Safety = Budget Killer

This weeks lesson is titled "Buying safety gear without going broke". For those that don't know, you can't just race a car in whatever clothes you like. There are numerous safety specifications that dictate what gets worn and where. Your 'average joe' club racer dons the following before each race: Socks (fireproof), long underwear bottoms (fireproof), undershirt (fireproof), 1 or 2 piece full body race suit (fireproof), gloves (fireproof), headsock (fireproof), and finally a helmet (also fireproof). I should point out that probably 80% of race events happen during the summer. That's a lot of layers. Layers of technical wonder fabrics intent on one thing; keeping you alive in a fire - that's it. They are not technical wonder fabrics when it comes to ventilation. Any hotter than say, 70 degrees and you are very uncomfortable in full race gear.
Another thing all that gear is not, is cheap. I'm not knocking the safety gear manufacturers, but I gotta believe that there's a little bit of fear mongering at work in the pricing structure - "Sure, you could pay less, but do you REALLY want to?". Be that as it may, if you want their products, you pay their prices.

Here's a quick layout of the safety gear essentials and their price ranges:

Helmet - $250 - $1300
Suit - $150 - $1500
Gloves - $40 - $200
Shoes - $60 - $120
Underwear - $100 - $400
Socks - $25 - $100
Balaclava - $35 - $120

This list assumes standard safety rules for SCCA style competition, and is by no means comprehensive, but you get the idea. As with all things, the sky's the limit in the upper ranges. A custom-molded helmet for a Formula One driver will certainly not be had for anything near $1300 - more likely $5,000 - $10,000.
The most pertinent fact is that the low prices that I've listed are basically the least you can expect to pay for the most basic no-frills safety gear. Do the math - it's damn close to $700!!

So, 700 bucks and you're getting the cheapest, most basic, entry-level gear - both from a construction and a safety standpoint. Everything will pass inspection, but the helmet's going to be heavy, the gloves will fit weird, the suit's gonna bunch up, the underwear will be ridiculously baggy and itchy. The socks & balaclava will probably be fine, but that's about it. Overall, you'll be wearing uncomfortable crap, and you'll look like it. Now, I'm no fashion snob, but I hate ill-fitting clothing, and you would too if your crappy glove seams were digging into your hands while you're concentrating on getting a 75 mph corner just right with a 'fast as shit' Mini Cooper on your ass.

With this, and the idea of increased personal safety in mind, I decided not to skimp on the safety gear. I won't buy the junk, but won't go nuts either. Unfortunately the price was going to take a jump - a big jump. Basically to get what I wanted, the cost nearly doubled - putting me at an estimated $1200.00 - Ouch!

There was no way I could put that kind of cash down and hope to have any budget left to race. Something needed to be done. As I mentioned in the Tools of the Trade post, I'm a damn good bargain hunter and I'm proud of it. Clearance racks, open box items, floor models, bring 'em on. I have no hang ups about buying used.
And ebay, You don't want to go head-to-head with me on ebay - your ass WILL get kicked. I bought most of my race gear on eBay, and saved a ton of money in the process. Furthermore, I was able to get everything new, and in it's original packaging. Here are some links to the equipment I ended up getting, along with the lowest current prices in red, and what I actually paid in green.

HJC AR-10 Helmet
$299.00 vs $152.00

G-Force 545 Race Suit
$450.00 vs $203.00

Oakley CarbonX Racing Gloves
$125.00 vs $56.00

Stand 21 Race Shoes
$259.00 vs $40.00 (!?)

RJS 2-piece Nomex underwear
$84.00 vs $84.00

RJS Nomex socks
$18.00 vs $18.00
----------------------
$1235.00 vs $553.00

By my feeble math skills, that's a savings of $682.00 - or roughly 55%.
Not too shabby, not too shabby at all....

In your face, MSRP!!