So, We Have This Suit....

Funny story - See, we had been waiting on the newest Sparco Pro Cup 10 suit to arrive from Sparco. And as anyone who's anyone knows, the single identifying feature of the Cup suit is that it has Boot Cut pant legs. Well, our initial shipment from Sparco came in - and the pant legs had traditional racing cuffs.

In typical OG Racing style, we brokered a deal with Sparco and took the entire production line at a reduced cost (actually, it was more Sparco's savvy salesmenship that convinced us to take the entire line - what can I say, We're easy). But that was before we thought about what to call it. Since Cup suits have Boot Cut legs, we couldn't call it that. Then how about calling it the Sponsor, since the styling is pretty much identical? Nope - couldn't do that neither since the Sponsor has always been a higher level suit.

After months of tossing names back and forth (the usual -working with Manhattan Ad firms, calling celebrities, checking trademarks) it was our in-house-team that came up with the name for the suit you'll never forget!

Introducing The OG Racing Special!



This suit offers the looks of the popular Sparco Sponsor suit, but is a 2-layer design using slightly heavier fabric from the Sprint Suits (about 60 g/sqm heavier). Box quilted construction and articulated shoulders offer all the comfort of Sparco's nicest suits. The 2-layer Nomex construction is both FIA and SFI 3.2a/5 rated, meeting all requirements for wheel-to-wheel racing. Best of all, the OG Racing Special it does away with those funky boot-cut legs that lesser suits have, and replaces them with nice, comfortable traditional elastic cuffs!

The nearest comparable suit from Sparco (the Pro Cup X) retails for $599. Only at OG Racing, the OG Racing Special is available for purchase for only $499. Limited sizes and colors in stock now!

See more info on the OG Racing Special - Click Here!

New Sparco Seats

2 new Sparco Competition seats showed up recently. Once again, Sparco released these seats in their 2009 catalogs, but only got around to shipping them to us now. So, with further ado:

Sparco Rev Plus:



This is pretty much the same Rev Plus seat as we've had since 2007 or so. The big (and only) change is the cover design. In person, it's not as bad as we first opinioned when we saw the pictures 2 years ago. The grey contrasting looks rather nice, and a thick grey trim along the edges really makes this seat stand out. At this time, we only have 1 in black - not sure if they're transferring this to the other color options. Perhaps this is the new look Sparco is aiming for?

Sparco Pro 2000 Plus:



This is a seat we've been waiting on for a while - a plus-sized version of the ever-so-popular Pro 2000 seat. They've added a good 2-inches in width to the standard design (sort of like the Evo line of seats). Is a Pro 2000 3/XL in the works? Don't hold your breath.

Sparco Circuit Plus Seat

Our last big seat shipment brought a surprise of sorts - the long overdue Sparco Circuit Plus Seat. We first were told about this seat about 2 years ago...I think most of us had pretty much given up on its existence. But 3 of them suddenly appeared last week!



What's the difference between this and the Sparco Circuit seat that's been around for years? Size. This seat is both taller and wider. Although I haven't taken actual measurements yet, to try and create some perspective, this seat is slightly too big and tall for my 5'10", 160 lb., 32 waist frame. But it fits the famous Brian Hair's 6'3", 205 lb, 36" waist perfectly.

JUST IN - Sparco Storm ADV Gloves

Sparco released a redesign of the popular Sparco Storm Gloves for 2010. Contrary to typical Sparco fashion, the gloves actually arrived at our shores AHEAD of schedule!



Now called the Sparco Storm ADV Gloves, the redesign offers a few visual changes from the original Storm gloves (seen here). The flat sticky palm, coincidentally named "Flat-HTX Treatment", has been revised with a more prolific cut that's supposed to aid in grip. It definitely looks like it'll be more comfortable around the steering wheel.

What really caught my eye, though, were the odd gill-like webbing on the back of the glove:



At first glance, I thought this was some odd-ball Italian design treatment initiated due to an excess of HTX material. Upon seeing the catalog preview, I discovered a surprising explanation:

...the Storm ADV now has a visor squeegee strategically incorporated into the forefinger.

Granted, most open-wheel racers will run tear-offs - but it's still a very creative concept and to the best of my knowledge, a design first. What do you think?

More Details Here

Sparco Annual Garage Sale

This is on the opposite coast from us, but I figure the news might reach some of our readers:

Sparco's Annual Garage Sale is happening on September 26, 2009. From Sparco USA:

Yes, its that time again - we're clearing out the rafters. The warehouse is bulging with great deals on discontinued and scratch & dent items.

Over 200 seats available...
Suits, Helmets, Harnesses, Shift Knobs, Pedals and much, much more!

Plenty of cars on display. Door prizes including K1 kart racing tickets!

Located at Sparco USA headquarters:

1852 Kaiser Ave.
Irvine, CA 92614

From 9 AM - 3 PM
Saturday, September 26, 2009

Tell them you heard about it at OG Racing!

Sparco Harness Deal - $100 each

EDIT (10:14, 09/2/09): Both Belts have sold. Thanks for helping make some space in my office!

Someone pulled a fast one on us.

Here's the story:

I have TWO Sparco 6 Point Harnesses in Red. They look like this:



They both have 2007 build dates (FIA Expires 2012). The problem with them is that each has exactly ONE Pull-Up Lap end, and ONE Pull-Down Lap End. I know some customers in the past were installing such systems to make belt adjustment easier (it's difficult to pull down/out with a door in the way!) I'm guessing someone bought 4 sets, and swapped out the pieces they needed, then returned the other set. Tricky, tricky...we didn't realize the oddity until we were showing them to a customer.

So, here's the offer. I'm selling these for $99 each (Original Retail $299). Purchase a RED harness set at the following link:

SPARCO-6-POINT-COMPLETE-HARNESS-SET-WAREHOUSE-CLOSEOUT

Then use one of the following coupon codes: 104576-2 OR 104667-3

Each code is set up for one set of harnesses - so if you want both sets, buy each as an individual line item, and use both codes.

The coupons are single use, so if they don't work, that means someone else has already taken advantage of the deal. I'll also delete/modify these posts if that happens.

Please, please get these out of my office!!

Sparco R505 (Torino) Seat now in stock!

Word of this new seat from Sparco has been floating around the rumor-mill for some time now. In fact, some less then honest shops have been advertising it as in-stock since the beginning of the year. However, we just received a shipment from Sparco - these seats are finally here and in stock! It caught us a little off guard since we've been told they weren't due until October at the earliest.

In any case, I present the Sparco R505 Sport seat:



This seat is eventually due to replace the Torino seat which has been around for well over 10 years. The seat features more aggressive bolsters that are sized a little more generously then the original Torino, meaning that more drivers of different sizes will be able to fit. It's available in 6 different colors - Black w/Grey stitching (above) and:


Black w/Red Stitching


Black w/Blue Stitching


Grey


Blue


& Red

The price is $599.00 per seat (identical to the previous Torino).

Click here for more details here.

Change of Ownership at Sparco

July 20, 2009: Sparco Italy has been acquired by Aldino Bellazzini, CEO Petronas Lubricants. The acquisition was made possible through a significant increase in capital and a simultaneous restructuring of Sparco's debts.

With the new ownership, Sparco will now have increased financial resources to develop its business and product range.

Aldino Bellazzini:

My commitment comes from the acknowledgement of the extraordinary value of Sparco as a brand as well as from the wide range of products offered by its product catalogs...The trust and support that Sparco customers have shown in the [past] allow me to plan a quick and stable return to the leadership position that Sparco deserves.

We'll post more news as it arrives, but OG Racing along with Sparco USA are extremely excited to hear this news and can't wait to see the new products and technology that will emerge from it!

Sparco Pro ADV seats are here!

2009 has been a particularly popular year for seat upgrades, in particular, halo style seats that offer the side-impact protection that so many drivers are lacking. Until the Pro ADV seat was introduced by Sparco mid-2008, Sparco's halo-style seat offerings were limited to the Circuit Pro (too short) and the Circuit (too narrow). The Pro ADV was just right for a large percentage of the U.S. market.



Unfortunately, in typical Italian fashion, the U.S. pretty much ran out of Pro ADV seats sometime in February - you know, right when everyone was building there race cars. At least in black (no one in their right minds would dare put any other color in their cars, right?).

Now for the good news for all of the patient customer out there...the boat from Italy has finally landed!!! I usually don't declare such hopeful news until I'm physically caressing each and every seat; but I make exception in this case. We should be seeing a freight-box arrive early next week with the 20+ seats we've had on backorder since January. A good portion of these are already accounted for (again, thank you patient customers!) But if you've also been keeping an eye out, jump in soon before they disappear again for another half-year!

Order yours today!

Sparco Logo Shoes!

The Sparco Logo shoe is new for 2009. This casual shoe is based on the very popular Pit Lane shoes, but with a large "Sparco" branding on the side:



I'm noticing that they are turning into quite a hit, with demand beginning to surpass our supply. Personally, I'm still partial to the Pit Lane Shoes they are based on:



But that's just my humble opinion!

For more info on these and other casual shoes from Sparco, click here: Sparco Pit Lane & Logo Shoes

Why you need a custom driving suit. And why they're not as expensive as you think.

Driving suits are the single most difficult piece of clothing to fit properly. When we go shopping for new clothes, we have general guidelines for buying. We know what size shirt we wear; and we can choose from multitudes of waist/length sizes for pants. But nowhere at Macys do we have to consider the same fitment attributes as a one-piece driving suit.

Why are they so hard to fit? Easy - there are simply too many dimensions on the human body to take into account. And to create an entire line of suits that had sizing options for differing waist/chest/height/torso-length/etc. would take up our entire 12,000 sq/ft warehouse!

Many of our customers are lucky enough to fit into a standard sized racing suit without too many issues. If you're part of this select group, you need not read any further.

But, what about the customer who is 6'5" with long legs? Or 5'8" with a 40" waist? And don't even think about buying an off the rack suit if you have to check the "F" gender box! Well, then a custom suit may be just the answer for you.

In this industry, when the word "custom" is uttered, KA-CHING can typically be heard closely behind. In reality, custom suits are not too far off their off-the-rack counterparts. Take a Sparco Custom Suit for example - the basic Made-to-Measure price is an extra $175.00 on top of the price of the suit. With custom sizing available beginning with the popular "Sparco" Driving Suit ($825.00), a custom built suit can be had for about $1000.00.

And if you're planning lots of fancy embroidery, or have a pink with black polka-dots design sitting in the back of your head, anything is possible with a custom suit - for an extra charge, of course ;)

If you have any other custom suit questions, or want a price quote, call or e-mail us!


NASA Mid-Atlantic's Chris Cobetto models his new Sparco Custom suit

Lico Motorsports is here!

Okay - I've been holding off on this announcement for a few weeks now as this new brand trickles into our warehouse. Enough of the product is now here where I can only partially lie about it being in stock (I hate it when shops say they have something only to find out it is un-obtainium!)

So, with much fanfare, we bring you Lico. If you haven't heard, this is a new branch of Sparco that brings more economically priced racing gear with the same high-quality European designs and materials that Sparco is known for.

What do the Italians consider "thrifty"? How about a 3-layer, box-quilt tone-on-tone stitched, SFI/5 certifed suit for $265.00? (Compare that to a 3-layer Proban (no sectioning of fabric) G-Force 505 for $320.00):


DETAILS HERE

Or Sparco Top 3 Shoe (retail $219) clones for only $89.00:


DETAILS HERE

So, take a look around our catalog - Lico has brought something for just about every category. Again, a lot of the inventory is still trickling in; with your patience, we should be able to get you an excellent deal for the 2009 season.

Sparco Pro ADV Super Carbon

 

Priced at over $5k, we probably won't see too many of these hit the U.S. market. But the technology behind it is still pretty amazing. Yes, it is a full Carbon Fiber shelled Pro ADV racing seat. But it also weighs in at over 40lbs. So what gives? Well, the Super Carbon was manufactured specifically to the FIA's new World Rally specifications; needs to NOT fail when a car cartwheels off a dirt road into a stand of trees at 100mph). So far, this is the ONLY seat that has surpassed these requirements without the need for a back brace.

How does it pass? The weight tells of this seat's overbuilt engineering. It also uses massive mounting bolts (8mm).

Want one? Turn around time is 5-6 weeks. Payment up front, of course ;)

Lico...by Sparco

 

 

 

One of the biggest developments for next year is the introduction of Lico by parent company Sparco. A little history - Lico was first started by the Brazilian importer of Sparco. Sparco saw the opportunity in the brand and purchased it. Offered in Europe for the past several years, Lico manufactures suits, gloves, shoes, and underwear using Sparco's high quality principals and offers it at a much more budget oriented price.

How budget? Lico mid-top shoes begin at $69.00. SFI 3.2A/5 suits begin at $265.00. The top end, box quilted, light-weight Lico suit will retail for only $699.00.

We should start seeing the product early January 2009.

Limited Edition Sparco Gear!

We had a batch of Ladies Camisole Tank Tops printed with Sparco Logos made a while back for an event. We still have some available and are offering them on-line. Get them while you can!



Only $15.00 - CLICK HERE

At the races...

Last weekend, OG Racing manned the Sparco booth at the 24th Annual NHRA Nationals held at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, PA. Our very own Stacey Braithwaite was on hand to show the drag racing public Sparco's new line of products geared towards the drag racing community.


Sparco Booth


Gary Scelzi

Dog Days of Summer

The thermometer shows a number somewhere in the high-90's. By mid-day it feels like it's in the triple-digits. Here you are, standing next to your car, in the middle of hundreds of idling engines, with your 3-layer Nomex suit (and underwear). You swear that your race shoes are melting to the surface of the track and your $$ race tires are turning into pools of rubber goo. Ever ask yourself, Why am I here?

Here we are again - the hottest time of the year. All we can hope for is to get the car moving so at least a tiny semblance of a breeze starts to come through the window. Will relief ever come? Even though the only sure way to stay cool on track is to wait for the Autumn months, there are ways to try and beat the heat. Here's a short and hopefully helpful list:

1. Fitness & Health (Free!!): The big concern with racing in such high heat is taking care of yourself and making sure you don't succumb to heat stroke. We all hear the warnings and all know the precautions, so stay properly hydrated (hydrated meaning with water, not beer). One should also stay in shape, especially during the racing season - activities in such extreme temperatures places a huge burden on the body; staying physically fit gives a huge advantage in overcoming such physical duress. Read more here: http://racingfitness.com/blog/

2. Fresh Air Systems Cool Suit (complete systems start at $398.00): The Fresh Air Systems Cool Suit is a simple t-shirt worn under your driving gear. The shirt is lined with 50 feet of small water tubing sewn onto the front and back. This tubing is connected to a remote cooler that circulates plain old tap water through the shirt. The shirt creates cooling zones on the body that help lower your core temperature throughout your race. Fresh Air Systems also offers kits with fresh air helmet attachments; a blower fan takes air from outside, shoves it through the same cooler (yes, like an intercooler) and blows fresh, cool air into your helmet.

3. Technical Underwear (balaclavas start below $50): There was a time when all Nomex underwear was constructed from the same, itchy waffle-weave fabric. However, the future is here and new technical fabrics are being engineered for every sport out there. It's about time they came into the motorsports world! 2BKool, a company from New Zealand, has released a complete line of Nomex blended underwear with a very unique quality. Tiny polymer micro-capsules permanently embedded within the fabric absorb and store excess body heat as it is created, dispersing the excess heat when necessary. It might sound like something made for astronauts, but this stuff really works!

If that's seems a little over the top, Sparco offers 2-lines of technical underwear, ICE and Carmyth. Both are treated to the same X-Cool chemical treatment that also helps draw heat away from the body (and it smells minty-fresh.) Carmyth has the added bonus of offering the highest flame resistance of any driver underwear AND the convenient side-effect of true wicking properties. Yes, sweat WICKING from driving gear!

4. Lighter-Weight Driving Suits: By reducing the weight of your driving suit, you're going to stay much cooler during the summer months. It's sort of like choosing between a light t-shirt VS a heavy wool sweater in the middle of summer. Lightweight doesn't necessarily mean a compromise in protection neither. The 3-layer Sparco X-Light HC Driving Suit ($1595 retail) is 25% lighter then many other similarly rated driving suits on the market. Plus, it is already treated to the same Carmyth and X-Cool breakthroughs as listed above.

Hyperfest at Summit Point!!

NASA Mid-Atlantic's yearly Hyperfest event is nearly upon us again. On Saturday, June 21, 2008, Summit Point Motorsports Park in Summit Point, West Virginia will once again be flooded by drifters, racers, and all the other automotive enthusiasts from the Mid-Atlantic region. Aside from the Hankook US Drift Nationals and Club Racing competitions. The event also features the ever popular roll-over contest, track and rally ride-alongs, car show, and more!

We'll be there, too. Not only at our usual OG Racing at Summit Point Trackstore, but we will also be manning the Sparco Motorsports booth. Come say hi!