IMPROVING SAFETY
SOURCES:
DUPONT
DUPONT.COM
SIMPSON RACING PRODUCTS
SIMPSONRACINGPRODUCTS.
COM
STAND21
STAND21NA.COM
SPARCO USA
SPARCOUSA.COM
RACING GOES SAFER
RACINGGOESSAFER.ORG
SFI FOUNDATION
SFIFOUNDATION.COM
THE STAND 21 ST 3000
RACE SUIT IS ONE OF THE
BEST CHOICES FOR SERIOUS
OFF-ROAD RACING.
is also SFI 3.2A/5 Approved."
Manufacturers also point out
that fire resistant fabrics sometimes
are used in multiple layers at
transition points to prevent injury.
But they can sometimes bunch
up. So new steps are taken to
prevent this and make the suit
more comfortable. "Traditional
sleeve cuffs require several layers
of fire-resistant fabric to protect
the transition from the sleeve
ending at the wrist, and into the
gloved hand," says Bishop. "Fire
suits with integrated cuffs eliminate
the bunching up of material in the
gauntlet section of the glove and
reducing the fabric around the
wrist. Four-way flexibility is also
designed into the body panels
to decrease tension on key body
areas such as the waist, hips, back,
torso, and thighs. These body
areas are especially vulnerable
to fatigue in long distance races
where driver comfort is at a
premium. Newer suits with pre-
bent elbows use 4-way stretch
fabric to allow greater freedom of
movement and reduce fatigue.
Fire suit manufactures also
warn desert racers to stay away
from a non-permeable suits.
A non permeable suit using a
ventilation system would inflate
like a rubber tire and begin to
compress collected air that
would then stagnate at a given
amount of pressure. This would
be opposing the device's purpose.
The failure of non permeable
racing suits often forces racers to
use so-called "cool suits", water-
cooled inner garments made of
non fire-resistant components.
This can create a greater danger
in a fire. In addition if the system
fails, a common occurrence in
long distance desert racing, it
greatly endangers the lives of
older drivers as heat stress levels
can become unsustainable.
So the best type of desert
racing suit is one that incorporates
superior fabric technology that is
breathable and uses aramid fibers.
Combine it with fire retardant
under garments and the chances
of making it through a vehicle fire
are greatly improved. So when you
talk to experts about what kind of
racing you are involved in, listen
to their counsel, and you stand a
better chance at selecting the race
suit that is right for you. A race suit,
for most people, is an investment
that will last for years, especially
if it has to save your life. SJ
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SCORE JOURNAL
