racewear.co.uk - from your desktop to your doorstep

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:33:00 +0000

PRESS RELEASE

Budget eBay Bargain hits the Track!

Wiltshire racer Max Tyler is tackling one of the toughest motor races in the UK – at the wheel of a bargain Porsche he bought for £160 on eBay!

Max, who runs Racewear Ltd selling racing drivers’ clothing worldwide from offices in the Wiltshire village, originally bought the 1980 Porsche 924 as spares but then decided to have a go at building it into a racing car. It is now entered into the 360 Motor Racing Club’s demanding 6 hour race at Snetterton in Norfolk on 6^th May, racing against a variety of historic racing saloons and sports cars from Mini to Aston Martin.

“When the car arrived it had a smashed windscreen, mismatched doors, wouldn’t run properly and smelt like an old Labrador inside” he says. “But I could see there was potential, and perversely I wanted to prove that you can take part in quality motor racing for much less money than people think.”

The rebuild has taken eighteen months, and now the car is raring to go next weekend. Max has two co-drivers sharing race costs and has financed the build of the car personally.

“From the very beginning I set out to prove that a racing car is in the reach of everyone so I was determined to build it with money I had generated outside of the ‘day job’. By the end of the first month, I was in profit over the original cost by selling parts from the car on eBay and it’s continued like that! The fact that I can say ‘I’ve got a Porsche’ is an added bonus, and I do forget to mention it only cost £160!”

Max is not expecting overall honours but is looking for a good class position in the race. “It’s not a terribly quick car in absolute terms, but it’s a big, comfy old beast and if the famous German reliability sees us driving round and round for six hours we’ll be in with a shout at the end!” he comments.

“Project 160 for the 360” as it has been dubbed will make its race debut next weekend.

ENDS – 25^th April 2012

Notes for editors:

1. Further information from Max Tyler, 08452 604104 (day) or 07775 834341 (eve)

2. Photographs available

3. The 360 MRC Snetterton 6 Hour race is for saloon and sports cars over 21 years of age and takes place annually at the famous race circuit in Norfolk, attracting entries from all over the UK

Max Tyler

Racewear Ltd t/as racewear.co.uk

Britain'sonline racewear specialist - from your desktop to your doorstep

08452 604104 max@racewear.co.uk

Co No 6901214 Clackerbrook Farm, 46 The Common, Bromham SN15 2JJ

Focus On...Losing weight and choosing racewear!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 14:45:00 +0000

Every driver knows how being lighter generally means you can go faster - according to Karting Magazine, an added 10kg made driving a Rotax Max around 1% slower - take a peek at the full article it makes interesting reading:

Page 1 Page 2

There's no doubt that the more expensive racing suits help because they are not only better quality but also lighter. Recently we were sending out a couple to Europe and after weighing them for postage we noticed that the Puma Future Cat was about a kilo lighter than one of our entry-level FIA products - who wants to carry around an extra bag of sugar?

Modern, hi-tech racing overalls, boots and gloves are much lighter than traditional designs and while we can't promise to save you half-a-second per lap, if you're racing for long periods then the reduction in vibration, temperature and general stress can be considerable.

But weight saving isn't the only important factor, consideration should be given to the end use. For instance, a pair of Speed Racewear boots weighs in at just 750g compared to the Sabelt Base at 1050g but while racers can change out of their boots regularly, rally drivers and navigators can't so will appreciate the stronger sole of the rally-bred Base. Likewise with gloves, if you compete in an area where gloves continuously get dirty then price becomes important when you're replacing them regularly!

With racing overalls, the choice is even wider with prices ranging from under £100 to over £1000! We've covered this in an earlier blog, Focus on...racing overalls, which I hope will help you decide which overalls you need for your branch of the sport, and given below are some pointers to design features that may be useful:

Stretch panels on sleeves - the Speed Racewear Level 2 kart suit and the Sabelt Stratos FIA race suit both have stretch panels between the shoulders and the back of the sleeves which allow a bit more movement than the traditional "set in" style. By doing this they remove the need for pleats running from shoulder to waist, meaning there's less material, a reduction in suit weight and extra comfort for the wearer as you're not sitting back on folds of material
Fully floating sleeves - an option on the AWS Skyhawk and standard on the Sabelt SK1 kart suit. Here the sleeves are attached to the body by stretch fabric making 360 degree arm movement easier. This is a very popular choice
Lumbar stretch panels - the Puma Trionfo takes this to a new level, with the bottom part of the suit at the back being a stretch panel for extreme movement. Look out for anatomical cut, carefully-positioned seams and breathable fabric when making your choice

Bewildering isn't it? There's no substitute for advice - if you're the slightest bit concerned then please ring us on 08452 604104 and we can give you some unbiased help. Please give us as much information about you, your racing and your budget as you can, so that we can help you make the best choice. That's why we're "the specialists"!

See you on the grid!

Max Tyler
racewear.co.uk
08452 604104

Focus On...Puma Racewear

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:29:00 +0000

racewear.co.uk is proud to have been appointed an agent for PUMA racewear, and I thought it a great idea to give some background as to why it deserves a place in your wardrobe.

PUMA was founded in Herzeogenaurach, Germany in 1948 and is one of the world's largest suppliers of athletic footwear, clothing and accessories. PUMA claims its "four cornerstones" are heritage, sports performance, technological innovation and challenge and has kept true to those principles as it has diversified its brand image and products to become an "alternative" sports brand drawing on influences from sports, lifestyle and fashion. PUMA performance racing shoes were first used in the 1970s and 1980s, and the brand has grown through association with teams such as Ferrari and, latterly, Red Bull.

But enough of the marketing speak...what's special about PUMA for the racing driver?

"Trionfo" is the name used by PUMA for their top-of-the-range products and none more so than the Trionfo race suit.

Lightweight &; breathable satin Nomex 3 layer design offers better weight reduction, breathability, protection and durability than traditional 3-layer lightweight designs
Features Puma's "Extended Movement System" (EMS):

Stretch panels at the back of the arms replacing the soft knit gussets

Reduced weight of the upper arms/chest area

Further reduced bulk of Nomex around the critical shoulder/harness/HANS device

Increased air flow to the chest area

Strategically placed knit Nomex stretch panels located at the knees, calves, and kidney/lumbar areas improve both mobility and breathability
Forward seams for enhanced comfort in the car
Super flat grabstrap design for the ultimate HANS compatibility
Soft knit internal collar with satin outer stops migration under the HANS chest plate allowing safe and comfortable use of the HANS device

This is pro-quality racewear, with a price to reflect it! But if you want the best, then it costs. Further down the range the Future Cat and the Race Cat represent superb value for money for competitors racing in closed cars and/or hot climes.

For the very best in the PUMA range look for the name Trionfo, and that's true of the Trionfo Mid Pro II Race Boot as well! PUMA, with over 35 years of race footwear development, produces the most technically advanced state-of-the-art racing footwear and the PUMA Trionfo Mid Pro II is the most technologically advanced racing shoe ever produced for the professional driver:

Constructed of Schoeller canvas, soft suede, and Nomex lining
Superior transpiration, weight reduction, and increased fire protection (TPP40)
Asymmetrical lacing improves blood circulation, decreases lactic acid build-up (muscle fatigue), and improves heat dissipation within the foot
‘Tongue-less’ body design reduces weight while improving conformation to shape and movement of the driver’s foot
Carbon fibre heel stabiliser provides balance for heel-and-toe combined with a split heel design reduces weight, heat transfer, and vibration
FIA 8856-2000 and SFI 3.3/5 approved

Take a look round an F1 paddock, and you'll see many drivers wearing boots branded with other manufacturers' logos that look "surprisingly" like the Trinofo!

PUMA are also moving into karting clothing too! Drawing on their extensive experience, they have produced the PUMA Kart Cat, a Cordura/cotton 2-layer CIK/FIA Level 2 homologated suit combining high technical featurs with a fresh an cool design:

Full Movement System (FMS)
Knit panels on elbow and knee
Soft knit collar

Wherever you see the leaping cat, you know that PUMA will have given you an exceptional garment, so why not give them a try?

That's all for now - see you on the grid?

Max Tyler
racewear.co.uk
08452 604104

Focus On...Speed Racewear

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:57:00 +0000

Bit of a change this month, focussing on a brand rather than a collection of products - but we think Speed Racewear is worth it!

Introduced as a karting brand, the Speed Racewear range carries some great "crossover" products at wallet-friendly prices. We've sold plenty of this great quality racewear to circuit racers, rally drivers, speed eventers and even just for leisure wear...it's all about looking good, feeling great and not breaking the bank.

Speed Racewear karting boots are perfect for the club racer on a budget. Comfortable, practical and stylish, you can choose from the high style (left) or a mid-height version. There's even an FIA-homologated boot for those that venture into Europe! Check out the attention to detail such as the wrap-around heel and the velcro fixing straps.

If you don't need flame retardant overalls, Speed Racewear hits the spot again! Grass track, track days, powerboat racing and of course karting are all suitable places to wear the 1-layer and 2-layer Speed Racewear overalls. With the 2-layer carrying FIA/CIK homologation, we've got most options covered. Red, blue and black are available off-the-shelf and other colours/designs can be supplied to special order. These are particularly popular with indoor karting centres, and we can make to order with velcro fastenings instead of a zip. Details include stretch panels in the sleeves of the 2-layer version and contrast grab straps/belts - oh and there's kids' sizes as well.

New into stock is the Special Neck Protector. This is constructed of hi-impact expanded foam covered in a washable Cordura outer. Especially designed for karting, we can see this being of use to grass track and powerboat racers where the shock of the bumps on the helmet will be absorbed by the protector for a smooth ride.

So why not see what Speed Racewear can do to help you out? Don't forget items like rib protectors, racing gloves, and ECE helmets - and if there's something you think is missing from this "Crossover" brand, why not let us know? If you run a kart centre or retail outlet and would like to sell Speed Racewear, we'd love to hear from you - we've attractive discounts on all these products and more!

See you on the grid?

Max Tyler
racewear.co.uk
08452 604104

Focus On...Special Clothing

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:10:00 +0000

This month I thought I'd highlight the "something special" that you always promised yourself, and perhaps give you some ideas for yourself. While most retailers can offer you a choice of off-the-peg products limited to colours or styles that are the brainchild of corporate designers, racewear.co.uk is able to go one stage further and use its contacts with manufacturers around the world to produce "something special". We know what can be done, and we can help you turn your ideas into reality. Take a look at some of the interesting customers we've worked with recently:

A high profile powerboat racing star, wearing racewear.co.uk's overalls to victory around the world. Made to measure, custom designs that have to look as good on the podium as they perform in the boat - http://www.shelleyjory.com/

Special Proban overalls for rescue crews at circuits around the country, designed to give flame protection with special requirements for radios, equipment etc

http://www.castlecombecircuit.co.uk/

And there's more......Le Mans pit lane suits for a tabloid newspaper, promotional suits for a major oil company, karting suits for a blue chip computer giant and even a "Michael Caine" lookalike for the Italian Job (that's the Italy to London Minifest, not the film!). Not forgetting clothing for the Greenpower Challenge, the launch of the latest Herbie film, a major rock star....the list goes on and on.

Why do all these customers choose racewear.co.uk for something special? Quite simply because we have extensive experience of customising racing overalls for special usage. Need your kart centre overalls to have Velcro instead of a zipper on the front? No problem! Your sponsor's logo applied to your racing overalls? Just choose the colour!

Whether you're an individual looking for something special or have unique requirements for your company, speak to us first and we'll work with you to meet your needs. We've customised all sorts of products for all sorts of uses from presentations and conferences to top-line car racing so what are you waiting for? Contact us now and find out how we can help you stand out from the crowd, or download our design sheet and simply email it to us for a quote.

See you on the grid

Max Tyler

racewear.co.uk

08452 604104

Focus On...Having Fun!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 07 May 2010 15:59:00 +0000

With all the pressures of racing, it’s easy to forget that the whole point of this great sport is HAVING FUN! This is why here at racewear.co.uk we’ve started looking for clothing that’s about looking good and feeling great, not just the more “serious” job of flame protection.

Take the “evo" and “eat-sleep-race” T-shirts and hoodies. Bound to bring a smile to your face, we’ve got new cartoons in the pipeline too, which we’ll be launching at our Roadshow events throughout the summer. If you’ve got any ideas of your own or would like your stag party, team name or special event promoted on a T-shirt or racing overall then please get in touch.

If to you “having fun” means blasting your classic car around country lanes then have we got something for you! The Greycar collection includes hats, scarves, gloves and more in the traditional style – perfect for top-down, fun-up driving! This collection of quality British-made clothing makes you part of the scene and is sure to make you smile.

Or you may think that “having fun” just means a good, hard drive in your everyday car on a cracking road. Accelerate – brake – heel-and-toe – it’s a harsh environment for a shoe and now we have the answer. Piloti driving shoes have patented roll-control heels with re-inforcement on the right shoe for those quick flicks on the throttle as you down-shift! When you get to the other end, Piloti shoes are smart enough to let you go about your business without changing footwear, and comfortable enough to keep on all day. Have a look at the contemporary “Touring” and timeless “Lusso” ranges, check out the karting and FIA-homologated “Motorsport” boots, and discover the technology behind the comfort – I’ve got a pair of Sebring shoes, and they’re quite simply the most comfortable day-to-day shoes I’ve ever worn!

Whatever you’re looking for, we’re your clothing supplier of choice! Keep racewear.co.uk bookmarked, and watch out as we find more ways of helping you have fun!

STOP PRESS - your chance to win 6 exclusive T-shirts with your own design! Simply send us your idea for a humourous, motorsport-related logo to put on the front of our next production run, and if we use your idea we'll make six especially for you with your autograph to prove how special they are. Simply email your ideas to max@racewear.co.uk and we'll do the rest! Competition closes 30th June 2010. Terms and conditions available on request.

See you on the grid?

Max Tyler

racewear.co.uk

08452 604104

Focus On...Piloti Shoes

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 15:59:00 +0000

New to racewear.co.uk for summer 2010 is the fabulous range of Piloti hi-tech shoes for road and track. Here's what makes Piloti so special...

They're so comfortable your other sports shoes may collect dust and are enjoyed by the likes of Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, and Chad McQueen - even the band members of Aerosmith. But what makes Piloti really special is the unique blend of styling and comfort for everyday use on the streets. Key features include:

Patented Roll Control™ spherical heel for unique cushioning behind the heel bone while in the car. Once outside the car, it supports your natural stride with a rubber heel wrap for durability and grip

Athletic construction offers you good cushioning under the foot; unlike typical racing shoes or driving moccasins that have none. The unique "Toe Spring" aids in all-day comfort in and out of the car

Reinforced Lateral Side of the Right Shoe for easy heel-to-toe downshifting. Plus, the reinforced upper and outsole rubber wraps up the side of the midsole

High-quality suedes and leathers with pigskin and tongue facings

Removable sock liner supports orthopaedic needs

Roll Control™

During the Le Mans 24 Hours, many drivers receive medical attention for heat and vibration related foot problems. In fact, most teams have Podiatrists as part of their training and medical staff.

Piloti’s patented Roll Control™ spherical heel system is designed to counteract this problem. It extends the cushioning up the heel and along the sides of the shoe and also at the forefoot to cushion the contact with the sides of the foot well.

Well, that's the official recommendations, now here's mine:

I've been wearing a pair of Piloti Sebring shoes every day for some months now and they're quite simply the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn. There's no doubt I'll HAVE to get a pair of FIA homologated racing boots as well, now! But don't just take my word for it - see for yourself...

Max Tyler
racewear.co.uk
08452 604104

Focus On...racing boots

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 17:08:00 +0000

This month’s Focus On… covers racing boots and driving shoes in all their forms.

In the past racing boots have been thought of as the luxury item in racing clothing – a “nice to have” but probably not as important as a new tyre. “I’ve got a good pair of shoes” was the normal comment, and truly they were an expensive option. But with the opening up of the global market the price of racing boots has fallen to less than the price of a reasonable pair of trainers, and it’s our opinion that it's safer to drive in racing boots than training shoes.

There’s no minimum standard for racing footwear in the UK as long as they fully cover the foot and heel and are not open-toed (!), and at racewear.co.uk we’ve a range to suit all budgets.

Non-homologated racing boots are often referred to as “karting boots” but in truth they are acceptable for any racing unless FIA-specification clothing is required. We’ve got some end-of-range examples available at just £22.95 with the most popular costing £35.75. Choose from high or low cut, both are perfectly acceptable in most forms of UK racing.

FIA-homologated boots have a flame-retardant lining to the famous FIA 8856-2000 standard and are required if you compete in Europe or further afield, in either karts or cars. Style, form and function dictate the price here, starting at just £55.20 for FR lined suede boots and rising to over £200 for leather boots with a carbon fibre sole insert!

New to the range is the leather Pole Position Classic boot, bound to appeal to the historic racer for its understated, traditional looks. Currently available in black these English-made boots are sure to become a popular option.

Many people choose our Pole Position karting boots as a leisure shoe, and we’ve worn them ourselves at shows because they are very comfortable. They are supple enough to give great pedal control, and stylish enough to be worn with everyday clothing!

Exciting news is that the new range of “Piloti” driving shoes and FIA-homologated racing boots will soon be available at racewear.co.uk – keep checking back to see one of the nicest developments in leisure footwear for some time.

All for now - see you on the grid?

Max Tyler

racewear.co.uk

08452 604104

Focus On...racing overalls

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:19:00 +0000

I hope everyone found our last Focus On... covering helmets and gloves interesting and useful. If you haven't caught it yet, please look here.
This month's Focus On... covers racing overalls. Firstly, a brief guide to what the terms often seen in descriptions and regulations mean.

Glossary

"Fireproof" and "flameproof" are a bit misleading. I don't know anything that's "fireproof" short of solid steel! Most textiles will burn, it's how they react to that burning that matters

"Flame retardant" (FR) is the correct term. Fabrics may burn while flame is applied, but to be termed "flame retardant" the fabric must extinguish the flame when the heat source is removed, and there is a limit to the amount of charring that occurs

EN533, BS6249, ISO6940 etc are the national and international standards that regulate the FR properties

FIA 8856-2000 is the latest standard that the governing body of circuit racing, rallying etc (the FIA) has decreed is suitable for car racing clothing. It refers not to the "flame retardancy" of the fabric, that's covered by the standards above, but how much heat the fabric transfers to the wearer. Broadly speaking, they apply flame to the outside of the material and measure the temperature on the inside, and there is a minimum time required to get to a specific interior temperature - roughly 12 seconds before serious burns occur. Note: This can be substantially reduced if the fabric is wet. For full details look here, but it's a dry old document!

Multi-layer racesuits - to meet the FIA standards will require more than one layer of material. This doesn't make the suit more "fireproof" but more insulating, and the air gaps in between the layers help this as well. Either two or three layers of cloth are normally required, but the FIA has NOT made that compulsory because it recognises that there can be advances in cloth technology

CIK/FIA kartsuits are tested for abrasion resistance if you fall off the kart. They have no flame retardant properties and are not suitable for car sport if there is a risk of fire

CIK/FIA Level 1/Level 2 overalls are specifically designed for outdoor kart racing. Level 1 is the minimum required for National racing, Level 2 the most protection you can get and OK for International karting. Note: in the UK there is an older CIK/FMK standard that is also acceptable

Proban (Trade Mark) - a well-known brand of FR workwear fabric. For our purposes it is a heavyweight cotton drill that is treated with an FR finish and exceeds en533 after 50 washes - this doesn't mean the FR properties wash out, it's just that the test is taken after 50 washes and it still passes!

Nomex (Trade Mark) - possibly one of the best known FR brands in the world. Also passes world & European FR standards, it's much better at holding back heat for the weight of fabric used, and so is more comfortable in use and passes the FIA 8856-2000 test . There are other fabrics used that are cheaper and as good, but "Nomex" has become a generic rather like "Hoover"

What racesuits do I need?

This varies depending on the rules for your part of the sport, but I hope this guide will help with the minimum standards. Please remember this is only a guide and you should not rely on it as the definitive regulation for your racing class - please check if any doubt

Track days & indoor karting - Indoor karting overalls, Proban overalls, FIA overalls
Grass track - Indoor karting overalls, Level 2 karting overalls, Proban overalls, FIA overalls
Outdoor (MSA) karting - CIK/FIA Level 1 or 2 overalls, the "old" CIK standard overalls. Commercial operators normally allow any racing overall as long as it covers legs and arms and doesn't flap in the breeze
Oval racing - Proban overalls, FIA overalls
Hillclimbs/sprints - Proban overalls (until 31-12-11), FIA overalls both to the old Norme 86 and latest FIA 8856-2000
Rallying - FIA 8856-2000 overalls
Circuit racing - FIA 8856-2000 overalls

What should I look out for?

Quality, fit and comfort are the 3 major factors to take into account when buying a racing overall. Drivers of a larger build should consider a UK or German brand as they tend to bit a bit larger - some of the Italian manufacturers use slimmer models! If you're buying an FIA 8856-2000 or Level 1/2 suit, you can be sure that there are minimum manufacturing standards that have to be met.

I only do track days, do I need an overall at all?

Well, no, but responsible operators should ensure you have arms and legs covered and a clean pair of overalls will fulfil that and keep you smart and feeling the part. I've heard scary stories of people getting their clothing caught round the pedals, and overalls can prevent that. If you don't want FR overalls the Pole Position Indoor Karting overall is great and at under £50 suitable for working in too!

Why's there such a huge difference between prices in FIA 8856-2000 overalls? Surely if they pass the standard that's all I need?

Nomex 3-layer suits tend to be hot, hot, hot! Our Uvex rs1 and rs3 overalls are light, breathable and the ultimate in comfort. F1 quality! If you race in hot climes, or in a hot car, then these will keep you comfortable throughout a long race - the first time I wore one, I couldn't feel I had a suit on and I couldn't believe that I didn't have to hang it up to air after a sweaty race!

At a clubman level, the Sabelt Stratos suits are slighly lighter than the AWS Skyhawk, and slightly stretchy in use. This means they move with you and don't restrict you as you turn the wheel or reach for switches.

As with everything in life, there is a wide choice out there to suit most budgets! If you want any advice please contact us at racewear.co.uk or telephone 08452 604104 to chat through the options.

That brings us to the end of Focus On... for February. Bookmark this blog to keep up-to-date with the latest postings or sign up as a friend of our Facebook page which will carry a link when a new post appears.

See you on the grid!

Max Tyler
www.racewear.co.uk
08452 604104

Focus on...helmets and gloves

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:21:00 +0000

There have been some changes to MSA rules regarding helmets and gloves for 2010, and I thought it useful to make sure everyone's aware of them. If your branch of the sport isn't covered, then please email me to let me know so I can pass on the information to our customers.

Helmets

For 2010, the old "blue" BS6658 Type A is no longer acceptable for MSA licenced motor sport, meaning if you have one of these it must be changed for a BS6658 Type A/FR (red label) or Snell 2005 approved version.

Many track day organisers have traditionally stipulated that helmets must comply with MSA recommendations. Some have changed this rule to give the old standards a new lease of life but PLEASE CHECK before you turn up at scrutineering. It's unlikely you'll get a good deal if you have to buy one "on the day"!

A big change for karting comes in 2011, when all Cadet drivers will have to wear helmets homologated to Snell-FIA CMR 2007 or Snell-FIA CMS2007. These must not weigh more than 1550g, and are specifically designed for children's heads rather than being scaled-down shells. There are still stringent impact tests to pass, so these tend to be of tri-composite carbon/kevlar/fibre construction. From 1-1-2013 this standard will be compulsory for ALL kart drivers under 15. Note that you cannot wear these helmets after the age of 18.

Karting only helmets are denoted by a K after the SA number. They cannot be used for car racing as they do not have an FR lining.

Prices range widely for helmets. Why the difference in price? Quite simply, quality and weight. Above £300 (f/f) are lightweight tri-composite shells while the cheaper ones are made from fibre glass and somewhat heavier. There is also a difference in quality of finish, too, but not as much as you would expect. Which you buy is your choice,...if you wear your helmet for long periods at a time then comfort may become a factor, but hill climbers may not find it so necessary when they only have the helmets on for a minute or so. All helmets are different, it's worth trying on before you buy. We will refund or exchange without quibble if you do not like your helmet (provided it has not been used of course!).

How do I know which is which? The BS standards are on a sticker on the outside of the helmet - the one you want is red, neither the blue nor the green ones are acceptable. Snell 2005 & 2010 labels are stuck to the helmet liner on the inside of the helmet itself. Peel back the cloth lining, and you'll see it underneath - not easy to get at, but worth checking it does genuinely say Snell!

Gloves

It's now compulsory to wear gloves in speed events and karting, but strangely not in circuit racing or rallying until 2012! Likewise, track day drivers do not have to wear gloves, but many choose to take advantage of the protection.

Speed event drivers MUST wear "flame resistant" gloves, with no minimum specification - expect scrutineers to be looking for at least a Nomex label or something saying ISO6940 - and notice that it must be on EACH glove. Also acceptable is the FIA 8856-2000 standard, which can be used in any motor sport up to F1.

Karters and track day drivers do not have any minimum specification except to cover the wrist - most like to tuck their overall cuff down inside. Polycotton backs and leather undersides are popular, often with extra padding in the palms.

We have our glove options on www.Racewear.co.uk/gloves

What's the difference between fire resistant the standards? The ISO6940 fire resistant gloves are 2-layer Nomex backs with faux leather lowers, while the 8856-2000 homologated gloves are 100% Nomex with leather grips stitched onto the palms, offering far more protection. Well worth the extra money, they should last longer too.

That brings us to the end of Focus On... for February - bookmark the blog or become a fan of our Facebook page which will update you when we add more articles.

Max Tyler
www.racewear.co.uk
08452 604104

Happy New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 22:02:00 +0000

Nearly 2010, and you know what? I'm looking forward to it. Racewear.co.uk is entering a team in the Club 100 Rookie endurance championship which should be huge fun, and a chance to show off the brand new Racewear Roadshow. Pencilled in for Roadshow dates this year are:

Race Retro
Silverstone Classic
The Rally Show
GP de l'Age d'Or, Dijon

If your club or kart centre would like us to visit on a one-off or even regular basis to bring along racewear for your members, please let me know!

And who knows, thanks to Santa bringing those elusive engine parts, I'm nearly ready to start assembling the MG Midget race car....may even make a race or two myself - watch this space.

Happy New Year everyone!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:35:00 +0000

Alex got in the final of the kart racing at Combe again today...it's really tight for positions 2 - 6 in the overall championship, he's in there fighting, it all goes down to the wire on 20th December. Go Alex!

Speaking of kart racing our latest Level 2 Pole Position suit from Speed Racewear is a popular gift this Christmas. Priced at under £90 it's easy to see why!

So busy at the moment, and it's been one hectic weekend. One engine customer came over from France yesterday morning - that's devotion for you - and I took another to Peter May Engineering for onward shipment to Japan! Another car coming in to strip this week, need to get rid of the current one first of course.

Add to the weekend's activities cycling, 10k Run (organising, not competing!) and it's easy to see why all I want to do now is put my feet up with a large glass of wine.....

Classic Driving

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:53:00 +0000

racewear.co.uk racing with midgetmax.com was on the podium again on Sunday, well done Alex in the Castle Combe junior karting league! Speaking of karting, keep an eye on the web site for a new range of quality kartsuits....they're UK made and at recession-busting prices for indoor/outdoor commercial karting and UK MSA karting.

Exciting times here at racewear.co.uk - we're expanding again :-) We've found a growing market for classic car drivers who are not race car drivers - or they may be but they don't drive racing cars all the time!

Check out the new Classic Driving selection of premium products for period petrolheads. Traditional caps, flying helmets, cashmere scarvews, driving gloves and more, a perfect complement to your classic car.

Speaking of classic racers, the Jays Historic suit continues to grow in worldwide popularity, with our latest sale being to Japan. The reach of motorsport and the internet gets ever bigger - just last month we sent some Lico Silver suits to Portugal to be used in a new Mitsubishi advert.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:20:00 +0000

What excitement! When the BBC wanted to record an interview about how a mail order business was affected by the postal strike, they turned to us! Spent an hour or so chatting with a journo from the local BBC radio station and she turned it into quite a natty little audio diary...really lucky for us that the phone rang and we had a courier delivery while she was here, great sound effects for them :-)

Surreal experience this morning, was in the village shop and heard my voice blaring out across the assembled throng from the radio. I paid for my stuff and beat a hasty retreat...wonder if I get PRS payments?

As soon as I find how to upload an mp3 file into a player I will do ;-)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:54:00 +0000

It's some time since I blogged - perhaps a sign I've been working hard! What with racewear.co.uk sales booming and SKID CAR sessions most weekends, it's been hard to set aside time to do this properly.

But I must just note that racewear.co.uk racing with Midgetmax.com has achieved its first trophy of the year! Alex took second place in the Castle Combe junior kart race meeting last weekend - just missed out on the win, being overtaken by the championship leader on the very last lap :-( Well done, Alex, showing the rest of the team the way to go!

Here he is on the podium, picture courtesy of proud parent (me!) He's the one on the left in the blue Sabelt Stratos K kartsuit. Mind you, winner Will is another racewear.co.uk wearer, also a Sabelt Stratos K

I am desperately trying to get some more content onto the web site this week. We've just been appointed dealer for Lico Racewear, and we'll be holding a range of their products here at The Racewear Place. Lico is Sparco's "entry level" brand, made to the same quality on the same production lines, and we're really pleased to be chosen as one of a select handful of dealers in the UK.

Anyway, enough, better get back to it - please do keep an eye on www.racewear.co.uk and see the new range as I upload...

Working hard and holiday cover....

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 17:40:00 +0000

Just had a few days away in Norwich - wish I hadn't, I have come back to shed loads of work! Well, I suppose that's good, at least we've been selling things :-) But it's made us realise, we need an assistant in the office....part time, mornings only, job description includes picking & packing, managing the advertising strategy, looking after the shop, taking parcels to post office on the way home. We've a pay rate in mind, so if anyone reading is interested email me. You need to be in easy commute of Lacock of course!

Just finally got confirmation that our latest batch of flame proof Motorsport Gloves has left Pakistan. Honestly, we placed the order at the end of May, it's been one delay after the other, but at last they're on their way and will be in stock soon. We also have some window nets arriving, look out for them on the web site in the very near future.

Hot off the press, I've been offered a drive in the MGDavid Montego again :-) Sharing at the MG Car Club's Snetterton 4 hour relay race. The last race was fun, this should be a hoot behind the wheel for longer. I had hoped to have the Midget ready, but we're just so busy the rebuild's gone out of the window (see above!).

I've nearly got all the bits ready to put the engine back together. Kim at Magic Midget has done most of the floor welding, just a small bit to do, I need to go on a hunt around the house for all the bits now LOL! We'll deffo have it out next year for a bit of fun......although I think I may have said that last time :-( I've promised Waz Pablo a drive and I intend to honour it ASAP.

Silverstone Classic weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:40:00 +0000

Classic Weekend was great - we had a tidy stand and made several quality sales. And then when it got quiet we just popped up over the bank and watched beautiful cars racing!

With the cream of European historic racing on display, it was an opportunity to show some top-of-the-range racewear. The Uvex lightweight suits generated a lot of interest, but the star of the show was (unsurprisingly) the Dunlop Historic. As a replica of the sixties, it is almost de rigeur wear at the Revival and we spoke to many drivers preparing for that and other classic festivals such as the Grand Prix des Remparts at Angouleme.

The Silverstone weekend could join those major events, but it needs a bit of tightening around the edges to fully deserve its place. I couldn't comment on it from a driver's point of view, although I've heard some gripes, but I think the trading area needs tidying up, and something given back to us in the form of communcations. Perhaps even a reception? On the whole it was close, but needs a bit of work to be special. We put every bit as much work into our businesses as the racers to their cars, and contribute to the overall Festival atmosphere, it would be good to get some recognition that we're all working together. But we'll go back next year, there's such a good captive audience of racing drivers looking for something to do :-)

One downside of the event though - I had a yearning to be racing! I can watch GPs, Le Mans, BTCC etc with no pangs at all but this weekend my heart ached. I can relate to these cars and drivers, and just want to be out there with them. The Midget is unlikely to be welcome of course, so maybe an MGB build is called for? Let's get this one finished first - absolutely nothing done to the car since the last post! Time and tide wait for no man, so 2009 season is written off. Here's to 2010 already???

Photos of the weekend on my Facebook page, more to come soon.

Racing at Silverstone

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:17:00 +0000

Great weekend!

Was a bit cautious about driving a Montego at first, it's a long time since I raced a tin-top. Practice was steady without going mad, but the race was mental! Lap times weren't good but there were some really good dices - looking at the official lap times, I always crossed the line in close company with other cars. You know, because the Montego isn't very fast but has superb grip, braking distances are miniscule....5th gear through Copse and Maggots, brake after the right hander for Becketts and stick it up the inside of supposedly faster cars who slowed for the left kink (!). Lose the drag race to Abbey hairpin, thread the way through the middle of them again, lose the drag race up to Bridge, past them again on the outside of Bridge or inside of Priory and try and be as wide as possible coming onto the start straight, only to have to do it all over again after they blast past on the run down to Copse. Top fun!

Tyres went off of course, and we found a fuel pick-up problem. But the car finished two half-hour races with no other problems.

Wore the new Uvex rs3, everywhere I went I got cries of "It's the Stig!" Fantastic :-) Suit was supremely comfortable, all the exertion had no effect physically because I stayed cool. Bet it's great in a long hot race. I need a new helmet next year, bet it'll be the Uvex fp3, it's comparable quality.

S-o-o much better than the Spa kart race, just wish it had lasted longer! Ah well, probably me done for 09 unless the Midget's ready for an end-of-year blast.

Goodwood, Silverstone and a new kart uit

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 05:59:00 +0000

Been a busy few days. We were invited down to the Festival of Speed on sumday, unfortunately couldn't leave until nearly lunchtime so we only spent an afternoon there. Great fun, Alex couldn't leave the side of the track there was so much to watch. I suspect Sunday afternoon was one of the quieter times, there were few stars about - but Alex got Jenson's autograph so he was delighted. Nice afternoon and the sun shone for once.

racewear.co.uk's web site is steadily growing, I've spent more time uploading new products and even got some on special offer (ouch, that hurts!). A really nice budget-priced CIK/FIA Level 2 kart suit has come my way, I wore one at Spa and it was really comfortable so I've included it in the range. With full homologation, it can be used up to and including international level - take a sneaky look now, you know you want to!

All ready for Silverstone this weekend. Mike and I are sharing MGDavid's Montyzoomers Revenge in a 30 minute 2-driver race, just praying that I hand it over in one piece to Mike and that I'm the quickest of the four drivers behind its wheel this weekend :-) I reckon we'll only have time for about three laps each in practice, so it's a steep learning curve.

Wish us luck!

Wedding wear and random thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 22:16:00 +0000

Sat here blogging while Sarah's got the "girls" round. They're outside in the cold, I'm inside watching Franz Ferdinand at Glastonbury. Just the way I like Festivals.....none of this nasty camping in the dirt rubbish!

Went for suit fitting today for Col's wedding - I'm Best Man! Downside is, it's the same weekend as Barry S-S's 1 hour race at the Spa 6 hours meeting. I'm s-o-o peeved. I've told Col so! But back to the story. Had the fitting. Felt like a cross between a Victorian Bank Manager and a penguin - why do people insist we wear this stuff? Being honest, Col, you're spending £250+ on this, we'd look just as smart in our ordinary suits, why not put the money towards a kart race? Ah well, "ours not to reason why..." And no, I'm not posting any pictures.

Went to London yesterday, Kew Gardens and the London Eye for Sarah's birthday present. Kew not really something I'm interested in, but the Eye was good. Actually would happily have spent more time on the South Bank watching the performing arts.

Midget rear wings are coming on well. Bit of fettling tomorrow and they'll be ready for spraying :-)

Alex did well at karting last week, made the final. You can just see him on Will Foulkes's video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jb0_U6fGWjY - 6th on the grid, blue Sabelt Stratos-K kartsuit. Bought him a black visor for his crash helmet this week - see what you think on www.alextyler.co.uk - it clearly worked for him!

Said this was random thoughts. Now just got to decide whether to pour another large whiskey or have a cup of coffee. Decisins, decisions......

State of the Nation?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 10:28:00 +0000

Hah, somewhat prophetic comment from me: "Chatsworth Rally Show...[is]...a toe-in-the-water exercise". Never SEEN so much water falling from the sky. Really kept the paying customers away, and such a shame because it was a good event. We sold some stuff - another Uvex fp3 out there in use, so it wasn't all bad - but the crowds weren't there. Nil desperandum though - we're out again at the Silverstone Classic race meeting. Well, we've got these terrific printed stand backdrops from T5 Design, it's such a shame not to use them :-) And we may make some money, besides the brand-building opportunities.

Been looking at the business accounts, and during this downturn/recession/depression/opportunity (according to your views) we're increasing our business by 22% year-on-year. I've been spending a fortune and a lot of time on marketing - mind you, it's my qualification, I should do! - and it's helping us grow at a time everone else is cutting back. Quiet today mind you, so mustn't count my chickens.

Ooh, just remembered, great excitement, my shiny new racing licence will actually be used this year after all! Got a seat in David's MG Montego at MG Live in July. Huge excitement. The Midget won't be ready of course (although it looks a treat now on its RWA wings and Kim's going to do the welding next week) so a race in Monty Zoomer's Revenge should be a hoot. I'm sharing with Mike Heath - we're about the same size, so changeovers should be slick. Bouncing up and down in anticipation already.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 09:09:00 +0000

Blogging in the rain at Chatsworth. Cold and wet but are we downhearted? Nah, it's just the typical English summer. I was going to camp in the awning but thankfully sanity prevailed and the Ibis is warm and dry. Passer by just said it will be biblical rain tomorrow :-(

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:16:00 +0000

Rally Show Chatsworth

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:08:00 +0000

Wow, the variety of the international racing driver....two weekends ago racing at spa, last weekend marshalling at an MG Car Club event at the Charmy Down airfield just outside Bath, this weekend working on the racewear.co.uk stand at the Rally Show at Chatsworth! Can't get much more diverse than that.

Last weekend was fun, Alex's first attempt at marshalling and I had him timing and measuring like a good 'un. (Pic will follow) All went pear shaped when I got back and sent 4 hours in casualty after the mother fell over and cut her leg :-( Nothing serious thankfully.

The car's packed now, ready to go to the Rally Show. I don't know what it'll be like, so I'm only taking a few samples of racesuits and some gloves and accessories for sale. Very much a toe-in-the-water to see who goes along. I'm on my own on Saturday, but Andrew's coming on Sunday to help out, so I should get off the stand and see some of the fun. Looking forward to it! I'll keep you posted.

Club 100 10 Hours of Spa

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 27 May 2009 06:21:00 +0000

It wasn't to be. We were rubbish. Two of us hadn't driven a kart since last November, two of us had only drive a 2-stroke twice before...so I suppose it was only to be expected that racewear.co.uk racing with midgetmax.com would prop up the rest of the field at Spa. What was particularly disappointing was the distance to the rest of the teams, but even then I suppose giving away 10 - 20kg when there's an uphill hairpin is always going to make it difficult to get on terms.

Top weekend away in Belgium though. Sun shone from breakfast to bedtime, must have been 30 degrees. Spa town is a bit quiet, they roll up the sidewalks at 11:00pm and all the bars shut. Still I do enjoy sitting in the fresh air sipping red wine and it was great while it lasted.

Race Report

Our race strategy was simple: drive as fast as you can. So we did, it just wasn't fast enough! We all circulated within half a second of each other, we had about as many mechanical problems as I would expect of one of my own cars (that's lots then!), and nothing exciting happened. The circuit was testing with a couple of quick corners for us to make up time, and we got p-ed all over. Heigh-ho, serious diet and loads of practice required.

Thanks to john and all the Club 100 team for a great event - here's to being better next time :-)