WHAT TO WEAR AND WHY - HELMETS
Snell rated "SA" (Sports Application) professional helmets provide extreme impact resistance and higher fire protection than Snell "M" (Motorcycle) rated helmets. (Also SA rated helmets use 1/8” thick polycarbonate (Lexan) shields for fire protection and flying rock or debris protection) Closed helmets reduce the possibility of spinal column injuries in head-on collisions. (The "chin protector" will strike the sternum (breastbone) and limit the head's forward movement.) For this reason, BELL & PYROTECT do not recommend open faced helmets and strongly urge you to use a professional contoured (not round or U shaped) neck collar while driving. THE EXCEPTION IS DRIVING ANY CAR WITH AN ACTIVE AIR BAG LOCATED IN THE STEERING WHEEL. Proper helmet head rest and seat back re-enforcement is mandatory.
BELL ULTRA & PROSA helmets use carbon fiber and Kevlar composites for strength and weight reduction. BELL & PYROTECT lightweight hand lay-up fiberglass SA helmets are slightly heavier and not recommended for very high speed competition. (The lighter the weight the less chance for injury plus reduced fatigue while cornering, allowing increased concentration) The choice of a premium series helmet is mandatory for serious racers. SA helmets generally have smaller eye ports as eyes remain focused straight ahead during competition and large, motorcycle eye ports are a distraction, allowing excess light entry, causing eye strain. Closed face helmets also help eliminate “dry eye” caused by the fact while racing you do not blink as often) Competition cars with windshields may use closed face helmets with shield in the open position in hot weather or to prevent fogging – on impact the shield usually will close to help prevent flying debris or fire entry. All SA helmets have a 1/8 inch thick polycarbonate shields in case of flying debris, provision for tear offs and offer clear, light, or dark tinted visors. (Fog free feature is optional) Iridium Blue shields are recommended for professionals only, as the finish is quite fragile. If purchased use only with proper cleaning cloth and follow instructions – iridium coating is not warranted. Clear or tinted permanent FOG CITY inner shield liners are available. BELL horizontal polarized/blue-blocking Drivers sunglasses are recommended for all daytime competition to prevent glare, eye strain and allow you to see oil on track. Helmet bags offer shield protection and eliminate odor absorption by the helmet liner from used clothing in equipment bags. To avoid liner odors clean with the suds only from a mixture of warm water and Woolite, using a soft cloth. Occasionally 2-3 drops of chlorine bleach in an 8 oz. glass of hot water may be used to lessen odor.
SPRINT, FORMULA, OPEN CAR, KARTS:
Any BELL ULTRA, PRO or PYROTECT CLOSED FACE SA helmet may be used, however, aerodynamic features are suggested to minimize lift and buffeting in higher speed applications. (Excellerator, Dominator, GTX or K1 Sport) Karters may use Snell K or M rated helmets. BELL engineering in aerodynamics is unexcelled with hundreds of hours in wind tunnel testing and thousands of hours at Indy and F1 courses. Our chin spoilers are designed to prevent helmet roll (chin strap pull) and are not for looks only. Wickers and crowfeet break up airflow eliminating helmet lift and pound. The new Excellerator has driver adjustable wickers and will save hours of adjusting for optimum performance. (Can you visualize going into turn 1 at Indy, 240 miles an hour, and suddenly the side wind rotates your head, while air currents alternately lift your helmet up strangling you with the chin strap, then bang the helmet down with a force of up to 40 pounds?) Now you know why professional drivers use BELL!
NASCAR SEDANS, PRODUCTION CARS: (any enclosed car with wind protection)
Any BELL or PYROTECT CLOSED FACE SA helmet may be used, however we recommend lightweight construction, full face and vented models. For professional drivers a forced air model should be considered. (Vortex F/A – either side or top air entry) The M2 F/A and PYROTCET F/A models are also available. Forced air helmets with fan/filter kits are recommended where size/weight is not a factor for hot climates, endurance, rallies and long duration races.
Professional lightweight helmets also include the Vortex, M3 and M2 Pro. Again, for professional drivers the lightest weight helmet models are not only safest, they will allow increased concentration. Lightweight fiberglass SA helmets - PYROTECT, Sport III, M2 - may be used for all non professional speed events. (Drivers schools, showroom stock road racing, short track, over 10 second bracket drag racing, Solo 1) Rallyists requiring communication with co-drivers prefer the SR Pro for communication. Prescription glasses that wrap around the ears may require use of the larger eye port in the M2 Pro , PYROTECT or M2 fiberglass helmets. Bracket racers may use M rated helmets. (Racestar 5, PYROTECT “M” rated ) While many Solo II and bracket racers still prefer open face helmets, we do not recommend open face helmets for any speed contest due to the lack of protection from flying glass, debris, fire and neck extension in a collision.
DRAG RACERS:
Once the magical under 10 seconds is achieved an SA rated helmet is required, however until then, an M rated will suffice. Good venting is important for both comfort and concentration. We suggest that even using a Motorcycle rated helmet that thought be given to the eye port shape and shield. Use one with a real 1/8” thick polycarbonate (Lexan) shield and proper tree vision. (M2 or PYROTECT) Most motorcycle helmet eye ports are shaped wrong, and allow too much light entry. A few drag racers still prefer the old pilot “pig nose” style helmet - BELL’s X-15 model. If used in open cars special X-15 tear offs are available.
Dragster drivers requiring a lifeline system should contact NHRA – rules are too vague for us to offer a system at this time.
DIRT TRACK, OFF ROAD:
The new GTX is a lightweight composite helmet suitable for all forms of racing. (Sprint, Baja, Bog, Kart, tractor pull, etc.) After 20 plus years of the XFM-1 (unvented original Indy BELL helmet) now an improved, rear facing, vacuum draft, vent helmet is available! Rear facing vents keep out the dirt and mud, but allow airflow for more comfort and reduced fogging. (Paved track Sprint drivers and other higher speed competition cars where the helmet is fully exposed to the air stream generally prefer the Dominator for its superior aerodynamic features.)
DRAG BIKE:
That’s right – the new DBX drag bike helmet is fresh from the wind tunnel and test runs by top drag bike competitors! Rated SA it is not for street use – high speed ,lay down drag bike racing only. Utilizing the same aerodynamic principles as the new GTX, only “rotated” to work in the lay down position! Also the eye port is rotated upwards to allow forward vision only while in the prone position. Ultra lightweight lay-up for the higher G forces encountered by 2 wheel rockets on launch also....
Please note we are particularly concerned with the flood of “SA” helmets, most derived from motorcycle molds and not designed for high speed competition. These utilize straps that can be pulled from the shell and improperly retained shields that will fly off on impact. Weights vary from too light (impact failure) to too heavy (brittleness) within the same model. Snell foundation recently de-certified many models of various manufacturers and dropped the complete line of one manufacturer. Should you find that the helmet you bought had been de-certified seriously consider immediate replacement. There is the old saying “If you have a $10 head, wear a $10 helmet”. Enough said....
DRIVER SUITS
When choosing a suit, always give proper consideration to safety, comfort and price in that order. All types of racing require different considerations. We recommend a one piece suit for all forms of racing as a two piece will allow flame entry under the jacket at the waist. The new SL-5 BELL and PYROTECT SV-5 suits are one layer and SFI-5 rated. (The equivalent of three layers of Nomex – TPP 19) The Teflon liner coating also prevents hot oil, coolant or fuel to enter the suit, yet allow perspiration to be wicked away. While only one layer the Teflon resists tearing too. TPP 19 is sufficient time for the average racer to stop and get away from any normal fire. For very high speed vehicles, ones using methanol fuels, cars without fuel cells or any with greater risk than normal, we recommend TPP rating greater than 26 and our new RACEWEAR Innerwear for protection against fire and hot liquids. Innerwear will not melt like Nomex (fiberglass) which may require skin grafting. (Autocrossers should wear 100% cotton or wool only – Karters heavy gauge nylon with skid pads) We also suggest you read “IS SFI-5 ENOUGH?” in our warnings section before continuing to choose a suit. If running in a destruction derby 1 layer 2 piece suits, even with underwear, offer little more than a false sense of security. Jacket and pants, while convenient, don’t afford near the protection of a one piece suit – if used, jacket should be tucked into the pants during competition to prevent fire getting underneath. (Keep in mind in an accident, or trying to exit the car afterwards, the jacket is prone to pull out) No standard (fixed arm or unvented) suit allows you to drive with maximum concentration, or fully enjoy our sport. I strongly suggest you consider an SL-5, or if driving in the higher temperature regions a vented NASA suit for up to 24 degrees cooling if running in the daytime. Purchase only suits with knit arm attachment, (or raglan construction) knit collars and waist expansion panels for comfort. For Fuel Drag cars and Bonneville competitors custom made SFI-15 & 20 rated suits are available.
PROPER FIT
The most important size is the chest, waist (beer belly), and trunk. To measure trunk, hold the tape exactly on the seam juncture of the inside of the pant leg and crotch. Stand in an upright position (with belly relaxed and a normal breath of air in the lungs), and measure from the crotch (halfway back) to the "V" in the collar bone (E1 & E2 on measurement chart) Make exact measurements. Your height and weight are next. (We will add a minimum of two inches on trunk, chest and waist size for a correct fit) To spare you the cost of a custom fitted suit, all of our better, vented suits come in both medium large, short and tall sizes. Arm and leg length may be shortened, if necessary, by any local alteration shop using Nomex thread. Remember: A tight fitting suit may look good, but it's useless for competition. A bulkier fit is more comfortable for driving because the extra space allows easier movement and keeps you cooler longer, especially in a fire.
VENTED SUITS
Only vented suits can keep you cooler. (NASA suits up to 24 degrees) A one degree rise in core body temperature will drastically reduce concentration. A two degree rise will up to tenfold error rates. This loss of concentration accounts for many errors and accidents late in a race during normal ambient temperatures. Don't consider a "fixed-arm" (unvented) style of sweat suit construction if you race under the sun or in temperatures above 65 degrees. Vented suits cool four ways: evaporation, air exchange, wind chill factor (which keeps maximum body surface temperatures below ambient temperature), and by eliminating humidity rise. Knit venting on arm attachment and waist also allows maximum freedom of movement while dispelling muscular heat. See the discussion on SFI-5 for additional insight – a coordinated suit, glove and shoe match is both a safety and speed advantage.
GLOVES
Properly fitted gloves need to be snug with your hands positioned as though you were gripping the steering wheel. With fingers straightened, the glove should feel tight, the individual finger seams need not come completely to the palm, and the area between the thumb and first finger may be webbed. (Driver's gloves should only be comfortable and fit correctly when gripping the wheel.) Wheel feel is important – multi layer leather palm/finger gloves restrict feel and offer little fire protection. Higher grip force is required to compress leather in the finger joints and can lead to fatigue in long races. We consider hand safety to be of the utmost importance. You must be able to use your hands to exit a burning vehicle. We suggest using at minimum SFI-5 two-layer gloves. PYROTECT or BELL PRO series gloves use an elastic retention band at the wrist to prevent "stripping" and the elastic knuckle protector also keeps the glove from developing "folds" in the palm area which can cause blisters. These construction techniques are time consuming, but our padded suede leather palm patch offers greater feel (wheel feedback), better gripping force, comfort and extreme protection. (Leather "wear" patch in palm/thumb area is designed to fall off in a fire). Once you have experienced these superior gloves you will never wear another brand again! (Also we have purposely priced all BELL & PYROTECT gloves below competitors as an incentive for your safety)
A word of caution for all drivers, crew, workers - even spectators. Only 100% cotton or wool garments should be worn. Nomex, Polyester, blends and acrylics melt, and when next to skin will require skin grafting. It is not a pretty sight. 50/50 Tee shirts and acrylic socks are the worst offenders. Also, check jackets and sweatshirts. Spectator and crew Innerwear is now available in Tee’s, Turtleneck long sleeve shirts and long johns. Worn underneath Levi’s or fire prone clothing they offer the same protection as Nomex underwear – and will not require skin grafting….
While Kevlar is expensive, we use it whenever possible in our products in lieu of leather or Nomex. Many sanctioning bodies allow leather for shoes and gloves. Leather transfers heat almost instantly, and shrinks with sufficient force to crush foot/hand bones. Any man made plastic or rubber will burn, or worse, melt and can imbed into the skin, requiring skin grafting. You must use your hands and feet in a fire. We try to use leather only as an appliqué for wear, and it is designed so that upon being subjected to fire, it will fall off due to the shear action on the thread caused by shrinkage. Our BELL PRO Series shoes are constructed of Nomex outer, an insulating silica foam heat barrier, and Kevlar liner, and while TPP rated a "5" - approach 15. The man made "sole" of our shoes is laminated to a leather outer sole, and the inside construction is multiple layers of Insulite, Kevlar and Nomex for extreme protection. These construction techniques are time consuming, but offer lighter weight, greater feel, comfort and extreme protection. Remember Bell's old advertisement, "If you have a $10 head, wear a $10 helmet"? Remember "Safety equipment is like a chain - it is only as good as its weakest link." Why have a fire suit that protects you if your going to have a broken neck or lose the use of your hands or feet in a fire?
WARNING: RACING IS A HAZARDOUS SPORT. NO WARRANTY IS MADE OR IMPLIED REGARDING ANY PRODUCT MANUFACTURED OR SOLD BY BELL MOTORSPORTS TO PROTECT USERS FROM INJURY OR DEATH. THE USER ASSUMES ALL RISKS.
Thank you to pyrotect.com for this valuable information.
