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Where are you buying your driver gear?

Jaynen

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Jaynen

Jaynen

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I've talked to a few people and some are running 3 layer suits from Gforce etc while others got the 2layer OMP suits which I know is affiliated as a sponsor.

 

I'm looking to get my full driver gear setup including the necksgen and a coolshirt, driver suit, shoes, gloves, helmet etc (besides having the tethers for the necksgen do I need to be looking out for anything in order to get the radio install on the helmet?)

 

Is a package deal from OMP the way to go or what other methods do people recommend? Number one priority for me is just to of course make sure everything is safe.

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wvumtnbkr

wvumtnbkr

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Buy good stuff first if you plan to do more than 1 or 2 races.  You'll thank me later.

 

I love alpinestars stuff.  I gots all their gear.  Love it!  

 

I used to have all gforce.  It is night and day better!

 

Used in an okay option.  There is a used NASCAR spacesuit company that sells good stuff for cheap.

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Jaynen

Jaynen

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I still have motorcycle gear I bought close to a decade ago so I would rather buy something good if the quality is worth it. But I don't know enough about this stuff to know when you are paying for brand names vs features. (I have had Alpinestars motorcycle gear and it was good stuff what about it you really notice over like Gforce?)

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Ron_e

Ron_e

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raceimage.com picks up all the used suits from NASCAR, you pay big for a driver suit but the crew suits are much cheaper.  They are typically top of the line so mine has stretchy fabric where the arm joins the body, stretch around the waist, of course a lot of sponsor badges.

 

The one piece of advice I have is go bigger.  You will be sitting for a couple of hours strapped in so what feels reasonable while standing is way too tight for sitting.

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Racer28173

Racer28173

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6 minutes ago, Jaynen said:

Are Nascar crew suits still up to spec for driving in chump?

They should be.  Just look for the SFI spec in the description.  As Ron said, remember that these are supposed to be a little loose fitting, unlike motorcycle gear.  Every gforce product I've tried on was sub par in some

way or another.  I would have bought it back when I was 20 and had no money, but if you can afford better you should get it.  The used NASCAR stuff seems the way to go if you can find your size.  

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Ron_e

Ron_e

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I think it was prior to 2010 or something like that NASCAR didn't require SFI tags.  So if you bought say a Simpson suit without an SFI tag you would send it to Simpson and for $25 they would inspect the suit and sew a tag on, that is what I did.  Consequently I bought my suit for $120 plus $25, plus shipping to Simpson and back.  Now NASCAR does require SFI tags on everything.

 

I'm 5'10", 140 lbs, also 32/32, I couldn't ask for a better fit for my suit.  You want an extra couple of inches everywhere.  On the Race Image site you can sort the suits by the various measurements.

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Ron_e

Ron_e

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8 minutes ago, Jaynen said:

There was a 42/38/32 suit 3 layer for 120 bucks I figure its worth the risk at that price.

 

Some suits you can't get SFI certified, I think OMP carries a date.  Only thing to be cautious of is checking for an SFI tag and if you can get it certified.

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Jaynen

Jaynen

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16 minutes ago, Ron_e said:

 

Some suits you can't get SFI certified, I think OMP carries a date.  Only thing to be cautious of is checking for an SFI tag and if you can get it certified.

This one said SFI but Ill check for the tag or whatnot

"13754 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series SFI-5 3 LAYER Race Fire Suit #5404 42/38/32"

 

What about helmets? That seems like another real important one for both safety and comfort

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MR2 Biohazard

MR2 Biohazard

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I went to OG racing in person. I tried on about 5-7 suits and sizing is very different from manufacture to manufacture. I was a size 54 in one, 56 in another and 58 and yet another. All fit about the same. I went with the suit that fit me best and felt good and it was one of the least expensive of the ones I tried. BTW I picked the Sparco RS4 due to comfort, fit and it really does breath well. I did a very long stint without a cool suit and was fine because the suit breathed so well. That is something to consider with a suit as my first one was like wearing a firemans suit, second was GForce 545 and very nice and this is like pajamas.

 

I did the same thing for my seats and steering wheel.

 

Gloves same deal.

 

Shoes, there are some very stiff shoes out there and some way better ones.

 

Helmet. Three sizes in three different brands.

 

Maybe it was my odd body, but the point is you should try on before you buy. Find a buddy who has a suit you want and try it on (before his stint so it is not all nasty). If you find me in the pits you are welcome to. Sparco RS4 size 56, Stilo size Large, Alpinestar gloves large, hans (not sure- it fits) underwear size 34-36 :)

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Z06LOL

Z06LOL

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I am a firm believer of you get what you pay for and buy once cry once.  I have owned, used, tried on safety equipment in all price ranges by many manufactures.  In my experience quality gear stands out and even more so during endurance racing. 

 

Almost all of my safety gear has come from Craig at US Race Gear.  He is the man and has more knowledge when it comes to Motorsport's safety then anyone I have ever spoken with.

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Jab31169

Jab31169

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On 9/2/2017 at 10:01 PM, MR2 Biohazard said:

I went to OG racing in person. I tried on about 5-7 suits and sizing is very different from manufacture to manufacture. I was a size 54 in one, 56 in another and 58 and yet another. All fit about the same. I went with the suit that fit me best and felt good and it was one of the least expensive of the ones I tried. BTW I picked the Sparco RS4 due to comfort, fit and it really does breath well. I did a very long stint without a cool suit and was fine because the suit breathed so well. That is something to consider with a suit as my first one was like wearing a firemans suit, second was GForce 545 and very nice and this is like pajamas.

 

I did the same thing for my seats and steering wheel.

 

Gloves same deal.

 

Shoes, there are some very stiff shoes out there and some way better ones.

 

Helmet. Three sizes in three different brands.

 

Maybe it was my odd body, but the point is you should try on before you buy. Find a buddy who has a suit you want and try it on (before his stint so it is not all nasty). If you find me in the pits you are welcome to. Sparco RS4 size 56, Stilo size Large, Alpinestar gloves large, hans (not sure- it fits) underwear size 34-36 :)

 

Yea I ended up in Discovery Parts at AMP on a weekday and did the same thing, tried on a bunch of different sizes in suits, gloves, and shoes.  You could tell a real difference between the $300 suit and the $900 suit...I ended up with something in between.  Just like MR2, I was different sizes in different manufacturers.  HANS and the suit were the big hitters.  I ended up with the schroth FHR for my HANS.  I went with the more expensive gloves and balaclava, they felt so much better than the cheap ones.  Cool shirt is worth every penny, I'd pay double if they asked for it.

 

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Ron_e

Ron_e

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3 hours ago, Jaynen said:

I tried on a suit that was pretty cheap from Raceimage

 

I am concerned however that because the pants have obviously been patched that they might fail tech. Are patches ok if there are no holes etc?

 

A patch is no different than the logos, it will not fail tech.  A hole that is not patched will fail tech.

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djsteviec

djsteviec

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I have a G-force 3 layer suit, which I got to run my 1st ever road race event. I just needed stuff to go and race. I wish I got a more expensive suit! The gForce is very big and bulky. The rest of my gear is Gforce also. I like the Gforce shoes, although I have never had any other pair. The gloves are ok, but coming apart after a few years and the seams are not in the best spots. The helmet fits well, and got a nice surprise gift of a custom airbrush paint job. But, the helmet is lacking in all of the great features wanted for endurance racing.

There is a really great helmet that Bob Zecca @ TeamDI.com , the brand is Roux. My buddy got one. They have the radio com built in, drink tube built in and can have cool air/water piped in also. For like $500!!  He also has great suits and other gear. Fully custom suit with badges, logos, colors, etc- for like $900. (My next suit and helmet!) As mentioned above, the CoolShirt is worth EVERY PENNY! This year is the 1st time I ever used one and installed the system in the car.

 

I built my own system using this link- http://forums.nasaaz.com/showthread.php?t=6608  and bought the CoolShirt brand shirt. Works great, and looks like the Coolshirt brand system. I spent about $160 on the whole setup, aside from the shirt and then just coughed up the $80 for the Coolshirt factory mount. I just didn't have time to make it and could have it the next day.

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