want information on full race-gear, where/which ones to get Options

[Crazy Canuck]

Hi,

I want to get equipped with full gear protection.
That means from head to toes, even not using a motorcycle helmet anymore.

so:
car-helmet
neck protection
suit
gloves + shoes

anything missing ?
any links, companies I should look (or avoid) for ?

Thanks,

[mitchntx]

First of all ... you should at the very least find a vendor that you can try on a suit. Sizing differs greatly between manufacturers.

Also, there really is a difference between a $300 suit and $1300 suit. That $1000 gets eaten up very fast with the cost of an ambulance ride to the hospital for heat exhaustion. If the victim of that particular scenario feels like sharing his story, I'll let him do that as it's his business to share, not mine.

I bought my suit and nomex from www.saferacer.com

They offer discounts and close-outs on all kinds of gear. I got my Sparco Cup suit for $399 ... less than 1/2 price. A local vendor was willing to cut me a fantastic deal on a suit, and I very much appreciated what he was willing to do for me. But it still was several hundred dollars more than what I got my suit for.

I too need a new helmet, but have decided to wait till the end of the year in order to get the latest SNELL rated helmet. I am shopping for specific features for a helmet ...

a visor that attaches with metal screws and hinges ... I have to keep my stuff for a LONG time and I want it to wear well.

good ventilation to helmet my breathing, keep me as cool as possible and so the visor won't fog

lightweight ... my mellon weighs enough ...

HANS compatible ... rumor has it that a HANS device will be required safety gear next year in CMC.

Neck restraint ... I have a collar ... it absolutely sucks and severly restricts movement. I realize they are supposed to do that, but it's to a point where I feel unsafe wearing it.

[Crazy Canuck]

ironically, ambulance + hospital costs are free here... but I don't want to factor that in.
If I gonna get a suit, I want something that does its job well.

[rmackintosh]

Mitch is right....find someone local to try the stuff on...you would BE AMAZED how different they all fit....for example, I CANNOT fit ANY Bell helment on my fat head....period! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) Suits are the same way. Mitch is also correct about what you get for in a suit...I am currently using a 10 year old "cheapy" that is BLACK and is thicker than a coat one would use in the Antarctic regions....and I typically race in 100 degree weather! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rant.gif) (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/banghead.gif) Next year, the wife has given my clearance to buy the new Sparco X-light suit....it is $1300, BUT...it feels just like a coverall when you put it on.....NO BULK AT ALL....I love this suit....plus it is the cool shiny F-1 look so my fat A$$ can look sexy! (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/rotf.gif)

After trying all the stuff on, go shopping for what you like. I typically use locals as much as possible: Wine Country Motorsports, Bell Motorsports, etc. but have used RacerWholesale and Pegasus as well.....

[KeithO]

I ordered my suit, gloves, nomex socks and neck brace direct from Simpson. I guess I look at things a little differently - if the suit passed the SFI test rating that I am looking for, then that is most the measure that I care about. I don't automatically assume that a more expensive suit is inherently safer. I don't care about comfort so safety rating was my only measure on these items.

My shoes and helmut are from Racer Parts Wholesale and I bought them a few years ago for autocrossing. Both of these were purchased on Snell rating/SFA rating and cost only. In fact, my helmut is white, my suit, gloves and neck brace are blue and my shoes are bright red - they were real cheap on closeout. The first time my daughter saw me suited up, she said the shoes made me look like Ronald McDonald.

[Sam Strano]

I deal with one of the largest Sparco and Bell distributors in the US. But we are not limited to those brands, they are just two of the most popular. Also Simpson and G-Force helmets and belts. I can even get you a HANS device if you'd so desire. Fire suppression systems? Yep those too.....

[NataSS Inc]

Sam, depending on what supression systems you use I might be interested in 2 systems. 1 for interior and one for engine and fuel area. Please contact me offline with what you have.

[rmackintosh]

Sam, depending on what supression systems you use I might be interested in 2 systems. 1 for interior and one for engine and fuel area. Please contact me offline with what you have.

typically you use ONE system with more nozzels....what you DO do for more than one area is buy the bigger bottle....

[jensend]

Don't know about Canada, but several of the road courses here have on site shops that sell the full spectrum of suits, nomex, helmets, etc. My point is, you can try everthing on before you buy. Also, depending on what you want and what part of the season it is, you can sometimes get terrific deals.

[Sam Strano]

Sam, depending on what supression systems you use I might be interested in 2 systems.  1 for interior and one for engine and fuel area.  Please contact me offline with what you have.

typically you use ONE system with more nozzels....what you DO do for more than one area is buy the bigger bottle....

I have Phoenix Halon systems. There is a Basic system, and the Mark 1 system. Both available in 5 or 11 pound versions.

The Basic system is $380 for the 5 lbs setup and $532 for the 11 lbs setup. It includes the following:

Bottle, valve, 3 nozzles, 1 tee, tie wraps, 3 feet of remote cable and 25 feet of anodized aluminum tubing.

The Mark 1 system is $450 (5 lb) and $582 (11 lb), and includes the following:

Bottle, valve, 3 nozzles, 2 tees, clamps instead of tie wraps, 6 feet of remote cable, and 50 feet of anodized tubing.

[AllZWay]

I bought most all of my saftey gear from Saferacer.com also. PM me or send and email if interested. I received a coupon for 10% off and free shipping for $100 or more.

I did have to send one suit back because I guessed wrong on the size, but they were great to work with and I got it right next time.

I did buy a helmet after have tried it on it a racer sale. This might be the hardest to buy without proper fitment.

[RedHardSupra]

Sam,
Do you have some sort of belt system that you can hook up to the rear seats? i saw one in my instructor's LT1 SS last weekend and i'm wondering how well it works/how much it costs. I don't want to completely reengineer my car for the LGM harness bar, i'm not that hardcore (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)
thanks,
Marcin

[mitchntx]

Curious about your comment on the harness bar ... mine was a direct bolt in ... no re-engineering needed ...

[CMC #37]

Here's my safety equipment list:

Six point Matt Adams welded roll cage; Alan Blaine modified (NASCAR door bar driver side, rear redesign)
Kirkey Deluxe Road Race seat
Simpson five point camlock harness with sternum protector - certified March '04
Window net - certified March '04
Master kill switch
Fire system - three nozzle 10lb halon system; one hand held
Carb return spring
HANS device (2004)
Pyrotech NASA suit
Arai full-face road race helmet

Ken with I/O Port is the Northern CA NASA head tech and set me up with most of this stuff. He is VERY critical inspecting cars and won't miss anything for all you Northern CA guys.

[Crazy Canuck]

feel free to give more information, even if I don't post... I'll check the thread in a few weeks, once back from vacation.
Thanks guys and girls (great info Julie). (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/thumbup.gif)

[CMC #37]

Anytime Eugenio! A great way to learn about safety is to purchase a NASA or SCCA handbook. Each of these is equally good and a great reference.