Buying a race suit for track days
Discussion
Just been having a mooch on the net for race suits. I just fancy one of the F1 style suits, well we are all F1 driver wanabees There are quite a few copies of the top 5 team suits. Level 2 FIA approved. Just wondered has anyone ever seen F1 style suits for caterham. After all we all need one for those track days
As far as I know, jeans and a t-shirt is acceptable for a trackday, the next step up is MSA approved (which might be FIA approved) suits.
As a rough idea, they are 2 layer nomex suits, and you'd need a nomex balaclava too.
I have a feeling the top of the range is 3 layer, which is F1 spec, but you'd pay quie a lot for one of those in plain format.
http://www.racewear.co.uk/FIA_Racesuits_s/52.htm
You can see sample prices here.
As a rough idea, they are 2 layer nomex suits, and you'd need a nomex balaclava too.
I have a feeling the top of the range is 3 layer, which is F1 spec, but you'd pay quie a lot for one of those in plain format.
http://www.racewear.co.uk/FIA_Racesuits_s/52.htm
You can see sample prices here.
If you do look at ex-f1 suits bear in mind that since they no longer have refuelling, the pit suits are no longer 3-layer FIA approved suits....so are not suitable for any other Motorsport usage.
If you did want a full spec nomex suit, it's worth looking at pre 2010 pit crew suits as these are FIA approved and the same specification as the driver suits. The advantage here is that they tend to be standard sizes rather than made to measure as the driver suits are. They are also significantly cheaper than driver suits!
They often turn up on eBay.....as well as a number of specialist F1 memorabilia sellers.
If you did want a full spec nomex suit, it's worth looking at pre 2010 pit crew suits as these are FIA approved and the same specification as the driver suits. The advantage here is that they tend to be standard sizes rather than made to measure as the driver suits are. They are also significantly cheaper than driver suits!
They often turn up on eBay.....as well as a number of specialist F1 memorabilia sellers.
hTheEnd said:
As far as I know, jeans and a t-shirt is acceptable for a trackday,
Quite a few of them stipulate long trousers and sleeves. (i.e. not shorts and t-shirt). I imagine that you'd have to wear shoes not sandals too. Plus helmets are mandatory on most events (but not all, seems like drift days you don't need one sometimes).So there are some rules on what you can/can't wear on a trackday. A race suit (to any or no approval) would be fine so far as the rules are concerned. But you would look like a complete and utter bellend wearing it. Exceptions to this would be drivers of single seaters and any actual race driver who's using the trackday for shakedown/testing.
You don't need a race suit to drive a caterham on the road. You don't need a race suit to drive a caterham on a trackday. You'll look silly. HTH
Whilst I personally believe risks on track days are minimal and of a very different nature to that of races, I don't think a person should be mocked for wanting as much protection as possible regardless.
Of course - that becomes moot when discussing which livery to get for your track day race suit - that is a bit daft, but hey - each to their own!
Of course - that becomes moot when discussing which livery to get for your track day race suit - that is a bit daft, but hey - each to their own!
yeh I mean someone wanting to stop burns to their body is a tool. In fact I think I will also throw away the fire extinguisher in my car utter tomfoolery to have it! <- Caterham. Surely each to their own they may drive all time in racing gear and therefore comfortable to wear. Nothing wrong with having money to buy all the kit and not have skills - only one way to learn.
Maybe could be embroidered - have cash to buy what I want and not ashamed of it for my hobby? And i dont mean that goes for me its just a play on the previous embroider.
Personally running about on fire whilst clothes are sticking to you may make you look more of a tool?
Maybe could be embroidered - have cash to buy what I want and not ashamed of it for my hobby? And i dont mean that goes for me its just a play on the previous embroider.
Personally running about on fire whilst clothes are sticking to you may make you look more of a tool?
Edited by Andy Bell on Monday 11th March 12:15
ringweekends said:
Whilst I personally believe risks on track days are minimal and of a very different nature to that of races, I don't think a person should be mocked for wanting as much protection as possible regardless.
Of course - that becomes moot when discussing which livery to get for your track day race suit - that is a bit daft, but hey - each to their own!
Indeed. I know a guy who was hurt in a roll on a trackday - he got glass injuries. He'll no longer go on trackdays without a race suit on, because he wants the extra protection. No one would say anything about that.Of course - that becomes moot when discussing which livery to get for your track day race suit - that is a bit daft, but hey - each to their own!
However the first two posts by the OP of this thread make it clear he's only in it for the looks (want's a replica. admits being a wannabee. not worried about compromising fire resistance so long as the badges look nice. etc). I'm all for personal choice etc so any one can wear what they want (within the rules) so far as I'm concerned. I certainly wouldn't walk up to him and take the P, but I would be thinking he looked a bit daft IMO.
Many people don't care what others think and why should they. In that case, crack on. Just be aware of what other will be thinking, just in case that does bother you.
Buying a fireproof helmet and wearing jeans and a shirt. Dubious logic.
Wearing a nomex suit. While sat in a car you built, or someone you don't know built, which hasn't exactly been through rigorous crash testing, and a QA process which may well have been "well it'll do for now". Sound logic.
Not bothering to buy a nomex suit, despite having the money and feeling it's worth it, because someone else might think you look silly. I don't think that's sound logic.
OP why not get one in plain green and stick a Caterham jacket over the top.
Wearing a nomex suit. While sat in a car you built, or someone you don't know built, which hasn't exactly been through rigorous crash testing, and a QA process which may well have been "well it'll do for now". Sound logic.
Not bothering to buy a nomex suit, despite having the money and feeling it's worth it, because someone else might think you look silly. I don't think that's sound logic.
OP why not get one in plain green and stick a Caterham jacket over the top.
Ellerslie said:
So the general consensus of this thread is that whilst you can't argue with the diligent attention to safety applied by someone at a trackday in a full race suit, you can't argue that they don't look like a melon either.
Absolutely. And the OP on this thread doesn't seem to be focusing at all on the safety aspect, just the "I want to look like an F1 driver" angle.As to this:
Munter said:
OP why not get one in plain green and stick a Caterham jacket over the top.
Additionally, there is a school of thought that any branded motorsport jacket only adds to the melon-y appearance of the wearer. The above could be the perfect storm. 
You wear a decent crash helmet on track days to offer your head better protection. Chances of you needing to test it are pretty slim, but if the worst happens at least you know you didn't scrimp on the lid.
So why not wear a race suit to protect the rest of your body too ?. You're driving at a race circuit, wearing a racing suit. What a melon.
You will feel more of a melon in a burns unit !
So why not wear a race suit to protect the rest of your body too ?. You're driving at a race circuit, wearing a racing suit. What a melon.
You will feel more of a melon in a burns unit !
Well what can i say. I do not have a Caterham any more but love the looks of he colours of the Caterham suit. On the other hand i do want a Nomex suit and i have a fire proof helmet every time i go out in my car. I now drive an Atom and it is GD fast, it also had a full 6 point 3" willans harnes. So i suppose that makes me a nob for havin a helmet on every were i go out straped in the car. The beauty is i just buy what i want with no regard to what other wanabees think.
As for being an F1 wanabe, well look at Lewis how many million have Merk given him to race and then comes home to a hot Asian chik. Hehehe who would wana be like that. Give me a brush any day to clean the streets
As for being an F1 wanabe, well look at Lewis how many million have Merk given him to race and then comes home to a hot Asian chik. Hehehe who would wana be like that. Give me a brush any day to clean the streets
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