New laces for race boots

[stuartj]

Anyone know if it’s possible to buy race boot laces anywhere ? Presumably they’re made of Nomex and mine are close to snapping, but there’s plenty of wear left in the boots – which are Sparco……

[number2]

Try contacting Sparco (or the importer). I know that Timberland (a non-motorsport example) were happy to send me out another set of laces when one pair snapped.

[Munter]

http://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/p5723/SPARCO-NOM...

Any good?

[stuartj]

Brilliant, Munter, many thanks!

[lord summerisle]

Munter said:

http://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/p5723/SPARCO-NOM...

Any good?

+1 for Merlin, i got my replacement laces from them when mine snapped.

[carl_w]

I'm sure it's not a good plan to use the wrong stuff, but has anyone ever had their laces checked for conformance to regs?

[Trev450]

Good point. Like the thread you use to sew badges onto your race suit as well!!!

[Dave Brand]

carl_w said:

I'm sure it's not a good plan to use the wrong stuff, but has anyone ever had their laces checked for conformance to regs?

I have a vision here of a scrutineer with a box of matches!

[carl_w]

Dave Brand said:

carl_w said:

I'm sure it's not a good plan to use the wrong stuff, but has anyone ever had their laces checked for conformance to regs?

I have a vision here of a scrutineer with a box of matches!

Would it be the end of the world if they caught fire? The 'tongue' bit of the boot underneath them is nomex anyway.

[Munter]

carl_w said:

Dave Brand said:

carl_w said:

I'm sure it's not a good plan to use the wrong stuff, but has anyone ever had their laces checked for conformance to regs?

I have a vision here of a scrutineer with a box of matches!

Would it be the end of the world if they caught fire? The 'tongue' bit of the boot underneath them is nomex anyway.

I guess if the lace burns through and the boot becomes loose and your foot is under a pedal. The when pulled from the burning car your foot could come out of the boot.

Chance of that happening?... Slim?

[RobM77]

This is interesting. I asked GPR about this a while ago and they told me that racing boot laces weren't nomex, they were just ordinary laces.

[RobM77]

Weslake-Monza said:

Boots aren't checked at scrutineering except possibly international events.

They're not actually a requirement at most Nat B races; it's just the suit and helmet. Nevertheless, most people take their safety very seriously and far exceed the minimum requirements.

[teamHOLDENracing]

Slightly off thread, but it always surprises me the number of people who wear rings and chains when racing. If you are unfortunate enough to be trapped in a burning car, the heat transfer through them, particularly rings, could do you a lot of damage. I heard a story of a chap who lost a finger through localised and concentrated severe burns. He was otherwise ok. That story was probably second third or fourth hand, but it makes sense. My wedding ring always comes off before I race.

As you were with the laces!

[carl_w]

teamHOLDENracing said:

Slightly off thread, but it always surprises me the number of people who wear rings and chains when racing. If you are unfortunate enough to be trapped in a burning car, the heat transfer through them, particularly rings, could do you a lot of damage. I heard a story of a chap who lost a finger through localised and concentrated severe burns. He was otherwise ok. That story was probably second third or fourth hand, but it makes sense. My wedding ring always comes off before I race.

I'm not convinced about this. The inside of the nomex must remain relatively cool, otherwise you'd get burnt. As long as a ring or chain is between the nomex and you, it can't get hotter than the inside of the nomex and can't be any worse than having the skin in contact with the nomex.

[teamHOLDENracing]

I'm anything but an expert but the point about a ring is that wearing something which has very high thermal conductivity (said ring) under the Nomex means that when the Nomex is overcome the ring will conduct heat to the skin directly under. No air gap to help insulate the skin. It will also continue to be very hot when the heat source is extinguished. Made sense to me

[thunderbelmont]

teamHOLDENracing said:

Slightly off thread, but it always surprises me the number of people who wear rings and chains when racing. If you are unfortunate enough to be trapped in a burning car, the heat transfer through them, particularly rings, could do you a lot of damage. I heard a story of a chap who lost a finger through localised and concentrated severe burns. He was otherwise ok. That story was probably second third or fourth hand, but it makes sense. My wedding ring always comes off before I race.

As you were with the laces!

Oh crap! I'll have to get my wedding ring finger chopped off...

I have heard this mentioned before - wasn't it 'Tonio Luizzi that was hauled over the coals for the amount of bling that he was wearing under his suit when he raced for Torro Rosso????
Not quite to Mr.T proportions, but a lot more than most!