We all need the best safety equipment we can find. That is true whether your kit or component car ever sees the track or not. It is even more crucial, though, if you test yourself and your car in race conditions. If professional race car drivers use the best equipment out there, it stands to reason that non-pros should do the same. Professional drivers race at tracks that have the best safety crews with the latest fire fighting and rescue equipment. There are onsite medical teams and helicopters waiting to whisk the injured away to the nearest hospital.
The amateur driver does not have all of that available when he is racing at his local track. For that reason, the amateur racer, perhaps, needs even more protection.
Safety equipment is an insurance policy and a wise investment. When you factor in the cost of a stay in a hospital burn ward, a few extra hundred dollars for better safety gear does not sound like a bad idea.
Below, we offer some personal safety items from a clothing and helmet perspective. For fuel cells, seatbelts, harnesses, restraints, and seats, check out the accompanying Buyer's Guide.
Helmets
The first piece of safety equipment that all bona fide racing groups require is a helmet. Look for a helmet that has a Snell "SA" (sports application) rating. It is designed for auto racing. It provides excellent impact resistance and has a superior fire protection interior when compared to a Snell "M" (motorcycle) helmet. Both helmets may look the same, but the rating reveals the truth.
A close-faced helmet is not required but is recommended. Bob Booth at Bell Motorsports said, "Don't even consider an open-faced helmet. The reason for a closed-face helmet is to prevent injury. The lower potion of a closed-face helmet is not a chin protector. On impact, when the head comes forward, it is there to strike the breastbone or sternum and keep you from breaking your neck. You can run with the shield open in a closed car. On impact, the shield will have a tendency to close to keep flying glass and fire out of your face. I definitely recommend a contoured collar. We have a special high-density foam rubber collar that is 3 1/4 inches in front and carved down to 1 1/2 inches over the shoulders. It is contoured in the exact same shape as the helmet. It is not for comfort. It is designed to accept shock in any direction. It will stop neck injury and whiplash."
Drivers of closed cars often say they want an open-face helmet because it gives them better peripheral vision to see more of what is going on around them.
When you are driving at speed at the limit, you only want to be looking down the track. A closed helmet with a small eye port helps the driver to focus on driving, not looking at the girl in the bikini top sitting in the stands. Some manufacturers recommend using special driving glasses that are blue-blocking and horizontally polarized to prevent glare.
Clothing
Driver's suits are highly recommended. Ask any professional driver what he fears most and the answer will be "a fire." The sole purpose of a flame-retardant driver's suit is to protect against burns. For most safety equipment, there is an SFI rating. SFI (Safety Foundation Inc.) tests most safety equipment to set a standard for that piece of clothing or safety device. For driver's firesuits, there is an SFI-1 rating, which is a single layer of Proban or Nomex. A SFI -1 suit will give the driver 13 seconds before he receives a first-degree burn. A SFI-5, double-layer suit will offer 19 seconds of protection. A single-piece suit is recommended over a two-piece suit because the top jacket can become untucked from the pants exposing bare skin.