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April 4, 2009 7:42 a.m. André Rousseau Reader

What do you recommend?

I'm working out the costs on the "needed" race hardware.

Fire system Fuel system

yada.

Thanks.

A.
April 4, 2009 10:19 a.m. aeronca65t Reader

André:

Here's some comments for you to consider. Many of us racing must balance costs against true value. I would love to spend a million dollars on safety equipment, but if I tried to, I'd never be able to afford to race. So, although the standard advice might be to "not be chintzy on safety eqiupment", I think you can make some good informed choices and decide what works for you. And above all, go to races and ask others what they are doing at your local events.

You may or may not need an FIA-approved fuel cell for VARAC. Jegs sells a nice 8 gallon JAZ fuel cell that can be SFI-approved (a different standard) for about $210 USD. The 8 gallon ATL fuel cell (which is FIA-approved and is surely an excellent product) is about $550 USD. I have an FIA cell in my Spridget because SVRA requires it. I did the (cheaper) Super-Saver version and built my own "can". So, it depends on wether VARAC is OK with the SFI-approved cells (to my eye, they look very similar in construction and design to the FIA cells).

Do you need a fire "system"? Many USA vintage clubs only require a hand-held unit. That's all I have.

I would suggest FIA-approved belts. Here in the US, many clubs allow the FIA belts for five years of useage, but they only allow the SFI-approved belts for two years of useage. The cost difference isn't that great (my FIA belts were $130 USD).

Kirkey makes some economy seats (sold in Summit or Jegs) that are fine. About $110 USD. You'll have to create your own base frame, but it's easy. I've bought three of them for my various cars. I've never bothered to buy a seat cover for any of them.

There are some good deal on "Nomex" suits. I find the cheaper one are uglier (I'm cheap so my suit is ugly). As long as they are SFI-5 rated, you're good to go. Driving Impressions (here in the US) has the Safe-Quip 120 Series Pyrovatex SFI-5 suits for under $280 USD. You can get race shoes for about $80 USD and a reasonable "SA-2005" helmet (such as RaceQuip) for under $240 USD. Don't buy anything other than SA-2005 helmets for racing.

Wether you buy a pre-made, bolt-in cage or have one built locally, I'd budget at least $750 USD for that. Be sure it's "DOM" tube.

G'luck!

Enjoy Every Sandwich ~ W.Z.
April 4, 2009 12:44 p.m. André Rousseau Reader

Totally read you...

Most of my figures are CND$, so it would almost make sense to do a "road" trip and go hunting for my kit when I'm ready to rock.

I'll have to review VARAC's rules wrt to cells.

And yeah I'm with you on the budget racer thing.

I'm just running figures up. Seeing if there is a balance between a used racer vs building one... Yeah I know used is going to be cheaper, but figure some stuff would just have to be replaced regardless.

A.

1968 Triumph GT6 Mk1
April 4, 2009 12:50 p.m. André Rousseau Reader

11.9 Fuel Cells Fuel cells are mandatory on all VARAC eligible cars with the exception of Pre-War and some G70+ vehicles. A Fuel Cell is defined as consisting of an inner bladder/tank, manufactured to FIA FT3 specification, or better, approved fuel cell foam and a metal container as specified herein. A Fuel Tank is defined as consisting of a crosslinked polymer tank intended for use as a fuel tank in a race car, approved fuel cell foam and a metal container as specified herein. G70+ cars built from a production road car, model year 1982 or later, may use a Fuel Cell/Tank as specified above, OR, if a minimum of 30 cm of the original structure surrounding the stock Fuel Tank is retained, and this structure is welded to the adjacent tubular steel replacement frame members, the stock tank may be used. Fuel cell foam may be added to the stock tank. The dimensions and capacity of Fuel Cells are free unless otherwise specified by Class, Series or Supplementary Regulations. The installation of more than one Fuel Cell is permitted.
11.9 Fuel Cells Fuel cells are mandatory on all VARAC eligible cars with the exception of Pre-War and some G70+ vehicles. A Fuel Cell is defined as consisting of an inner bladder/tank, manufactured to FIA FT3 specification, or better, approved fuel cell foam and a metal container as specified herein. A Fuel Tank is defined as consisting of a crosslinked polymer tank intended for use as a fuel tank in a race car, approved fuel cell foam and a metal container as specified herein. G70+ cars built from a production road car, model year 1982 or later, may use a Fuel Cell/Tank as specified above, OR, if a minimum of 30 cm of the original structure surrounding the stock Fuel Tank is retained, and this structure is welded to the adjacent tubular steel replacement frame members, the stock tank may be used. Fuel cell foam may be added to the stock tank. The dimensions and capacity of Fuel Cells are free unless otherwise specified by Class, Series or Supplementary Regulations. The installation of more than one Fuel Cell is permitted.

Guess I need an FIA tank.

1968 Triumph GT6 Mk1
April 4, 2009 1:14 p.m. André Rousseau Reader

Checking out the safe-quip site.

Only issue with the helmet I see is it does not show if it is compatible with the Hans hardware.

1968 Triumph GT6 Mk1
April 4, 2009 11:07 p.m. dougie New Reader

Andre,

Niels makes alot of good points. I agree with the fuel cell vs. fire supresent system.

I have a Fuel Safe cell and a hand held fire extinguisher.

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April 6, 2009 9:16 a.m. OFracing New Reader

Andre, No one is cheaper than my wife but I come in a close second, (ask my crew). With race gear I'll spend what I need to but I'll spend lots of time researching the best deal. The lowest price isn't the only factor, I just ask myself what happens if this part fails at speed?

That being said, there are deals out there. I got my 8 gallon ATL cell for my Spitfire new on eBay from ATL. They regularly run scratch and dent sales on new cells there. Mine had a bent flange on one corner that I was able to bring back in shape in 5 minutes with a hammer and dolly. I saved over $100 from the price of a new one and it has a full warranty. I had to bid on 2 or 3 of them to get the price I wanted but I'd do it again.

For suits and helmets look here, the gForce outlet center. You can get some good deals if you have the time. I picked up a 3 layer SiFI 3a/5 for under $170 shipped last spring. I did some poking around and found the thicker suits, while not as comfortable actually have a longer burn through time than a shinny, lighter suit. There's something to be said for the additional thickness, it buys you more time to get out of the car when something happens. I had a rod go through the block at 100 MPH in a race spewing oil all over the headers. It didn't burst into flame until I slowed down for a corner but suddenly all that smoke turned into flame in the cockpit. I was busy driving the car, I didn't have the time to pull a handheld extinguisher out and put it out. I probably couldn't have done much with a hand held anyway, the fire source was in the engine compartment. My on-board system has nozzles in the engine, cockpit and trunk (fuel cell) and kept things under control until I drove to a flag station to finish putting it out.

The SA2005 Bell helmet I had to buy this summer already had holes drilled in it for a HANS type device. I don't have an approved device yet, I've been using a Hutchinson device for years but I'm planning on getting one this year, SVRA/HSR is requiring a 38.1 compliant system starting this summer and SCCA won't be far behind.

Mike

Some links:

G force outlet store http://www.gforceoutlet.com/

I also got Kart helmets for the kids at the Bell Helmet outlet store. Bell Helmet closeouts http://www.thebellstore.com/Auto/05closeout.html

63 Spitfire
April 6, 2009 6:39 p.m. André Rousseau Reader

Thanks Mike.

A.

1968 Triumph GT6 Mk1
April 10, 2009 3:38 p.m. Jensenman SuperDork

Right now I'm running a polymer fuel cell (that's a tank in the description you posted) and a handheld extinguisher, but I'm doing Solo I and Solo II, not wheel to wheel. It is separated from the driver by a metal bulkhead which meets the SCCA rules. The new car I'm putting together will have a similar setup.

I have been looking into onboard fire systems fro the same reason OFRacing posted and the Firecharger system is pretty intriguing. The 2.3 liter system is $199.00 US through Pegasus and it is suposed to support up to 3 nozzles. It's an AFFF system meaning it has water in it and as such must be protected from freezing. That's not a big deal down here but up there it might be a problem.
April 10, 2009 7:36 p.m. André Rousseau Reader

Freezing lines. Yep, thats an issue.

A.

1968 Triumph GT6 Mk1