skthecat Posted November 30, 2013 Report Share Posted November 30, 2013 I know there has been this discussion on here before, but wasn't a rule coming in this season (2014) or maybe next season (2015) about what speedway racesuits had to be made of........? Wasn't Leather being re introduced in some parts of them if not all of the suits make-up??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skthecat Posted November 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2013 Oh, no takers then...... I could have swore this time last year, there were regulations being considered to be implemented in 2014 reference the compulsory use of leather in modern race suits to prevent serious burn injuries like the ones suffered by Jason Crump and Nicki Pedersen... Must of been "sleeping post reading" then.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsunami Posted November 30, 2013 Report Share Posted November 30, 2013 Oh, no takers then...... I could have swore this time last year, there were regulations being considered to be implemented in 2014 reference the compulsory use of leather in modern race suits to prevent serious burn injuries like the ones suffered by Jason Crump and Nicki Pedersen... Must of been "sleeping post reading" then.... Bloody hell, there is only 7.5 hours difference between the posts. No, I think you are right. I think it was assumed that it was leather, and that nylon was possibly going to be banned everywhere. Haven't heard anything since, but it may still be with the SCB for trials or guidance, I don't know. I will make enquiries and report back unless someone else has the actual position to post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skthecat Posted November 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2013 Bloody hell, there is only 7.5 hours difference between the posts. No, I think you are right. I think it was assumed that it was leather, and that nylon was possibly going to be banned everywhere. Haven't heard anything since, but it may still be with the SCB for trials or guidance, I don't know. I will make enquiries and report back unless someone else has the actual position to post. I've fell off a speedway bike in a kevlar suit, not at Woffyspeed, but even through kevlar and body armour you get a very painful burn! & with the exhausts getting super heated, arm/leg trapment within wheels under power, something has to be done.... the sooner the better..... In my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oafski Posted December 1, 2013 Report Share Posted December 1, 2013 I had a spell of 30 years away from watching Speedway so wasn't following it when the switch from leather to kevlar came about. I do remember that in the 1960s firms like Lewis Leathers and Rivetts advertised thicker leather suits for Speedway than for Road Racing presumably because Speedway riders needed the extra protection. I'm guessing that Kevlar was bought in because it's availability in a wide range of colours, lighter weight and possible ease of cleaning but would be interested to know for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Turner Posted December 1, 2013 Report Share Posted December 1, 2013 Does anybody know why Kevlar was bought in to begin with? Is this enforced or is it up to the rider what kind of material they use for their race suits? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilWatson Posted December 1, 2013 Report Share Posted December 1, 2013 From www.scbgb.co.uk SCB Press Release 2014 Rider Clothing information2014 SCB REGULATIONSRiders and Manufacturers may be aware that the FIM have plans to introduce new Regulations regarding the standards of compliance for Riders Clothing.Whilst the SCB applaud the FIM in setting these new standards, for British domestic speedway in 2014 there will be no change to the current Regulations.As the 2014 Season progresses the SCB will monitor the situation concerning these new FIM Regulations and assess the possibility and practicality of implementation in 2015.We are making this early announcement so that Riders and Teams can place their orders with certainty.IMPORTANT NOTERiders intending to compete in FIM Championship Meetings or indeed in other Countries should check the FIM Regulations (www.fim-live.com )and other Federations, eg SVEMO, DMU, DMSB, PZM etc. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim the whipper Posted December 1, 2013 Report Share Posted December 1, 2013 Speedway kevlar is hardly kevlar at all , one manufacturer of Polyester suits Actually brags that at 6% their suits have the highest Kevlar content !!, in any other industry they would have to call them Polyester suits , For all the protection Polyester brings you might as well be riding in a cheap set of pyjamas from ASDA , you are right about one thing though , Polyester was brought in because it can because its easy to decorate , with a computer printer and heat press , far easier to sew than leather , and the raw material is much cheaper than leather . shame this cannot be reflected in the end price but this is speedway and someone has to be making money out of the people putting on the show, suit manufactururers could not care less for rider safety they are only interested in easy money 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skthecat Posted December 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2013 From www.scbgb.co.uk SCB Press Release 2014 Rider Clothing information 2014 SCB REGULATIONS Riders and Manufacturers may be aware that the FIM have plans to introduce new Regulations regarding the standards of compliance for Riders Clothing. Whilst the SCB applaud the FIM in setting these new standards, for British domestic speedway in 2014 there will be no change to the current Regulations. As the 2014 Season progresses the SCB will monitor the situation concerning these new FIM Regulations and assess the possibility and practicality of implementation in 2015. We are making this early announcement so that Riders and Teams can place their orders with certainty. IMPORTANT NOTE Riders intending to compete in FIM Championship Meetings or indeed in other Countries should check the FIM Regulations (www.fim-live.com )and other Federations, eg SVEMO, DMU, DMSB, PZM etc. Is there a link to the changes in materials to be used in FIM meetings? Is there a link to the changes in materials to be used in FIM meetings? SORRY! didnt see it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oafski Posted December 1, 2013 Report Share Posted December 1, 2013 Perhaps the answer is a set of plain leathers with a lightweight oversuit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Long Eye Posted December 1, 2013 Report Share Posted December 1, 2013 Speedway kevlar is hardly kevlar at all , one manufacturer of Polyester suits Actually brags that at 6% their suits have the highest Kevlar content !!, in any other industry they would have to call them Polyester suits , For all the protection Polyester brings you might as well be riding in a cheap set of pyjamas from ASDA , you are right about one thing though , Polyester was brought in because it can because its easy to decorate , with a computer printer and heat press , far easier to sew than leather , and the raw material is much cheaper than leather . shame this cannot be reflected in the end price but this is speedway and someone has to be making money out of the people putting on the show, suit manufactururers could not care less for rider safety they are only interested in easy money Here's another percentage for you JTW. 90% of your posts prove you don't have much knowledge. Certain types of Kevlar have been approved for tarmac racing. GTS supplied many suits to sidecar crews. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Posted December 1, 2013 Report Share Posted December 1, 2013 The main protection is offered by under-suits with armour anyway, I only know 2 people who make Kevlar suits and have to say that the idea they are uninterested in rider safety is nonsense in both cases. I personally believe that leather offers better protection but then I generally wouldn't be riding more than once a week, for Speedway riders the option of being able to chuck a set of kevlars in the washing machine several times a week while you work on the bike must seem unbeatable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim the whipper Posted December 1, 2013 Report Share Posted December 1, 2013 Here's another percentage for you JTW. 90% of your posts prove you don't have much knowledge. Certain types of Kevlar have been approved for tarmac racing. GTS supplied many suits to sidecar crews. yes . i saw all the kevlar suits on the grid for the last moto GP , and at the Isle of Man , so they must be the best thing for protection I suppose .and of course universal acclaim from sidecar crews who have had accidents and had to put them to the test also reinforces your argument .... not , of course all the accolades are for the GTS suit ,which is totally different to speedway polyesters in content as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Long Eye Posted December 1, 2013 Report Share Posted December 1, 2013 yes . i saw all the kevlar suits on the grid for the last moto GP , and at the Isle of Man , so they must be the best thing for protection I suppose .and of course universal acclaim from sidecar crews who have had accidents and had to put them to the test also reinforces your argument .... not , of course all the accolades are for the GTS suit ,which is totally different to speedway polyesters in content as well As far as I'm aware having used GTS made Kevlars, the materials for the speedway suits are the same as for the road suits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skthecat Posted December 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2013 Couldn't find any info on the FIM site above, I recently saw an item on fleabay which was ultra thin oversuit in Belle Vue colours, it looked like a very thin, very stretchy small thing that I think was for guest riders, you basically got suited up, & then slipped this over the whole lot, rather than the "blow in the wind" footy top I the club colours.. I cannot remember seeing this type of garment very often, so something was wrong with it or other.... The typical racesuit these days is kevlar/nylon mix I believe? Mine is as far as I can tell is all kevlar, quite bulky and fully lined, I wear seperate armadillo type knee protectors, and an upper body suit inc forearm, elbow, shoulder, collarbone, spine, chest and kidney armour stitched in. It offers good all round protection against impact, but it is not the easiest thing to feel comfortable in. Having said that, none of my protective equipment (except helmet and boots which are available size wise) were not made to measure and therefore are not a perfect fit, which I think has a lot to do with the comfort and manoeuvrability of limbs in my suit.... I would think all professional riders have racesuits made to measure, in materials of there own choice/quality etc.... Would that be a reasonable assumption?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsunami Posted December 1, 2013 Report Share Posted December 1, 2013 Couldn't find any info on the FIM site above, I recently saw an item on fleabay which was ultra thin oversuit in Belle Vue colours, it looked like a very thin, very stretchy small thing that I think was for guest riders, you basically got suited up, & then slipped this over the whole lot, rather than the "blow in the wind" footy top I the club colours.. I cannot remember seeing this type of garment very often, so something was wrong with it or other.... The typical racesuit these days is kevlar/nylon mix I believe? Mine is as far as I can tell is all kevlar, quite bulky and fully lined, I wear seperate armadillo type knee protectors, and an upper body suit inc forearm, elbow, shoulder, collarbone, spine, chest and kidney armour stitched in. It offers good all round protection against impact, but it is not the easiest thing to feel comfortable in. Having said that, none of my protective equipment (except helmet and boots which are available size wise) were not made to measure and therefore are not a perfect fit, which I think has a lot to do with the comfort and manoeuvrability of limbs in my suit.... I would think all professional riders have racesuits made to measure, in materials of there own choice/quality etc.... Would that be a reasonable assumption?? Yes, it would be NTO. You supply all your measurements to the maker, and they add on an allowance for you to accommodate your under body armour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skthecat Posted December 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2013 Yes, it would be NTO. You supply all your measurements to the maker, and they add on an allowance for you to accommodate your under body armour. You would have thought though, that by now, with modern manufacturing/cnc machining that Leather would be alot more usable? Stronger yet thinner and easier to stitch, printable, moldable and therefore better, might cost a bit more short term, but lastability wise? Last longer........ 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted December 2, 2013 Report Share Posted December 2, 2013 You would have thought though, that by now, with modern manufacturing/cnc machining that Leather would be alot more usable? Stronger yet thinner and easier to stitch, printable, moldable and therefore better, might cost a bit more short term, but lastability wise? Last longer........ A lot safer - certainly. :approve: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsunami Posted December 2, 2013 Report Share Posted December 2, 2013 A lot safer - certainly. :approve: It's the under body armour that is the protection, not the suit. There is a place for leather though, and a couple of years ago some GP stars including Hancock and Crump had it sewn in certain places. Moto GP circuit racers also use the thin leather and I think historically have possible for lightness and flexibility. I gather the real problem is the Nylon in the suits, at the worst possible places. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Stadia Posted December 2, 2013 Report Share Posted December 2, 2013 It's the under body armour that is the protection, not the suit. There is a place for leather though, and a couple of years ago some GP stars including Hancock and Crump had it sewn in certain places. Moto GP circuit racers also use the thin leather and I think historically have possible for lightness and flexibility. I gather the real problem is the Nylon in the suits, at the worst possible places. I remember back in the mid 80's seeing Gordon Kennett at the beginning of the season, wearing brand new goat skin leathers, which were very thin looking and I doubt he had much more than a back protector! Having said that, the more protection the better! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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