SCTA leathers

[JoeRider677]

What exactly constitutes perforations in leathers. Its pretty tough to find "no perforations" leathers. I am going to Maxton next week and I hope I can find further information.

[r.haskins]

You may be looking at SCTA for other events, but Maxton is ECTA and the rule book says nothing about perforations in the leathers.  I bought mine at Cycle Gear.  They have some perfs.  I'm not sure about SCTA rules if you are looking at SCTA events also.  Hope this helps.  I'll be at Maxton too.
Rich

[JoeRider677]

Thanks, I'm good for Maxton, Bonneville is the long range goal. I read in the SCTA book and they talk about perforations, agreed I did not see anything in the ECTA book, my leathers do not have an aero hump on the back but are acceptable for road racing.

[Seldom Seen Slim]

"perforations" are any places that will allow liquid to enter the leathers from outside.  This includes the very common punched holes- and also the fabric panels installed to allow stretch as well as added comfort (if you define it that way).  The minimum allowance for holes is an area the size of the palm of your hand - or the hand of the inspector.

The rule stems from an incident where a bike was burning and the rider suffered burns, leading the rule makers to decide that doing the best possible to keep fluids from getting inside the leathers was to eliminate all but a few of the perforations.  You may argue that the perfs are not going to allow in much fluid, you may argue that the burns suffered by the rider in question were not from the ingress of fluid but rather to heat from the fire boiling his sweat, and so on -- but the rule stands.  It's not uncommon for a rider to arrive at inspection at Bonneville and be turned away because he didn't pay attention to the "no perfs" rule.  Many time the rider takes his leathers to Wendover to have leather patches sewn over the area in question.

There are a few manufacturers making leathers that have no perforations - or the amount that is allowable at the salt.  Z Custom is one of them - and I'm pretty sure there are others, too.  Other than that -- even road race leathers that are useable in world superbike racing - aren't going to pass inspection if they've got perforations.  Sorry -- but the rule is the rule.

[JoeRider677]

No problem, my leathers do not have an aero hump on the back and was planning on a new set for Bonneville anyway. My present set if from Z so I am familiar with the drill, I will be ordering a new set shortly. Thanks for the input

[Seldom Seen Slim]

When you call Z -- tell Adolph that the leathers are for Bonneville and that's why you want the "no perfs" situation.  He's built leathers for us and others and knows the routine.

Speaking of Z -- when you call you might consider asking for the landracing.com discount.  They've been advertising on the site for quite a while - and offer a 10% discount to folks that mention their ad and the site when ordering a full suit.

[JoeRider677]

Thanks for the tip, much appreciated

[Mobile Welder]

Arrrrgh. I just got leathers...road race type with hump ....and...perforations.   

[Nortonist 592]

The aero hump puts you partial streamlining.  Perfs can be sealed with silicone.  Tom Evans told me to do it on a set of leathers I had.  Passed El Mirage and Bonneville.

[MidTNJasonF.]

I was pretty sure my leathers were not going to pass muster but I will post here just to clarify.

My track day leathers are two piece with a full circ zipper. No small hole perforations but they do have stretch panels in the normal areas for off the shelf leathers i.e. crotch, under arm, ect. That makes them a no go for LSR if I am not mistaken right?

As a side question what about zippered vents. This particular suit had a couple small slits that could be opened up via zippers to get some venting. Legal if closed and maybe silicone sealed shut?

As a final side note, leather even without perforation does not stop liquid. On more than one occasion I have had rain driven straight through the solid chest and shoulder panels when I got caught out with no rain gear. Leather dye bleeds though to a white t-shirt even when the leathers are several years old. I am sure no perfs would help keep the bad stuff off longer than a fully perfed suit however. I wonder if a nomex underwear option like a single layer car suit wearer would have to use in many sanctioning bodies was considered at any point?

[saltwheels262]

I wonder if a nomex underwear option like a single layer car suit wearer would have to use in many sanctioning bodies was considered at any point?

i wonder if air bags were considered at any point?

franey

[MidTNJasonF.]

I wonder if a nomex underwear option like a single layer car suit wearer would have to use in many sanctioning bodies was considered at any point?

i wonder if air bags were considered at any point?

franey

I am sure I get the sarcasm of your post but is a comment/question regarding fire/fuel protection really that far off in a topic related to keeping the skin of a rider intact. So a question regarding using modern tech based fibers along side traditional abrasion resistant materials is not worth serious consideration to you? Only worth of a sarcastic comment?

The motorcycle safety industry is in fact looking seriously at airbags by the way, and making some interesting headway on it.

[nrhs sales]

Just an FYI,

Bubs does not have the same rules for leathers as SCTA does so if getting a new set of leathers is preventing you from racing at Bonneville consider Bubs as you can have perforations and stretch panels at Bubs.

[Seldom Seen Slim]

Ah, don't worry about the "sarcasm".  I expect you were given that response out of the frustration that many in the land speed racing world have found when trying to understand the SCTA leathers rules.  It's been discussed here -- and lots of other places - 'til we're blue in the face -- and there's still nothing but "all cow" in the rules.  Don't take it as a personal shot -- but rather as "Wow, this must be a sore subject."

[saltwheels262]

I wonder if a nomex underwear option like a single layer car suit wearer would have to use in many sanctioning bodies was considered at any point?

i wonder if air bags were considered at any point?

franey

won't liquids soak through nomex undergarments faster than leathers?

there are issues w/ an on bike fire that will turn a rider's sweat to steam.

safety is paramount. imo scta rules on rider wear (including all cow leathers )
are at the pinnacle of safety.

my sarcasm and mc rider nomex underwear can go in the round file
along w/ parachutes for non streamliner two wheelers.

franey

wonder how many bike riders would need new leathers after
trying to stuff any kind of extra under garments into their current ones?