen in the incident at Wanneroo.

The second point I will raise is that all the cheap stuff available in the States is more than likely not rated for use in FIA sanctioned events, that is most events outside the US or Speedway in Australia. The US gear is generally given an SFI rating and there has been one manufacturuer stripped of its FIA ratings due to poor quality. If you are buying new gear, make sure it is FIA rated for use in Australia.

Basically, as with everything it is up to you to decide what risks you are willing to take. Personally I wear a triple layer suit with cotton t shirt and underwear underneath, full face helmet with visor down once on the track, and gloves and boots, even for track days. I don't like wearing a balaclava, or full underwear, but that is a risk I am willing to take based on the racing I do and the car I drive.

I am an ex fire marshal of over 15 years experiance at all levels of motorsport from club to F1, so I know a little about what I'm talking about.

evil_weevil · Postby **evil_weevil** » Sun May 08, 2011 12:39 pm

Matt, that suit I posted is actually FIA 2000 compliant

MattR · Postby **MattR** » Mon May 09, 2011 8:57 am

A lot of suits from the states are, but a lot aren't and quite a few people are getting caught out buying cheap gear from the states with the peso so high and not carrying out their due diligence on whether the gear will be suitable for here.

The one thing to remember is to make sure the safety gear you are buying is compliant with the track activity you are doing.