Road course firesuit ?

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Jul 15, 2014 | 06:29 PM

hankman

Thread Starter

Racer

Joined: Apr 2014

Posts: 270

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Road course firesuit ?

I am going to willow springs raceway, Should i purchase a cheap Driving
type fire retardant suit, shoes and gloves....or have i lost my mind...I dont want to look stupid...since this is new to me and i will be the slowest around the track. I am 58 and cant out run fire ! What do you guys think ?

Jul 15, 2014 | 06:44 PM

Snorman

Scraping the splitter.

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St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15

I don't think there is anything stupid about it at all. While a number of groups with whom I run permit long pants and in some cases, shorts (!) and regular shirts, I wear a full suit. I also wear gloves, socks, a balaclava (which is as much for perspiration) and shoes. Some groups do require this stuff in advanced run groups.
My feeling is that if something goes really bad on-track, I'd like to have those extra layers of protection, especially if I have to be extricated from the car around broken glass, plastic, metal and possibly flammable fluids.
Put it this way...NHRA requires an SFI 3.2A/1 jacket at faster than 11.49...why wouldn't one wear more involved safety gear while winging around a track at speeds sometimes approaching 170 mph?

There is a wide range of selections. Generally, it seems the more expensive the lighter and more comfortable the suit is, lol.
S.

Jul 15, 2014 | 08:19 PM

NSC5

Safety Car

Joined: Aug 2012

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Having proper safety equipment is never stupid! And like insurance by the time you really need it the time to purchase is long past.

You would look far more stupid with normal clothing that burns readily and even worse also melts to your skin in the case of many synthetic fibers. And as Snorman wisely pointed out the suit also offers some protection against broken glass and other sharp objects.

Jul 15, 2014 | 09:28 PM

*C7*

Melting Slicks

Joined: Nov 2004

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St. Jude Donor 05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17

If you are on any kind of a budget I would purchase some type of a HANS device before the fire suit. But that is just me.

Jul 16, 2014 | 12:05 AM

LT1xL82

Drifting

Joined: Sep 2013

Posts: 1,259

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I have been involved in more than one high performance mishap...and I have first hand knowledge of others. Permanent pain and limited range of motion et al.Not one person involved in any of these, including myself, wish they had less safety equipment.

If some idiot thinks you look stupid so be it. Me? I think you look smart and responsible.

Jul 16, 2014 | 12:14 AM

Snorman

Scraping the splitter.

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St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15

Quote:

Originally Posted by *C7*

If you are on any kind of a budget I would purchase some type of a HANS device before the fire suit. But that is just me.

Unless he has a proper harness bar and roll bar in the car along with harnesses, I wouldn't recommend it. Just IMO.
S.

Jul 16, 2014 | 01:21 PM

Road_runner

Le Mans Master

Joined: Jun 1999

Posts: 5,059

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From: Wenatchee WA

St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13

Quote:

Originally Posted by *C7*

If you are on any kind of a budget I would purchase some type of a HANS device before the fire suit. But that is just me.

Jul 16, 2014 | 06:48 PM

yonson

Racer

Joined: Sep 2006

Posts: 288

Likes: 4

It's not required, but other than my first track day I've always used as much gear I could, multi layer suit, gloves, shoes, HANS, full face helmet, balaclava, harnesses etc... It gives me peace of mind knowing when something does go wrong I have covered all the bases I could, it's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it...