Showing posts with label Racing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Racing. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Tips for Buying a Racing Suit

Sabelt is an Italian motor racing accessories company which produces specialist race seats, seat belts, racing steering wheels, racing harnesses, gloves, boots, and helmets, as part of a wide range of motor racing equipment and accessories.

Over the past thirty years, the company has developed a philosophy for excellence, which has seen the company bring a wide and diverse range of high-performance, top-quality safety products to the market.

Despite the firm's relative youth, Sabelt has supplied racing suits to many of Grand Prix Racing's World Championship-winning drivers, and has been supplying several of the leading Grand Prix Teams with racing accessories for years.

Alongside its range of Racing Suits, Sabelt also produces a range of quality karting suits. Karting is a low-cost open-wheel motorsport, often seen as a bridge or stepping stone to the higher and more competitive echelons of motor sport such as the junior open-wheeled formula. It is regarded as the de facto training ground for every aspiring racing driver, and Sabelt provides the market with some of the best quality karting suits available - offering supple comfort with maximum safety. Indeed, they are a leading supplier for many of the dominant karting teams.

Over the last three decades, Sabelt has also become a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of fireproof clothing - and specifically racing suits. The company manufactures top-quality garments, each of which is designed to confirm to FIA regulations for fireproof racewear. The suits are comfortable too - many have twin layers, which easily exceed FIA specifications - yet their weight is considerably less than the cheaper, less well-design suits supplied by other manufacturers. For karting applications, many of Sabelt's racing suits even come complete with plastic laminated inners, handy for use in wet weather racing situations. Both Sabelt's racing and karting suits tend to include comfort padding on the shoulders and around the lower back, as well as the elbows and knees, in order to provide as much comfort - as well as safety - as is possible.

Of course, Sabelt's biggest selling point is the attention to detail, and quality, that they put into designing and manufacturing their racewear. For instance, the company produces nomex underclothes which will further help reduce the burning of skin in the event of a fire. All of Sabelt's fireproof products - from gloves to shoes, from socks to race suits - are thoroughly tested in some of motor racing's most rigorous fire situations. This mark of quality ensures that with a Sabelt race suit, you are always well protected.

Mode Racewear is a leading supplier of racing seats, race bucket seats and racing harnesses, and stocks a range of racing seats by Sparco, Corbeau, Cobra and Recaro.

Mode Racewear is a Silverstone-based company, supplying quality Race Suits and other racing accessories. To find your top-quality racing suit check our our website or call us on 01327 858349 today!

(c) Mode Racewear. All Rights Reserved.


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Tips for Buying a Racing Helmet

Any motor racing driver will tell you the importance protecting the head during an accident. Even the slightest knock, scrape or bump can result in life-changing consequences - if not death. It is not without reason that the motor racing helmet is - by a significant margin - the most important piece of motor racing safety equipment.

Regardless of the class or type of racing you are entering - from the highest echelons of F1 and Indy racing, right through to the dozens of Clubman Series, crashing at speed can and, in many cases will, cause serious injury unless adequate head protection has been put in place.

This article will look at how to protect your head whilst racing.

First up, you'll need to read, learn and understand the safety regulations for your specific racing series, and the safety regulations for the individual courses and circuits that you will be competing at. As part of this, and before stepping foot in the car, you'll need to have taken some time out to research the various race helmet suppliers and model types.

Whilst looking for helmet suppliers and helmet types, always look for an MSA / FIA certification mark. The FIA and MSA test and approve all types of racing helmets, from go-karting helmets through to those used in Grand Prix racing. If the helmet you are looking for does not meet the MSA or FIA standard set out in your racing rules and regulations, buying it will be a waste of time, effort, and money!

With the helmet models shortlisted, you'll then need to ensure that the helmets you are choosing from are used only for the type of racing that they have been approved for. For instance, helmets designed for closed-cockpit racing (such as saloon car racing) will differ greatly in design (and price) from motorcycle racing helmets. In the event of an in-car fire in a closed-cockpit saloon car racer for example, a motorcycle helmet could very well prove more harm than good, as its specifications are unlikely to allow for much protection in the event of a fire.

Also remember to ensure the helmet fits correctly. Use size tables to ensure that the helmet does not rock backwards or forwards when it is fitted. If it's too small, it will not fit and, importantly, if it is too large it may do more harm than good in the event of an accident.

Lastly, consider whether or not your helmet will require the fitment of a head and neck restraint system (or HANS device). These are increasingly a compulsory fitment at many of the larger UK circuits - so even if you are not required to have one now, bear in mind that regulations change year to year, and that you may be forced to buy one in the near future, if you are to continue competing. Therefore, despite the current regulations, it may be wise to ensure your helmet is HANS device-compatible!

Mode Racewear is a leading supplier of racing seats, race bucket seats and racing harnesses, and stocks a range of racing seats by Sparco, Corbeau, Cobra and Recaro.

Mode Racewear is a Silverstone-based company, supplying quality Race Helmets and other racing accessories. For top-quality Karting Helmets check our our website or call us on 01327 858349 today!

(c) Mode Racewear. All Rights Reserved.


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Monday, June 27, 2011

Tips for Buying the Right Racing Seat

If you intend to go motor racing this year, you'll need to consider buying a racing seat. There are a huge range of companies out there which supply racing seats, whether you ultimately intend to use the car for racing, track days, road use, or a mixture of the above. One thing to have in mind is that the price of any two racing seats will vary tremendously according to their relative specifications - and, most notably, the materials used in their construction. Indeed, prices range from around ?100 GBP up to several thousand, depending on the specific manufacturer or brand, and on the specification.

In the main, the seats are designed with universal fittings. Essentially this means that the seats have not been specifically designed for any one road or race vehicle in particular, and can instead be installed to a wide range of road and race cars with relative ease. The manufacturers of race seats achieve this by designing and supplying different seat rails (the mounting brackets) for different models of road and race car. This removes the need for the seat itself to be customised for each different type of vehicle.

Certain racing seats use side-mount brackets which are fixed to the side of the seats, and allow it to slide forwards and backwards freely according to each driver's requirements. Alternatively, other race seats sit on top of running rails, which are bolted in place underneath the seat. In the latter case, be extra cautious if you intend to purchase the seat and the rails separately, as they may not be 100% compatible. In any case, the majority of race seats are sold as packages, which include the mounting brackets (and associated fixings) so this will not be a major concern in most cases.

Next, after you have made a decision over the preferred mounting type and budget, you'll need to decide over which restraining device (or seat belts) are required. If you are going to take the car racing, this requirement will most likely have been made for you by the MSA, the FIA, or the rules governing your specific racing series. Factory-fitted belts may suffice in the short term, but it is highly likely that you will need to upgrade to a full racing harness at some point as your racing career develops. Remember, racing seat belts provide significant improvements in lateral support - this is needed to help keep you in place during high-speed corners. In general, you'll probably want to budget for a 4 or 5 point racing harness if you intend to take part in anything but the most basic events.

The final consideration will be the comfort level you need to achieve from the seats - and this will largely be determined by where, when, and how often you intend to use the vehicle. If the car is to be used solely for racing, a common mistake is to discount comfort as unimportant. Remember that you'll probably want to use the car on the road from time to time (even driving to and from race events, depending on your budget). Try out a couple of different designs from your short-list, and then work out which is best according to your use of the car - be it on track, off track, or both.

Mode Racewear is a leading supplier of racing seats, race bucket seats and racing harnesses, and stocks a range of seats by Sparco, Corbeau, Cobra and Recaro.

Mode Racewear is a Silverstone-based company, supplying quality Racing Seats and other racing accessories. For top-quality race seats check our our website or call us on 01327 858349 today!

(c) Mode Racewear. All Rights Reserved.


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Racing Seats - A Guide To Installation

In this article, we look at how to install racing seats to your road car. Please remember that these instructions are a guide only, and that racing seats should always be installed by an industry professional or at least an experienced individual who has installed bucket seats before.

Racing seat installation part one - Removing the standard seats

You'll need to begin by removing the standard seats from your car. Non race seats are usually secured in by the use of four bolts - two at the front of the seat and two at the rear of the seat. Start with the rearward two bolts - you will need to take off any plastic coverings first, and then undo the bolts using a socket set or spanner. As a safety precaution, remember to adjust the rake of the seat itself, so that it does not topple over once the bolts are undone.

With the rearmost two bolts removed, you'll need to lean the seat backwards - before undoing the remaining front bolts. At this point, remember to undo any electrical connections that were wired in to the original standard seat (including any wires used to control the seat's movement, or a built-in seat heater).

Removing the seat from the car can be a little tricky and is best attempted with two people. Roll the seat onto its side, then proceed to swing the seat out through the door base-first. Now that the seat has been removed from the car, you'll want to take a look at where the seat belt socket is mounted. On modern cars, these are covered by plastic shrouds - you will need to remove these using a screwdriver before moving on. The next stage is to remove the seat belt retaining bolt - the one holding the seat belt socket in place. Bear in mind that this will be a large, long bolt - you may be turning it for some time!

Racing seat installation part one - Fitting the new racing seats

Start by assembling the bracketry and any adjustment sliders which came with them. These metal brackets and sliders will allow you to mount and to adjust it (forward and backwards) according to driver height / preference.

Next fix the bracket to your seat before putting the whole assembly into the car. Remember to test the location - check whether you like the height from the floor, and length from the pedals. In the vast majority of cases, the new bracketry will not automatically fit into the existing holes from the previous, standard seats. Seats are designed to fit all sorts of makes and models of car, so in most cases you'll need to drill new ones after you've tested and found your preferred seat location. You'll need to attach the bolts loosely at first - bear in mind that it may take some force to get all four locating bolts in place. Be forceful, but not so forceful that the brackety is damaged.

Tighten all four locating bolts to the car, having passed any race harness belts through the loops as required. Job done.

Mode Racewear is a leading supplier of racing seats, race bucket seats and racing harnesses, and stocks a range of racing seats by Sparco, Corbeau, Cobra and Recaro.

Mode Racewear is a Silverstone-based company, supplying quality Racing Seats and other racing accessories. For top-quality race seats check our our website or call us on 01327 858349 today!

(c) Mode Racewear. All Rights Reserved.


View the original article here

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Remote Control Car Racing - Another Electronic Wonder

Racing has long been one of the most popular ways of recreation for people from all parts of the globe. Since ancient times, when racing activities such as horse and elephant racing were limited to the royals; the racing scenario has changed drastically, especially in the last few decades. Today, different types of racing are practiced motorbike racing, car racing, and F1 racing being the most followed ones. Unfortunately, not every racing enthusiast is blessed enough to pursue racing as a full time profession; this makes alternatives such as RC racing an ideal choice.

Wireless technology has greatly changed the scenario of model automobile racing segment. Thanks to innovations in remote control car parts by companies such as Traxxas, Hot Wheels and the likes; remote controlled automobiles have become significantly faster and easier to maneuver during the last few years. Remote controlled automobiles such as RC cars, RC boats and RC airplanes promise magnificent experience to speed racing enthusiasts and are ideal for people looking for an exciting activity to pursue.

Thanks to the popularity gained by RC automobiles; RC auto segment has flooded with innumerable names, making the task of choosing a suitable bargain extremely challenging. Thus, if you are planning to buy an RC auto, you should carry the info you need to make a suitable buy. To begin with, you must decide the seriousness of racing you are planning to pursue. As far as the top speed is concerned, you can find three variants in the market; nitro powered, gas powered and electricity powered, with nitro ones being the fastest, closely followed by gas ones.

For people serious RC speed racing, nitro RC automobiles are the ideal choice. These mean machines can reach a speed of up to 70mph by using nitro as the fuel. Their gas counterparts are capable of reaching a top speed of about 30-35mph. On the other hand, electric versions do a top speed of about 25-30mph or so. Among the three options available nitro models are the most expensive with electric ones at the other end. The main USP of electric RC racing automobiles is that unlike their fuel powered counterparts, they are very easy to maintain.

If you are thinking about buying an RC powered automobile, you can easily find numerous web based sellers offering a wide range of RC boats, RC cars RC airplanes, accessories remote control car parts, etc. You will be able find all possible replacement parts of RC automobiles at leading online stores offering RC racing equipment. Thanks to the extensive collection offered, no matter whether you need Tax's parts or a nitro fuel, you are sure to find what you are looking for.

The author is an experienced Content writer and publisher on the topics related to remote control car parts and traxxas parts.


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Racing Seats - How to Understand Racing Seat Sizes

In this article, we look at how to understand racing seat sizes and dimensions. Whilst the safety and comfort of racing seats are both vitally important, always remember that not all are created equal.

To an untrained eye, all racing seats are basically the same. Always remember however that there are specific dimensions that absolutely must be adhered to if peak performance is to be gained from their use.

The Motor Sport Authority is Britain's governing body for motorsport. The MSA has determined a set range of dimensions and designs which must be fully adhered to. For example, in addition to the height, width, and length of the seat, the MSA also specifies the number of fixing points which are required for it to be MSA-approved.

Each year the MSA publishes the 'blue book' in the UK - the national motorsports rulebook which determines, amongst many other things, the specific dimensions and specifications required for FIA-approved items. Many seat manufacturers - Corbeau, Cobra, Sparco, Recaro, and the like - know these rules as the 8855/1999 rules.

The rules dictate, for instance, that it must be securely fixed down to the car using - at the very least - four M8-guage 8.8 bolts, no less than 2cm apart. There are additional rules for different materials too, covering the three common seat materials - steel, plastic (fibreglass) and carbon fibre.

Carbon fibre seats have minimum dimensions too. Carbon fibre is an extremely thin fabric which is used widely in top-flight motor racing. Fabric layers are bonded together before being 'baked' to form an immensely strong material, which is also much lighter than steel. The width of the carbon seat at shoulder-height is 20 inches (22 inches at the base, with 18 inch sides). Carbon fibre seats are comfortably the lightest of all of them, with the cheaper fibreglass alternatives a close second (depending on how thick the plastic is).

Whatever the material, these seats differ hugely from standard car seats. Whilst they ultimately serve the same purpose - to keep the occupant seated in comfort and safety - the two could not be more different in specification, comfort, and safety. Some pseudo-race seats (commonly known as bucket seats) for example combine the comfort of a road seats (padded cushion bases, softer materials) with the bucket-style design of the out-and-out race seat. However, in all but the rarest of cases, these seats are not MSA-approved for racing.

Mode Racewear is a leading supplier of racing seats, race bucket seats and racing harnesses, and stocks a range of racing seats by Sparco, Corbeau, Cobra and Recaro.

Mode Racewear is a Silverstone-based company, supplying quality Racing Seats and other racing accessories. For top-quality race seats check our our website or call us on 01327 858349 today!

(c) Mode Racewear. All Rights Reserved.


View the original article here