12 replies to this topic

[manthony121]

I am new to SM racing, and bought my safety equipment last year.  One of the items is a G-Force 545 driving suit, selected from many choices at Safe Racer.  I am 60, and, like many men in my age group, my abdomen is a bit wider around than it should be, relative to my height.  I'm not overweight; I'm undertall.  Looking at the sizing charts, it seems that racing suits are proportioned for Olympic swimmers, or people with borderline anorexia.   I got an XL size, with arms and legs several inches longer than they need to be, so as to fit around my waist.

 

Walking around the paddock, I see a LOT of fellow drivers with a body shape similar to mine.  It seems like there would be a substantial market for driving suits that are more realistically proportioned?  (I know that some of the people on this forum are entreprenuers of some stripe; any takers?)  I don't really want to get a custom suit, but does anyone know of a source for suits that are more generous in the belly?

[Finchy]

Buy some Nomex thread and take your suit to an alteration shop, ask them to shorten the arms and legs.

 

The easiest way if you/they don't want to cut the suit and mess with cuffs is to make a 'loop' inside the arm/leg, that way if the thread breaks or burns then worst case your suit arm/leg will grow a couple of inches rather than drop off.

 

Before : ______

After    : __()_

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TrailBrake]

I'm not sure if Victor alters suits he didn't make, but worth checking out. Also might be worth it for your next suit. http://www.vasracingsuits.com/

[DavidNJ]

Sparco (in LA) does alterations, at least of there suits. They said to get the one that fit the critical largest dimension, take the other dimensions and send it to them. I was/am considering getting a Sparco suit made of Hocotex instead of Nomex. 

G-Force may do the same or may be able to recommend someone who can take it in.

[Danny Steyn]

Sparco (in LA) does alterations, at least of there suits. They said to get the one that fit the critical largest dimension, take the other dimensions and send it to them. I was/am considering getting a Sparco suit made of Hocotex instead of Nomex. 

G-Force may do the same or may be able to recommend someone who can take it in.

 

IMO, from drivers who wear them, Hocotex does not last as wall as Nomex

[Jim Drago]

I am new to SM racing, and bought my safety equipment last year.  One of the items is a G-Force 545 driving suit, selected from many choices at Safe Racer.  I am 60, and, like many men in my age group, my abdomen is a bit wider around than it should be, relative to my height.  I'm not overweight; I'm undertall.  Looking at the sizing charts, it seems that racing suits are proportioned for Olympic swimmers, or people with borderline anorexia.   I got an XL size, with arms and legs several inches longer than they need to be, so as to fit around my waist.
 
Walking around the paddock, I see a LOT of fellow drivers with a body shape similar to mine.  It seems like there would be a substantial market for driving suits that are more realistically proportioned?  (I know that some of the people on this forum are entreprenuers of some stripe; any takers?)  I don't really want to get a custom suit, but does anyone know of a source for suits that are more generous in the belly?

If you just bought the suit, return it and order the same 545 suit in custom size. At my worst undertall, I had some made. Gforce does a nice job, they will send you a very light weight test suit ( I still use mine when painting etc) and you check the fit and then they make it to that size. I think custom is 200 more or so. Check with saferacer

[Danica Davison]

Looking at the sizing charts, it seems that racing suits are proportioned for Olympic swimmers, or people with borderline anorexia.

 

I agree.  I am sick and tired of these racing companies fat shaming us and trying to make us look like real athletes!  Let's protest and demand they make more suits realistic body types!

[Ron Alan]

Why are we quoting close too 2 year old posts?

[Alberto]

^Cuz people get fatter as they get older?

 

I gained 15 lbs since I started racing 6 years ago.  Racing makes you fat.  

[DavidNJ]

IMO, from drivers who wear them, Hocotex does not last as wall as Nomex

 

I googled and googled and couldn't find any reviews. The concept was intriguing, a honeycomb middle layer creating 10s of thousands of little air insulation pockets.

What I really would like is a new PBI suit but no one is making them.
 

If you just bought the suit, return it and order the same 545 suit in custom size. At my worst undertall, I had some made. Gforce does a nice job, they will send you a very light weight test suit ( I still use mine when painting etc) and you check the fit and then they make it to that size. I think custom is 200 more or so. Check with saferacer

 

Just talked to Gforce. They also do alterations for $60/hr and said basic sleeve/leg length should be under 1/2 hour. They estimated a 2-week turn-around.

The Gforce custom suit ($900) has features that their Nomex equivalent 745 doesn't have. It also gives you color choice, pattern choice, embroidery. They don't send out the test suit anymore; they said they just alter them.

[PeterVak]

I know its been posted somewhere but I couldnt find the stupid thing. I want to order 235?17 Stock is 50 what does the 50 measure? So if I want, wider, thiner tires what size would that be or whats the conversion?

[BNaumann]

I know its been posted somewhere but I couldnt find the stupid thing. I want to order 235?17 Stock is 50 what does the 50 measure? So if I want, wider, thiner tires what size would that be or whats the conversion?

Try Googling "tire size calculator" or "wheel plus size calculator"

[luvin_the_rings]

OMP makes suits a little more realistically proportioned