The Big Picture - Formula 1

Thanks. The link at the bottom, Singapore GP has some crazy good pics.

Did you go to the Long Beach races when they were here last month???

Shouldn't it be renamed Formula Follow the Leader?

Great pics though, Tiki.

They are banning re-fueling again in 2010.

Not this year. With the new rule changes things have really been turned on their head. Smaller teams have been able to compete with the big boys & passing is actually happening somewhere besides the pits. Who would have thought 3 races in Ferrari would have no points & the reigning world champion Mclaren team has only a 1 points paying finish & is in turmoil. Good stuff.

Pictures like that one is the reason I have a 2-layer quilted firesuit instead of a $100 dollar Proban deathsuit. 20 gallons of race gas burns the same whether its in an expensive Indy or F1 car or a bomber on the dirt track.

The problem with refueling the F-1 cars is the pressurized system. If there's a malfunction, it atomizes the fuel, and you get an immediate fireball.

If they'd just go back to gravity feed, like Indy/NASCAR, it would be much more controlable.

F1 is the only interesting race series this year that uses 4 wheels.

Can you give me more info?

I have been looking at new suits, gloves, nomex accessories like socks, mask, etc.

Right now, I can get some Puma stuff pretty reasonable, and some other brands I cant think of offhand.

Most of the sprots car guys around here, who are serious opt for a 2 layer suit, and wear FR underwear. Full blown 3 layer drag racing suits are pretty bulky. Most feel that 2 layers are enough with fire suppressing systems, and marshalls trackside. Many still go for the single layer, but that won't save you from serious burns if the fire lasts any real time.

What are you going to be doing? Unless the worst you'll expierence is a quick, hot flash fire, I wouldn't skimp.

The Simpson suit I have isnt in their present lineup, but is pretty much the same as this one:

SIMPSON SUIT

It has the shoulder and back gussets, the shoulder ones are really nice when you have to saw the wheel like in a sprinter and need the range of motion. If youve had older suits you wonder how you did it in the old kind.



My gloves are similar to these:

SIMPSON GLOVES



And my shoes are like these:

SIMPSON SHOE

Mine a bit different in that mine are velcro on top, dunno why they stopped making that style, easier to put on at the track. They have some even better shoes now also, one with a heat shield for stock cars and the latest sprint shoe is cool because it repels liquids as the power steering and alcohol pump are right inbetween your feet on a sprinter and if you get leaks it can soak your feet.

And of course the usual nomex underwear and face sock.

I think my SFI tags are out of date and if I wanted to race sanctioned races they could tech me on my tags being out of date. I need to check with Simpson and see if I can get the stuff recertified.

Heres their line:

DIRT TRACK GEAR

Sparco, Lico and OMP I can get pretty good priced too.

Ive always wanted to check out those other lines, I was talking to Dan Pastorini (he lives up the road from me) and he has used other brands and liked them. If you get good pricing thats the way to go for sure.

For what its worth, this is what my older suit looks like: 40" 360 Gambler

I guess, Lico is Sparcos cheaper brand.

Have you looked at the Impact stuff? Looks like some nice stuff Bill is making now.

http://www.impactraceproducts.com