Trackday - What to wear
Discussion
if you have a race suit , use it . dont worry about what people think or say after all its your life . Mk Indy or westy makes no odds you only have a piece of fiberglass between you and the fuel tank .
I remember getting a load of abuse of a guy at a track day not long ago, along the lines off all the gear and no idea, i think the saying is water off a ducks back . three weeks after it i played football against the same guy , a shame his shin guards or his very expensive football boots did not work.
Personal saftey is up to you, my advice is ware it.
I remember getting a load of abuse of a guy at a track day not long ago, along the lines off all the gear and no idea, i think the saying is water off a ducks back . three weeks after it i played football against the same guy , a shame his shin guards or his very expensive football boots did not work.
Personal saftey is up to you, my advice is ware it.
Edited by ziplob on Wednesday 1st July 15:39
juansolo said:
In 15+ years of doing track days I've seen many cars hit very solid pits walls and go into tyre walls, more than a handful of cars roll, a few car-to-car impacts and at least two cars on fire that I can remember.
Just because it's a track day don't think these things can't and don't happen. I have no issues whatsoever with people fitting safety equipment to themselves and their cars for taking part in what is essentially motorsport without the competition element.
As a wise man once said; s
t happens.
How many of those were in stripped out cars as opposed to normal road cars?Just because it's a track day don't think these things can't and don't happen. I have no issues whatsoever with people fitting safety equipment to themselves and their cars for taking part in what is essentially motorsport without the competition element.
As a wise man once said; s
t happens.james_gt3rs said:
juansolo said:
In 15+ years of doing track days I've seen many cars hit very solid pits walls and go into tyre walls, more than a handful of cars roll, a few car-to-car impacts and at least two cars on fire that I can remember.
Just because it's a track day don't think these things can't and don't happen. I have no issues whatsoever with people fitting safety equipment to themselves and their cars for taking part in what is essentially motorsport without the competition element.
As a wise man once said; st happens.
How many of those were in stripped out cars as opposed to normal road cars?Just because it's a track day don't think these things can't and don't happen. I have no issues whatsoever with people fitting safety equipment to themselves and their cars for taking part in what is essentially motorsport without the competition element.
As a wise man once said; s
t happens.Into walls, tyre walls, other cars and armco, I've seen too many to mention, but again all sorts from boggo road car stuff to tricked up track cars to super cars.
The stuff on fire has usually been either sheddy or race bred. But again I've seen boggo road cars pissing fuel out of the bottom of them.
I've probably been to well over 100 track days all being said, so it's not like this is every day stuff (unless you go to the Nurburgring. 5 cars into the barriers in one track day...). But as I say, s
t happens. You're putting way more stress on your car than you would normally on the road. Things break, people make mistakes.juansolo said:
GT3-RS said:
mate don't forget it's a trackday.....a proper full face Crash helmet and clothes you feel comfortable and as your in an open top car you'll need a top that has long sleeves cause it's the rules a pair of trainers or race boots if yer like......you won't need a nomex suit or gloves unless you intend on rolling the car (I assume it has a roll cage) or crashing and exploding in a ball of flame in which case I wouldn't suggest a Trackday make sure you drive at 8/10ths of your ability and not the cars and you'll have a fun safe day....PS.....always a good idea to get some tuition.....a Motorcycle trackday is of course an entirely different matter
stay safe have fun
In 15+ years of doing track days I've seen many cars hit very solid pits walls and go into tyre walls, more than a handful of cars roll, a few car-to-car impacts and at least two cars on fire that I can remember.stay safe have fun
Just because it's a track day don't think these things can't and don't happen. I have no issues whatsoever with people fitting safety equipment to themselves and their cars for taking part in what is essentially motorsport without the competition element.
As a wise man once said; s
t happens.There is also a substantial difference between cars setting on fire and conflagrations which require fireproof clothing. The chances of anyone doing a 'Hunter Abbott' are remote in the extreme.
Btw: I have the same AWS suit that Hunter Abbott was wearing that day, but I wouldn't wear it on a track day in a normal road-going car. As mentioned above though, I would wear the underwear, along with gloves and boots.
All that said, I might be driving an extreme Seven-derived racer on a track day soon and I would be foolish not to wear the whole shooting match, but that is a very different proposition. The car is at 10/10ths, even if I am only at 6/10ths...
Btw: I have the same AWS suit that Hunter Abbott was wearing that day, but I wouldn't wear it on a track day in a normal road-going car. As mentioned above though, I would wear the underwear, along with gloves and boots.
All that said, I might be driving an extreme Seven-derived racer on a track day soon and I would be foolish not to wear the whole shooting match, but that is a very different proposition. The car is at 10/10ths, even if I am only at 6/10ths...
Ive only been doing track days for a bit over a year with my exocet and at 4 events one being rockingham 2 llandow and 1 pembrey the only one not to suffer with a big crash was rockingham.
Pembrey 3 weeks ago had a mx5 roll 3 times as it snapped sideways at the long left hander with an instructor onboard very lucky to survive mainly down to the half cage. Also a pug 306 gti6 left the track and smashed into the wall on the last corner trying to follow my line through it with my exocet which isn't possible in other cars.
Llandow has seen some pretty big crashes mini and puma collided coming into the first corner both being idiots and been banned. Seen a clio roll on the back straight along with another puma. Also a pug 106 went straight over the back of a catherham lucky not to have a passenger in the car as the pug landed on the passenger side.
It does happen and ive only been doing it a short time.
Pembrey 3 weeks ago had a mx5 roll 3 times as it snapped sideways at the long left hander with an instructor onboard very lucky to survive mainly down to the half cage. Also a pug 306 gti6 left the track and smashed into the wall on the last corner trying to follow my line through it with my exocet which isn't possible in other cars.
Llandow has seen some pretty big crashes mini and puma collided coming into the first corner both being idiots and been banned. Seen a clio roll on the back straight along with another puma. Also a pug 106 went straight over the back of a catherham lucky not to have a passenger in the car as the pug landed on the passenger side.
It does happen and ive only been doing it a short time.
Some bizarre things happen. I saw a GM Saab 900 stuffed into the wall down the left of the top straight at Donny. I couldn't understand how he lost it other than perhaps he stuffed his brakes down on the first braking zone he tried full hard and promptly spun the car out, potentially a setup issue or dodgy brakes that hadn't given him a problem up to that point. I think it was his first lap out so hadn't even completed a lap before crashing.
(Quote)
I've probably been to well over 100 track days all being said, so it's not like this is every day stuff (unless you go to the Nurburgring. 5 cars into the barriers in one track day...). But as I say, st happens. You're putting way more stress on your car than you would normally on the road. Things break, people make mistakes.
[/quote]
5Cars? Fairly quiet day then
)
Joking aside, one of the most important things to consider is comfort, especially if your one of those drivers who overworks himself at the wheel.
You need cool loose(ish) clothing (in cotton) preferably) as it soon get quite warm inside any car.
I've probably been to well over 100 track days all being said, so it's not like this is every day stuff (unless you go to the Nurburgring. 5 cars into the barriers in one track day...). But as I say, s
t happens. You're putting way more stress on your car than you would normally on the road. Things break, people make mistakes.[/quote]
5Cars? Fairly quiet day then
)Joking aside, one of the most important things to consider is comfort, especially if your one of those drivers who overworks himself at the wheel.
You need cool loose(ish) clothing (in cotton) preferably) as it soon get quite warm inside any car.
I have experience of Adenau hospital to treat burns sustained whilst at the 'Ring in a Caterham. Up at hohe acht, the clip holding the fuel pressure regulator came off, leaving ARALs finest 100 octane spraying itself in a cooling fashion at 3 bar through the bonnet louvres.
Luckily my plumbed in fire extinguisher doused me and the under-bonnet area in AFF and put the worst of it out very quickly. I was only wearing a polo shirt and driving gloves (and full face lid, with the visor down luckily). A few others who post on here also stopped and emptied their extinguishers on the car (which I then paid to recharge to thank them....)
"It'll never happen to me as I drive at 7/10ths....". Schit happens indeed.
Luckily my plumbed in fire extinguisher doused me and the under-bonnet area in AFF and put the worst of it out very quickly. I was only wearing a polo shirt and driving gloves (and full face lid, with the visor down luckily). A few others who post on here also stopped and emptied their extinguishers on the car (which I then paid to recharge to thank them....)
"It'll never happen to me as I drive at 7/10ths....". Schit happens indeed.
An interesting experience/point.
I have to say though, that wet fuel could still have led to your being burned. It depends whether it would have wet your suit all the way through, and then whether it would've penetrated your underwear too.
My Nomex underwear policy might have protected me had I been in your situation, but I am going to reconsider my position.
I have to say though, that wet fuel could still have led to your being burned. It depends whether it would have wet your suit all the way through, and then whether it would've penetrated your underwear too.
My Nomex underwear policy might have protected me had I been in your situation, but I am going to reconsider my position.
Gassing Station | Track Days | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff