As mentioned earlier, SFI assessment and design of driving combinations are often linked. It`s really about finding the right balance between safety, comfort and budget. To help you find the perfect balance, we consulted with the experts at Impact Racing and Simpson Racing to identify six key things to consider when choosing a racing suit. No wonder, safety comes first. Yes, he does. I think it`s a minimum of SFI15 jacket and pants or suit. If it uses a power adder, an SFI 20 suite is a good idea. NHRA rules describe it quite well, though hard to find in print. “Cordura suits are usually designed specifically for karting because they are abrasion resistant. However, they are not flame retardant,” said Kelli Willmore, vice president of marketing at Impact and Mastercraft Safety. “Many new racers and beginners make the mistake of buying a non-flame retardant cardboard suit for circular and drag racing because of the much lower cost – only to find later that their suit won`t pass the required technology because it doesn`t meet SFI specifications.” Similarly, the FIA is the European federation that issues safety standards for international racing cars and equipment. Contact your racial sanctions authority to find out your specific needs. There`s more to choosing the right underwear for your driving suit than you might think.
According to Simpson Racing, the National Fire Protection Association has also banned the wearing of this material under switch devices. That`s why Simpson Racing and Impact Racing, along with other safety equipment manufacturers, offer Nomex underwear to provide extra protection against heat and fire. We highly recommend using Nomex underwear, especially under a single-layer suit. In particular, SFI specification 3.2A (3.2A refers specifically to wetsuits) is a test of the flame retardant properties of a garment, introducing a rating system based on the TPP (Thermal Protective Performance) of this article when exposed to direct flame and radiant heat. This assessment is designed to measure and correlate how long a person can be exposed to a heat source while wearing the garment before contracting second-degree burns with skin blisters. TPP is a product of exposure heat and exposure time and is converted into a period of time before second-degree burns occur. The higher the number, the greater the protection offered by a garment. Nomex-based tracksuits generally offer the best protection against fire and heat and meet the highest SFI standards.
Other materials used in racing suits include gabardine, proban, and cordura; However, it is important to ensure that the intended purpose and safety assessment of your race suit is consistent with your sanctioning authority. As a general rule, more layers means more protection. A two- or three-layer suit is more resistant to flame and heat transfer, giving you more time in an emergency situation than a one-layer suit. In addition, a multi-layered running suit is absolutely essential for the type of race you are running (see SFI chart above). This has required the NHRA`s technical department to take a constant level of care to keep abreast of the latest developments in drag racing at their sanctioned venues. Any car 9.99 and faster, forced induction with alcohol: combination 3.2A / 15, 3.3 / 5 gloves and boots Ideally, you want your running suit to allow a layer of air between your body and the suit. This layer of air acts as insulation and provides additional protection in the event of a fire. It also allows the body to naturally cool down more effectively during the high temperatures of the summer season. Companies like Impact Racing even offer a padding layer on multilayer suits to create air pockets that improve airflow under the suit. SPARCO has introduced a range of Hocotex jumper suits that offer SFI 3.2a/5 protection in a single-layer suit. Flames mean fear.
Whether your race car is running at 100 miles per hour or 330 miles per hour, circumstances can adjust, things can go wrong, and serious or worse injuries can occur. Runners shudder at the thought of impact, but little remains in a runner`s mind other than the ever-present fear of fire. As race cars have become faster, faster, and just as powerful across the drag racing spectrum, they have also become more volatile and increasingly vulnerable to catastrophic failures, fires, and high-speed shocks. Very interesting and educational Thank you I own Motion Designs safety clothing and offer stock Nomex and custom Taylor SFI certified suits The right size is one of the most important factors when choosing a running suit. It`s not just essential for comfort and performance. It is also a safety factor. Based on the TPP chart above and the comparison with the minimum requirements for your own suit in the rulebook, you can determine what might be the next rung on the proverbial fire protection scale (whether it`s going from a 3.3/5 glove to 3.3/10 or so on). Another way racers, especially those using more volatile, amplified, alcohol-fueled cars, can contribute to their level of safety is by using underwear (or long underwear, as some might call it). David Fuller is Editor-in-Chief of OnAllCylinders. During his 20-year career in the automotive industry, he has covered a variety of industry races, shows and events, and has written articles for several magazines.
He has also collaborated with mainstream and specialty publications on a variety of editorial projects. In 2012, he helped found OnAllCylinders, where he enjoys covering all facets of hot rodding and running. My husband does drag racing. He needs a new suit. If he turns around and consumes alcohol in his truck, does he have to have a special suit for that? The right running suit and safety accessories will not only protect you but also help you run with confidence. NHRA Funny Car driver Jack Beckman wears the prescribed fireproof base coat and SFI 3.2A/20 fire suit required for nitro race cars. Impact, Simpson and others make underwear specifically designed for running. Most companies offer combinations in a variety of color options.
Budget and penalty rules can play a role in choosing the material for your racing suit. The most commonly used materials for racing suits are treated cotton fabrics and nomex®. Treated cotton suits are often cheaper, but chemical treatment can lose its effectiveness after each cleaning. This means that the shelf life of treated cotton fabrics is often shorter than that of other materials. Any car with automatic transmission in the cabin: jacket and pants or suit 3.2A / 15, gloves 3.3/5, shoes / boots 3.3 / 5 mandatory. Click here for a handy downloadable PDF version of the above thermal insulation chart for racing suits. A common misconception is that TPP ratings are the number of layers of a garment, but this is actually not the case. However, higher-rated garments typically contain more layers than lower-rated garments, as additional layers insulate and move the heat source away from the skin through air gaps between fabric layers. An SFI 3.2A/15 combination and an SFI 3.2A/20 combination are usually composed of at least four or five layers, while an SFI 3.2A/5 combination is usually a two-layer combination. From the SPARCO website: “The Eagle RS-8.2 is the result of more than 3 years of research and development. Sparco has patented a new technology called HOCOTEX® that is revolutionizing the way racing suits are made. This new proprietary technology from Sparco creates a single-layer fabric that offers the protection of what is normally achieved by a multilayer fabric.
The Eagle RS-8 is FIA 8858-2000 homologated. I am looking for monolayer fabrics that are naturally FR. I don`t need a very well rated 1, I just want my FR base layer. I also look for gloves that have the highest tactile heat index. This allows me to achieve a little more than the minimum requirements for most hot work related applications. You can find lighter and more breathable multi-layered suits, but these can be expensive. Again, you need to consider your budget and security needs, and exercise caution.