KARTING (SAFETY) APPAREL

If you’re reading this you might be old enough to remember the days when you went hurtling down a hill in your soapbox kart wearing nothing more than a T-shirt, shorts and takkies. Well, those days are long gone and if you were to try that stunt today you probably wouldn’t even get past the start line because you weren’t meeting the safety requirements.

This applies even more so to modern day competitive karting as it’s a serious motorsport with speeds often approaching and even exceeding 100kph.

YOUR KART racing suit

Next in line to a racing helmet, your racing suit is probably one of the more important bits of safety kit that you require to compete in karting. They differ quite substantially from racing suits used in other forms of motorsport so let’s examine them in a bit more detail. Because there is no suspension or safety harness on a kart, the ride tends to be pretty harsh compared to other disciplines, and additionally the driver gets thrown about quite a bit when competing. In the unlikely event of a crash, there is also a possibility that the driver and kart part company and the driver ends up sliding on the rough surface of the track. Karting suits are therefore designed to not only be abrasion resistant, but also be lightweight and comfortable. It goes without saying that the lighter the suit, the more comfortable it will be and this allows the driver more freedom to concentrate on the task at hand viz. racing.

Unlike its main circuit counterpart, kart suits don’t require to be fireproof. So what do the MSA Regulations have to say on the matter?

Make it stand out

The GCR’s state that “*Kart suits which carry a valid CIK-FIA homologation (clearly indicated on the collar) will be deemed to be similarly approved by MSA for karting use only*”. The GCR’s also state that the suit must be “*One (1) piece kart suit with two (2) fabric layers of which the outer must comprise an approved fabric*”. These are listed as being Cordura or Nylon as an outer layer with a Cotton or similar material inner for comfort and moisture absorption. The Sporting Regs simply state that “*Karting suits must have a CIK homologation number or MSA approval*”.

SUIT CONSTRUCTION

There are two levels of CIK-FIA homologation viz. Level 1 and Level 2. Level 1 suits are usually made with a Nylon outer whereas Level 2 suits are usually made from Cordura which is lightweight and has a higher degree of protection against tears, scuffs and abrasions. Cordura is a synthetic fabric that is a blend of nylon with cotton or other natural fibres and its use produces a suit that offers excellent stretch, wicks away sweat, and is very breathable. Both of these grades of suits are designed to cover the entire body except for the head, hands and feet, and they will thus cover the neck area and are close fitting at the wrists and ankles as this prevents the ingress of wind into the suit when travelling at speed.
In order to be homologated by CIK-FIA, samples of both the Level 1 and Level 2 suits undergo stringent testing for abrasion, tearing and contact heat with the abrasion requirements for Level 2 being much higher. Abrasion exemption areas for either of them are as shown in the accompanying extract from the CIK-FIA specification.
**You can see our range of top level karting suits** **HERE**

SUIT FITMENT AND FEATURES

Having confirmed that the suit you are interested in purchasing meets the certification requirements and level of protection that you are happy with, it’s time to try it on for size. There are marginal differences in any given size from one manufacturer to the next, and because not everyone has the same body shape, there will always be some form of compromise. It’s not like you can take it to the local tailor for some minor mods so that it fits you perfectly.

Be sure that it is comfortable and fits nicely both height-wise and across your body width when you adopt a sitting position as you would be doing in a kart seat. Also check what features the suit incorporates e.g. mesh panels for cooling, soft inner lining, stretch panels, and floating sleeves as this all adds to greater comfort and flexibility..

FAKE PRODUCTS

When purchasing anything these days one always tries to get the best deal possible, but a word of warning to the uninitiated. Like many clothes that we wear on a daily basis, racing suits (as well as boots, gloves, etc.) are mainly manufactured in developing countries to exacting standards by factories appointed by the original equipment manufacturer. That said, there are many counterfeit products around that even display manufacturer logos and CIK-FIA patches, albeit that they are fake. These rip-off’s may not only contain inferior materials, but are also usually of inferior construction.

Don’t be tempted to go buying stuff via website auctions or from private sellers at greatly reduced prices. Rather stick to reputable racing outlets that source their stocks from vetted manufacturers and sell well-known branded products such as Alpinestars, OMP, Puma, Sparco, etc. Also bear in mind that should you be importing goods you’ll need to take into consideration the shipping costs, customs duty, and VAT. Some products, particularly those made of materials such as cotton and the like will probably be viewed by customs officials as ‘clothing’, and anything falling into that category carries an eye-watering 40% duty because South Africa is trying to protect local industry. Don’t go bleating when the courier knocks on your door with a hefty bill because having read this, you are now aware of the fact.

RACING BOOTS

The only requirement stated in the Regs is that “Boots and socks must be worn adequate to cover and protect the ankles”. When purchasing a new set remember to take into consideration the size and comfort, what material they are made of, what closure system is used, and what other features may be incorporated into the design. Kart specific race boots are designed with very thin soles in order to give the driver precise throttle feel.

Size and comfort are vitally important –

Too tight a fit and not only could they be uncomfortable but may hinder blood flow to the feet. Also remember that you’ll be wearing socks that cover the ankle when racing, so have them to hand when test fitting a new pair of boots. Conversely, if the boot size is too large, your feet will slide around and that’s a dangerous situation.
The more expensive racing boot uppers are usually made from some form of soft leather which is very durable whilst their less expensive counterparts feature some form of soft suede, and both may also make use of composite materials on some parts of the boot. For the closure system, laces, Velcro fasteners, or a combination of both are used. Velcro straps are easier to open and close than regular laces, and they have the added advantage that the boot remains tight on the foot – in the long run it’s simply a matter of preference. Your feet can easily sweat on a hot day so it’s important to wear socks that are absorbent.

To aid foot comfort, breathable perforations are often incorporated into the boots. In all instances the sole of the boot needs to not only be flexible but thin enough so as to provide good feedback via the pedals under race conditions. This also reduces the overall mass of the boots. Usually some form of thickened rubber is incorporated around the heel area because one’s heels are continuously resting or rubbing on the floor pan of the kart and this extra rubber provides additional abrasion resistance and protection. Unlike the song, these boots ain’t meant for walking, and are easily damaged if not treated correctly. Remember that boots which exhibit tears, holes, etc. aren’t allowed to be used and you also won’t be allowed to race if you get caught not wearing socks.

You can see our range of top level karting boots HERE

NECK BRACES

CIK-FIA approved karting helmets are not equipped with studs that allow for a frontal head restraint (FHR) system to be fitted and hence some other form of neck protection system is required. These vary in price with the most basic being a simple foam collar mainly used at the entry level classes, to more anatomically shaped collars, right up to the more expensive Leatt neck brace that offers a high degree of protection. The intended objective of any neck brace is to prevent excessive forward, rear, and sideways head movements, minimize spinal column compression due to axial forces transmitted via the helmet, and also limit the amount of rearward movement between the helmet plus head with respect to the neck.

All of the various types of neck braces are fitted into the gap between the shoulders and the underside of the helmet. In the event of a collision, any of these designs of neck braces will achieve some or all of the objectives and reduce the chances of whiplash and neck damage with varying degrees of success, so it’s entirely up to you to choose one that suits your requirements and wallet.

You can see our range of top level karting neck braces HERE

GLOVES

Once again, let’s look at what the regulations have to say on the matter. The MSA Karting Sporting Regs simply state that gloves must cover the hands completely, but the CIK-FIA Technical Regs go a tad further by saying…

You can see our range of MINUS 273 Gloves HERE and our SPARCO Gloves HERE

RIB / CHEST PROTECTORS

One only needs to have a chat to some of the karters who have been in the game for some time to find out that the chances of you injuring your ribs in competitive karting is not that uncommon. The FIA continuously monitors karting accidents and injuries that were sustained. What became obvious is that injuries are largely as a result of impacts with flat or curved surfaces, impacts against the seat or steering wheel, or contact with a sharp object such as a steering column.

The use of rib protectors (sometimes referred to as chest protectors) and typically as shown in the picture, greatly reduces the chance of injury as they are capable of absorbing energy, avoiding localized pressure, and are largely resistant to penetration. When racing in Europe and the rest of the world there is a move to also incorporate protection that includes a breast plate as compulsory.

You can see our range of top level karting chest protectors HERE

OTHER SAFETY ITEMS

Other additional protective items which come in handy and that you may wish to consider using include elbow and knee pads to protect those areas from knocks. Don’t go skimping on aspects relating to your safety and end up being another addition to the “if only I had …” brigade.

Emile McGregor - MSA Technical Consultant

where to buy

You can find a full range of the very latest ARAI, SPARCO, EVS, JECKO and HedTec helmets and apparel approved Internationally by the FIA for youngsters and adults for both Karting and Main Circuit Racing in the ANGRiRacing showroom HERE