FAQ's

Where is your store located and do you have a showroom?

Our store is located in Sterling, Virginia, about 35 minutes west of Washington, DC. We are about 2 miles from Dulles Airport. If you are in the area, please stop by to meet our sales staff and see the latest in racing safety gear. Please click Contact Us for driving directions.

Should I wear an open or full-face helmet?

We recommend a full-face helmet for high-speed events such as performance driving schools or racing. The full-face shielded helmet provides an extra measure of protection in the event that debris or a loose object should enter the cockpit of the car. The full-face design also provides more overall protection for the face and chin in the event of an impact against any part of the car's interior. An open face helmet affords somewhat less protection but better ventilation than most full-face helmets and is a solid choice for low-speed events such as autocross.

Which is better: a fiberglass, or a composite helmet?

All helmets labeled with a Snell Foundation rating undergo the same range of testing, regardless of construction. The primary difference between the fiberglass and composite materials is the weight of the helmet. A composite helmet, although generally more expensive than a fiberglass helmet, will usually be lighter, which means less neck fatigue for the driver.

How should my racing suit fit?

Suits are available in "off the rack" sizes or they can be constructed to your custom measurements for a perfect fit. Personal preference and ease of movement when seated in the car are the main factors in choosing the suit style and fit that is best for you. Some styles have "gussets" or flexible sections of knitted Nomex fabric at the shoulders and waistline for greater range of movement and help with ventilation. Nomex suits come in a variety of thicknesses - the number of layers of Nomex required for a particular SFI rating or amount of fire protection. Check the requirements of your sanctioning body carefully before investing in a suit, so you can decide whether a multi-layered Nomex suit worn with or without Nomex underwear is the right choice for your safety and comfort. Nomex comes in a variety of woven and knit fabrics - you'll pay more for the highest quality, but you'll be more comfortable wearing it!

What is the purpose of a helmet support?

When worn properly, the helmet support limits the range of motion of the helmet to help reduce neck fatigue. In the event of an impact, it will help to keep the helmet (and head) from extreme movements.

Why do I need a roll bar or roll cage?

The roll bar and to a much greater extent, the roll cage, help to create a "safety zone" around the driver when he/she is properly seated in the car. When correctly fabricated and installed, the bar/cage can help to minimize intrusion into the driver's the safety zone in the event of an impact. Installation of a bar or a cage will also stiffen the chassis of the car considerably.

What does SFI stand for, and what is an SFI "rating?"

The SFI Foundation, Inc. (SFI) is a non-profit organization established to issue and administer standards (or specifications) for specialty/performance automotive and racing equipment, with the goal of promoting quality and reliability in the design, manufacture and application of these products. SFI standards are developed at the request of various manufacturers and/or race sanctioning bodies. The SFI Technical Committee initiates the specification drafting process, and encourages industry-wide participation in finalizing these specs. Once a standard is enacted, participation by any manufacturer is strictly voluntary. However, if a manufacturer agrees to comply with an SFI spec and advertise its products as such, it is subject to ongoing inspections and testing of its processes and equipment to ensure continuing compliance. For more information about SFI and its programs, visit their website at www.sfifoundation.com. While "SFI" originally stood for "SEMA Foundation, Inc.," SFI now operates independently of the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Manufacturers' Association) organization, and simply retains the original acronym as its name.

Where can I get my helmet painted to match the graphics on my race car?

We have one helmet painter listed on our links page. To locate others in your area, contact a local motorcycle dealer and ask for references for helmet painters. Please note that painting a helmet will void many manufacturer's warranties. Check with the manufacturer for more info.

Can you recommend a good combination track/street brake pad for my BMW M3? I do some on-track driving school events, but I also drive the car around town on weekends and on occasional road trips.

Street brake pads and racing brakes pads have different characteristics, so picking a single pad for both applications will depend very much on your driving style and how heavily you use your vehicle in each environment. You may find that a better solution is to change to your racing pads at the track. If you do choose to use a race compound pad on the street, you should remember that racing pads function best at higher temperatures that are not often achieved in daily driving. Your stopping capability may not be as good as that provided by a pad designed for normal street use, so you should adjust your driving style accordingly. Racing pads also typically cause more aggressive rotor wear than street pads. We recommend Performance Friction brake pads. They will soon be available in our online catalog for many makes of cars and tow vehicles. To order Performance Friction brake pads now, please call us at 800-934-9112.