Proban suit OK for hillclimbing 2012?

[e21Mark]

I best start searching for the cheapest made to measure suit I can find. Being of generous proportions the off the peg suits simply will not fit.

[carl_w]

A made-to-measure FIA suit is going to cost

I only know of AWS and Stand-21 (and Jays as previously mentioned).

[e21Mark]

It's looking like I'll have to spend around the £400 mark which I'll struggle to afford. I wonder why they felt the need to ban Proban suits?

I think I might have to start searching for pre-owned suit. Unlikely though.

[carl_w]

e21Mark said:

It's looking like I'll have to spend around the £400 mark which I'll struggle to afford. I wonder why they felt the need to ban Proban suits?

I never understood why gloves were mandated in sprints and hillclimbs but not in races?

I e-mailed you a link to somewhere that may be able to get you a reasonable off-the-peg suit.

[e21Mark]

Yes, thanks for that. Unfortunately the largest off the peg suits are just too small across the shoulders so it'll need to be a made to measure.

[CaterBram Jnr]

Don't give up hope, for those on the budget there's always ebay, it's surprising what does come up second hand.

[e21Mark]

I'm still searching but even the largest off-the-peg suits aren't broad enough across the shoulders.

Jay racewear quoted me just over £600. I know it's a safety issue but I can neither afford or justify over £600 on a suit I'll only wear a half dozen times a year. Especially after buying a new Proban suit last year.

[carl_w]

Surely AWS are cheaper than that? I thought you could get a made to measure for about £300 all in?

[e21Mark]

I just spoke with them and its nigh on 400. Cheaper, but still an expense I could do without. I have someone looking into an alternative but, if that doesn't come off, I'm just going to have to bite the bullet I guess.

I still think a proban suit and nomex underwear would have been a better alternative. If suits of this standard and cost get brought in across the board of all club motorsports it could well make the difference between some people competing or not.

[e21Mark]

e21Mark said:

I just spoke with them and its nigh on 400.

Having spent a couple of days making calls it seems I am certainly not the only person in this position. It also seems that there wasn't much in the way of a fight put up by the speed committee to stop this rule change going through. I imagine there will be a few people who simply think 'sod it' and decide not to compete in speed events anymore. That will then hit everyone concerned with the sport.

I, like many of us, compete strictly for fun and do it on a shoestring budget. I could enter 3 events for the cost of an FIA approved suit, or buy a new set of tyres. Will an FIA approved suit really offer that much more protection than a Proban suit and Nomex underwear? I'm all for safety in motorsport but this just seems to have not been thought through properly. People are likely to replace a cheaper suit every year or two, but at these prices no-one will want to change it till they're forced to. I bet there's not 3 times the profit for manufacturers either, so they'll really feel it.

These guys are about the cheapest made to measure I can find. The look like nice suits to.

http://www.moderacewear.com/products/sabelt-ti-100...

Edited by e21Mark on Wednesday 18th April 16:38

[carl_w]

e21Mark said:

I, like many of us, compete strictly for fun and do it on a shoestring budget. I could enter 3 events for the cost of an FIA approved suit, or buy a new set of tyres. Will an FIA approved suit really offer that much more protection than a Proban suit and Nomex underwear? I'm all for safety in motorsport but this just seems to have not been thought through properly.

I agree completely. When Type A (blue sticker) helmets became illegal, several companies (including V2) stepped up to produce low cost Snell 2005 helmets. I assumed similar would happen with FIA suits, but it seems not to have. I try to encourage people to have a go at sprinting, particularly those who do trackdays, but the gear cost is becoming prohibitive, particularly when you're entering a car you paid less than £1000 for.

[e21Mark]

Crash helmets were another size issue for me. I ended up having to buy a Simpson purely on the basis that it was the only one that fitted. Even on offer it cost over £500. By the time I then add gloves, boots and new suit it'll be £1200+ on kit.

Funnily enough, because I need a size 14 boot and the supplier was stuck with a few pairs, I got some very snazzy Alpine Star ones for just £40!

I did find I could get a suit made in Asia and have it mailed over for £250. I decided against it as I wasn't sure about the quality but I can imagine this is a route some folk might take in an effort to save money.

[Dan Friel]

You don't need fireproof boots for sprinting / hillclimbs.

Completely agree about the nomex race suit issue, doesn't make any sense to me. However, this was all decided a couple of years back and is ancient history. It just shows how much research a starter needs to do before buying kit, some of which may be obsolete a few months after.

In "off the shelf" sizes, bargains can be had, especially if you want to go second hand. For sprinting / hillclimbs you can also use the older 1986 spec.

[carl_w]

e21Mark said:

I did find I could get a suit made in Asia and have it mailed over for £250. I decided against it as I wasn't sure about the quality but I can imagine this is a route some folk might take in an effort to save money.

As long as it has the right approvals, it should be OK?

[e21Mark]

Dan Friel said:

You don't need fireproof boots for sprinting / hillclimbs.

I got them as I find them way better to drive in as opposed to their being fireproof.

I didn't realise this was old news to be honest. I have certainly heard no mention of it over the past year anyway or else I would never have bought a Nomex suit. Judging by the response from most of the UK suit manufacturers there are a large number of people finding themselves in the same position. There are plenty of cheaper off the peg and used suits. The real expense is for anyone who, for whatever reason, needs a made to measure suit. The prices are considerably higher.

I've bitten the bullet now anyway. Mode Racewear did me a suit at £410. I best hope the car doesn't break!

[carl_w]

See you at Crystal Palace then. My first event of the year was North Weald and there were quite a few shiny new Nomex suits, including my dad's as he'd bought Proban a couple of years back. I only bought Nomex in the first place because (a) it was before the £/€ exchange rate went south and I got it for about £250, and (b) I didn't know if I might want to do circuit racing in the future.

[Dan Friel]

e21Mark said:

Dan Friel said:

You don't need fireproof boots for sprinting / hillclimbs.

I got them as I find them way better to drive in as opposed to their being fireproof.

I think it's a good call. Whilst you could buy kart boots, the need for fireproof boots is bound to be the next requirement anyway.

You getting a Sabelt suit? They look the business and I've heard good things about Mode Racewear

[e21Mark]

Dan Friel said:

You getting a Sabelt suit?

Yes, mainly because there was no charge for having a larger suit. They look great in the pics too.

[Count Johnny]

e21Mark said:

Will an FIA approved suit really offer that much more protection than a Proban suit and Nomex underwear?

Do you really want to find out?

Personally, I'm slightly amazed that Proban has remained legal for anything, for all of these years - but I'm also amazed that anyone would want to race anything without wearing gloves.

[e21Mark]

Count Johnny said:

Do you really want to find out?

Obviously not, but let's keep some perspective here. As I have written previous posts I knew that there were bound to be some ''yes, but what if?'' remarks, but there are a good many differences between speed events and other forms of club level motor sports.

Apart from the types of vehicles used, the speeds, types of venue and proximity of marshals and safety equipment, lack of other vehicles on track etc and the fact that many run with the absolute minimum amount of fuel (in order to save weight). I would suggest that all these factors contribute towards minimising the risk of fire, although I also realise that there is still risk there. Mind you, it could be said that people in the road going class are at more risk when driving home! Given all of this, I would have though a Proban suit, combined with Nomex underwear, would offer acceptable amount of protection? (the industry people I have spoken with all seem to think so) Plus the costs wouldn't be so prohibitive and have a negative effect on the industries around speed events or the events themselves.

All that said, the rules have changed and competitors will have to buy Nomex suits or simply not compete. I do wonder if it'll be HANS devices next though and as for not wearing gloves, I must have missed that.