"Racing gloves?? But you don't even have a fire suit!!"

"Flavien Vidal" (flyingfrenchy)
07/29/2014 at 18:35 • Filed to: None

For most people it seems like racing gloves are a security feature, protecting from potential fire hazard that might happen while you drive you race prepped (Italian) supercar. Any people who are not

1 - Racecar drivers in full blown race suits actually racing

2 - Racecar drivers doing a photoshoot

3 - Racecar drivers being drunk and goofing around (yes, looking at you Kimi)

are simply not supposed to wear them, because hey, that's "stupid"!

Well, no it's not. And if you actually had spent some time in a car around a track for more than 30 minutes in a row, you would immediately know why.

First, you don't drive on a track like you do on the freeway or on the way back home. Rule number one for driving on a track is to have both hands on the wheel, at all time, except to shift or save yourself from an imminent crash, because ohhhhhhh fuck, you lost it and have to countersteer like hell! Driving like this generates a few physical inconveniences... Main one, being that you sweat, like hell. You will sweat even if you drive a Geo Metro for the good and simple reason that it takes lots of concentration to get it to its maximum. That combined with the fact that you will not be moving your hands AT ALL but to shift for 30 minutes or more in a row will make your hands slippery. Very slippery, and when time will come to save the car from certain death, good luck doing it with slippery hands on that plastic Suzuki steering wheel.

Secondly, what can happen when you masturbate without gloves for too long?

Ok, maybe not, but you see the point. Driving for 1 hour in a row, on a track, in a car with a leather steering wheel, this is bound to happen. And it hurts. A lot. This is the main reason why you see videos of simracing guys with crazy setups who drive with racing gloves. "Haha, this idiot really thinks he's a racecar driver!"... No, this idiot knows first hand (pun intended) what driving for hours and hours around a track, virtual or not, without gloves do to your hands. So he wears them.

Thirdly, Alcantara and leather do not like sweat. AT ALL. While your leather steering wheel might handle your sweat and blood, that will be here due to your refusal to wear gloves because you don't want to be "one of those guys who use gloves during track days", your alcantara wheel will be dead in a few track day bro sessions...

Hummmmmmm yummy!!

So yes, racing gloves are useful. No one blames you for preferring to drive with your fully fireproof Sparco shoes right? These are narrow, light and you feel the pedals a lot better. So don't blame people who go to racetracks with gloves not knowing the reason why they do it and thinking they just want to look cool. They might just want that, true, but chances are that it's not the case. Wear gloves, while on track, really... It might help save your car someday. If not that, at least your wife will let you touch her when you get home with hands that don't bleed with putrefied skin falling apart.

DISCUSSION (100)

yurikaze > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 19:24

My friends and I have broken fingernails at the track a couple of times too, and gloves help prevent this.

printerror > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 19:27

Hell, I wore gloves autocrossing every time. I found them to just be more comfortable. On the track, I wouldn't even dream of going without them, especially on brutally hot days. Sweaty hands on leather FTL.

TheSUNGlassKid > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 19:30

So what type of glove would you recommend for a plastic wheel?

seansss > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 19:30

The author talks like this. A lot. And. It's annoying.

Flavien Vidal > seansss
07/29/2014 at 19:32

The author. is not. a professionnal. writer. Get.Over.It.

Flavien Vidal > TheSUNGlassKid
07/29/2014 at 19:34

Anything with thin leather pads on the palms... Does the trick for me very wheel

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 19:36

in related news while rally driving: Don't Hook Your Thumbs!

Flavien Vidal > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
07/29/2014 at 19:38

yes it can hurt quite a bit :)

Though it is something suggested more for rock crawling and similar activities involving a land rover lol

heeltoehero > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 19:39

I have a set of karting gloves that are padded microsuede in the palm. They're excellent in my Mustang as Ford did not deem it necessary to make available a telescoping wheel, so they extend my palms and bring the wheel just perfectly within reach while still giving my knees room to heel/toe. Also, they grip like massive on the leather steering wheel.

Gavin S. > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 19:41

Kinja'd!!!

Could this be a function of people that can afford to do track days have cushy jobs that do not cause one to develop calluses? I guess the dirt track drivers in the south are excluded from this hypothesis.

DarkNick > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
07/29/2014 at 19:42

Good advice for any kind of driving - you never know when someone's going to rear-end you (or hit you another way).

LionZoo > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 19:42

I bought gloves after getting my car with manual steering. I tend to sweat a lot and the first time I was on track with the car, my sweaty hands were slipping off the steering wheel. It was totally unsafe and now I keep a pair of gloves in that car at all times.

Dr_Watson > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 19:43

people also have a tendency to poke around touching things they forget get really hot on track, gloves stop you from burning.

Flavien Vidal > Gavin S.
07/29/2014 at 19:43

haha not impossible indeed... I know I'm pretty weak when it comes to blisters like this and they do come up pretty fast when I'm driving on a track :)

Big Daddy Handsome > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 19:44

So, say a track near me has a track day . . . are there gloves you'd recommend for a scrub?

Also, I have an automatic (dual-clutch, but yeah, automatic) would I get laughed out of there for even showing up?

Nytmare > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 19:47

So what is the point of alcantara then, if it both looks fuzzy and doesn't hold up? Just to take your money from you?

Flavien Vidal > Big Daddy Handsome
07/29/2014 at 19:49

All the track days I went to are very filled with friendly people... Some people would show up with automatic civics and nobody would care. It's all about having fun :)

As for gloves, anything does the trick really. No need to spend hundreds on them, as long as you have something you feel confortable driving with, you are good to go. Leather on the palms is what I prefer though.

4play > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 19:49

Lift some weights. It will prevent those blisters since you'll have calluses and you'll be a better driver since you'll be stronger and have better control.

If your hands blister like that from driving around, you've never worked hard in your life.

Flavien Vidal > Nytmare
07/29/2014 at 19:50

It's confortable and luxurious. Some people like the feel. Other than that, it dies very fast if you have sweaty hands and don't wear gloves.

Fuel_of_Satan > Gavin S.
07/29/2014 at 19:51

Obviously, look at how clean those wounds are. Not even a smattering of brake dust in there.

JEM > Big Daddy Handsome
07/29/2014 at 19:55

I'd suggest looking into an inexpensive pair of light motorcycle gloves. Something with mesh finger backs for breathability but leather palms/fingertips and maybe a little padding on the palms. I've never tried driving with my motorcycle gloves but I'm guessing if they're meant to work shift/brakes levers and little controls, they should have enough finesse to work a car's controls.

Something like this:

http://www.bikebandit.com/riding-gear-an…

Flavien Vidal > 4play
07/29/2014 at 19:56

No I don't get blisters like that from driving around lol... I get blisters after a couple hours at the track :)

I'm not THAT weak lol... And you can work hard behind a desk you know ;)

RosarchII > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 19:56

And that last photo is why I will always contend that Alcantara is a shit material to be used on wear points on cars, specifically steering wheels, seats and shift knobs.

Stef Schrader > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 19:57

Or if you live in Texas... it's NOT pleasant to hop back into a car that's been sitting out in the sun for a while. Every surface is burning hot.

Flavien Vidal > RosarchII
07/29/2014 at 19:57

I do agree on that indeed

JEM > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 19:58

I have no idea about driving/racing gloves, but I'd imagine that an inexpensive pair of motorcycle gloves would do the trick? Something like these:

http://www.bikebandit.com/riding-gear-an…

Also, this is exactly why I wear gloves when I play drums, to prevent/lessen blisters. Well, that and if I catch a finger on the metal lip of a drum, I don't wind up spraying blood all over myself and my vintage Ludwigs.

G/O Sucks > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 19:58

WRONG! Here's why you *really* need gloves, regardless of what else you're wearing:

Even if you're just at an HPDE and even if you're riding in the passenger seat, you're taking the car into the margins of speed & heat, making the likelihood of a crash or fire far more significant. In such instances, you need to get out, quickly, and only two things will do that: Your brain (hence, helmet) and your hands (hence gloves), period.

Do NOT think for a second you or your passenger don't need gloves in a race or track car.

tf3cac > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 20:00

Vin > Big Daddy Handsome
07/29/2014 at 20:01

Only assholes would laugh at you, and track days are usually filled with cool people.

kimiRakkionen > tf3cac
07/29/2014 at 20:03

LOL. I actually have one of those and it's petty impressive how much heat it can take. I use it for grilling tho; racing, not so much.

G/O Sucks > Big Daddy Handsome
07/29/2014 at 20:05

You will NEVER get laughed at and you should NEVER listen to someone suggesting motorcycle gloves with mesh backs!

Gloves help you get out of a wreck quickly, not because you'll get blisters (in which case you're probably gripping too tightly). The mesh suggestion is bad because a) you should never wear any synthetic (ie nylon) on a track because, b) it immediately melts in a fire rather than burn, destroying your skin.

Flavien Vidal > G/O Sucks
07/29/2014 at 20:05

Indeed, didnt think of that to be hoenst and always defended the use of gloves for the reasons mentioned. But this is is indeed a far from negligeable reason to wear gloves :)

tf3cac > kimiRakkionen
07/29/2014 at 20:07

goes from the grill to the track, now with a limited time offer of a free chia pet and the clapper!

HideyoshiJP > Gavin S.
07/29/2014 at 20:07

It hurts?

Kinja'd!!!

lupusshearhart > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 20:08

After breaking away from the main events at Miatas at the Gap this past weekend and going for a 244 mile figure-eight between NC and TN that included numerous twisty, switchbacky mountain roads including the Tail of the Dragon, I can attest, first hand, that I was a fucking idiot and did not wear driving/racing gloves, and ended up with a few (now open) blisters on my hands.

Also, sunscreen. Next year, I need to remember sunscreen. I think the only way my forehead could possibly hurt more is if someone grabbed a handful of wasabi and slapped it onto my forehead.

.............Worth it.

Flavien Vidal > tf3cac
07/29/2014 at 20:08

haha, your hand still have to be ABLE to slip on the wheel though :)

FormerInstants > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 20:08

I must be some kind of mutant, my palms don't sweat, like at all. And in my track experience so far I've never even come close to blistering. Is that common?

I do blister while karting if I don't wear gloves though.

Flavien Vidal > JEM
07/29/2014 at 20:09

For track days, anything you feel confortable driving with does the trick really :)

JEM > JEM
07/29/2014 at 20:09

Aaaand it just occurred to me.... why the hell haven't I tried my motorcycle gloves as drumming gloves? The "drumming" gloves are thin and wear out way too easily. Gotta give this a shot at practice Thursday...

G/O Sucks > JEM
07/29/2014 at 20:09

That's terrible, terrible advice - track driving gloves should be fireproof, *never* nylon mesh, like motorcycle gloves. Those will melt within a second of a fire, hampering your escape and melting into your skin even after your out, destroying your hands entirely.

Flavien Vidal > FormerInstants
07/29/2014 at 20:11

It depends on the person I guess, I know I sweat quite a bit and get blisters, even when on Assetto Corsa with my G27 lol

Hectic > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 20:12

I don't have an Italian sports car, but I wear gloves off-roading. Not just for grip, but for fixing, winching, jacking etc. I just use inexpensiveness ($30) mechanic's gloves, they work great.

Kinja'd!!!

JEM > G/O Sucks
07/29/2014 at 20:12

Sure, but if you're worried about fire, I'd imagine you'd be wearing a full racing suit and the proper gloves. If you're just driving in a t-shirt I'm assuming you're not concerned about this and just blisters.

Flavien Vidal > Hectic
07/29/2014 at 20:13

I've used these for many years for gokart practices actually :)

GOAT__RODEO > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 20:15

Kinja'd!!!

... this is why most people use lube.

KuroiNasakari > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 20:15

Kinja'd!!!

It's like she wants to die.

G/O Sucks > JEM
07/29/2014 at 20:15

Wrong. There's a reason they ask you not to wear synthetics at HPDE's, directing you to cotton stead. You should ALWAYS be at least aware of the possibility of fire and your hands (and brain) are the only things that'll pull you out, minimizing any burns or smoke inhalation. A slight burn is livable. Melted hands are NOT.

Trust me, that is definitely bad advice you gave.

IH8Tumblr > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 20:17

daily driving kills alcantara/suede wheels, not a track day

no amount of wheel spin will "burn" your hands like that

you use the shoe analogy, using a racing shoe for a track day actually improves your pedal feel because you generally wear a heavy thick soled shoe every day. racing gloves do not improve wheel feel.

you can tell yourself whatever you want about wearing racing gloves without a suit, but its all just smoke up your own ass.

Flavien Vidal > G/O Sucks
07/29/2014 at 20:17

On casual track days, I honestly don't worry much about catching on fire... Just me maybe, but the track I go to does not even have officials checking on the track while we enjoy it... And if you worry about your car catching on fire, maybe get a full fire proof suit and mask to go with these gloves... Keep in mind we are talking about track days here, no racing.

Flavien Vidal > IH8Tumblr
07/29/2014 at 20:20

Wheel spin? No wheel spin involved. You just go and hold your wheel, not moving your hand for 1 hour while driving hard... See what happens :)

Desu-San-Desu > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 20:20

I find myself looking at golf gloves quite a bit, wondering about how they'd feel wrapped around my steering wheel. Do you think they would work ok?

G/O Sucks > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 20:20

Yeah, when I started, I gripped the wheel too hard and developed some blisters after a six-session day — That's not proper but it's definitely a reason. But I got lucky and learned about safety after witnessing some bad wrecks. Good gloves and good helmet (among other things) are a must for anyone on a track, IMHO.

G/O Sucks > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 20:23

Of course! But fire does happen and the release you're signing probably has that spelled out, as does your HPDE instructions with attire recos. Nobody uses synthetic stuff at the tracks I frequent for the reasons listed because everyone is aware of, if not "worrying", about fire risk and rollover wrecks.

Flavien Vidal > G/O Sucks
07/29/2014 at 20:23

Yeah it's my main problem personnaly... I have quite a bit of gokarting experience (roatx, DD2 and 125cc 2 stroke shifters) and even after a few years, I would still grip on the wheel wayh too hard.... Same goes on track days or in front of my computer... I try to change that, but it does not seem to work lol

4play > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 20:24

I'm behind a desk 60 hours a week, totally feel that, but still.

I remember the first time I ever rowed on a crew team - my hands looked exactly like that afterwards. And it was because I'd never done manual labor or lifted weights in my life (the coach said, "you must have never done any real work in your life!" haha). 10 years later and I have calluses all over my hands from rowing/lifting weights.

Flavien Vidal > Desu-San-Desu
07/29/2014 at 20:24

I only have a right golf glove so I don't know haha, but I guess it would do the trick...

G/O Sucks > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 20:25

I think I got blisters after my first 15 minute session in a kart. I hear you!

cogito ergo zoom > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 20:26

Racing 30+ years without gloves. NEVER gotten blisters. If you do you're doing it wrong.

Flavien Vidal > G/O Sucks
07/29/2014 at 20:28

yeah yeah I understand definitly, it's just my "where is the cheapest trackday" I can find attitude that prevent me from doing proper HPDE with proper advices about security and so on... Grass root track days has its pros and cons... Security is not really the main preoccuopation where I go. Heck, I don't even need a helmet there.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > TheSUNGlassKid
07/29/2014 at 20:29

just based on price and availability, I'm a fan of baseball batting gloves, even for long road trips.

Flavien Vidal > cogito ergo zoom
07/29/2014 at 20:30

Race harder maybe? Not everyone sweats the same way you know...

True > Big Daddy Handsome
07/29/2014 at 20:32

Just don't wear string-back gloves unless your name is Graham Hill or you've beaten Graham Hill.

Kinja'd!!!

G/O Sucks > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 20:41

Whew. That is SCARY. But hey, proper HPDE's aren't that expensive (beyond the consumables, of course) — ~$100 for a day that typically has lots of free instructors willing to ride shotgun, spend time, hang, etc. I think I paid $120 for my last day at Willow Springs. It'd been a few years so I grabbed an instructor for my first session — he was awesome and rode for two more.

Flavien Vidal > G/O Sucks
07/29/2014 at 20:44

Keep in mind helmets are not required around the ring either for exemple... Up to people to bahve accordingly. HPDEs are a lot more expensive on the east coast from what I've seen... Moving to Japan pretty soon and they seem somewhat affordable there. I'll probably post about it as soon as I'm properly installed there with a good car in hands :)

sammyjay > Big Daddy Handsome
07/29/2014 at 20:46

Assuming you don't have a plastic wheel,

Kinja'd!!!

any old pair of Mechanixwear gloves are plenty light, comfortable, and as long as your wheel isn't too slick or Armor-All'ed (you goddamn idiot...), they'll do nicely for $20. Worked well for me when I raced karts.

sammyjay > Gavin S.
07/29/2014 at 20:47

I'd hate to see this guy's hand after doing some deadlifts and T-bar rows

derhoggz > Big Daddy Handsome
07/29/2014 at 20:48

From experience, corner workers will laugh at you if you're a jackass with reach extending your grasp. Otherwise, run what you brung and wring the hell out of it.

sammyjay > TheSUNGlassKid
07/29/2014 at 20:49

+1 for batting gloves, leather/faux leather gloves will grip much better than cloth or alcantara. Might wear out faster though.

IH8Tumblr > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 20:50

LOL man if you are grabbing the wheel hard enough to create those kind of blisters you need to seriously consider getting some instruction behind the wheel. one of the things I always taught people as an instructor is when you are clenching a wheel it immediately reduce reaction times and eventually will create fatigue. you should not be grabbing a steering wheel hard enough to blister.

Flavien Vidal > IH8Tumblr
07/29/2014 at 20:56

I have quite a few years of experience, mostly in gokarting (karts all the way up to 2 stroke shifters) but also in track days and yes, I know that grabbing my wheel too hard is a problem I have. Nonetheless it's not that bad and I still get blisters along with hundreds of people a lot more experienced than I am... You don't. Great, but having blister due to holding a wheel without moving your hand at all for quite a while is far from abnormal and does not require holding it too tightly... It just takes time.

Omega_Alex > JEM
07/29/2014 at 20:57

I've tried with several types of gloves, from full leather moto gloves, to the mesh ones to even BMW gloves! I don't recommend any for the simple fact that anything bike related is meant to be used in a different manner. I don't know how to explain it but the muscle stresses you see when driving are different than when riding, and moto/bike gloves will bike up in these areas.

Because bike gloves usually have more external protection they are bound a little more, and that gets uncomfortable after awhile. I would go with cheap Kart or real fireproof racing gloves by Puma or A-stars. Cheap-ish.

Michael I > Big Daddy Handsome
07/29/2014 at 21:01

I autocross my Volt. A lot of groans when I took first place in my class, but everyone welcomed me. Even had a few ride alongs!

Big Daddy Handsome > Big Daddy Handsome
07/29/2014 at 21:06

Thanks for all the replies guys! Now to buy some gloves and find a track day.

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > Stef Schrader
07/29/2014 at 21:15

And on the flip side, some of those early spring and late fall track days at Road America are *cold* enough you want gloves and the heat on.

Cheesewhiz > JEM
07/29/2014 at 21:32

Nobody listen to this advice. This is flat out wrong and a dangerous suggestion. Motorcycle gloves are not driving gloves and mesh on track is a ticket to a handless existence when it snags on metal, melts, etc.

Cheesewhiz > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 21:37

If you're getting blisters like that, you're using poor driving technique and gripping too tightly. That should never happen.

Also, one hour sessions?! Most are 20 minutes. What is this, "endurance hpde"?!

Cheesewhiz > G/O Sucks
07/29/2014 at 21:38

This. There's no other reason for gloves unless you're gripping the wheel too tightly.

Gonzo3333 > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 21:38

Kinja'd!!!

These are awesome! They are made of Nomex and leather. You can buy them for less than $40.

Flavien Vidal > Cheesewhiz
07/29/2014 at 21:40

Look at the other comments I posted... Where I go we don't have "sessions" we just drive.

e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 21:49

At all the HPDE's I've been to the classroom and in car instructors will tell you on the straights to wiggle your fingers, one hand at a time. I've not met a single person at the HDPEs that had blisters, and that never came up as a reason to wear gloves in the classroom. I have an alcantara steering wheel, and I can tell you I have never had burns, blisters, or roughed up hands. The worst that happens is sometimes the back side of the wheel on the 10 o'clock position sometimes starts to feel slightly loose.

Mind you I'm not against gloves, I've just never met someone with the issues you describe. The only reason for wearing gloves that they have give in the classroom is that, if you get in a wreck that involves fire(unlikely, but possible), you will need your hands to be in working order to get out of the car, and the gloves help to ensure that your hands will survive in a functional manner for as long as possible.

Cheesewhiz > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 21:51

Where is this place and what Wild West safety-less tracks are you frequenting?!

jiffylube > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 22:17

Yep I wear race gloves to track days. Better grip for the wheel and shift knob. If a fire actually did happen inside the cabin I at least want some hand protection to get unbuckled and get the door open, a little bit harder to do if your hands are on fire.

tromoly > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 22:18

To counter-point, you should never be death gripping the wheel, and should also have moments where your grip can be relaxed to move your hands around just a little bit, this greatly helps prevent blisters.

In my opinion, if you are driving hard enough that gloves are necessary, a fire suit should also be worn because at that point you're driving hard enough that an off could result in a very serious accident, and the potential for fire is not something I personally want to gable with.

Boss2452stolemylunchmoney > Michael I
07/29/2014 at 22:19

Had a friend who autocrossed a volt once. Said the dash lit up like Las Vegas after the last run...

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 22:29

are land rovers known for kick back?

MFEJAL grey because who knows... > HideyoshiJP
07/29/2014 at 22:33

Kinja'd!!!

BadMotorScooter > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 22:33

My first instructor at my very first HPDE track day advised me to get a pair of fire resistant racing gloves. His explanation was that in the worst case scenario, you crash and there is a fire, the gloves will help you get out of the car. No other reason necessary, and seems like good advice. So I spent $100 on some racing gloves and use them at every track day since then.

MFEJAL grey because who knows... > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 22:34

even racing on asphalt you should not put your thumbs into the steering wheel. Some guys who know a thing or two about driving told me that. And I bet $20 you are sitting too far away from the pedals and wheel.

Flavien Vidal > Cheesewhiz
07/29/2014 at 22:46

www.sanair.ca

Flavien Vidal > MFEJAL grey because who knows...
07/29/2014 at 22:51

I don't sit too far away no... If you try to fit a 6'2 person in a C4 corvette, you will notice that it's impossible to sit too far lol

Flavien Vidal > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
07/29/2014 at 22:52

no, but land rovers owners trying ot go offroad are famous for getting hurt thanks to kick backs :)

Flavien Vidal > tromoly
07/29/2014 at 22:56

It does not take lots of grip to get blisters... it just takes a bit of time. When you are go-karting something that goes 0 to 60 in less than 3s, in a seat that was not designed for you, it takes a few ten minutes sessions... In a car with seats that were not designed to go on track, it takes me about an hour to notice that I forgot my gloves...

pfftballer > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 23:02

Does it make me some kind of super stud that I did a weekend SCCA drivers school with no gloves and suffered no ill consequences? I had them, but it was hot so I chose not to wear them. It was in South Carolina and I was already wearing a racing suit with Nomex undies head to toe and the helmet is like the world's warmest headwear imaginable. Sessions were twice a day for a couple hours and my hands were fine, but I actually work for a living and don't just poke at a keyboard so there's that.

HideyoshiJP > MFEJAL grey because who knows...
07/29/2014 at 23:02

I.... will stay... to train!

tromoly > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 23:04

That mostly sounds like an equipment issue, just as one would never wear a helmet that does not fit their head properly, a seat should properly fit the driver and give proper support so the hands can be used to guide the vehicle around, not hold the driver in place.

Easiest way to prevent blisters I'm finding is to do an activity that builds calluses, like rock climbing or BMX bike riding. Both really work to toughen the skin.

pfftballer > Gavin S.
07/29/2014 at 23:04

LOL, just commented that I did two days of double 1 hour plus sessions without gloves because of the fucking oppressive heat in the car and my hands were fine, but I work with my hands for a living. Pretty sure this confirms your hypothesis.

pfftballer > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 23:07

It's also possible you weren't properly secured into your racing seat. I've seen people pull at the wheel with a deathgrip even in the straights when they are using it to stabilize their body mass instead of relying on a well fitted seat and tight harness. You only need to grip the wheel hard enough to turn it. This shouldn't precipitate blisters.

talis1984 > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 23:07

I have not (yet) been to a track day, but I do wear gloves when I drive. Mostly it's because I live in Phoenix where we just had a 115-120 degree heat wave, and the inside of my car was probably around 150 or so, and the black steering wheel of my e46 was in the 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 degree range or so.

pollenstein > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 23:11

This is a good justification for wearing gloves, and skinny racing-style shoes, but it doesn't explain why drivers spend three times as much on FIA-homologated fireproof gear. You can get the same benefits (and not look like an eejit doing a half-hearted job of trying to dress up like Daniel Ricciardo) with a pair of Mecanix gloves and some cheap race replica shoes from from Puma or Addidas or the like.

Also, speaking as someone who spends a great deal of time driving, demonstrating and drifting road and race cars on track sometimes for hours at a time, I've never seen hands blister like that from driving a road car. It can happen in a go-kart or a slick-shod race car with high-geared steering but the wheel on a road car doesn't fight you that much.

MFEJAL grey because who knows... > Flavien Vidal
07/29/2014 at 23:11

Kinja'd!!!

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