Nomex Long Sleeve Shirts

[Carguy]

Assessing the level of interest in the Nomex shirt idea. All comments and suggestions are welcome.

[Budulis]

dont see why not to pay for your own safety

[Cap'n Pete]

With the already increased costs of late (within our series), I can't support the notion of "free nomex shirts, please" in good conscience. I don't know the cost of the current cotton shirts, but I'm sure they strike a balance between "cheap" and "expensive enough". If a DEAL could be had with a supplier to get nomex shirts for the SAME as cotton, then it would be worth considering. However, the REALITY is that's not likely.

I would probably fall in the camp between paying (out of pocket) for one of the upgraded shirts (nomex or carbon-x).

Probably best to leave the existing cotton shirts in place for the masses.

My $.02 .

[10gt61]

$60 - $90 for a carbonX shirt! Great deal and money well spent. About the price of one tank of gas - for safety. Compared to the price of tires, wheels, brakes, etc. etc. Good deal.

[nissannx]

Shirt, undies, socks, balaclava - why stop at just the shirt.

My business manager is going to have something to say about this.

[Kart14]

Although I appreciate the idea, people might want to read this before they decide if a carbonX or nomex top is going to be their only source of fire protection.

http://www.sfifoundation.com/driversuit.html

I think you're talking about 5 seconds for CarbonX, assuming you aren't bathed in sweat.

[nowcritical]

I have a full kit, suit, gloves, socks, shoes, balaclava, HANS and put it on every time I get into a car on the track. It was strange at first but it becomes as part of your routine.

Talk to the older folks that have had some experience on what safety items they choose.

I think the Nomex Long Sleeve shirt is a good fit under a full suit.

[Dave...]

Originally Posted by nissannx

Shirt, undies, socks, balaclava - why stop at just the shirt.

My business manager is going to have something to say about this.

Do any of the series sponsors have a package like this they might offer to competitors? Don't know what the margins are like, but I imagine there would be some interest.

I'd be in for the nomex or carbonx over the current long sleeve cotton. I don't know how the current shirts are treated but I know I have little faith in their protective abilities.

[ScotcH]

Originally Posted by Kart14

Although I appreciate the idea, people might want to read this before they decide if a carbonX or nomex top is going to be their only source of fire protection.

http://www.sfifoundation.com/driversuit.html

I think you're talking about 5 seconds for CarbonX, assuming you aren't bathed in sweat.

5 sec is a LONG time when you're on fire. Try being on fire without that 5 sec head start Trust me ... you can get out of a car is a real hurry when things go bad.

[Slowpoke]

I prefer to keep the series shirt low cost and focused on advertising purposes, but there's no reason this can't be done as a group buy for the interested parties. As I mentioned, that's how we got the Proban suits.

Once you go non-stock fueling systems, especially if you opt for a high pressure pump and increased line size, fire protection should be bumped up on your priority list.

[Aaron3T]

Originally Posted by Kart14

Although I appreciate the idea, people might want to read this before they decide if a carbonX or nomex top is going to be their only source of fire protection.

No one said anything about replacing a firesuit with just a shirt.

This is more suited to those of us who dont wear firesuits, so we can have a "safer" than cotton, cooler than cotton, and more comfortable than cotton shirt while still sporting the OTA sponsors logos and whatnot.

[John P]

Nomex probably cost extra to put on sponsor logos. If you run two weekend days you may want to buy two, cause they smell from sweat after a day. I have a spare cotton shirt.

A fire can happen, but in over 15 years of Time Attack I have only seen one small engine fire on a car that rolled. Scott can explain how easy it is for a car to burn down, but in Time Attack fires has been rare (except Saturday night bon fires).

Frank suggested that if you have a Nomex shirt, you should also have a full race three layer fire suit plus socks, balaclava to protect other key parts of your body.

Everyone has to make their own decisions. I you are worried, you can just buy as many Nomex shirts as you want.

JohnP