question about arm restaints ??

[problemchild]

Perhaps the Pro drivers make the same decision many SCCA racers make everytime they go testing and are not required to wear them.
While a great idea .......... the liklihood of crashing and ending upside down seems greater when wearing arm restraints. Reduced mobility and the liklihood of straps ending up wrapped around gear selecters and seatbelt latches are legitimate concerns in modern formula car cockpits. We are not racing the sprint cars that these safety devices were designed for.
I would encourage all to try and wear them .... but they terrify me.
Pet peeve .... It would be nice if 5 grid marshals did not each need to check that we are wearing them .... followed by the 3 grid marshals that each check that our helmets are secure .... followed by ....

[sidney]

I know this thread is old, but I'll ask my question in hopes that someone has had a similar situation. I have an old potato sack Simpson suit that needs replacing. The arm restraints are sewn into the suit and work great. I've been upside down in a vee and they kept my arms out of harms way. I have come to love the simplicty of this style of restraint. There is no screwing around with cuffs sliding, having to remember to put them on, additional bulk, etc. I have tried a number of new suits, and the Alpinestars suit fits me well, is lightweight and resonably priced. My second choice is OMP with similar features and benefits. Problem is, neither one will sew restraints into the suit. Anyone know of a source to have restraints added to a suit that "they" didn't make? Thanks for the help.

[RussMcB]

A year or two ago I talked with the Safe Quip vendor who attends most SARRC regional races (sorry, can't remember his name). He said he'd do it for $75. One requirement was that you hade to give him your suit in the bag from the dry cleaners. In other words, you couldn't hand him your sweaty suit at the end of the race weekend. :-).

[Rick Kirchner]

I simply went to the hardware store and bought D-rings, and to the climbing store and bought some nylon tubing used for tying off carabiners - 1/2" I think. Then I took the suit to the nice lady at the cleaners that does alterations, took along my old simpson slide-on restraints as an example, and had her sew the tubing down to the suit with the rings in the right place.

20 bucks, no shipping, works like a champ.

[turnbaugh]

After reading posts about concerns of nylon webbing melting and shrinking during a fire and restricting your arm movement, I wanted to find something other than nylon for the restraints and strap. I found a solution with Kelvar webbing. [SIZE=2]
[/SIZE][SIZE=2]http://www.headballoons.com[/SIZE]

They use this for a fireproof webbing to suspend the basket on hot air ballons. $20 for the webbing and $15 at the local tailor. I had the restraints sewn on and replaced the webbing in the strap/clip with the kevlar.

[Rick Kirchner]

Ok, but your belts are nylon or polyethelene....

[turnbaugh]

Yes but at least I will be able to move my arms enough to unlatch the belt.

I hope no one ever has to test what really happens.