33 replies to this topic

[ashnathan]

Just a random thought the other day when i was working on a roof in the ridiculously hot gold coast weather, I know they mgiht not be used cos of added weight but at the same time i was wondering if they had been used before or if they are legal?

Im talking about the wones that just pump cold water around the suit to keep you cooler in the heat.

[mursuka80]

Originally posted by kids like ash
Just a random thought the other day when i was working on a roof in the ridiculously hot gold coast weather, I know they mgiht not be used cos of added weight but at the same time i was wondering if they had been used before or if they are legal?

Im talking about the wones that just pump cold water around the suit to keep you cooler in the heat.

I thought nowadays,they just piss their pants for comfort

[TwoCents]

Oh I thought from the title that you meant 'cool' as in and was ready to discuss the various styles and logo patterns over the years in F1. Would have been a cool thread. But er, apparently you meant something else and I can't help you with your question.

I'll shut the door on my way out yes.

[santori]

I don't know about suits but Keke Rosberg used a water cooled cap under his helmet at the 1984 Dallas Grand Prix.

[Dolph]

Didn't McLaren use cooled suits for their pit crew some years ago!?

[pingu666]

think it may have been used in rallying

[Dolph]

I've heard they cheat in rallying by rolling up their racing suits at the legs. I believe Estonian Urmo Aava even got DQ for doing it.

[mursuka80]

Originally posted by Dolph
I've heard they cheat in rallying by rolling up their racing suits at the legs. I believe Estonian Urmo Aava even got DQ for doing it.

What advantage do you get? Or is it rules that you have to be fully fire protected?

[Dolph]

Originally posted by mursuka80


What advantage do you get? Or is it rules that you have to be fully fire protected?

Yes, you gotta be protected - that's mandated. But they say it gets to 50 degrees Celsius inside the car so the drivers are desperately hot.

I've also seen ChampCar drivers actually roll up their gloves for the race so the wrists are exposed to get some relief from heat.

[Mila]

such a cool suit--water, pump, tubes--would be a weight disadvantage.

yes, santori, Keke was a cool cowboy that day. subsequent to Dallas, I think that Berger wore one on at least one occasion, but I'm not positive.

[Ruud de la Rosa]

I remember mclaren testing/considering them.

[Ruud de la Rosa]

mechanics: http://forums.autosp...y=&pagenumber=1

the only thing about cool suits for drivers is this quote:

To an RTL commentator who asked DC about his cool suit
“It’s a bullet proof vest because I know when I get interviewed by you that people might want to shoot you and I don’t want to get the bullet instead.”
http://www.enterf1.c...-bite-point.asp

I can remember mclaren not racing them but using them on fridays. Can't find anything however.

[Dmitriy_Guller]

Originally posted by Dolph
I've also seen ChampCar drivers actually roll up their gloves for the race so the wrists are exposed to get some relief from heat.

Same in F1. I remember at least Webber and Rosberg racing with rolled up gloves.

[JForce]

In V8 supercars they do it for some of the hotter endurance races, hottest I've ever heard them talk about was mid-60s in the cabin.

Also at a race once it was noticed via onboard shots that a couple of drivers didn't have their balaclavas on, they were made to come in and put them on.

[pingu666]

Originally posted by Dolph


Yes, you gotta be protected - that's mandated. But they say it gets to 50 degrees Celsius inside the car so the drivers are desperately hot.

I've also seen ChampCar drivers actually roll up their gloves for the race so the wrists are exposed to get some relief from heat.

some drivers nearly fainted.... im pretty sure some co drivers did. i remmber the drivers hated the FIA for making them wear the full fireproof suit, it was by far more dangerous for everyone than racing in a t shirt and shorts or whatever they did before...

[Dolph]

Well, the FIA could mandate some cooling system as a safety measure.

[lustigson]

Originally posted by Dolph
Yes, you gotta be protected - that's mandated. But they say it gets to 50 degrees Celsius inside the car so the drivers are desperately hot.

Is airconditioning illegal in WRC? If not, why not install it. There might be some benefit to the weight penalty.

[chhatra]

Originally posted by lustigson

Is airconditioning illegal in WRC? If not, why not install it. There might be some benefit to the weight penalty.

I'm not sure about aircon in WRC. I'm pretty sure that with ac on you lose a certain percentage of the engine's power and with all engines capped it wouldn't be an advantage. Unless ofcourse it was standardized than it wouldn't matter, seems you never know where the FIA will strike next.

[pingu666]

dont they haveto run aircon now?

[ashnathan]

I knew they used them in V8 Supercar, mostly at the Clipsal 500 which is what got me thinking about maybe F1 using them? I think it would be advantageous for somewhere like monaco or brazil in the heat where you wouldnt suffer from as much fatigue. But im sure they could design a much more advanced suit than what the V8 drivers use, and probably make them weigh a quarter of the V8 supercar ones. Just a thought.

[potmotr]

Originally posted by kids like ash
I knew they used them in V8 Supercar, mostly at the Clipsal 500

Remember when Paul Morris ran air conditioning? Added to his bulky frame his car must have weighed heaps more than his hotter but skinnier competitors.

[Terry Walker]

No reason why GP cars can't have aircon. Would be nice having a cool breeze blowing on you while you work.

Hey Max - are you listening? Spec Nippondenso unit designed for a small 4 x 4 would do the job. Cheap as chips. Make it compulsory.

[LostProphet]

Originally posted by Dolph
Didn't McLaren use cooled suits for their pit crew some years ago!?

I remember reading about it, but don't ever recall seeing them in use.

[David M. Kane]

At the USGP one year Hans Stuck wore an aluminum suit of some sort, but I gather it was more for warmth.
He only wore it during Friday practice. It was in "74, I believe.

[primer]

Since Mr. spammer has bumped up an old topic....did anyone else notice how so many drivers wore cool 'vests' at Valencia? Strangely, I do not recall them wearing those at Sepang, perhaps these are new to F1, heh.

[Henrytheeigth]

Since Mr. spammer has bumped up an old topic.

yea I saw this hot day and thought but hey it's winter here though

Edited by Henrytheeigth, 04 July 2010 - 05:10.

[PassWind]

Some of this technology has had military applications, I have seen internal vehicle temps of 65+ degrees C, there is a whole can of worms that potentially could open up if any lengthy testing was done.

For example: As an F1 driver is an employee, what is his workplace safety coverage ie. does it come under the European Union?

If so what is the mandated limits on working in harsh conditions, are there exclusions etc etc.


There definite examples I can cite but not related to F1, I have been involved in some testing with core temps, cool suits etc all being used. At the end of the day there is a temp limit that the human body should be subjected to, for a time period. Fitter people are more tolerant, however this causes issues with symptom detection when of the verge of heat exhaustion. Pretty dangerous territory, most people I know having suffered heat stroke never fully recover its life changing, not in a good way.

If a system was fitted, what effect does the fluid have in case of fire, what sort of thermal transfer properties would it have if heated by an external source, they surely would be some issues that would need looking into.

Its an interesting topic, more of a workplace safety issue to me than anything else. A driver/any person who is overheated cannot operate at full mental potential, there is a performance benefit in keeping the driver cool, what do they do at Le Mans?

[Norm]

cool.

[razno]

For example: As an F1 driver is an employee, what is his workplace safety coverage ie. does it come under the European Union?

Its sport. Imagine if they impose EU standard work weight lifting limits on weightlifting sport?

[PassWind]

Its sport. Imagine if they impose EU standard work weight lifting limits on weightlifting sport?

So as to the question are there exclusions in the EU? How many weightlifters get paid?

[alecc]

Imho the coolest suits have the Renault staff, the yellow with black stripes is really cool
The darth vader helmets of the McLaren mechanics are cool too

Just kidding :-)

[Enkei]

Didn't McLaren use cooled suits for their pit crew some years ago!?

Only tested it, but never used in races.
Pretty hard to find some pics, but found some nonetheless..

http://www.space.com...lick to enlarge.
http://www.esa.int/e...1.html#subhead1

Edited by Enkei, 04 July 2010 - 21:24.

[KateLM]

Same in F1. I remember at least Webber and Rosberg racing with rolled up gloves.

I remember that too, though I haven't seen it in the past 4 or so years, so I imagine the FIA must have had a word with the drivers at some point.

[arknor]

No reason why GP cars can't have aircon. Would be nice having a cool breeze blowing on you while you work.

Hey Max - are you listening? Spec Nippondenso unit designed for a small 4 x 4 would do the job. Cheap as chips. Make it compulsory.

because a 200mph draft does nothing? whats a fan going to do....