Safety Gear
There is safety gear required on the car, and safety gear required on the driver. This is NOT where to go cheap. This doesn’t mean you have to break the bank though. Quality, budget safety gear is available these days, so do some shopping around and find it. SafeRacer.com RacerWholesale.com RacerPartsWholesale.com
The Car – Roll cages must be of legal thickness and design, and they aren’t cheap, so buy a first car with one already in it. Fire system requirements vary from club to club, but they have fall into two groups: secured bottles with remote nozzles and triggers, or the old fashioned strapped-in bottle next to the driver. How much is your safety worth? Spend accordingly. Seatbelts have stamped-on expiration dates, and most clubs require replacement every two to five years since the Dale Earnhardt NASCAR incident. Window nets are commonly required as well.
The Driver – Helmets, fire suits, gloves, shoes, underwear, and often neck restraints, are required by all race organizations. Purchased new, your safety gear will cost you between $1000 and $3000, depending on features and how good you want to look. Shopping online will find you the cheapest prices, but I recommend buying your first set of gear at a race shop if possible. Like most clothing, every manufacturer has different sizes and fit, and nothing is worse than sitting in your race car for hours wearing safety gear that doesn’t fit right. Helmets, like seatbelts, have expiration dates and must be replaced every few years, that’s just one of the expenses of racing you’ll have to get used to. Fireproof suits, gloves, shoes, and underwear have different ratings of fire resistance; make sure you have what your club requires. Neck restraints are racing’s latest equipment requirement; they are expensive, but how much is your neck worth? Racing safety technology has come a long way, but it ain’t cheap. Expect to spend up to $700 on this piece alone. You will be carrying this gear from car to car over your racing career. It’s worth spending a little more up front, but everyone has their own budget constraints. Sometimes you can get lucky and find someone leaving the sport that is the same size as you, but be sure to check the expiration dates and fire resistance ratings before buying used gear. My safety gear – Sparco firesuit, Bieffe hemlet, Simpson shoes, generic gloves and underwear, HANS neck restraint, Sabelt seatbelts.
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Look at these photos closely. Notice the fence post… This car spun off the track and into a perimeter fence. This is why you do NOT go cheap with safety equipment. The driver was not seriously injured.
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