anyone have a good line on racing suits?
How about what to look for?
I don't have a full suit, only a fire jacket but the Simpson web site has a full compliment of racing suits, gloves, shoes, etc that might be worth looking at.
What kind of suit do you need. Drag or Road Course? SFI 3-2A/1(single layer) or SFI 3-2A/5 (multi-layer)?
I've always felt the pyro and simpson suits were way over priced. RJS has a great suit for the price that still meets the SFI 3-2A/1 or SFI 3-2A/5.
Tommy Johnson's sells them the cheapest I've found. They carry Jackets, Pants, Shoes, and Gloves. Price depends on SFI approval, but they are about $30-$50 less then everyone else and probably half of the pyro or simpson prices. I just orderd my new suit for this year and the prices he has can't be beat, even by the big guys like Jegs or Summit. They are not a supporting vendor so pm me for the phone number, call 411, or if you have a National Dragster-you can find the ad right in there. I think they are out of Georgia or N.Carolina.
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Vince
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Last edited by benenati379 : 06-15-2004 at 02:39 PM.
What kind of suit do you need. Drag or Road Course? SFI 3-2A/1(single layer) or SFI 3-2A/5 (multi-layer)?
I've always felt the pyro and simpson suits were way over priced. RJS has a great suit for the price that still meets the SFI 3-2A/1 or SFI 3-2A/5.
Tommy Johnson's sells them the cheapest I've found. They carry Jackets, Pants, Shoes, and Gloves. Price depends on SFI approval, but they are about $30-$50 less then everyone else. I just orderd my new suit for this year and the prices he has can't be beat, even by the big guys like Jegs or Summit. They are not a supporting vendor so pm me for the phone number, call 411, or if you have a National Dragster-you can find the ad right in there. I think they are out of Georgia or N.Carolina.
Hey Vince, not to change the subject here but I assume your Nova is Pro-stock. Why don't you start a new thread in Misc and give us some details. I don't know about anyone else, but I'd be interested in hearing about your beast!!
Having been in 2 fires (1 in the car I was driving and 1 pulling another guy out of his conflagration) I can personaally tell you NOT to look for the cheapest thing out there.
1. Find out what the MINIMUM is required for the type of competition you are going to do and find out what the sanctioning body requires...then get something a little better.
2. Make sure you do (cover) everything. ie Nomex socks, shoes, underwear, gloves, belaclava and nomex lined helmet and the suit.
Remember most deaths from burns in racing occur due to inhalation (Respiratory burns). The helmet and Belaclava are often overlooked.
Another area that is sometimes forgotten about is the feet....when egressing a burning car you may need to run thru burning fluids
3. If you find that underwear and a triple layer are too warm for the Summer then a Kool Suit will be required.
4. Pay particular attention to details such as how it is stitched, what type of thread, is it quilted?? etc.
Simpson and Sparco are my recommendations
Above all practice getting out of the car with your eyes closed, in the dark, using only 1 hand....Especially if you have a rollbar or roll cage and racing belts.
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F1 Technology, Parts and Preparation for Competition Corvettes AMSOIL Online Store
Sure Mike, I'd love to. I just always thought that I should confine myself to "vette talk" considering the focus of forum, but if there is interest-of course. The Nova is actually a Comp car, but when I race points meets, I race super street @ 10.90's on the throttle stop.
As long as it meet FEDERAL SFI requirements, then looking for the cheapest alternative is just smart. Just as in anything else... some things, you just pay for a name. I know all too well the hazards of fire and I can tell you my "cheap" suits have worked quite well. I was only giving an alternative.
Sure Mike, I'd love to. I just always thought that I should confine myself to "vette talk" considering the focus of forum, but if there is interest-of course. The Nova is actually a Comp car, but when I race points meets, I race super street @ 10.90's on the throttle stop.
Please do, Vince!!
Lot's of hi-po enthusiasts here and we like to hear about any fast car, especially Comp cars!
If you are going to use the suit for sanctioned events, you must ensure you meet their requirements, which are normally promulgated via an SFI rating.
For example, the SCCA requires a SFI 3-2A/1 or higher rating for club racing.
Many suits meet this requirement (or better), but they are not the same.
Driving suits will have another rating such as a MTO or TPP rating. For example, Simpson sells a two layer SFI 5 suit with a TPP of 19. My Simpson three layer suit is also SFI 5, but has a TPP of 33... and I still wear nomex underwear.
My scariest incedent was while in the copilot's seat starting a Piper Warrior PA-151.
The plane had just been annualed (inspected) and had just had a Magneto repaired. It also had an Auto Fuel STC.
We went thru the checklist and did the start.
It backfired on start and caught. We immediately shut off the fuel and continued to crank in order to suck the fire into the engine.
Unbenownst to us the float had swollen and stuck open enptying fuel into the cowl.
When we realized we were loosing ground I jumped out and pulled my pilot along with me. The Warrior only has 1 door on the co=pilot side.
It only took 15 seconds from start to when we were laying on the ground watching the fully engulfed plane shooting flames 25 feet in the air.
Ok, here is all I am saying. All else being equal (Same SFI/TPP rating), simpson fire suits are just more expensive. Think about how much advertising and promotion they do. Some one has to split that bill. The suits that I use, RJS, are quite cheaper, but not in quality. I get the feeling that some may think that you are sacrificing protection. They offer a full range of fire suits with different levels of protection.
They have the following suits that meet or exceed: (does not take into account underwear)
SFI-2A/1 w/ TPP of 6 (time to 2nd degree burn=3sec)
SFI-2A/3 w/ TPP of 14 (time to 2nd degree burn=7sec)
SFI-2A/5 w/ TPP of 19 (time to 2nd degree burn=10sec)
SFI-2A/15 w/ TPP of 60 (time to 2nd degree burn=30sec)
SFI-2A/20 w/ TPP of 80 (time to 2nd degree burn=40sec)
These suits are just less expensive alternative, just as RCI and others are and Tommy Johnson's can give him the best prices on these. For someone that has to keep buying Restraints and Suits every few years, I just don't have the funds to spend upwards of a thousand for the suit and a few hundred for belts.
BTW, Tommy Johnson is a Top Fuel Funny Car racer (Skoal Driver) that I believe runs the suits himself.
Just as a comparison...
Simpson's MTO45 suit with a TPP or 45 is about $1,100
RJS's 1020 3-2A/20 suit with a min TPP of 80 is about $700
What are normal prices? I see $1,200 quite regularly. Is that high, low, average?
$1K is about average.
If I were you, I'd look for something that meets the safety standards that you intend to use the suit for and I would look at something that fits. Some of the European cut suits don't fit us American's too well.
no one mentioned breathability.. the cheap ass suits get HOT.
Sure. There are priorities though. The first priority is to make the suit meet the safety standards. As you move up the line, you get more of everything including comfort. Same as with helmets. The basic helmets that meet safety standards should protect you well, but the more expensive helmets will be lighter, fit better and circulate air better.
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