SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
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Off-Road Racing Suits For More Than 80 Years, Racing Suits Have Been An Essential Part Of Motorsports History By Larry Saavedra The racing suit is an all-important part of a racer’s gear bag. A proper suit is no less critical in an enclosed race car than a helmet, say industry safety experts. Over the years, racing suits have seen many revisions, considering the first examples date back to the 1920s when Hinchman Racing Uniforms introduced motorsports apparel to the industry. These early racing suits provided a layer of comfort and breathability, however, fire protection qualities took decades longer to bring to the market. In the late ‘60s, DuPont patented the first fire-resistant aramid fiber fabric after a series of high-profile fire-related accidents at the track. They called the fabric Nomex. It was quickly adopted by leading racing suit manufacturers, and in the years that followed, most major motorsport sanctioning bodies began requiring fire-resistant racing suits and undergarments. Today, high-tech racing suits are designed for both women and men and are made with high percentages of fire-resistant aramid fiber fabric or aramid fiber blends. Optimum fire protection remains key to every certified racing suit, giving racers the time to escape if a fire ignites on or off-the-course. Fire Triangles Fire only needs heat, oxygen, and fuel to ignite. According to motorsport specialists, danger looms anywhere this fire triangle exists. Specialists give the example of hazards to keep in mind, stating chase trucks at Baja carrying fuel and tires to the pits are just as susceptible to fire as the race vehicle itself. “Something as common as a red-hot brake rotor, or turbo can ignite a fuel spill in a flash” they added. Racing professionals interviewed agreed that all crew involved with fueling should be outfitted with the proper racing suits and undergarments. Industry spokespeople added that those directly responsible for fueling should wear a fueling apron when in the pits, although it is not mandatory for all sanctioning bodies. Fueling aprons repel spills and guard against flare-ups. About The Fabric You may not be familiar with aramid fibers or aramid blends, but you probably have heard of CarbonX and Nomex III. Both of these brands use some sort of aramid fiber in their chemistry. Thanks to aramid fiber and other properties, Nomex III neither melts nor ignites in normal levels of oxygen like conventional fabrics, according to safety experts. It is also self-extinguishing, meaning it will not continue to burn without a flame. Upon contact with fire, Nomex III carbonizes. The carbon char acts as a shield, absorbing some of the heat energy, sealing the porous weaves of the racing suit, essentially blocking any heat from passing through it. According to the manufacturer, CarbonX is pre-charred and either meets or exceeds the most stringent fire-resistant standards. What we now know from talking to the safety experts, is that racing suits and undergarments are often constructed using either Nomex III or CarbonX. Nomex III is regarded as a leader in racing suits, whereas CarbonX is more associated with undergarments, gloves, and balaclavas. With that said, some entry-level suits are made using a fire-resistant cotton blend that’s been chemically-treated with chemicals like Proban. While chemically-treated racing suits are cheaper than buying an aramid fiber or aramid blended racing suits, there’s a downside to these less expensive options. Experts say that the chemically-treated racing suits are adversely affected by repeated washings. You can worry less about aramid fiber racing apparel with Nomex III or CarbonX, but you will pay extra for that added assurance. Certifications Today’s racing suits and undergarments are often tested under laboratory conditions by the SFI or FIA to ensure they meet or exceed the standards set forth and are labeled accordingly. The SFI Foundation is North America’s minimum standard evaluator. It determines the performance capabilities of products used by competitive motorsports. The FIA essentially does the same thing for European motorsports like Formula 1. Although the SFI labels garments that meet standards, there is an ongoing issue with counterfeit labels that are not from the SFI or FIA. It’s not easy to spot these phony labels either. Consumers can be fooled into buying a racing suit that is not genuinely certified by the SFI or FIA (read sidebar story). Experts advise buying only from reputable manufacturers and suppliers. With that said, it’s good to note that Nomex III, CarbonX, and chemically-treated cotton racing suits are only “fire-resistant” or “fire-retardant,” and the amount of time (measured in seconds) that they protect you is dependent on their certification, according to leading manufacturers. The certification process is extensive and backed by leading safety experts. The idea that modern racing suits are “fire-proof” is a myth, say the experts. TTP Rating When you’re searching for a racing suit, find the TPP (thermal protection performance) rating. It’s one way to gauge the quality of the racing suit. This rating determines how long (in seconds) a particular racing suit will protect you from second-degree burns, according to SFI or FIA standards. The higher the TPP rating, the more seconds you have of protection. Gloves, shoes, balaclavas, and underwear should be properly labeled too. The use of proper undergarments adds to the TPP rating. Lastly, racing suits are either single or multi-layer, and one or two-piece. Some sanctioning bodies allow only particular types. Experts recommend reading racing rules carefully and getting properly fitted before committing to buying any particular racing suit. Budgeting Questions about pricing are common. What determines price, the manufacturers suggest, is the quality of the manufacturing process, materials, weight, and certification. There are racing suits to fit every budget. Custom-made suits are always the most expensive, but offer the most in terms of fitness, style, protection, and breathability, according to the experts. The higher percentage of Nomex III in a racing suit, for instance, drives up the price, according to those interviewed. Entry-level suits can be purchased off-the-rack and every manufacturer has a wide selection of suits with affordable price points. While you might not be able to select the patterning, layering, color, degree of breathability, and fit like in a custom-suit, the entry-level suit is a great way to get started, the experts said. In the end, sanctioning body regulations should dictate what racing suit to consider purchasing. SCORE Regulations The mandatory use of certified driving suits by racing organizations emphasizes the importance of quality safety gear. Using SCORE International as an example, driving suits need to be certified to SFI-3.2A/5 standards and they must cover the body from the neck to the ankles and wrist in four-wheel vehicles. Driving suits certified to SFI 3.2A/1 or 3.2A/2 may only be worn with a complete layer of SFI 3.3 certified undergarments. Another important regulation from SCORE is that these suits must be one-piece designs. They must be in good condition and free from damage. Fire-resistant driving shoes and gloves are also recommended. “We highly recommend that pit crews wear all the fire safety gear they can get,” says SCORE Tech Director Dan Cornwell. “Last year, one team donated racing suits to ensure everyone was properly outfitted. Fuelers especially should wear aprons. Helmets with face shields are also recommended for pit crews.” SCORE does not require motorcycle, three-wheel, or quad classes to wear racing suits because they are wearing leathers and are not enclosed in the vehicle. “These racers are not strapped into a race car, and that’s why it’s not mandatory,” Cornwell added. “However, as far as the people fueling bikes, three-wheelers, or quads, they should wear fire-retardant racing gear at least.” In tech inspection, Cornwell looks for the SFI or FIA certifications. “We are careful to look for the proper labeling for all the safety gear,” he said. “We have up to 10 people inspecting the race vehicles and gear. We look for SFI or FIA certifications with undergarments, too. For instance, if you run the SCORE Pro Stock UTV class and have a stock fuel tank, you must have the proper layer racing suit and undergarments with you on-site or you won’t pass inspection.” Racers Speak Out Robbie Pierce of Jimco is one of the most outspoken advocates of safety equipment of all types and has some concerns from what he has seen at races over the years. “Racing suits with fire-protection are second only to safety harnesses,” he said. “Fire is one of my biggest concerns, but some racers seem to spend more money on making their vehicles perform better than they do on safety. “There are $100 racing suits, but they aren’t going to give you the (TPP) protection of an SFI-5 rated suit. A level 3.2A/5 suit is the minimum suit you should have in our form of racing. It’s a two-layer suit and should be worn with SFI undergarments to increase the number of seconds you have to escape a vehicle fire and second-degree burns.” Pierce pointed out that cheaper suits are simply treated cotton and are nothing more than blue jeans with fire-retardant chemicals. “After a few washings, the fire-retardant properties deteriorate,” he said. Pierce confirmed that doesn’t happen on the SFI 3.2A/5 rated suits. When it comes to pit-crews, Pierce is concerned that some fuelers still don’t wear an apron. They are the most susceptible to fire because racing suits can get drenched in fuel. Fueler aprons help prevent that from happening. At the 2020 SCORE Baja 500, Pierce saw first-hand how fast fires can engulf a race vehicle. “The driver got burned because of how long it took him to get out of the vehicle, even with a racing suit,” said Pierce. “I heard a red-hot wheel bearing started the fire, and as soon as the vehicle slowed down, it became engulfed. He had the correct suit, but the fire just got out-of-control fast. I’ve also seen chase trucks on fire due to fuel spills. You have to have people that know what they’re doing and wearing the proper gear.” Pierce emphasizes that it’s time to step up and get properly fitted for a racing suit and undergarments. “A $75 pair of underwear and undershirt makes a big difference,” he said. “It’ll add six to eight seconds of time to your escape from fire. People feel the heat before they see the flames. I’ve seen exploding shock tubes ignite fires. Add to that all the high octane fuels we use, and you start to see the problem.” Cleaning Racing suits and undergarments need regular cleaning, but every manufacturer offers different recommendations. Some argue against dry cleaning, while others suggest air drying versus using a typical clothes dryer. If you do plan to air dry the suit after washing, Stand 21 recommends not place it in direct sunlight because Nomex III is extremely vulnerable to sunlight, which can damage and fade. Stand 21 recommends their unique “hang dry” system called HangAir, for those requiring a faster drying time. It dries the suit in a matter of hours using a small fan and can be used with motorcycle leathers as well. The types of detergents matter too. Never wash suits with bleach or harsh chemicals like soap. Ignoring any maintenance advice could have detrimental effects on the suit’s ability to repel heat and flame when you need it most, they said. Both cotton-treated and aramid fiber-made racing suits will not last forever. They all eventually will have to be replaced. Length of use is dependent on each manufacturer. Advances in Technology “The biggest advancement in racing suits, is in regards to weight and breathability,” says Ben O’Connor Jr., VP of Sales and Marketing at Impact Racing. “Our Phenom racing suit is an off-the-shelf model but retains the technology of a full-custom suit, and is extremely lightweight. It comes in two distinct versions, one designed for the female physique, and one for males. It’s not a one-size-fits-all suit. The Phenom pattern suit is ideal for off-road desert racing as more women get involved. We saw the need to create this racing suit for women. It is both SFI and FIA certified for most forms of motorsports.” Roger Mealey, Marketing Director at RaceQuip, puts its future in suits like the Nomex Chevron-5, one of the lightest suits from the highest levels of racing. “Our Chevron suits incorporate features like 180-degree floating arm gussets, knit stretch side panels, and two layers of lightweight Nomex, box quilting, and boot cuffs,” said Mealey. “These make the suit more comfortable in long races. These advances come from new manufacturing techniques and materials, and the end-user isn’t paying for all that research and development costs.” Mealey also touted that the performance of RaceQuip’s undergarments are the result of advances in technology. “Our moisture-wicking underwear is proprietary,” he said. “Aramid fabrics are comfortable and still provide SFI 3.3 protection.” Like other industry experts, Mealey confirmed that SFI-certified undergarments increase the TPP beyond that of a suit alone, stating the air gap between the suit layers creates an important additional barrier that further insulates the wearer. “A base layer of underwear not only increases protection, but it is also more comfortable than having the racing suit touching your bare skin.” He also warned that racers should never use typical non-fire retardant underwear or t-shirts beneath the racing suit, because those fabrics melt once exposed to heat and flame. “Another mistake is that racers don’t get properly fitted,” said Mealey. “Take the time to look at the size chart from each manufacturer. Don’t assume that a large fits the same way across each brand of racing suit. Every manufacturer uses different patterns. At RaceQuip, we offer in-between sizes like medium and tall.” Don’t Compromise Overall, what manufacturers see is too much compromise when it comes to racing suits and associated gear. Those race teams opting for lower-end products should look for real preventative solutions, not short term gains. Most argue that the race to save money is dictating what type of products are being purchased, rather than determining what is the safest product for the most success on the course for the entire team. Yves Morizot, the founder of Stand 21, once said that what excited him about motorsports is the safety aspect of it, but that there are a lot of racers using poor quality suits. “They need to use the right equipment, and to use the technology available today,” said Morizot during one of Stand 21’s Safety Seminars. SJ