Sparco racing suits; need help choosing.
01-25-2009, 10:45 AM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 10,197
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sparco racing suits; need help choosing.
In all the replays of the SCCA runoffs and 24 hours of Daytona that I've watched, Sparco seems to be the brand of racing suit that most are wearing. I'll be racing in Spec Miata next year and am looking for some opinions from other racers here on which suit to choose. If I could afford a custom suit I'd go that route, but it's not in the current budget. I'm a skinny rail at 145# and close to 6' tall. I'm leaning towards a 3 layer suit since they use thinner materials than a 2 layer and are supposed to breathe a bit better. Opinions?
01-26-2009, 09:32 AM
#4
AudiWorld Super User
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 5,174
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Choose the one that...
...doesn't make your *** look big. Har. You expected a serious answer ?
Had a bunch of suits...for the last 8 years have had a Sparco (think it's a "Sponsor" or something). Why Sparco ? Got a pretty good deal from Mid-Atlantic ( http://www.midatlantictrading.com/ )...IIRC, the price was good and Dick happily will swap suits to get the fit/comfort you want.
Before the Sparco, I had been using a 3-layer Kev-PBI suit...hot hot hot...did one too many 12 hour races in blistering heat...it drove me over the edge. Couldn't believe the comfort difference in the Sparco 3-layer. Like having air conditioning. also have liked the feel & look of the OMP suits, but never owned/raced in one.
Always always always go 3-layer. You're not obligated to wear nomex undies, which means that you can pop out of your suit immediatly on exiting the car (gym shorts & t-shirt underneath), which is a HUGE benefit in hot weather.
I liked the looks of the "Sponsor" as it had black from elbows down & navel down...less dirt to show, in the areas that get dirty. My suit gets used A LOT, and get pretty groaty looking...the black extremities hides that.
Had a bunch of suits...for the last 8 years have had a Sparco (think it's a "Sponsor" or something). Why Sparco ? Got a pretty good deal from Mid-Atlantic ( http://www.midatlantictrading.com/ )...IIRC, the price was good and Dick happily will swap suits to get the fit/comfort you want.
Before the Sparco, I had been using a 3-layer Kev-PBI suit...hot hot hot...did one too many 12 hour races in blistering heat...it drove me over the edge. Couldn't believe the comfort difference in the Sparco 3-layer. Like having air conditioning. also have liked the feel & look of the OMP suits, but never owned/raced in one.
Always always always go 3-layer. You're not obligated to wear nomex undies, which means that you can pop out of your suit immediatly on exiting the car (gym shorts & t-shirt underneath), which is a HUGE benefit in hot weather.
I liked the looks of the "Sponsor" as it had black from elbows down & navel down...less dirt to show, in the areas that get dirty. My suit gets used A LOT, and get pretty groaty looking...the black extremities hides that.
01-26-2009, 11:36 AM
#5
AudiWorld Super User
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 2,563
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Sparco racing suits; need help choosing.
i'd find a place that carries suits and try on as many as you can (that goes for all personal safety gear really)...i found with sparco suits that the higher end stuff is a lot more comfortable and lighter than their cheaper stuff (not surprising)
buy the lightest most comfortable 3 layer suit that fits your budget...imo, it's worth it to spend the extra bucks on a quality suit
my last suit was a sparco x-light...its an older model before they offered different (and more expensive) x-light models...suit was comfortable and not too hot...
buy the lightest most comfortable 3 layer suit that fits your budget...imo, it's worth it to spend the extra bucks on a quality suit
my last suit was a sparco x-light...its an older model before they offered different (and more expensive) x-light models...suit was comfortable and not too hot...
01-26-2009, 11:39 AM
#6
AudiWorld Super User
Join Date: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,073
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
G-force makes a two-layer
with the same sfi (3.2a/5) rating as the Sparco, for a lot less money. Sure, I would rather have the Sparco, but I've been happy with the 545.<ul><li><a href="http://www.gforce.com/products/suits/4545.php">http://www.gforce.com/products/suits/4545.php</a</li></ul>
01-26-2009, 12:06 PM
#7
Member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 9,991
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've had two Sparco suits (an X-Light and another I don't remember), a Puma Light Cat, and custom
Stand 21 and OMP suits and liked the Puma and OMP suits the most. The X-Light was a fine suit, but the Puma I found to be lighter and more comfortable. I haven't gotten to check out any off the rack Stand 21 or OMP suits, but my custom Stand 21 weighs about a ton and has pretty low quality velcro and zippers. No such problems with my OMP suit, which is my favorite thus far. The Stand 21 gear that the factory Porsche drivers have are pretty damn sharp looking and use this fabric, or at least a weave, that only Stand 21 has, but without living with one I can't say that it holds up any better than the one I have.
PS, I'm not down on Stand 21 in general. I use and love a pair of their gloves and I like their nomex shirts shorts and socks more than any of the other stuff I've used.
PS, I'm not down on Stand 21 in general. I use and love a pair of their gloves and I like their nomex shirts shorts and socks more than any of the other stuff I've used.
Trending Topics
01-26-2009, 05:47 PM
#8
AudiWorld Super User
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,931
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That looks like a Miaudi? Track toy? And I have the full brace for the bottom see Flyin Maita which
I could make you a smokin deal for. I bought to modofy amd ,ake work for the 97 B5, I have all the info zI need, nothing cut or out of box. E-msil me and I will cutt you a smokin deal, they work really well from my research, and I have all the dimensions for the B5.
Rod
s4audinut@aol.com home Rod,Haney@STFH,net
work
Rod
s4audinut@aol.com home Rod,Haney@STFH,net
work
01-26-2009, 08:43 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,956
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
For the past years I used Sparco and OMP suits, Sparco multi layer Nomex is still the preferred
choice because there is some level of safety and comfort; movement is also an important issue to be addressed, I've seen people who couldn't tie their shoes once pressed into the "Organ collector" :-)
There isn't much difference in between the OMP and Sparco if it comes to let your body breathe; the same design that doesn't really let air in is also used to keep the driver from burning in an accident; that's the catch 22. But still comfy even through 12 hour races.
Other options to consider are possible add-on functions like HANS device, cooling pockets or complete cooling systems/shirt. IMHO, for that (cooling) I've always buy 1/2 number larger (by European measurements) to allow to fit these devices.......just a thought...
There isn't much difference in between the OMP and Sparco if it comes to let your body breathe; the same design that doesn't really let air in is also used to keep the driver from burning in an accident; that's the catch 22. But still comfy even through 12 hour races.
Other options to consider are possible add-on functions like HANS device, cooling pockets or complete cooling systems/shirt. IMHO, for that (cooling) I've always buy 1/2 number larger (by European measurements) to allow to fit these devices.......just a thought...
