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Racing Suit Recommendation
- Thread starter GotTrack
- Start date
I'm just trying to give you an out for being so cavalier about safety equipment. :wink: Right now you only have to dress to look pretty on the podium, but some day you too may want to dress for being upside down on fire. :redface:
First of all I resent that. Safety equipment is my highest priority (and should be for everyone). I make sure to always wear and do everything I can to ensure my safety in case of an accident. That includes wearing some of the best equipment available and not wearing $5 helmets -their was a post on this before that I chimed in on. No one should skimp on safety equipment unless they do not value theirselves...
The suit that the 'stig' is wearing is on the tighter side, but still fits properly, of course you wouldnt want it too tight to constrict your movement, or showing your ankles or wrists.
Since you are the forum "racing expert" here,
1) how does having a larger/baggier suit with "fluff" safer than a somewhat tighter/proper fitting suit?
2) How does having 'air' between your body and the suit help, and
3) how does having a larger suit create air between the layers of the suit? -it dosnt.
OK, now that we’re back to talking suit theory and temporarily off the smack, are you saying that
1) Dead air is not an insulator?
2) That layering doesn’t partially benefit from dead air?
3) That layering doesn’t increase TPP and protection?
4) That simple insulation principles applicable to normal cold weather clothing don’t also apply to racing suits?
5) That the suit only has to keep the flame off your skin, and not block the intense heat from coming thru the layers?
If you’re not saying all this, then what are you saying?
BTW, for the rest of you monitoring this, this just happened in my race Sunday and is what I dress for.
1) agreed
2) How does the suits layering benefit from "dead air"?
3) When you're in a car, strapped in your harness, the extra 'fluff' -as you refer to it is not there because the suit is pressed against you from the seat and harness, you are not like an inflated balloon where their is a large cushion of air between you and the suit. You want a proper fitting suit, not an overly large baggy suit.
4) agreed, but having an overly large baggy suit will not benefit any more than a proper fitting suit.
5) I have not seen/heard of a study that shows that having a baggy suit benefits you any more than a proper fitting suit.
The original issue is having a larger suit does not create more 'dead air' between the layers of the suit. I can see what you're thinking about having a larger suit for dead air/fluff between you and the suit but I do not believe that it is going to make a difference compared to a suit that fits you properly.
So in conclusion, having a baggier suit does not create more air between the layers of the suit itself. I can see the viewpoint of having a larger suit for psychological comfort of being more protected due to the added 'fluff' of the suit. If this were truly the case (i have not seen a study to suggest otherwise) then suit manufacturers would taylor their suits with more 'fluff' from the factory for a given size/weight -from a safety standpoint. The fact that they do not make the suits baggy for a given body size (plus working with them and getting tailored suits) tell me that baggy suits do not help any more than a proper fitting one. Granted you can have a suit that's too tight/small that is not safe.
Billy,
Do you have Sparco racing catalog. The dead air is definitely an insulator. That being said, racing suit should be comfortable to the wearer and do not hinder their ability to perform or operate the car.
In the end, it is a judgement call. Everything has downside and upside. You can get the thickest, hottest, and most fireproof suit. But if it is too hot that it you can't be comfortable in the car it is useless.
IMHO, in the case of racing suit, you get what you pay for.
Do you have Sparco racing catalog. The dead air is definitely an insulator. That being said, racing suit should be comfortable to the wearer and do not hinder their ability to perform or operate the car.
In the end, it is a judgement call. Everything has downside and upside. You can get the thickest, hottest, and most fireproof suit. But if it is too hot that it you can't be comfortable in the car it is useless.
IMHO, in the case of racing suit, you get what you pay for.
I never disagreed that dead air is an insulator.
Directly from SFI:
"The radiant heat portion of the spec (SFI spec) is significant because the majority of racer burns are caused by heat transfer rather than direct flame. Insulation is the best way to prevent this kind of burn. using multiple layers of fabric helps keep the heat source away from the skin longer because each layer creates air gaps that have to heat up. (More layers = more air gaps. My arguement was that a larger suit does not mean more air between the layers and = more safety than a proper fitting suit). The extra seconds gained with each layer are precious to a driver trying to escaper from a burning car.
Another way to obtain extra air gaps is to wear racing underwear. Nomex underwear should be worn with every time of driver suit (no t-shirts!), especially single layer suits because it will double the protection time (+3 seconds).
A garmet's insulation capability is also affected by the fit of the suit. A suit worn too tight will compress the air gaps and allow heat to reach the skin faster (as you (92 White 0650) pointed out and I agreed, but says nothing about an overly large/baggy suit will be any more beneficial. This is a grey area where the line is not drawn in black and white where proper fitting becomes too large/baggy, either way it's better than a suit that's too tight)
There are other things you can do besides finding a correct fit to optimize the protection performance of your driver suit. Ideally, you want to wash you suit after every event. Most suits are machine washable but manufacturers usually reccomend dry cleaning. It's absolutely essential to read the care tag on the garmet and closely follow the manufactuerer's instructions.
This is for you 92 White 0650:
Avoid wearing your suit while working on the car. Not only would you be ruining an expensive piece of equipment, but you would essentially be inviting a fire to burn you. Grease, fuel, oil, and even cleaning fluids can soak into the fabric and support the flames of a fire, causing high heat. Fluids soaked into a suit also produce steam when exposed to heat and cause liquid vaporization burns.
So in conclusion, yes air is an insulator, you can reduce you safety by having a suit that's improperly small, but to increase the air gaps for insulation and safety, you need a proper fitting suit, multiple layers, and taking extreme care of your suit are the methods to maximize your safety.
Air is an insulator, and a bulky suit is better because of it, but a hot driver is an accident waiting to happen, expecially if you look at data examining muscle and brain response an hydration.
My Solution:
1) I have a suit that is cheaper than the xLite (I got it before XLite from a friend so I didn't need to buy a new one, although I agree that for me safety money is no object)
2) I have a F.A.S.T (Fresh Air Systems) Cool Suit
On DE days just I wear the cool suit, no Firesuit, and I'm cool and comfortable and my last lap in a session is as easy as my first therfore I consider my self WAY less likely to have a "miss-hap".
On racing days I wear both. The Cool suit has a layering effect as well as the capillaries not only hold air around them but they also serve to cool the entire suit increasing the heat diff.
But hey, I also have the BIG BIG firebottle with a tube down near my feet and crotch (gotta protect the boys!:wink: )
My Solution:
1) I have a suit that is cheaper than the xLite (I got it before XLite from a friend so I didn't need to buy a new one, although I agree that for me safety money is no object)
2) I have a F.A.S.T (Fresh Air Systems) Cool Suit
On DE days just I wear the cool suit, no Firesuit, and I'm cool and comfortable and my last lap in a session is as easy as my first therfore I consider my self WAY less likely to have a "miss-hap".
On racing days I wear both. The Cool suit has a layering effect as well as the capillaries not only hold air around them but they also serve to cool the entire suit increasing the heat diff.
But hey, I also have the BIG BIG firebottle with a tube down near my feet and crotch (gotta protect the boys!:wink: )
Re: Watch where you're pointing that thing.......
Be careful where the nozzles are pointed; a big BIG bottle could freeze the boys off. Or so I've been seriously warned. (knock wood)
Re: Watch where you're pointing that thing.......
OK, for starts, don't knock my wood, I'm able to produce it naturaly, no viagra required, and I've been told it "does the trick" by several ladies over the years.
Next, The nozzle isn't THAT close (Although my mechanic told a story about a guy who had is REAL close)
Last, the real concern I have isn't freezing the little fireman its breathing in the Halon thats in my bottle. (I know they're using less Halon these days, but I'm afraid the subsitute isn't so good either)
The Halon works by displacing oxygen and therefore creating an "atmosphere" that doesn't support combustion - the issue is if you get it in your lungs it'll do the same thing and maybe transfer some into your bloodstream. Since I'm in a sedan I'll be incased in box with this crap going off, since Halon is "heavy" you'll be surrounded by it too, but I assume you'll have the benifit of breeze.
When I think of this sh1t I consider RC cars!
OK, for starts, don't knock my wood, I'm able to produce it naturaly, no viagra required, and I've been told it "does the trick" by several ladies over the years.
Next, The nozzle isn't THAT close (Although my mechanic told a story about a guy who had is REAL close)
Last, the real concern I have isn't freezing the little fireman its breathing in the Halon thats in my bottle. (I know they're using less Halon these days, but I'm afraid the subsitute isn't so good either)
The Halon works by displacing oxygen and therefore creating an "atmosphere" that doesn't support combustion - the issue is if you get it in your lungs it'll do the same thing and maybe transfer some into your bloodstream. Since I'm in a sedan I'll be incased in box with this crap going off, since Halon is "heavy" you'll be surrounded by it too, but I assume you'll have the benifit of breeze.
When I think of this sh1t I consider RC cars!
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