Keeping cool and dealing with Nomex underwear?

[409industries]

How many of you guys are wearing Nomex underwear under your racing suit? I've been looking more and more into the topic and had a few questions about it. Some of my concerns are the advantages and disadvantages of wearing long underpants / long sleeve Nomex underwear (vs. short sleeves / boxers) and dealing with the heat of desert southwest rally events.

I figure that you could wear a Cool Suit t-shirt over your fire resistant underwear?

The latest issue of GRM had a very interesting first hand account of a driver getting caught in a fiery track mishap and it really got me thinking about how i can protect myself in the event of a serious fire but still be comfortable in our rally events which in the summer can reach over 100F. :shock:

Please discuss! I am very interested to hear what people's opinions are about wearing Nomex underwear.

[UP2MTNS]

I'm supposed to wear underwear?

[A1337STI]

I've been meaning to buy some nomex or that carbonX underwear for a while. i know of some road racers that go naked under their driving suits due to not having fire proof undies. My navigator wears a fricken cotten Tshirt under his suite, even on hot events.

So far i've gone with Cotton undies every which is a bit of a high risk move. I've heard of drivers getting steam burns due to wearing cotton under layers and being in a fire.

If you are Really concerned about it , Only wear fire proof material , if you don't own fire proof undies then go in just your suit. !!!


You on pace to make Prescott 2010?

[409industries]

You on pace to make Prescott 2010?

Indeed. I'm in the process of getting all my personal safety gear in order...

[ProRallyCodriver]

I go commando!

[I Like It Sideways]

I'm supposed to wear underwear?


+1 :lol2:

[KevinWelker]

I wear whatever I feel like. The chances of fire are slim in rally, especially with stock location OEM tanks (not fuel cell).

And steam burns will happen with nomex, carbonx, whatever, doesn't matter when it's soaked in sweat and the outer layer is on fire, there will be steam.

Worry more about a comfortable suit and getting enough hydration. I typically ahve the sleeves and pant legs pushed up as far as they will go and the zipper pulled down a ways just to keep cool.

It never hurts to do some hot weather training as well, just to accustom your body to exertions at high temps.

Also, don't over think it until AFTER you've been out there. You may have no issues at all, I know I don't.

[UP2MTNS]

^^true....Gorman was hot this year, but not nearly as bad as I was expecting...and this was with Tucker's window stuck in the open position!

"coolsuits" are still on the 'nice to have' list....but that's at the bottom of a long 'must have' list....

[dirty]

I'll add that if you do buy nomex, spend money and buy better stuff. Cheap stuff is itchy and uncomfortable and you won't want to wear it, especially all day.

A nicer (lightweight) suit can go a long ways also.

[WRR]

cotton tee & cotton shorts for me...


I just try to stay away from stuff that will melt...

[Safe Drives]

I'll add that if you do buy nomex, spend money and buy better stuff. Cheap stuff is itchy and uncomfortable and you won't want to wear it, especially all day.

A nicer (lightweight) suit can go a long ways also.


I have used Cheap Gforce Race Suits and Cheap Gforce Nomex underwear for the last 8 years as a rally car driver and NEVER had itchy feeling or felt uncomfortable or felt like my suit was heavy. =-l


"spend money and buy better stuff." ????? For what? In my opinion and for my rally race suit as a regional rally driver in the USA, is a $99 Gforce GF105 suit + Gforce nomex underwear (again, $99). I can roll around under my car in mud, oil and horse sh*t during a rally event and not have too worry too much about my "Bling, Bling" race suit. Trust me, you WILL have a time that you have to crawl under your car at some point....

That said, if you have some big money sponsors then yes, get the fancy pants suit and have them pay for it.

[409industries]

"coolsuits" are still on the 'nice to have' list....but that's at the bottom of a long 'must have' list....

As it is on mine too, but i was wondering how people use it in conjunction with Nomex underwear.

[Daniel B]

um...

Wouldn't a coolsuit steam, just like wet cotton?

(disclaimer: I have no real knowledge of coolsuits)

EDIT: or... would coolsuits act as a secondary extinguisher? :)

[Safe Drives]

I forgot to mention that the Coolshirt is available in Nomex with SFI tag even. =-)

[Safe Drives]

Also of note for those with big money to spend on a suit is that custom suits are available with the coolshirt system built into the suit!

[UP2MTNS]

um...

Wouldn't a coolsuit steam, just like wet cotton?

(disclaimer: I have no real knowledge of coolsuits)

EDIT: or... would coolsuits act as a secondary extinguisher? :)

I'd think if you have freezing cold water instantly turning to steam while under your firesuit, you're already toast. like, burnt toast.

[Daniel B]

I'd think if you have freezing cold water instantly turning to steam while under your firesuit, you're already toast. like, burnt toast.

I was thinking the same thing about the sweaty boxers... 100degreesC is hot!

[Jard]

I have used Cheap Gforce Race Suits and Cheap Gforce Nomex underwear for the last 8 years as a rally car driver and NEVER had itchy feeling or felt uncomfortable or felt like my suit was heavy. =-l


"spend money and buy better stuff." ????? For what? In my opinion and for my rally race suit as a regional rally driver in the USA, is a $99 Gforce GF105 suit + Gforce nomex underwear (again, $99). I can roll around under my car in mud, oil and horse sh*t during a rally event and not have too worry too much about my "Bling, Bling" race suit. Trust me, you WILL have a time that you have to crawl under your car at some point....

That said, if you have some big money sponsors then yes, get the fancy pants suit and have them pay for it.

It's the same as using my closed face Bell helmet with an intercom shoehorned into it vs. using a Peltor open face at the most recent rally. It's just more comfortable.

Wearing a more expensive suit isn't going to prevent me from getting dirty or crawling under a car. Either suit can be cleaned.

If I am more comfortable in the car I am going go be less fatigued at the end of the day and able to hold concentration longer, which is much safer!

Some things are worth spending money on to be more comfortable.

[Jard]

But I'm also not saying a beginner should go out and drop $1K on a suit. For your first few rallies you have more to worry about. I bought a cheap 1-piece suit to get started and I'm now looking to upgrade in my 2nd year since I plan to stick with it for a while.

[hoche]

I wear a Sparco one-piece. I went and tried on a bunch of different suits and that was the most comfortable. It's a 3/2 suit (no nomex undergarments required), with good venting. I've had it for six years, and while wearing it I have baked at 100+ temps in CA, swum in the pouring rain in WA, crawled in the mud in CO, and rolled in cactus in AZ.

I like my suit. Especially now that I got all the cactus out.

I tried the G-Force ones on, and thought they were cut like sackcloth. I probably could've made something better out of a welding firecloth. Also, I don't like 2-pieces. But, they're cheap and they're legal (with undies), so if they're all you can get, go for it.

Under my suit I wear cotton undies and when it's hot, a CoolShirt. When it's cold, I wear Nomex longjohns. I also wear Nomex socks, and Nomex gloves. Strangely (and stupidly), I just use regular tennis shoes to drive.

[kturner]

I've got a sparco one piece with nothing required underneath. Have a cotton t and shorts on usually. recently bought a carbon-x t-shirt just to have a dedicated outfit.

What about a balaclava? Had mine off and on at BRS cause I couldn't stay cool (not overheat) with it on. I would rather wear it though.

[Jard]

I've been using the Sparco soft touch balaclavas and won't go back. Again, it's just more comfortable, especially with taking the helmet off and putting it back on all day.

[spiwrx]

I've been using the sparco short sleeve shirt / boxers in nomex for a while and can't say I have any complaints or any difference than regular underwear. If I could find a driving suit that wouldn't get as hot it might be nice.

I have to say I hate wearing the balaclava but it helps keep the helmet from regretting so sweaty as well...

[Tbagger]

I wear sparco nomex long johns and long sleeve shirt. It's their newer "comfort" style. I don't where anything under that, just the racing suit over it...

I'm sure we'll sweat our balls off in the summer time but we're hoping the roof vents and our camel bags will help us out.