Help with choosing a race suit

TURBO2GO

TURBO2GO

Illustrious Member
Joined
8 March 2006
Messages
16,594
Location
Boston
Guys I am starting to think it may not be a bad idea from a safety standpoint for me to invest in a race suit and stop tracking with a t-shirt and jeans.

I know very little about them and the guys at the stores I have talked to really didn't give me any clear information. I did a search, and I got nothing good.

Can you guys give me some advice on what to look for in a good suit as my first one? How much I should spend? Where to get one? I looked at saferacer.com but that got me more confused. Thanks for the help.
 
1. go to forums with lots of racers (nasa, scca, bimmerforums, etc), this has been asked and answered many times.

2. unless you have a cool shirt system get the lightest two layer suit you can afford. if it's hot and bulky you won't wear it without a gun pointed to your head.

3. as long as it's in good shape you can save a lot by buying used. my current sparco cost me $200, and i'm getting a second one this weekend for $150. both are quality two layer fia-rated suits.

4. don't forget gloves, a well made properly fitting pair makes a world of difference. i won't even do DEs without my omp reverse stitched.

5. in general you get what you pay for, but there are definitely bargains to be had. several people i know have had good luck with http://www.raceimage.com
 
What size are you? I had planned on doing some drivers ed a while back and my girlfriend bought me a new Sparco suit that I have never worn. I have thought about selling it and giving her the money back as she gives me grief once in a while for never having worn the "pajamas" that she bought me. They are up in Chicago and I won't be back there until the end of April.
 
I'm about 190 pounds, 6'2".
 
Last edited:
I'm about your size and been using Pyrotect suits for 30 years. Sizes and weights for every taste. They're well made and comfortable.

http://www.pyrotect.com/home.php?cat=7

I've always used one-piece, multi-layer suits. On hot days use inner cool suit. (Open cars I ran were cooler than NSX).

My $0.02
 
Last edited:
I am a hpde guy only,so my comfortable solution since I'm driving my street car that I wish to drive home in is a nomex single layer "poser" suit that looks sporty, shows off my svelt physique including pecs,and lat spread,and allows me to look really cool by folding it around my waist.Since the rules of the organizers of all my hpde's specify long sleeves and long pants (cotton) I am actualy going beyond spec.Now I know you have been to track days in hot weather and if you want to buy someone elses BO be my guest:tongue:
 
Last edited:
docjohn said:
I am a hpde guy only,so my comfortable solution since I'm driving my street car that I wish to drive home in is a nomex single layer "poser" suit that looks sporty, shows off my svelt physique including pecs,and lat spread,and allows me to look really cool by folding it around my waist.Since the rules of the organizers of all my hpde's specify long sleeves and long pants (cotton) I am actualy going beyond spec.Now I know you have been to track days in hot weather and if you want to buy someone elses BO be my guess:tongue:
Click to expand...

LOL... OK Doc do you have a preference on one piece or two? I am seriously thinking of one of these two:

http://www.raceimage.com/products/Racing-Suits/Id/7938/

http://www.raceimage.com/products/Racing-Suits/Id/7934/
 
Regardless of brand (I'm not big on the Simpson suits by the way - if you care) you want a one piece suit. Otherwise the top will come untucked and you'll be uncomfortable.
(Very funny docjohn, bet you look cool strutin' the pits!)
 
Last edited:
I have never seen anyone with the two piece suit. If you can deal with the kodak livery the other one looks ok.
 
TURBO2GO said:
Why do you not like simpson?
Click to expand...

I don't know... just don't like the "cut" of them... You'll find that tailoring (and the "feel" of the cloth) is just like any other piece of clothing (they vary) and some will work better for you that others. Try it on and sit in a car seat before you cough up the cash.
 
i don't know a single racer that wears a two piece suit. single layer is cooler but provides significantly less protection so you generally have to wear a nomex layer underneath which largely defeats the purpose. and i'll agree on the simpson, i have one that is devilishly hot (although it is a three layer so that's somewhat expected) and just not that comfortable. most folks seem to like sparco, or if you can afford it omp or alpinestars are very nice too. i like most of the stuff that g-force sells except for clothing, most folks that buy a g-force suit end up "upgrading" within a year or two.
 
2nd vote for Sparco. I like the fit, but sadly not the price (bought mine about 10yrs ago. Perhaps pricing has changed, but hopefully the fit has not!)
 
docjohn said:
I am a hpde guy only,so my comfortable solution since I'm driving my street car that I wish to drive home in is a nomex single layer "poser" suit that looks sporty, shows off my svelt physique including pecs,and lat spread,and allows me to look really cool by folding it around my waist.
Click to expand...

Here is DocJohn showing off his C cups..........I mean pecs.

593274532_fkHHV-XL-1.jpg
 
LOL...

Doc you gonna take that?

You know Bob barely has any hair left, right? And he loves to wear his suit folded down around his waist... because it reminds him of a skirt... :biggrin:
 
Bob has me beat,a pic is worth 1000 words and I'm a bad typist.But I do take offense to his c cup comment,I am a b cup.
 
Last edited:
Re: Options, decisions, confusion

Everyone's got "bulletproof" advice. :biggrin: But utlimately, you'll need to spend the time to come up with your own "bulletproof" decision.

Lots of discussion to help you sort thru all the options.

track day drivers mostly: http://www.trackpedia.com/forums/
racers exclusively: http://www.apexspeed.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=52

With all the available information, it won't be too tough once you settle on your own criteria.
 
my advise: don't wear it if you are not fast enough to wear that. :tongue:

few years back, dude showed up in a Supercharged elise, wait, maybe it's a exige... same bug looking thing. With a trophy girl friend holding him umbrella walking around paddock, red suit, red racing shoes... he somehow get himself in the Advanced group. Holding everyone up at corners including some unmodified MR2, bmw e30 and miatas...

I still think it's a classic as far as clown at HPDE goes...
 
NSXDreamer2 said:
my advise: don't wear it if you are not fast enough to wear that. :tongue:

few years back, dude showed up in a Supercharged elise, wait, maybe it's a exige... same bug looking thing. With a trophy girl friend holding him umbrella walking around paddock, red suit, red racing shoes... he somehow get himself in the Advanced group. Holding everyone up at corners including some unmodified MR2, bmw e30 and miatas...

I still think it's a classic as far as clown at HPDE goes...
Click to expand...
lol, every hpde has the superstar ego filled ninja driver, who is slow as sheet and blames everything else for a lack of pace.
 
I know... I've been to enough events to see "that guy" being made fun of... but to me it is just a safety item. So a guy crashes into you, his fuel tank goes up in flames... and there you are, in what seemed like a mundane HPDE day waiting for the fire truck to come and throw water on you. I'd rather be in a suit and gloves. I really don't give a sheet who wants to laugh at me.

Besides... after my skip barber training next week I will be the master of all. Billy Johnson and I will be buds hangin' out with the paddock girls and you will be will begging me to stay your friend. You should be nice to me now before I become famous... that way I will remember you.
 
..well at the next trackmasters event i am going to try to convince them to run a shirts/skins format...who knows you may be assigned to the shoe and glove only group:eek:
 
Live a little! get a custom suit made up to look like the ones from the "unicorn" thread...:wink::tongue::biggrin:
 

Similar threads

stormrider
Need help to do a PPI in Lilburn GA
Replies
0
Views
117
stormrider
stormrider
smoore
Engine failure on a 2017 Grrr
2
Replies
42
Views
2K
docjohn
docjohn
Finny76
HONDA R&D Team Interviews customers for Next Generation NSX (NSXPO 2024 TEXAS)
Replies
7
Views
674
Nukem
Nukem
B
Seat not moving forward/back... help needed for installer to proceed with carpet install pronto
Replies
8
Views
160
MotorMouth93
MotorMouth93
R
A supercharged NSX.. revert back to stock or keep it?
Replies
10
Views
488
peiserg
peiserg
Back
Top