SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/454861
IMPROVING SAFETY keeping body temperature and perspiration within medically acceptable levels," says McConnell. "We think it's critical to inform the racers about the importance of wearing adequate clothing. For example, wearing a metal watch or jewelry, cotton briefs or polyester/ nylon shirt under a racing suit can result in severe burns, as these materials are highly flammable and can melt on the skin. It is critical, that all desert racers wear SFI or FIA-rated fire-retardant underwear as a heat barrier against fire. The old saying that a two-layer, SFI- 3.2A rated suit is sufficient to be safe, is unfortunately inadequate protection when worn without fire-retardant underwear." According to McConnell, testing during the Dakar rally showed that well-engineered, breathable, fire-retardant underwear provided 30 percent more time to escape an on-board vehicle fire. "Fire- retardant gloves, socks and shoes are also a critical element of protection not to be ignored. For ladies, the use of regular or sports bras is strongly discouraged, and should be replaced by fire- retardant brassieres now available on the market. There is still a large SOURCE: STAND 21 NORTH AMERICA HQ 3303 HARBOR BLVD SUITE F-5 COSTA MESA, CA 92626 714.966.1007 WWW.STAND21.COM majority of racers in desert racing who prefer to wear non-fire- retardant gloves and shoes, when there are options available on the market that allow desert racers durability and comfort without sacrificing safety and protection." While the science of safety continues to improve, racers are encouraged to become more knowledgeable about what products are available, how they work, and if they can be adopted to perform within the unique aspects of desert racing. Safety remains a big concern for SCORE International. While crashes will undoubtedly still happen, its good to know that companies like Stand 21 and others are at the forefront of developing products that can reduce the chances of severe injuries occurring. SJ GLOVES TECHNICAL DATA Gloves are an important safety factor in desert racing. These Stand 21 Outside Seams II gloves are fireproof and FIA 8856-2000 and SFi 3.5/5 certified. Made from fine top grain leather the gloves feature anti vibration foam padding that help drivers in long distance applications. The preformed palm and protective pads prevent blisters during constant maneuvering that can be experienced in desert racing. ART EUGENIO 049 SCORE JOURNAL