Saftey Equiptment

[gsx rated98]

I'm planning on running low 11s this year, so I'm going to need a fire jacket. What are people using? Where's a good place to get some quality stuff, at decent prices.

 

[SBstar]

I just bought stuff through summit racing. Just search around and find the best prices through a reputable vendor. Jegs, Summit Racing, etc. are usually good bets, but you may be able to find better prices elsewhere.

 

[twicks69]

I had excellent luck in 2006 when I picked up my Sparco Pro Driver (F1-style) 1-piece full fire suit on EBAY from a guy in the UK brand new for $130 shipped -- it was a $1300.00 suit new.

The suit came with only the FIA safety patch on it; I needed to have a SFI 3.2A/5 patch installed.

I contacted Peggy at CV Products (800)448-1223 and they sewed on the SFI patch for free -- ONLY because it was a new suit with the tags still on it. This was the company that Sparco uses to sew the safety patches on in the first place, and they were extremely helpful. They also do a heck of alot more than just sewing:
CV Products, Inc - Racing Parts
If you click on their Products tab, you will see what I am talking about -- also call and ask for a catalog, they have some really trick stuff!
CV Products, Inc - Racing Parts, Titianium valves, belt drives

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Some decent companies are: Impact! Racing (a Simpson company), Simpson, Sparco, RCI Alpine Stars, Safe-Quip, G-Force, RJS, Ultrashield, etc.
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Also for running 11.49 or faster, here are the specs required by NHRA:

Fire Jacket (or suit): SFI 3.2A/1 is mandatory, but try to get a SFI3.2A/5 or better -- its your life.
Helmet: SNELL SA2000 or newer is preferred/ SFI 31.2A (the entire list is: Snell
95, K98, 2000, 2005 or SFI 31.1, 31.2, 31.1A, 31.2A, 31.1/2005, 41.1,
41.2, 41.1A, 41.2A, or 41.1/2005)
Safety Belts: SFI 16.1 (5-point quick release 3" harness)
Scattershield: SFI 6.1
Clutch/Flywheel: SFI 1.1, 1.2, 1.4

You should also be running METAL valve stems, and open-ended lug nuts to show the threads of the wheel studs -- mainly to show that the lug nut is encompassing greater than 50% of the stud length. Places like Joliet (Route 66) in IL, and Norwalk in OH will be sticklers on this. If your track is lax, then ask the tech officials for a checklist that they follow.

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I like the Impact! Racing stuff quite a bit; they have affordable prices, good styling, and great quality with box quilting and excellent materials. Their material is dubbed "Impactanium".
Impact! Racing Products:# Home

Also the Sparco stuff is well known and high quality. The prices are higher, but they are worth it for excellent quality and craftsmanship.
Sparco USA

RCI Racing Products makes cost effective, good quality fire suits, harnesses, window nets, etc.
Racer's Choice Inc.

Alpine Stars has some extremely nice stuff, but you are paying out for it. If you are a full time driver, seeing 20+ track days a year, and have the car/funding to go far, then this is something to look at. $700-1500.00 for a SFI 3.2A/5 suit
Auto -> Suits - Alpinestars Official Store

Otherwise check out places like:
Behling Circle Track Behling Racing# Where Winning Begins.
Pegasus Auto Racing Supplies Pegasus Auto Racing Supplies - Home Page
Speedway Motors Racing Safety Equipment Fire Driver Suits
Safe Racer Auto Racing Suits#-#SafeRacer
ProFox Racing Driving Racing Jacket Pants Fire Retardant Three Layer 2 Piece
Fast Safety Equipment Impact Racing 2-Piece Fire Suit Racers Fire Retardant Jackets - FREE SHIPPING!

For Scattershields, the ThreeSpeed Stainless Steel Scattershield is the best one out there for our cars, and cost around $125-155.00 depending on vendor. There are more than a dozen vendors selling them. AMS, slowboy, Shep, Road Race Engineering, DSS, DSM Motorsports, Buschur Racing, TRE, etc.

For Racing Harnesses, I really like the Cam-Lock 5-point Impact! harness (2-year cert.), and the RCI Platinum Racing Harnesses (both camlock and latch/key) -- the RCI Platinums have a 4-year certification, and only require you to ship them back at the 2-year to have them re-tagged for free (minus shipping).

I would also check whatever prices you find against good ol' Summit and JEG's also.
Summit Racing - High Performance Car and Truck Parts | 800-230-3030
JEGS High Performance - Your source for Edelbrock MSD Holley Mr. Gasket Moroso

Also, a final word of advice, spend a little more for a lightweight, breathable fire jacket or suit -- also, stay away from black if possible; it will get quite hot. The suits and jackets are dry-clean only, or you can use the Molecule Labs Nomex cleaning system ( Pegasus -Molecule Labs Nomex Suit Care System ). My suit is gray/black, and it can be brutal in summer. I will also reccomend that whatever jacket/suit you end up with, be sure to get it 1-size LARGER -- it is nice to not have to squeeze into the suit/jacket, and it will promote a little breathability.

I hope that this will help you out in purchasing a quality fire jacket and help with your other safety equipment!

 

[Slippi84]

I never got into this stuff with my old car cause it never ran right but my new setup is looking promising but I didn't think there was this much stuff just to go fast and have fun. This is probably why people street race j/k I know street racing bad track good.

 

[slowgsr]

Wow, for 11.49's or faster you need a lot of safety equipment.. this year im looking for low 11's, no safety equipment except for a helmet.

I went low 12's last year in my honda without a helmet, they didn't say squat.

I love seeing 9 sec evo's with no rollbar/cage and full interior.

 

[Slippi84]

Wow, for 11.49's or faster you need a lot of safety equipment.. this year im looking for low 11's, no safety equipment except for a helmet.

I went low 12's last year in my honda without a helmet, they didn't say squat.

I love seeing 9 sec evo's with no rollbar/cage and full interior.

I know I just picked up these 5 point harness's off ebay for like 130 shipped for both so that wasn't too bad but I need a jacket and my roll bar has to be within all these diffrent specs and a helmet and it's like you want kids with not a lot of money to get off the street and do it the right way and you make rules that require a lot of money to even be ABLE to race. I think it's contradicting big time.

 

[twicks69]

The track wants you to live if something happens; that is why you are wearing safety equipment.

As for your harnesses you purchased, you did check the SFI tag manufacture date right? They are only usable for two years from that date before they are not compliant for track use. The only harnesses that are able to be extended to 4 years are the RCI platinum's, and you need to have the warranty card sent in to redeem the 2-year extension.

The helmet requirement is usually 13.99 and faster for 1/4 mile tracks. Some officials are not good techs, and they let safety equipment slide; I would hope that you just wear a helmet for your own safety. Some tracks require a helmet no matter how slow or fast you are, so you could be wearing a helmet in your 25-second Econoline Van if you wanted to race it.

 

[Slippi84]

The track wants you to live if something happens; that is why you are wearing safety equipment.

As for your harnesses you purchased, you did check the SFI tag manufacture date right? They are only usable for two years from that date before they are not compliant for track use. The only harnesses that are able to be extended to 4 years are the RCI platinum's, and you need to have the warranty card sent in to redeem the 2-year extension.

The helmet requirement is usually 13.99 and faster for 1/4 mile tracks. Some officials are not good techs, and they let safety equipment slide; I would hope that you just wear a helmet for your own safety. Some tracks require a helmet no matter how slow or fast you are, so you could be wearing a helmet in your 25-second Econoline Van if you wanted to race it.

I won't live because I won't be able to afoord food because I'm a dsm guy we choose turbo's before the essentials j/k I understand why they make you wear protective gear and get all that good stuff trust me it's just a catch 22.

I go to Atco where you need to where a helmet no matter what but atleast they rent a helmet out to you(I think it should be free but I understand everyone's trying to make money) no matter how fast you go like you said. I don't know how tuff they are about other stuff cause I have never gone fast enough to set off and tech checks but I will with this setup. I think a fire jacket is a little overboard but I would rather be able to race than save money but not everyone has my finacial freedom to just buy stuff no matter what.

 

[Slippi84]

eBay Motors: Safequip Black 5 point Racing Harness Seat Belts 711001 (item 230226310843 end time Feb-25-08 10:34:12 PST)

That's the harness's I got I found they were the best price and they have current 08 dates.