quote:

Originally posted by Mike Beck:
I wear a cool vest (type that you soak in cold water) and zip my firejacket up to keep the sun off of it.

As long as they don't call us to the lanes too far ahead, my vest is good for about a 1/2 hour.

I haven't tried them, but we had them at work. I can't get my crew to take to them. Most say they are so constrictive that it is hard to do what they need to do. I may have to push the subject a little.

First VERY hot weekend here in Illinois for the season. 99 yesterday with very high humidity. This is even above the design criteria of most of our HVAC units in our production areas at work. We can't package above 65% humidity due to the nature of our product. We almost fell out of compliance yesterday and certainly will this afternoon for some time.

Be safe midwest racers this weekend!

When I was much younger the heat did not bother me nearly as much as it does now, I raced anytime that it didn't rain. These days I draw the line once it gets into the high 90’s. I am not willing to suffer in order to go racing. Where I live the temperature runs between 95 and 107 just about every day from mid July to mid October. The other 9 months the weather here is great so I have 9 months to go racing in very comfortable weather, why suffer during the three bad ones when you don’t have to?

Bob

Got all ready to hit it at RT41 this weekend. Can't deal with 110-115 index. Track even posted a warning on their FB page. Another race for another day.

Yea heat is killer and can be literally . For me if its in 90's it just kills the fun.Lets face it money is great when you win it,but theres is suppose to be some fun.Hell got to be stupid to spend this much money and be miserable.

Even working now days I shut down early when its 95* and 90% humidity.Mainly because whole crew is bunch of old guys and we still do more than bunch of young ones now days.

Besides sitting in shop and working one car with air on is pretty relaxing.

A couple weeks ago we had a choice between heading a little north with 80° temps and 60% chance of rain each day, or heading the same distance south with 95° temps and no chance of rain.

We went north and did get rained out Sunday, but no regrets here.

Weather forecast predicts 103 here next Saturday, from Thursday to Saturday it increases more than 22 degrees, the heat index will be off the charts....not racing again until it cools off. The track temperature will be at least 150, no way I could get the car to hook or be safe. Staying home.

Bob

working in shop 6am and it was already nasty humid and sticky. SUMMER SUCKS. Ask my wife its a hundred times a day for 3 months saying around here.

Why did I spend a bunch of money on a car for a sports that mostly in the heat again? Must have been in middle of heat stroke when I started it.

Pretty stinking hot at Mason Dixon today. Air temp got to 97 on my guage and the track temp was 145.

I accidentally left my helmet hang on my rollbar hook before 3rd round and the sun was beating on the inside of it through the windshield. Nothing like putting on a helmet with the padding preheated to 150 lol.

One thing that has helped me the last two years is I lost a bunch of weight and got in shape. Years past I would have almost died in the heat we had today.

Don't know how you guys down south do it.

Guys I know that this is expensive but it is some of the best money I have ever spent. Saturday I made 12 passes in a little under 4 1/2 hours to win 2 races. I use my coolshirt vest each round. I barely even sweat when I make a pass and it was mid 90s with 65-75% humidity. I was still pretty fresh after the race. I also have AC in my trailer to cool down after a run. I use 3 of the frozen gel packs in the water bag. Sometimes I don't even have to change but 1 out depending on how long I have to sit in the car with the water running.

https://www.amazon.com/CoolShi...rag+pack+system+vest

Curtis

We had a hot one in Atlanta, sat., and I got hot. 98*/50%. Kept drinking water, and gatoraids. Used the shade all possible. I know now what dragster guys feel, in sun, in 3 layers. I think its only worse sitting in a black car. If it is over 100, I might go to lake....

quote:

Originally posted by KWig:
I know now what dragster guys feel, in sun, in 3 layers. I think its only worse sitting in a black car. If it is over 100, I might go to lake....

I've never thought the dragster was too bad. You're in a thick suit, but in the open air and not trapped inside a greenhouse.

Track temp was 149 Sat. Index was 112. Stayed home. 44 cars showed up. Slip and slide city. I normally keep 2 umbrellas in the trailer. Always take one up in staging. One case of heat stroke is one too many. Was almost a hospital deal years ago. Having Alopecia Universalis makes it a deadly game.

<70 degrees, i won't race when i am cold.



joe

No longer race if it's too hot and humid. Not chasing points so no need to suffer. I want to have fun. If it's in the 80's and the humidity isn't too bad, I will go. Have done my share of 90's and high humidity with heat index above 100*. Not worth it to me anymore.

Won't go if it's close to the mid 90s with high humidity. I may do one day if I haven't raced in a while. Other than that I'm staying home where the ac is nice and cool

105 heat index in Central NC todat I drew the line at 12;00 for work. Damn I can't wait for the 40 degree weather.

North to Alaska the cold rush is on.

Worked outside in south MS heat for years, I’ve had heat exhaustion more times than I can count. And now that I’m approaching 50, heat tolerance is nowhere what it used to be. My car has a black vinyl top also, sitting in there at somewhere like Gulfport in June-July-August is tough.
I built a ice-chest based “a/c” with a small 12v pump, an old heater core, some clear hose, and a bulge fan all rigged up in an ice chest powered by a lipo I got out of one of those “jump boxes”, Put a gallon or so of water in it with three frozen 2 liter bottles, and it works like a champ, but needs to be in a smaller ice chest so I can strap it down. Lipo lasted long enough for 2 or 3 good passes including time in the lanes, but takes too long to recharge. It did make 58-60 discharge air temp on a 90 degree day, certainly better than nothing just got to get time to fine tune it.
Anyone else use some sort of portable “a/c” in their car?

Good thinking Iforgot, Heck in FED theres barely room for another switch in driver compartment and front of motor about the same with fuel,pump,vacuum pump,fuel lines and other stuff.

WOuld love a small ac under seat that would feed drivers suit and some air in face. ANYONE?

quote:

Originally posted by wideopen231:
Good thinking Iforgot, Heck in FED theres barely room for another switch in driver compartment and front of motor about the same with fuel,pump,vacuum pump,fuel lines and other stuff.

WOuld love a small ac under seat that would feed drivers suit and some air in face. ANYONE?

I have a cool shirt it uses a small nylon plastic lined bag that contains a 12 volt pump. Originally it was powered by a small 3x3" scooter type battery, but I removed it and just hooked it into the cars battery with two wire disconnects. I sat it on the floor and strapped it to the roll cage in my door car. I haven't used it with the dragster, but now you guys have got me thinking..
I built it myself using pieces bought off ebay.

Here is a link to a vest with the capillary tubes and quick disconnects to get you started.

Cool Vest

At the bottom of this page shows what I have built.

Cooler system

People look at ya weird when you are sitting in the cat with your 3 layer suit all zipped up...lol

Dave

http://www.wandtv.com/story/32...e-vs-heat-exhaustion