Sportscar Magazine - Safety First

Just received the latest issue of Sportscar Magazine; the March 09 issue being the requisite, yearly "safety issue". I was sort of disappointed in the lack of information - a total of 7 pages (including advertisements) and 2 articles were devoted to the subject. First was a comparison of SFI 38.1 Head & Neck Restraints; second being a short Q/A regarding racing suits. Both contained great information, but really, if you're going to headline safety, then headline safety!!

Like I mentioned, the short articles made some good points. I won't comment on the head & neck restraints - the comparison was well thought out, and I think we've all heard enough of Hans, DefNder and the litigation surrounding them all! If you don't have a device already, pick up a copy of this magazine and find out some of the finer points before making your investment.

I would, however, like to add some input to the suit questions raised:

What is the correct fitment of a racing suit? Should it be tight, baggy or somewhere in the middle?:
Chad Dimarco (Sube Sports), Bob Zecca (DI Racing), and Jeremy Curtis (G-Force) concurred that is should be somewhere in between. Recently, I've seen many customers attempt to buy suits with as tight of a fit as possible. Several of these came back a few months later with torn seams. Obviously, this is the economical reason why NOT to buy such a tight fitting suit. If you're trying to make yourself look slim, a gym membership or a pair of running shoes are a much cheaper way to go. Even though tight pants and tight shirts may be the fashion norm these days, they do not extend to race cars!! Tight suits also present quite a safety risk. Testing shows that some of the most severe burns will occur at the knees. Why? Because the fabric of the suit is almost always stretched tight at this point. Part of the effectiveness of a multi-layer suit is not just the extra material; rather it's the pocket of air created between each layer of material. Each pocket creates an insulation point from the heat - by stretching this thin, you remove those insulation benefits.

Too baggy of a suit will cause not only comfort issues, but may hamper getting in and out of the vehicle. If you are not one of those lucky few that happens to fit perfectly into a certain suit size, you will need to choose a size that fits each and every one of your proportions comfortable. Don't suck in your gut to fit in that size 58. Instead, buy a size 60 and deal with the extra material elsewhere, or get a custom suit. We regularly order custom suits through Sparco; the base custom measurement charge is $175 and is available on suits as inexpensive as the Sparco 6.

Is there a benefit to wearing fire-resistant underwear even if the GCR does not require it for your suit?:
As the aforementioned panel of experts all agree, Yes! Here's the deal - if you have an huge phobia of getting burned, call us and we will get you an SFI-20 Drag Racing Suit. These suits are designed for the self-navigated guided missiles that rocket down quarter-mile tracks. They will also give you the longest period before second degree burns occur. However, as they are typically 3x the weight of a traditional suit, they are the last thing you want in the middle of summer! The next best thing is combining underwear with your traditional SFI-5 rated suit to literally add another layer to your ensemble.

One expert went even further explaining the benefits of underwear wicking sweat from your body and the obvious performance benefits of keeping yourself cool. It should be noted that Nomex is not a very good wicking material. It should never be confused as coolmax or some other purpose built wicking material. It's better then nothing, but the best wicking fire-retardant fabric is probably Carmyth.

What's the best method to clean and store my race suit?:
I agree with the article - Dry Clean. Alternately, there are also some chemicals on the market specifically designed to clean Nomex and even increase its effectiveness. Molecule comes to mind. If you insist on washing your suit with any other method, make sure to hand-wash or use a gentle cycle with mild, mild detergents. Sparco includes a cleaning bag with some of their suits - similar bags are available elsewhere in the world of clothing care. Get one of these bags to prevent your delicate Nomex fibers from getting caught in the complex machinery of your washing machine!

The other important piece of advise I saw was airing out your suit after it is used. This goes for ALL of your racing gear. Taking your dirty, sweat soaked laundry and balling it up into the inner recesses of your closet is a fantastic science experiment you are welcome to share with your kids. Be sure to take pictures afterward and send them to the CDC. Air that stuff out - I've had the privilege of installing more then one set of Hans anchors into a mildewy helmets Yes, I wear latex gloves in these cases. And no, don't be offended when I run off to the bathroom to scrub my hands with disinfectant!