Driver's Suit Repair?

[DaveW]

I have a red Sparco suit. The breathable/stretchable outer layer of fabric around the back of the waistline has developed holes from wear. Photos below. The rest of the suit is in excellent condition.

I really don't want to just throw it away, so can anyone recommend a course of action to repair it (send it to Sparco, get fabric and thread to repair it, etc.)?

[JHerscher]

Hi Dave

I'd try Sparco first as the OEM. If no joy there, try these guys:

https://heroicracing.com/pages/repairs

No affiliation, no experience, just Googled "racing suit repair".

Based on your description, it should be a simple enough fix for a sewing room experienced in making safety gear. They should have the necessary supplies. (I'm in the sewn products business, just not driver suits)

I am not familiar with the construction of the Sparco suits, but I imagine the breathable panel is probably a knitted Nomex panel. That will likely need replacing. All restitching must be done with Nomex thread on all needles, loopers, and bobbins. Note that knit and elastic stitching will require some sort of a chainstitch or overlock to allow for stretch. A typical home sewing machine does not have that capability.

I would not expect it to be cheap, but it should be cheaper than replacing the suit.

An alternative might be Trackside Tim's. They make custom suits and might do a repair.

http://www.tracksidetim.com/

They have made my suits for the last 20+ years, good quality, and they know what they are doing.

Good luck
John

[DaveW]

Is Trackside Tim still in business? I heard he wasn't going to the track lately. I tried the link you gave, and it came up as "TurboJohn's".

Googling "racing suit repair" obviously worked better than "driver's suit repair" which is what I googled.

I contacted OG Racing (I bought the suit from them) to ask if they or Sparco could repair it. So I'm waiting for a response.

I also emailed "Heroic". We'll see what they say.

[Lotus7]

One of my customers showed up for a race without his suit.
Trackside Tim sold him a new suit at such a great price it might be an alternative to repairing the old one.

[BLS]

Is trackside Tim still in business? I heard he wasn't going to the track lately. I tried the link you gave, and it came up as "TurboJohn's".

I just emailed "Heroic". We'll see what they say.

Hope my memory is not failing me here
I believe Tim passed away a few years ago. The address is the Irmo SC location, so I think "TurboJohn" is the new owner. If they give the same level of support as before then no one will be better.

[EYERACE]

The trailer's the same.....and if it's at the track......then of course, all the stuff is too. I try to buy at the track thinking the more their gross at the track, the more the trailer is likely to show at the next event at same track.

[Steve Davis]

Trackside Tim's has been run by John Robinson since Tim died and Paula (Tim's wife) turned over the business to him (John). John has been using the TT name all this time and just last year created a new business name of his own - TurboJohn, LLC. Trackside has all the history, so it might be a pretty slow transition ... probably mostly for tax purposes. John has been at most SEDIV races that I've attended in the last 20 years and is still in business .. and responds to emails relatively quickly. If you go to TracksideTim.com, you'll see TURBOJohn's at the top of the page. He also responds to emails both at TT.com and 'John@TurboJohn.com' and has started up the transition on his new website at TurboJohn.com .. but it's still a WIP. John has long been the primary supporter of trackside parts for SEDIV (and other) race weekends. I have bought my last several custom driving suits from him as well as LOTS of other parts - helmets/belts/gloves/shoes etc. Help keep his business alive if you can .

Steve, FV80

[DaveW]

Got a response from "Heroic." They don't have the material they need to fix my suit. I asked them if they can repair it using the standard red Nomex.

I contacted TurboJohn. Maybe they can do something.

If all else fails, I'll get some red Nomex and take it somewhere to repair it with that.

[sccadsr31]

Dave,
I didn't read this complete tread but..
My first suit back in 1970 was made by a local seamstress using a Nomex suit kit I purchased out of a catalog. Since then I have had various repairs and always had patches sewed on using Nomex tread I purchased in various colors. The neck Velcro closures always seem to wear out and I had them repaired with Nomex Velcro.
The way I figured it the suit was my fire protection and I was not going to compromise it with combustible thread, but then I wore Nomex underwear under my 3 layer suit.


David

[Lotus7]

Just another thought. Is there any "loss of fire protection" for nomex over time due to ozone/sunlight and presumably many many washings since 2005?

[DaveW]

Just another thought. Is there any "loss of fire protection" for nomex over time due to ozone/sunlight and presumably many many washings since 2005?

I don't think so - see post #19.

This is one of 2 essentially identical suits I have - this is the older one.

[DaveW]

no longer makes or repairs suits.

Dixie has retired.

[DaveW]

will not work on it - it's more than 10 years old.

[TimH]

Just another thought. Is there any "loss of fire protection" for nomex over time due to ozone/sunlight and presumably many many washings since 2005?

Just get all the old grease, oil, gaffer's tape adhesive, and other combustibles out of it. Nomex turns crispy with enough heat anyway, so loss of structural integrity isn't an issue.

[DaveW]

Just get all the old grease, oil, gaffer's tape adhesive, and other combustibles out of it. Nomex turns crispy with enough heat anyway, so loss of structural integrity.

We wash it every race weekend with some soap/detergent made for driver's suits, so it's been kept pretty clean.

[EYERACE]

A comment by JR2 in the past made me think that after a lot of wash cycles - using cold water and a tiny bit of soap only - that the suit would not hold up in flames the same as a new suit. Conclusion: after enough years, a suit's not really the same from a flame time standpoint as the patch claims, your results may vary. Never wash a suit in hot water and never put in the heat of any drier. After using the very brief wash cycle setting in the washer, spin dry no heat in the washer more than once and then hang up to dry - turning inside out a couple of times > during the more than once no heat washer spin cycle and also the hang up sessions.
For what it's worth - I also will not wear single layer Nomex gloves, only double layer - if you ever meet up with me and are curious from this thread, ask me to show you "exhibit 1" - I buy double layer gloves at the track from the trailer

[TimH]

IIRC, firefighters switched to pbi when it came available, and now tend to CarbonX in their underwear. Nomex falls apart in fire. That's still a lot better than being a fuel...

[TedV]

TurboJohn (previously Trackside Tim)
no longer makes or repairs suits.

Dixie has retired.

this is most unfortunate as I require a skinny tall and was about to call John to inquire about a suit. ????

[DaveW]

Just another thought. Is there any "loss of fire protection" for nomex over time due to ozone/sunlight and presumably many many washings since 2005?

Quote:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Does Nomex expire? Is old Nomex any less fire retardant?

No. Fire retardance is an inherent property of Nomex, not a treatment or a coating. It will not fade away and can never wash out. BUT... that doesn't mean that a very old driver's suit is still a good choice!

Why not? If it was good enough for Mario in 1967...

First, there's mechanical wear. Abrasion, rips, pulled seams, stretched-out elastic, and worn-out Velcro can all compromise the integrity of a suit after a few years. Second, driver's suit design and construction have come a long way since then, both in terms of comfort and in terms of protection. A modern 3-layer suit can provide as much as five times the protection, while feeling infinitely cooler...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So, IMO, a well used SFI 3-2A/5 suit that is in good physical condition is still fine for protecting a driver from fire.

Full article: https://www.pegasusautoracing.com//d...ocID=TECH00126

[EYERACE]

Learn sumthin every day - thanks DaveW. I may be better protected than I thought

So, I guess your answer to the start of this thread is get a fairly big piece of red Nomex and some Nomex thread......go to your local Dry Cleaner who has a Semstress working there too.....and have 'em stich it over the worn spot(s)

Brave man there DaveW.......admits in public there's problems with your waistline huh?

[DaveW]

Learn sumthin every day - thanks DaveW. I may be better protected than I thought

So, I guess your answer to the start of this thread is get a fairly big piece of red Nomex and some Nomex thread......go to your local Dry Cleaner who has a Semstress working there too.....and have 'em stich it over the worn spot(s)

Brave man there DaveW.......admits in public there's problems with your waistline huh?

That's my current plan, as long as I can buy the fabric and thread - still searching and waiting for replies to inquiries.

[Bob Neumeister]

That's my current plan, as long as I can buy the fabric and thread - still searching and waiting for replies to inquiries.

Swan cleaners in Ohio say they have been cleaning and repairing driver suits for 40 years. might try them

[DaveW]

Swan cleaners in Ohio say they have been cleaning and repairing driver suits for 40 years. might try them

I emailed them - thanks for the tip !!

[Steve Demeter]

You might want to try Hinchman in Indianapolis

http://www.hinchmanindy.com/

[DaveW]

You might want to try Hinchman in Indianapolis

http://www.hinchmanindy.com/

I'll keep that in mind if my other inquiries come up empty.

[Steve Demeter]

Link to their repair stuff page

https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/pr...asp?RecID=8978

[DaveW]

Link to their repair stuff page

https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/pr...asp?RecID=8978

Thanks for the info, but I put in a request 2 days ago to be notified when it's back in stock. It's out of stock now.

[DaveW]

You might want to try Hinchman in Indianapolis

http://www.hinchmanindy.com/

I just emailed them to see if they'd sell me some Nomex fabric and thread.

[stonebridge20]

I just emailed them to see if they'd sell me some Nomex fabric and thread.

Dave, have you tried Pegasus?

I got nomex thread from them a bunch of years ago.

[Fred Michael]

Try Impact in Indy. They did a minor repair on my suit about 18 months ago

[DaveW]

Thanks for the info, but I put in a request to Pegasus last Friday to be notified when it's back in stock. It's out of stock now.

Dave, have you tried Pegasus?

I got nomex thread from them a bunch of years ago.

Pegasus says they'll have it back in stock 1-6-23. I also asked if I should order it now or wait until it comes in.

[DaveW]

Pegasus says they'll have it back in stock 1-6-23..

Pegasus just received the red Nomex fabric. So I ordered it and the required Nomex thread today. Should have it in a few days.

[ric baribeault]

a little envious. my original lite suit expires next week and looks nearly new. i haven't had nearly enough seat time to get a blemish, let alone wear a hole in it. Merry Xmas

[DaveW]

Why is it expiring? Does it not meet the GCR standards?

From the GCR:

C. Required Equipment

The following required equipment shall be in good condition and free of defects, holes, cracks, frays, etc.

1. Driving suits that effectively cover the body from the neck to the ankles and wrists. One piece suits are highly recommended. All suits shall bear an SFI 3.2A/1, SFI 3.4 or higher certification label or FIA 1986 Standard or FIA Standard 8856-2000 homologation label. Underwear of fire resistant material shall be used, but is optional with suits carrying an FIA Standard 1986 Standard or FIA Standard 8856-2000 label or SFI 3-2A/5 or higher (e.g., /10, /15, /20) certification label.

[DaveW]

Pegasus just received the red Nomex fabric. So I ordered it and the required Nomex thread today. Should have it in a few days.

Got the fabric and thread. That plus $30.74 at a tailor, and it looks like new. Before (right) and after (left) below: