T/SA do you need SFI coat and pants?

[Ed Fernandez]

Originally Posted by Robert Swartz

My .02 on safety gear. In any kind of car deemed quick, let's use the 11 second barrier to determine that. At a minimum. good helmet, certified jacket, maybe even a neck collar, probably consider pants and maybe even shoes. When we first started tinkering with the Achieva, I raced just like we did in the 70's, in a t-shirt. Godawful slow car, what could happen?

A bracket racer changed my mind. This was at an 1/8 track mind you. His comment, your car runs mid 10's, what if the car in the opposing lane is running in the 5's. If he gets out of control and hits you, what happens then? That following Monday, I ordered a new jacket and dug up a helmet, since upgraded to a new helmet. Oh, my wife also bought me a neck collar. I can live with the chuckles. I'm old enough to be past the "manly man" crap.

My thought on the belts, if you are going to the trouble of putting a rollbar in a car. Why wouldn't you put the proper belts in? I can see Jack's point there.

You got it right.When I sold Eric the car he told me his daughter and down the road maybe his son would be driving him.I made him promise he would put a 6 point in the car.My reason was irregardless of the fact the car ran mid 13s the mustangs at the time were running around 140 mph.How fast are they going now?There weren't many when I ran the car,now they're like flys attracted to you know what.BTW Eric went one better and caged the car,so belts,helmet and clothing are mandatory now.

[Bobby DiDomenico]

Originally Posted by Ed Fernandez

You got it right.When I sold Eric the car he told me his daughter and down the road maybe his son would be driving him.I made him promise he would put a 6 point in the car.My reason was irregardless of the fact the car ran mid 13s the mustangs at the time were running around 140 mph.How fast are they going now?There weren't many when I ran the car,now they're like flys attracted to you know what.BTW Eric went one better and caged the car,so belts,helmet and clothing are mandatory now.

Ed,
Many years back I was racing a bone stock 13 second car slowed down to 19+ seconds. In the finals at our local track was against a 9 sec small block Vega. When the drivers father came over and told me to "be sure and stay in my lane because he would be coming fast" I guessed they really didn't understand which car was less safe and it made me think maybe I needed way more protection in the event they hit me and I couldn't get out of the car. (Especially at a local track compared to a national event)

I guess when the tech guy told me he didn't think my factory battery with the factory hold down in the factory location was safe while the car next to us started up in gear and took off after passing tech the light had begun to come on about safety. Having always used a full face helmet (from my first bike riding days) except my current open face auto helmet. I always feel exposed in it and will go back to a full face helmet on this next one.

[Eric Merryfield]

Originally Posted by Bobby DiDomenico

Ed,
Many years back I was racing a bone stock 13 second car slowed down to 19+ seconds. In the finals at our local track was against a 9 sec small block Vega. When the drivers father came over and told me to "be sure and stay in my lane because he would be coming fast" I guessed they really didn't understand which car was less safe and it made me think maybe I needed way more protection in the event they hit me and I couldn't get out of the car. (Especially at a local track compared to a national event)

I guess when the tech guy told me he didn't think my factory battery with the factory hold down in the factory location was safe while the car next to us started up in gear and took off after passing tech the light had begun to come on about safety. Having always used a full face helmet (from my first bike riding days) except my current open face auto helmet. I always feel exposed in it and will go back to a full face helmet on this next one.

Hi all,

Thanks for the suggestions etc. As Ed pointed out, the Gremlin is likely the only fully caged T/SA car on the planet....Tom even put on a fitting for a net, when/if the need arises...As Ed envisioned a couple of years back, the Cobra Jet running her down at 140 Plus did happen in round 2 at LV at the divisional.....If the unspeakable happened, she had a chance with that cage......She has always run the suit and pants(I didn't let her know she didn't have too), and Joe Santangelo's old open face helmet. I am going to upgrade her to a full face next year, and have her pass the lucky open face down to her 16 year old brother who will be getting his feet wet next spring......Once the boy puts the old helmet on its "ruined" for her!

Eric

[boostedf22c]

You have plenty of race cars for the whole family. You need to get Rayna in one too!