Keeping Driver Cool

[tkosier]

Yes, it's already getting hot here in south Florida. What is the most effective cooling system for a driver - the cool shirt approach or the cool air to helmet approach?

[Craig T]

Both!

[Aslet]

Both is the best... I would say, by itself the cool shirt is better. Your core temp is what affects you whole body. Blowing air on your face will help cool you and keep you refreshed, but the shirt will also cover more area. This let's more heat transfer.

[Tom W]

I find a FAST cool shirt more than enough even when it's 110 F.

[cstreit]

Cool water shirts are incredible. I won't drive on a hot day without them now. Best money ever spent!

[jpachard]

More importantly is being in good shape and staying hydrated. I also run a vent aimed at me.

Cheers, James

[Craig T]

The first time I put on a Cool Shirt was on a 108 degree day at Willow Springs Raceway in the middle of the Mojave Desert. I'll never forget when I first turned it on, and the cold sensation started at my side and spread throughout the shirt. OMG! I wanted to pull off the grid, read a book, and smoke a cigar. What an awesome feeling that was.

[jonesb930]

tkosier,

Have you looked into the vent kit that uses the clock hole? It is said to provide allot of airflow to the driver.
See page 20:
http://www.smartracingproducts.com/pdfcat/srpcatalog2009.pdf

BTW: I am local to you here in Jupiter just off of Center Street if you ever need help with your p-car. I know of two others in Jupiter as well as a few in Hobe Sound.

Bill

[ZOA NOM]

Ignore the vent kit, and make your own. Lowes, Home Depot, etc., has the fittings for a shop vac. Get the wide end fitting, install it upside-down behind the hood vent using tie-wraps. Fit a length of vent hose through the clock hole. Voila!

Oh, and the Cool Shirt is worth 2 tenths per lap.

[Willy Leon]

Craig,
it never gets hot at Willow Springs!
See you for a cigar next month at Tribute!

[ErVikingo]

As a South Floridian myself.... FAST or Cool Shirt has the highest bang for the buck. The helmet blower adds to that but mostly when waiting on the grid.

I use a full FAST system (shirt + helmet).

[KTL]

Used a cool shirt for the first time last year. Holy cow when the chilly water starts a circulating..... that's a wacky feeling. But boy does it work. Anybody who drives in even mildly hot conditions should get one.

[Todd Simpson]

What is the routine for using one of these?

How much ice do you bring? Do you need to change it through the day?

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by Todd Simpson

What is the routine for using one of these?

How much ice do you bring? Do you need to change it through the day?

I just fill it with enough water to cover the intake holes on the pump (maybe 1 1/2"-2"). If you use a block of ice it lasts much longer. I freeze water in Tupperware containers that fit perfectly in the FAST box, then throw four or five in my Coleman cooler for the weekend. Crushed or cubed melts quickly and you will most likely need to change it each run session.

A full Cool or FAST Shirt system weights about 20 pounds, so make sure you put it some place as a ballast. I pull 20 pounds of lead in the summer when the box goes in.

[KTL]

The use is really simple. Pick a spot on the floor to mount it quickly and securely. Light duty ratchet straps and eyebolts are a quick & dirty solution for quick loading of ice & water. Mount it securely fore-aft and side-side so the cooler can't move & pop the top off at speed and dump water all over the cabin.

Plumbing is simple because the in & out hoses are joined by foam covering. So it's basically like one flat hose hooked to the cooler. A few zip strips here & there to lightly secure the hose to the cabin is all you need. The hoses from the shirt come out of the crotch hole/2nd zipper on your race suit and you should route the hose in a way that it doesn't get pinched by your harnesses. You also want the shirt-cooler hose disconnects in a close reach location to allow you to unplug it fairly quickly. If you have to get out of the car fast (accident or tech inspect vehicle exit test), those hoses will hold you up because the disconnects are pretty solid and take some effort to release.

Totally agree about the blocks of ice fitted to the cooler. Never fails that on Sunday the food cooler you brought now has only cold water in it and/or the concession stand is sold out of ice. When we do use cubed ice, we fill the cooler full with ice and then add water. That'll last you the whole day even on a hot day.

[ErVikingo]

What I do is that I have 2 coolers and we replace them halfway during the enduros (when over 1 hour).

A good forced air helmet is a must. I prefer the top vent ones especially since I have a full containment seat + HANS. The side vents are not IMO the best. You get air blown into your face but none to the top of your head. Also, the air is cool NOT cold as the heat exchanger does not have enough capacity/time to cool the air more.

[tkosier]

Wow, great responses - Thanks all!

Looks like I'll be getting a system of some sort. I will install it into my dual purpose car for DEs. When I install my track wheels/tires and brake pads, I would install the cooler system - when i go back to my street setup, remove it. Suggestions on how best to do that?

Tom - newest member of Florida Pelicans!

[ErVikingo]

Tom, if you want to see some install examples, head over to 901 Shop in Stuart and check out mine and other cars in there.

[ferdsgt3rs]

An engineer I'm working with is playing with a Small chunk of dry ice 6'' X 6'' wrapped, surrounded by regular ice for the longer races, he said might have to wear a shirt under the cool shirt....data being collected and tested.