Racewear recommendations
Discussion
Looks like I will be getting a chance to share a drive with my Dad in a VSCC sprint next month, so I need to get myself suited and booted. All the gear needs to be to latest MSA/FIA specs, but I don't need the undies or HANS since it's non-race. I already have some (black OMP) gloves, but I need boots, helmet and suit.
Live in Kent and need to get it sorted by early August, so can't go to some shop in Yorkshire or wait for the January sales :-)
Can anyone recommend a shop/online store, or any particular makes/models of race suits, boots or helmets? I hope to be doing more events over the coming years so don't want to get the cheapest, but equally don't really want to spend more than a grand. Where should I focus the cash?
Live in Kent and need to get it sorted by early August, so can't go to some shop in Yorkshire or wait for the January sales :-)
Can anyone recommend a shop/online store, or any particular makes/models of race suits, boots or helmets? I hope to be doing more events over the coming years so don't want to get the cheapest, but equally don't really want to spend more than a grand. Where should I focus the cash?
Trouble is you really want to try it all on so ordering online isn't the best
Stand21 are at brands hatch but I believe quite expensive, one of the other shops Alex Reade at Brands hatch also stocks some race wear https://www.alexreade.net/acatalog/Alex_Reade_Bran...
otherwise could try http://www.advanced-wear.co.uk who are near ashford, never seen any of their stuff but was recommended it by someone for kids karting suits.
Stand21 are at brands hatch but I believe quite expensive, one of the other shops Alex Reade at Brands hatch also stocks some race wear https://www.alexreade.net/acatalog/Alex_Reade_Bran...
otherwise could try http://www.advanced-wear.co.uk who are near ashford, never seen any of their stuff but was recommended it by someone for kids karting suits.
Read the MSA sprint safety requirements carefully. For instance, at the moment you don't need fire proof boots, so could use much cheaper kart boots.
It's sensible to try on helmets, and pick the best fitting that suits the intended use (what sort of car will you use / could use in the future?). I have a fairly cheap helmet (and OMP Grand Prix 7s) but it fits really well and meets the MSA regs for the next few years.
Race suit. My current suit was an eBay purchase. It still had the £350 label on it, and I bought it for £100. Worth checking what's being sold.
It's sensible to try on helmets, and pick the best fitting that suits the intended use (what sort of car will you use / could use in the future?). I have a fairly cheap helmet (and OMP Grand Prix 7s) but it fits really well and meets the MSA regs for the next few years.
Race suit. My current suit was an eBay purchase. It still had the £350 label on it, and I bought it for £100. Worth checking what's being sold.
Demon Tweeks have an excellent returns policy so long as you retain the original packaging, labels, etc, so this is one alternative. Another would be to take a drive over to Merlin Motorsport at Castle Combe as they carry a fair range of racewear. As already said, ideally you want to be trying before buying, and this is particularly relevant in the case of helmets.
Thanks all. Will certainly try some of the kit on, from the basic measurements I appear to be of standard proportions for my height (i.e. for the given height, my waist/hips/chest/legs are also the right measurements), so might be able to order online/ebay if it's a good deal, but will check out some options in person first.
GPR Racewear, Demon Tweeks, MSAR, Stand21 etc etc.
Might be best just to take a day and pay some of them a visit and try stuff on.
Or a google finds these in Kent
http://www.advanced-wear.co.uk/proban.html
Might be best just to take a day and pay some of them a visit and try stuff on.
Or a google finds these in Kent
http://www.advanced-wear.co.uk/proban.html
Consider Kart Store in Dartford - http://www.kartstore.co.uk/
They only stock karting gear but you can try on MIR suits for size and you should be able to order Nomex stuff through them. MIR stuff is great if you're not a standard size - full customisation at no extra cost.
They only stock karting gear but you can try on MIR suits for size and you should be able to order Nomex stuff through them. MIR stuff is great if you're not a standard size - full customisation at no extra cost.
If you're just doing sprints, you don't need to spend a fortune.
Have a look at V2 helmets - fully compliant and relatively cheap - c£250.
Stand21 is way too expensive for what you need, likewise Alex Reade, unless you come across an end of line bargain (unlikely).
Measure yourself properly and order via Tweeks or GPR - if what you order doesn't fit you can easily return it for a different size.
As a guide, if you're a fat b
d like me try an OMP suit - alpinestars, adidas and sparco come up smaller...
Boots wise - OMP and Sparco are true to your normal size, go up a size for adidas/alpinestars.
AWS in ashford are bargain basement suit manufacturers - worth a look but suits are v heavy.
Have a look at V2 helmets - fully compliant and relatively cheap - c£250.
Stand21 is way too expensive for what you need, likewise Alex Reade, unless you come across an end of line bargain (unlikely).
Measure yourself properly and order via Tweeks or GPR - if what you order doesn't fit you can easily return it for a different size.
As a guide, if you're a fat b
d like me try an OMP suit - alpinestars, adidas and sparco come up smaller...Boots wise - OMP and Sparco are true to your normal size, go up a size for adidas/alpinestars.
AWS in ashford are bargain basement suit manufacturers - worth a look but suits are v heavy.
I always use the guys at AWS brilliant service and no where near as expensive as some of the others,and best of all they are in Ashford Kent so not to far from you 
http://www.advanced-wear.co.uk
http://www.advanced-wear.co.uk
Got mine from http://rrs-direct.co.uk but before the exchange rate plummeted.
http://nickygrist.com does some nice P1 racesuits.
But in both cases you'll need to know or guess your size.
http://nickygrist.com does some nice P1 racesuits.
But in both cases you'll need to know or guess your size.
OK, I was up at Brands Hatch today for the Mini Festival with my boy, and went into Alex Reade to have a look. I tried on an Alpinestars size 52 and it was pretty much perfect size, which is what the measurements suggested it would be. The guy tried just about restrained himself from sniggering at the prices I was hoping to pay but was helpful nonetheless!
Thanks for all the tips folks.
Thanks for all the tips folks.
Just as a follow-up, I was about to order one of the Alpinestars suits from ebay/McGill Motorsports, when a lightly-used Sparco suit in my size came up on eBay, and I won the auction for about £80. The year of manufacture is 2007 but it has the necessary FIA approval patch. I am having trouble finding a helmet for less than £400 but at least since I haven't spent much on the suit I can spend that without worrying about it.
The suits at McGill were in their clearance section and the one I nearly bought was an Alpinestars GP Tech from 2010 (new with tags), for £300 inc VAT. http://www.mcgillmotorsport.com/clearance-range-al... - still a pretty good deal if anyone else is looking. They also have other clearance suits in that section.
The suits at McGill were in their clearance section and the one I nearly bought was an Alpinestars GP Tech from 2010 (new with tags), for £300 inc VAT. http://www.mcgillmotorsport.com/clearance-range-al... - still a pretty good deal if anyone else is looking. They also have other clearance suits in that section.
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