Custom Driver’s Suit Suppliers, and Safety Gear

[E1pix]

Wow, I never thought I’d ever need to ask this — until buying our first car over this past week!

Not looking for a F1-grade suit, but do need a custom design built, with some logo embroidery. I have the luxury of a few months before needing it.

Budget is always of concern, but quality more so. AND, I go out of my way to support good people, and that’s more important than price (to a point).

Anyone have a good referral?

I’ll need a helmet, shoes, and gloves as well.

THANKS in advance.

[Charles Warner]

Not the cheapest, but I've had excellent service from Stand 21 for custom-made suits. I've also had great luck with off-the-rack OMP suits.

I've used Stand 21 for several helmets but have reverted to Bell.

Best gloves were OMP

[E1pix]

Thank You very much, Charles!

[JHerscher]

Very good experience with Trackside Tim for my custom suits. I am taller than most and off the rack suits are not the best fit.

http://www.tracksidetim.com/custom_designs.htm

Quite reasonable pricing and excellent quality

[DanW]

I don't know if Design500 still makes suits, check with Keith Averiill www.racing-stuff.com

Hinchman makes some excellent quality custom drivers suits.
http://www.hinchmanindy.com/

[E1pix]

Very good experience with Trackside Tim for my custom suits. I am taller than most and off the rack suits are not the best fit.

http://www.tracksidetim.com/custom_designs.htm

Quite reasonable pricing and excellent quality

Thank You very much, I’ll take a look!

[E1pix]

I don't know if Design500 still makes suits, check with Keith Averiill www.racing-stuff.com

Hinchman makes some excellent quality custom drivers suits.
http://www.hinchmanindy.com/

Thanks Tim, my race partner knows Keith well (as do we, a little), but I didn’t realize he carried such gear (admitted Newbie in this department). :-)

Thanks!

[cory mcleod]

I am in the process of getting a custom suit from Velocita USA. I've been very happy with their customer service so far and their prices are the lowest I've found for custom suits. They seem to specialize in suits with lots of logos. Based on questions I was asking and my needs, they even steered me to a $700 suit when I was ready to purchase the next model up ($1,100).

http://velocita-usa.com/

[ApexPerformance]

Wow, I never thought I’d ever need to ask this — until buying our first car over this past week!

Not looking for a F1-grade suit, but do need a custom design built, with some logo embroidery. I have the luxury of a few months before needing it.

Budget is always of concern, but quality more so. AND, I go out of my way to support good people, and that’s more important than price (to a point).

Anyone have a good referral?

I’ll need a helmet, shoes, and gloves as well.

THANKS in advance.

OMP makes very nice custom suits. They can do embroidery or the new printing feature that makes the suits very light weight. You can contact your closest dealer here....

https://www.ompamerica.com/en_us/dea...fhsf54r6uug8d6

[Tim Webb]

Had 3 Stand21 custom suits. Great service. Great quality, but it ain't cheap.

[Mike B]

I've never considered a custom suit, mostly because I'm cheap. What are the advantages over an off-the-shelf suit?

[TimH]

I've never considered a custom suit, mostly because I'm cheap. What are the advantages over an off-the-shelf suit?

Some folks need extra fitting. A suit that's too big somewhere and too small somewhere else just isn't as comfortable.

OTOH, a custom suit that fits beautifully can get too tight really fast...

[E1pix]

I am in the process of getting a custom suit from Velocita USA. I've been very happy with their customer service so far and their prices are the lowest I've found for custom suits. They seem to specialize in suits with lots of logos. Based on questions I was asking and my needs, they even steered me to a $700 suit when I was ready to purchase the next model up ($1,100).

http://velocita-usa.com/

Thanks, Cory, website looks great and I like their approach on it — and how they‘ve treated you.

I take it you’re getting a Team Suit?

THANKS!

[E1pix]

OMP makes very nice custom suits. They can do embroidery or the new printing feature that makes the suits very light weight. You can contact your closest dealer here....

https://www.ompamerica.com/en_us/dea...fhsf54r6uug8d6

Have to admit I got a chuckle out of the “closest dealer” concept. We live on the road so in our case it’s “Which week?” ;-)

But I have heard good things about OMP, and very much appreciate the input!

[E1pix]

Had 3 Stand21 custom suits. Great service. Great quality, but it ain't cheap.

Thanks Tim, on the list now!

[E1pix]

I've never considered a custom suit, mostly because I'm cheap. What are the advantages over an off-the-shelf suit?

Thanks Mike!

In my simple interp, “custom” just means “built with whatever graphics I come up with,” not about special sizing.

But I’m sure a guy who’s 6-foot and 99 lbs. won’t find anything that fits.

Appreciate the input!

[E1pix]

Some folks need extra fitting. A suit that's too big somewhere and too small somewhere else just isn't as comfortable.

OTOH, a custom suit that fits beautifully can get too tight really fast...

You raise a new point of consideration, Tim!

My last kart suit fit fine, and was also custom, but could get snug. To wit, “Time to fast!”

I really appreciate the thought, and it’s in the cerebral archives now.

The extreme of course was Jacques Villeneuve, his suits defined “baggy and oversized.” I’d think that extra material folded up all over would suck, but it sure worked for him! Off-topic, his dad is my lifetime Hero and there will be a Gilles helmet decal somewhere on our car (since FV is every bit as fast as F1 when doubling playback speed).

Thanks!

[Jim Edmonds]

I buy a custom suit through our Phoenix Simpson dealer Vicky Pond every two years. The advantages are:
1. I have long legs and long arms compared to "normal" humans. I'm told it's my orangutan dna.
2. I rather like four layer suits as formula fords burn on rare occasions. Often from not changing the fuel lines often enough.
3. I like a baggy suit as they are cooler in the Phoenix summers, even with the extra layers. Yes, we addicted drive through the summer.
4. Simpson has been very good in replacing Velcro for free when it wears out, or modifying the suit if it isn't right.

YMMV Have fun,

Jim Edmonds

[E1pix]

Hahaha, awesome, Jim! We, Um, think alike... run for the hills!!!

1. I’ve sent a gross of bananas as far as you know.
2. This one hits home. We travel full-time in a VW Westfalia, and first thing I tell the interested is “Change the fuel lines!”
3. I’m a bit heat-aversed, and even more I know I will struggle with Cen Div humidity. But no problems winter camping. Go figure. So I do wonder how to get over that. Am considering a cool shirt, any experience with that, anyone?
4. Awesome, good customer service seems to have left with the leaves. I truly care about who to support, and for me, it’s rarely just about saving a little money and supporting the wrong companies. Good ones deserve us.

THANKS for all the input, everyone!!!

[cory mcleod]

Thanks, Cory, website looks great and I like their approach on it — and how they‘ve treated you.

I take it you’re getting a Team Suit?

THANKS!

Yes - I am getting a Team Suit. They even let me customize one of the designs. I did get some bad news on Friday. My race team logo is based on a tartan plaid. I spoke to the owner about the logo because I've had trouble with embroidery places getting it right in the past. He said they can't do tartans. They've tried before and something about their embroidery process doesn't work with the plaids. No big deal to me. My current custom suit doesn't have the logo, so doing without it on the new suit is fine for a $700 suit.

Cory

[E1pix]

Thanks, Cory. That really is an astounding price!

I like the plaid concept... classic, as on Alan McNish’ helmet. Cool to have a name befitting that.

Few can even spell my last name, hence my username/website to come. But even there is trouble, one friend looked at it and asked “What’s ELpix?”

Thanks again.

[Farrout48]

3. I’m a bit heat-aversed, and even more I know I will struggle with Cen Div humidity. But no problems winter camping. Go figure. So I do wonder how to get over that. Am considering a cool shirt, any experience with that, anyone?
[/QUOTE]

CenDiv humidity???? HAHA I used to live in north Alabama. Moved to Ft Myers FL where the humidity is 10% higher than Alabama. We had 60% humidity this weekend and it was wonderful. More normal is 80% and higher. I wear a lightweight Sparco suit which is a lot cooler than my old OMP.

I ran a Cool Shirt in LeGrand and AMAC DSRs years ago. I was the test driver for Rich Shafer when he was developing the Cool Shirt and the smallish bag. It worked great on the grid which is where I really felt the effects. Once on track, the wind did the cooling so I did not feel the Cool Shirt as much but having the Cool Shirt was helpful in overall core body cooling. The drawback was that the Cool Shirt bag full weighed 12#. It all depends on having the room to store the supply/cooling system in your car.

[E1pix]

Thank You very much for the cool shirt info!

Product suggestions? Cost?

And Hahaha, we were raised in Wisconsin... but 42 years in the West now. Admitted prune. I can do 100 degrees and can stand 80%, but do two 80s and I’ma dying. Should probably train in the Amazon to get over it. ;-)

Thank You, Craig!

[Farrout48]

Looking at the CoolShirt.com website, the technology and choices have changed significantly in the last 15 years. My bag was similar to the MobileCool but it used ice/water and was wired into the car with an on/off switch I put on the dash. Now they have a lot of smaller systems with their endurance packs, lithium batteries, etc. Plenty of choices for you to choose from. Enjoy!

[E1pix]

Awesome, Thanks for the info, Craig!