[Fot] the danger of fire and cool shirt systems

[Rocky Entriken]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rocky Entriken" <rocky at spitfire4.com>
To: "Scott Janzen" <s.janzen at comcast.net>; "'Friends of Triumph' Triumph" 
<fot at autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, June 14, 2010 6:08 PM
Subject: Re: [Fot] the danger of fire and cool shirt systems


> Hmmmm. My last race a couple weeks ago it was really hot so I decided to 
> go out without the Nomex underwear, just the multi-layer suit. After 
> reading that story I may never do that again (my previous season I did 
> four races in 100+ weather with full gear on -- not so bad really, 
> especially when impound greets you with a cold washcloth and a cup of 
> water).
>
> Got no answers on cool shirts. Never tried one. But I've always made sure 
> my bottom layer (regular underwear and socks under the Nomex undoes) was 
> 100% cotton, not polyester. I understand the cotton layer is worth another 
> 3-4 seconds of protection.
>
> Arm restraints ... me too. Always wondered why they didn't just put metal 
> D-rings on them. I saw someone put the cloth loops over the ends of the 
> shoulder harness, so I tried it. Didn't like it. I decided that was harder 
> to get loose then when I hooked them on the lap belt. My cuffs slip on, 
> like yours, and I wear them up around the elbows and will slide off easily 
> (but in an emergency escape that's an extra move). Makes me wonder about 
> the guys who have them sewn to their driver suits. BTW, you can get window 
> nets that are a finer mesh instead of inch-wide straps.
>
> --Rocky Entriken
>  GP (okay HP now) Spitfire
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Scott Janzen" <s.janzen at comcast.net>
> To: "'Friends of Triumph' Triumph" <fot at autox.team.net>
> Sent: Monday, June 14, 2010 4:28 PM
> Subject: [Fot] the danger of fire and cool shirt systems
>
>
>> I've been thinking about getting a Cool Shirt (water cooled shirt
>> system) to keep from getting over-heated in my GT6 coupe, which I tend
>> to do any time the temperature is over 65.  I read this article on the
>> Miata fire, and am pondering whether, in the disastrous event of a
>> fire, having water which can vaporize into steam, and/or plastic lines
>> on the shirt which can melt,  near my skin is more hazardous than it's
>> worth.  Has this ever been addressed - does SCCA allow these systems,
>> and if so, how is it reconciled with the requirement to wear fire-
>> retardant materials?
>>
>> On a related thought, I also use arm restraints.  One end of these
>> slips over the lap belt component of the harness.  If I had to make a
>> quick exit, these things basically don't just slip off, either from my
>> wrists or from the belts.  Is there a better way to anchor these?  I
>> don't like the idea of a window net in lieu of arm restraints because
>> it blocks visibility to the side mirror.
>>
>> On Jun 12, 2010, at 4:14 AM, Chuck Arnold and/or Kathleen Kelley wrote:
>>
>> For any of you who have not seen the article about the guy in the
>> Miata and
>> the fire escape he made at the 25 hours race at Thunderhill -- you owe
>> it to
>> yourself to follow the link below and read the article and then prepare
>> yourself -- I sure got a good lesson
>> Chuck
>>
>> http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/articles/fighting-fire/
>>
>>
>> Chuck Arnold and Kathleen Kelley