Richard Houlgate Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 I have to buy these and would like some advice as the choice seems large and confusing. 1. Where is the best place to buy? I live in Shrewsbury 2. Is it best to get a full or open face crash helmet? What are the pros and cons? 3. I intend to buy overalls fit for circuit racing. Is there any advantage in buying an expensive pair or should I aim for the cheapest I can find? 4. Are boots, gloves and balaclava essential? Thanks Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adhawkins Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 1. Where is the best place to buy? I live in Shrewsbury2. Is it best to get a full or open face crash helmet? What are the pros and cons? 3. I intend to buy overalls fit for circuit racing. Is there any advantage in buying an expensive pair or should I aim for the cheapest I can find? 4. Are boots, gloves and balaclava essential? 1. Either Demon Tweeks or Grand Prix Racewear have a good selection. 2. Full face if you ask me, don't know if you have to have one, but it was a no-brainer for me. Pros and cons? I guess better sideway visibility with an open face, but then I don't fancy the idea of a stone in the mush... 3. I bought a Sparco Sprint 2 layer suit. Not that expensive. If I were circuit racing I might have paid more and gone for a lighter 3 layer suit. 4. Not essential, but I bought gloves and boots. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilwillis Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 The ins and outs of safety gear for sprinting can be found in the Speed Series section (click the link on the home page, and scroll down to the introduction to sprinting link) Best policy is always to get the best you can afford in terms of safety equipment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Stanton Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 Shrewsbury - nearest place is Demon Tweeks - don't buy via mail order on a skid lid - always try them all on, different makes have different fits I have both an open and full face skid lid and much prefer the full face its a Bell If you do go for open face you will still need goggles or a clip on visor as has been noted before download a beginners guide it will give you the info you need and buy the best you can afford its a safety issue - don't compromise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darrell O'Neill Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 and buy the best you can afford that'll be a yellow builders hard hat and disposal suit for me then.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Houlgate Posted May 25, 2005 Author Share Posted May 25, 2005 Wow! Impressive speed of response. Thanks, it looks like the DTs for me. (Or does that age me?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 IIRC, OMP 3 layer suits aren't much more than the Sparco 2 layer. I use an OMP, plus gloves, boots and a balaclava. It's a nice suit... I bought from Tweeks... For helmets, MOST IMPORTANT is that you get one with a BS6658A, or BS6658A/FR (FR = fire resistant...) or SNELL 2000 rating. The ECE22 standard for motorcycle helmets which is most common in UK helmet selling shops is NOT LEGAL in UK motorsport. Oh, and get a full face one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Stanton Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 that'll be a yellow builders hard hat Also available in both blue and white Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Cox Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 I have to buy these and would like some advice as the choice seems large and confusing. 1. Where is the best place to buy? I live in Shrewsbury 2. Is it best to get a full or open face crash helmet? What are the pros and cons? 3. I intend to buy overalls fit for circuit racing. Is there any advantage in buying an expensive pair or should I aim for the cheapest I can find? 4. Are boots, gloves and balaclava essential? Thanks Richard 1. Mail order, get the DT catalogue for reference and then compare retailers 2. Full face...stones and if you're running an aero, then rain as well (even light drizzle hurts at over 100) 3. Cheapest will do, as long as it's got the right standards for what you want 4. No, but it depends on what you're going to do. I bought mine because I've got more sense than money* Question is, why do you "have to buy" these? *...and I've got a lot of money** **...that's a lie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boris Posted May 26, 2005 Share Posted May 26, 2005 there is some good deals to be had here good package stuff if you use the scroll-down menu in the top right. i know its a little different but i use the OMP high ankle type race boots for karting and cant fault them. as for my suit and gloves, they are a sparco level 2 combination, so nothing fancy but my advice on a helmet would be full face and spend as much as you possibly can. as others have said before, what price will you put on your head if anything were to happen? HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darrell O'Neill Posted May 26, 2005 Share Posted May 26, 2005 that'll be a yellow builders hard hat Also available in both blue and white where is your sense of style Mr. S? I have a yellow nose cone and arches silly man..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Houlgate Posted May 27, 2005 Author Share Posted May 27, 2005 Question is, why do you "have to buy" these? Because I expect they won't let me race up Loton Park (my local hill) without them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toby Mack Posted May 27, 2005 Share Posted May 27, 2005 there is some good deals to be had here maybe I am missing something but these look like kart suites and don't appear to be fireproof..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted May 27, 2005 Share Posted May 27, 2005 Correct. Kart suits *ARE NOT* legal for MSA car racing/sprinting/hillclimbing/rallying etc etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Houlgate Posted May 27, 2005 Author Share Posted May 27, 2005 Correct. Kart suits *ARE NOT* legal for MSA car racing/sprinting/hillclimbing/rallying etc etc. I'm sure that everyone is aware that this is dealt with in the excellent article under the Speed Series tab 'Beginners Guide to Spriniting' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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