Track Day Clothing - where to buy from?

[rottie102]

I once drove a 320hp car...wearing shorts!!! Madness, I tell you! Madness!!

[xr287]

CampDavid said:

Fireproof under garments are ideal. They allow you to wear normal clothing with greater safety than most race suits.

What? A single layer of nomex worn under flammable clothing is better at preventing heat transfer than the triple layered full race suits? You are mistaken.

[gary80]

juansolo said:

I wouldn't drive a Focus, but that's another thread entirely. I certainly wouldn't have a problem with anyone in any car choosing to wear a race suit.

Edited by juansolo on Thursday 6th January 18:34

So you chastise people for commenting negatively on race suits in a ford focus but you think it acceptable to state you wouldn't drive a focus _ bit condescending really. You're a pretty poor troll who will no doubt come up with some BS to cover your focus comment.

OP _ I have been to and been on numerous track days and a significant number of friends who also attend tracks here in Blighty as well as on the continent _ at no time, even with accidents that I have seen has there ever been a need for a race suit, however a good quality helmet and some some race shoes/boots would be where you are better spending your money plus some tuition at the track so you improve your ability _ all of this would be better than a flame proof suit. As for the comments regarding the fact that people will think you're a dick in a full suit, it unfortunately happens to be the truth. If you have thick skin then just ignore it and enjoy yourself but you may be overdoing slightly for the scale of safety.

You have a number of posts on here that have stated they have been in cars that have burst into flames but I would imagine [and please correct me if I am wrong] that your car may just have a reflashed ecu or upgraded intake, etc and not potentially 'dangerous' mods so I would say save your money so that you can go on more track days rather than blowing your cash on kit.

[juansolo]

gary80 said:

juansolo said:

I wouldn't drive a Focus, but that's another thread entirely. I certainly wouldn't have a problem with anyone in any car choosing to wear a race suit.

Edited by juansolo on Thursday 6th January 18:34

So you chastise people for commenting negatively on race suits in a ford focus but you think it acceptable to state you wouldn't drive a focus _ bit condescending really. You're a pretty poor troll who will no doubt come up with some BS to cover your focus comment.

Nope, just not a car for me. Not that there's anything wrong with it, it just isn't my bag. I was asked "So you'd wear all that in a hatchback like a Focus. Fair enough", as that's a situation I'll never be in my answer would be no, I was just qualifying why it was no. It wasn't because I have a problem with wearing a race suit in a Focus, I do not. I was trying to be accurate as the questioner seems to pick up on the slightest thing. If I'd answered simply "I certainly wouldn't have a problem with anyone in any car choosing to wear a race suit." then I'd have been accused of avoiding the question.

Would you like to have a rational discussion as to why I'm not interested in hot hatches or is that enough BS for you?

Edited by juansolo on Thursday 6th January 19:57

[Busa_Rush]

I bet most of the people on this thread have never been on a track day !

I'd much prefer to see people wearing proper kit. All my track days for the past few years have been on bikes but in previous years on car track days, you tended to aviod the chav in scruffy jeans on track as you knew he was the most likely to bin it and take other people with him. The bloke in the karting boots, single layer suit and helmet was taking his day seriously and like me, wanted to enjoy driving and go home happy, in one piece.

The suit kept dripping brake fluid off his legs, kept his jeans clean when he adjusted tyre pressures and checked under the car after a grass excursion ! If you roll a car, even a Focus, your head can take a nasty battering against the steering wheel and pillar . . . £200 is seriously cheap if you get to keep your sight in good condition after an off . . . saves having a blind spot or a squint for the rest of your life.

Personally I think a helmet at least should be compulsory for any track day, regardless of the type of car.

[B'stard Child]

Busa_Rush said:

Personally I think a helmet at least should be compulsory for any track day, regardless of the type of car.

What track days allow you to drive without one?

[1]

.R2D2 said:

IforB said:

there's no need to be an offensive idiot about it.

Sadly, this is what PH is turning into. I remember when it used to be fun and when you could get a simple answer to a question (such a link to a website for race day clothing) and be done with it. Not anymore!

In fairness had you posted this in the club motorsport section you would have got the sensible answers you were after without the banter. In GG and the Lounge you have to expect a little banter.

Incidentally if you ever camp at the circuit and it gets cold, race suits are very comfortable to sleep in

Also avoid wearing nylon undies or t-shirt under your suit, if you do ever need the protection the nylon will melt to your skin! Most of the wick type t-shirts have a big % of nylon in them.

Edited by 1 on Thursday 6th January 22:21

[Beartato]

I would protect head and neck first then think about the rest as I do more track days. Good driving boot/shoes are important (more control over the vehicle, prevention is better than cure) and in the event of a crash you are unlikely to go on fire but are likely to bang your head.
A difference between bike and car helmets that noone has mentioned yet is that car helmets are designed to sustain multiple impacts in the same area (B pillar for example) whereas if I dropped my bike helmet from 4 feet I would be sending it to the manufacturer to x-ray and see if it's still alright to wear.

By the way, Rawwr is right. £600 for an X-Spirit? You were badly had. Would have been better spending the money on a helmet which was fit for purpose rather than one which came with a £400 Shoei sticker. The other points he makes are valid too.

Seriously, get a proper helmet before you think about the flame suit (which you could have done with on this thread BTW)

[anonymous-user]

Beartato said:

... if I dropped my bike helmet from 4 feet I would be sending it to the manufacturer to x-ray and see if it's still alright to wear...

Out of interest, what could happen to a lid that had been subjected to repeated/substantial impacts? Would/could it split like a walnut upon impact with the road/machine/something else hard?

Or is it a bit of a scare story, akin to replacing child seats in cars if you've had a parking knock? (I had someone reverse into me in a car park and was told by my insurance that I needed a new baby seat...)

ETA that last sentence sounds like I was dogging. I wasn't...)

Edited by Opulent on Friday 7th January 07:00

[.R2D2]

Beartato said:

By the way, Rawwr is right. £600 for an X-Spirit? You were badly had. Would have been better spending the money on a helmet which was fit for purpose rather than one which came with a £400 Shoei sticker. The other points he makes are valid too.

Seriously, get a proper helmet before you think about the flame suit (which you could have done with on this thread BTW)

I did say it was a long time ago when I purchased the helmet and rather buy one due to it having a Shoei 'sticker' on it I purchased it as it was the only helmet that fitted me correctly. So it was/is fit for purpose for motorbikes. I am merely going to use it for my first track day and if I like the experience and want to do more of them then I shall look at getting a better suited one for track days.

[Busa_Rush]

B'stard Child said:

Busa_Rush said:

Personally I think a helmet at least should be compulsory for any track day, regardless of the type of car.

What track days allow you to drive without one?

I should have said full face helmet . . .

[Rawwr]

.R2D2 said:

I did say it was a long time ago when I purchased the helmet

That just makes it worse!

[.R2D2]

Rawwr said:

.R2D2 said:

I did say it was a long time ago when I purchased the helmet

That just makes it worse!

Why, because is new to the market? Okay!

[Guyr]

Busa_Rush said:

I should have said full face helmet . . .

Why full-face in a car?

The point of the chin part of a full-face helmet is obvious for bikers who clearly risk a chin/tarmac interface in the event of a crash. However in a car there's pretty much nothing to hit your chin on in an accident, provided you are helmeted and especially if your car has an airbag. On the other hand an open face helmet is far less claustrophobic and is also lighter, which is better for your head/neck in an accident.

Open face is good enough for World Rally Cars and it's all I've ever worn on track.

[rev-erend]

Well this is an interesting thread.. lots of opinion but it's a big world so I guess that is normal here now.

I'm looking for a race suit myself and have found this site - prices look very good but I have not used them yet.

http://www.racewear.uk.com/index.html

Forget this one ^ all is suspended ..

Edited by rev-erend on Wednesday 12th January 13:45

[ewenm]

doogz said:

There are a couple of people saying wearing a pair of overalls is handy in case you need to get down on your knee's and check under the car, you need to change the brakes, or someone said something about dripping brake fluid on their leg or something similar. And this is good, because it keeps your clothes clean.

My overalls were a good few hundred quid, i'd rather ruin a pair of £80 jeans tbh, than get brake fluid or horse st all over my overalls.

(Knockhill, when it's not busy, use one of the grass car parks as a grazing paddock for horses, i didn't completely invent that last part)

I guess it depends what you consider "ruined" to be.

For me...
Jeans covered in oil = ruined.
Overalls covered in oil = well used.

Edited by ewenm on Friday 7th January 09:38

[phib]

Depending on what size you are i have a fireproof sparco race suit ( unused still in packet) that will be in the classifieds this weekend. Came from demon tweeks

Depends on your size !!

Phib

[CampDavid]

doogz said:

ewenm said:

doogz said:

There are a couple of people saying wearing a pair of overalls is handy in case you need to get down on your knee's and check under the car, you need to change the brakes, or someone said something about dripping brake fluid on their leg or something similar. And this is good, because it keeps your clothes clean.

My overalls were a good few hundred quid, i'd rather ruin a pair of £80 jeans tbh, than get brake fluid or horse st all over my overalls.

(Knockhill, when it's not busy, use one of the grass car parks as a grazing paddock for horses, i didn't completely invent that last part)

I guess it depends what you consider "ruined" to be.

For me...
Jeans covered in oil/horse st = ruined.
Overalls covered in oil/horse st = well used.

Working overalls perhaps. But your race overalls, that cost £400, and you now have to wear while driving about in your pride and joy?

Fair enough, not me though.

Indeed. I prefer mechanics overalls/boiler suit for working on a car. Worst thing is getting the interior of the car covered in muck, it never seems to clean up easily

[ewenm]

CampDavid said:

doogz said:

ewenm said:

doogz said:

There are a couple of people saying wearing a pair of overalls is handy in case you need to get down on your knee's and check under the car, you need to change the brakes, or someone said something about dripping brake fluid on their leg or something similar. And this is good, because it keeps your clothes clean.

My overalls were a good few hundred quid, i'd rather ruin a pair of £80 jeans tbh, than get brake fluid or horse st all over my overalls.

(Knockhill, when it's not busy, use one of the grass car parks as a grazing paddock for horses, i didn't completely invent that last part)

I guess it depends what you consider "ruined" to be.

For me...
Jeans covered in oil/horse st = ruined.
Overalls covered in oil/horse st = well used.

Working overalls perhaps. But your race overalls, that cost £400, and you now have to wear while driving about in your pride and joy?

Fair enough, not me though.

Indeed. I prefer mechanics overalls/boiler suit for working on a car. Worst thing is getting the interior of the car covered in muck, it never seems to clean up easily

Fair enough to that too. Fortunately I can just hose down the interior of my trackday car

[Busa_Rush]

Guyr said:

Busa_Rush said:

I should have said full face helmet . . .

Why full-face in a car?

The point of the chin part of a full-face helmet is obvious for bikers who clearly risk a chin/tarmac interface in the event of a crash. However in a car there's pretty much nothing to hit your chin on in an accident, provided you are helmeted and especially if your car has an airbag. On the other hand an open face helmet is far less claustrophobic and is also lighter, which is better for your head/neck in an accident.

Open face is good enough for World Rally Cars and it's all I've ever worn on track.

I know the arguments, but having worn a full face lid in a crash I'd not want to try the same in an open face helmet. For example, if the car rolls, digs in, glass breaks, you get covered in gravel and shattered glass - possibly in your eyes. WRC cars have perspex windows so no glass. WRC cars also have proper harnesses which are properly adjusted and the seats are bolted down well . . . same can't usually be said for a road car.