I have never owned one. After 20+ years of HPDE events (no racing) I just never found the need. Do most HPDE Radical drivers wear a suit or not? Quite honestly, I never noticed over the years for the Radicals I have seen on track. Is it most everyone's preference to wear a suit?
Definitely. Many organizations require a suit in a car like the Radical along with arm restraints and a current fire suppression system.
This is an easy one… Yes, you definitely want a suit. These cars are very safe but they are race cars and things can happen. Remember you are sitting right on top of the fuel cell. One time I was driving with an expired fuel cell (which is not smart) and I started smelling fuel. So I looked down between the seats and saw fuel coming into the cockpit…. That could have been a really bad situation.
when shopping for racing suites, I highly recommend spending a bit more than you are comfortable spending. The higher end suits are much cooler than the cheap suits. You only pay for it once and then you have live with it for a long time. Get something that breaths really well.
Agree entirely, wear one. Kind of like insurance, you dont want to use it in the case of an accident, but if you need it - you really need it.
When I went from tracking a street car many years ago to a full race Porsche car (caged, harnesses, halo, etc) - I promised myself that I would never get into a car without one again. It is certainly extra hot down here in TX, but wont compromise on safety. This was driven home during an accident I had at Cota several years ago and my car was pinned against wall on drivers side. Thankfully, the car was not on fire, but it could have been a nasty situation. With the Radical, ingress/egress is still limited plus sitting on top of fuel tank, I highly recommend using a suit made of high tech fibers.
Did you not see what happened to Romain Grosjean in Bahrain last year? I bought a much more expensive suit the next week. (apparently, I wasn't the only one, lol) Our cars aren't formula cars, but the technology is similar as others have noted: low seating position, full restraints, tricky ingress/egress, fuel cells within a couple centimeters, etc.
Okay, racing suit it is! All great input, most appreciated. Thank you!
I will start shopping for a great suit made of high tech fibers that breaths really well.
Since all my driving will be at my home track, Laguna Seca, I shied away from suits since it can get pretty hot on track. Many times I see drivers unzipping the suit and folding it down around their waist when not in the car just to avoid the heat.
I have read about light weight suits that still offer great fire protection, e.g., Eagle 2.0 (Hocotex material). I am not sure how this one compares the other brands/models. If someone has any specific recommendations, I would love to hear them.
While browsing online I also see that underwear is offered. Is it fair to assume that everyone wears racing underwear under the suit? Again, any suggestions are welcome.
I am sure that the SR10 (October delivery) is going to take my HPDE days to a whole new level. I can't wait!
@sr10formetoo Consider a Cool Shirt too. I purchased the portable bag style and belt it in the passenger seat. The past weekend was 100 degrees plus. The shirt made my race uncomfortable vs miserable!!!
Agree 100% on Coolshirt. I have small portable bag as well strapped into side seat (not as good a hard mounted cooler though). Makes track time tolerable, versus impossible here in TX.
I do. Im wearing a gocart race suit, protects also against wind since we have realy cold conditions here in norway.
but im thinking more and more to start using HANS equipment
Robert, once you have the HANS and get used to it, I'm betting you won't go back and always have just a little bit of pause before you jump into a car where you can't use your HANS.
@lunatic, I highly recommend always using a HANS device in any car that uses racing harnesses. Normal car seat belts have “tear strips” that allows the seatbelt length to get longer as crash force increases which allows the occupants bodies gradually get lowered into an air bag. Racing harnesses don’t have this feature and and hold your body firmly in place Which can cause neck injuries if a HANS device isn’t used. Yes there is a minimal amount of race harness stretching in a crash but it isn’t enough to prevent head injury.
I would NEVER get in a race car without a HANS or similar device. Period.
For those that might be interested. A friend owns http://www.racesuitrental.com/ They will rent all the safety gear you want. Everything is cleaned and repackaged after use. You can use the best equipment without needing to own it.
I'm considering it as I paid a lot of money for my last suit and it's not lasting nearly long enough. Mostly wear from washing it I think. It would also be nice to not have to worry about washing everything all the time and then fixing patches etc that come loose.
Anyone have a suit they use with a provision for arm restraints they like. Right now I just have some velcro strips sewn in which isn't the best.
@trakmnky I just bought a Custom Race Car Suit from fervogear. Fervogear are experienced designers and craftsmen have a deep understanding of the needs and challenges faced by drivers, and use that knowledge to create the perfect racing suit for you. Highly Recommended.
You Should try FervoGear. FervoGear LLC is a leading provider of high-quality, custom race suits for motorsport enthusiasts and professionals alike.
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