This can't be right, how does everyone afford this ----?
Omp 3-layer suit: $600
Sabelt externally stiched gloves $110
Sabelt hi-tops $130
Sabelt socks $27
Sabelt Baklava $46
Cool shirt is $200, I might as well get the 986 for $275
HANS $700
RCI helmet $200
holy ---- $2088 to go racing. Maybe I can't afford this, lol.

 

There's this but I hate the gloves so I still need to spend $110 on gloves, $75 on the balaklava and the socks, cool shirt $200, HANS $700, and helmet $200 so I'm only saving $300 and getting potentially inferior equipment in regard to comfort. What do I need to worry about considering quality and life-savingness?

 

I don't have all those goodies but I scored a full firesuit, shoes, socks, balaclava, and gloves off eBay for about $300 total. Took my time and waited for deals. All of it was brand new and I checked the compliance on the SFI list to be sure I was not getting screwed. Picked up my helmet from Apex Performance for $250ish shipped.

 

I have always used CROW belts, not sure about the suits. I have a Sparco Sprint suit, Sparco Tornado gloves, and a pair of Sparco Top SH-5 shoes, as well as their Nomex underwear (I dont wear a head sock), HANS, and surprisingly I use a GeForce helmet, it has to be one of the most comfortable helmets I have ever worn... But yes, safety equipment is not cheap by any means.

 

SFI is 3-year and FIA is 5-year, right?

 

Yea it is very expensive. Even if you can find good discounts it adds up quick. $700 for HANS is a big chunk...

 

So the more I read, the more I realize I have to buy the expensive suit because anyone offering a bargain suit is selling a 2-layer SFI3.2a. ----. Maybe next year.

 

The bargain suits are good for local circle tracks if you want to race a bomber with numbers spray painted on the door where they dont give a ---- about safety equipment and the inspectors let exhaust tubing pass for roll cages.... Or the single layer two piece suits seem to be pretty popular...

 

I need the ability to go naked under my suit.

 

Would an SFI 3.2 A/5 two layer suit meet your needs? Or do you definitely need a three layer suit?

 

I believe it must be a 3-layer to avoid the underwear.

Is it just insane to try to get away racing without a cool-shirt? I think I can handle a couple hours of Texas heat, but not really sure. A water bottle and tube is much cheaper than a cool-shirt.

 

I've never used a cool suit, but the other guys on our team that have used them say they are amazing, even for sprint races. I've done lots of enduro double stints without it, but I'm in amazing physical shape...

Most of our enduros are at the end of the year and north of the Mason-Dixon line so I would probably die in Texas heat.

I can probably get you a discount on Alpinestar stuff, and maybe on OMP stuff. If you're serious about buying safety gear PM me and I can ask my contacts for pricing.

P.S. - I have a three layer A* suit and I still wear a full layer of Nomex underwear. Four layers of fireproofing is fine by me. Sure it gets hot but that's why I do cardio and workout, etc. etc. If the car is on fire I want as many layers of Nomex as possible

 

Well, my first challenge is finding a team dumb enough to take-on a novice like myself, then I'll ask for your help. Omp seems to be what I want solely because its cheaper than Alpinestars.

On a related note, how is it possible that glove manufacturers are still make internally stiched gloves?

 

You might check out DIY'ing the cool shirt. I've known a few people to make them considerably cheaper than the off the shelf units. They are pretty simple, mostly just some tubing sewn into a shirt, and a bilge pump in a cooler. The hardest parts to source seem to be the quality leak free quick disconnects.

 

Quick disconnects can be sourced from www.McMastercarr.com, as well as suitable tubing. Probably get the pump there as well, but I'm betting you could find it cheaper elsewhere.

 

you can definetly do it for less. It's a one time cost that will pay itself back in the first 15mins out there.

Lico race suits: $459 from Sparco.
http://www.sparcoracingusa.com/plati...productid=2024

Lico by sparco racing gloves $59
http://www.sparcoracingusa.com/base-...productid=1946

lico by sparco racing shoes $59
http://www.sparcoracingusa.com/low-f...productid=1944

gforce nomex socks $19
http://www.saferacer.com/g-force-nom...?productid=908

gforce nomex balacava $25
http://www.saferacer.com/g-force-sin...?productid=902

cool shirt is $140

helmet $200

hans buttons $50

share the hans device with your team.

$1025 and your golden.

 

Thanks dude, I wish I had found that hours earlier.

 

I've raced with and without the cool shirt. While i'm a little bitch when it comes to getting hot, and you're probably more accustomed to the heat.
Without cool shirt: 45mins to 1hr where i was literally passing out at the wheel

With cool shirt 1hr 45mins.

It really cools you down and makes a big difference. not a must as other teams do without, but you really need good venting in the car if not.

 

NASA CCR says that 3.2A/5 is acceptable without underwear. Two-piece suits aren't legal.

I did ~2.5hrs straight during the 4-hour enduro this weekend without a cool shirt. It's not fun, but it's doable.

 

check out raceimage.com for CHEAP used NASCAR suits and equipment. I got my suit & gloves from them and couldn't be happier. Not only is it cheap, but the suits are top of the line, so they will keep you much cooler... which in turn might mean you don't need a cool shirt.

I got a out of date hans locally for $200 and then got it refreshed & re-certified for $90