FAQs
Frequently asked questions
See Below
Ordering
How do I order a fire suit?
Velocita offers several options in race suit design and customization. Start by browsing our racing suit products here. Once you have selected the style of suit, place your order and we will contact you about the next steps. It is essential you monitor your email for messages about your order.
For custom suits, please call us at 336-764-8502 for personalized assistance. You may also email us at customerservice@velocita-usa.com
You will need to have someone help you take your measurements. Our Measuring page contains complete details, a video and the necessary form for sending us your measurements.
For custom suits, please call us at 336-764-8502 for personalized assistance. You may also email us at customerservice@velocita-usa.com
You will need to have someone help you take your measurements. Our Measuring page contains complete details, a video and the necessary form for sending us your measurements.
Can I design my own suit?
Sure! Our Custom and Pro Suits include unlimited design and embroidery. You can draw it out or combine design features from other suits. Look in our gallery and on our FaceBook page to see suits we have already created. You can pick colors, stripes, stars, flames, tribal designs, etc. If you can draw it or describe it we can make it happen.
Can my suit be any color?
Our custom race suits come in red, black, blue, orange, hot pink, yellow, purple, lime green, light gray, and dark gray. Embroidery (thread) can run the spectrum.
The VR2 and VR3 race suit base color is only available in black. You may choose between 4 different trim colors.
How do I know how to measure for a suit?
Download the measurement form and watch the measurement video on our Measuring Page. We suggest you watch it completely through one time. Watch it again and start measuring. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to give us a call at our home office 336-764-8502 or
336-721-5064
Do you want my measurements in whole or half inches?
Use one-half inch increments. If you send quarter-inch increments, we will round up. We will never round down.
Measuring for a fire suit is very different than measuring for a tux or a suit. Do not go to a tailor to be measured.
I want a two piece suit – is the measuring process the same?
You will measure for a 1 piece suit and then provide the 3 extra measurements at the bottom of the measurement form. Jacket Front, Real Waist and Outseam
Payment
HOW DO I PAY FOR MY SUIT?
When placing an online order you have two options. Pay upfront with your credit or debit card, or choose AFIRM if you can not pay for your custom race suit at the time of your initial order. The balance will be due prior to your suit shipping from our facility.
Pre-Production Process
Now that I placed my order, is my suit in process?
NO, you have started the process to get a proof of the suit you want. We will contact you with information on what comes next. Please check your email frequently, as we will send more information to the email address you provided with your order.
What is a proof?
A proof is the visual rendering you will need to approve before the custom race suit goes to production. You are required to make sure the correct logos, colors, and options match your order.
Can I make a change to the proof?
Certainly! We want you to love your Velocita fire suit. We can change colors, move logos, make them smaller, bigger, a little to the left, etc. Clear communication is key to getting the suit design just the way you want it.
How many changes can I make? Look it over carefully. We include up to three free revisions; after that there is a $25 charge per revised proof.
How many changes can I make? Look it over carefully. We include up to three free revisions; after that there is a $25 charge per revised proof.
OK – the proof is perfect – now what?
Reply to designs@velocita-usa.com WITH the proof that you are approving, and indicate approval. Please reply and say: Approved!, If we have any doubt about your approval - we will ask to make sure.
Now that I have approved my proof – do I have a suit ordered?
YES. This is the time when you are now on order – congratulations!
How long until I get my suit?
You have made all of the decisions, now you want to have it and wear it. We understand but it takes a while to produce this one-of-a-kind product. It takes generally takes six to eight weeks from the date of your approval. This is a critical point. You may have taken three weeks to get us all of the information we need to start a proof. We cannot order until you have approved the design so we start the turnaround time from the date of art approval. During our busy season of February thru May, our turnaround time increases and could be 10-12 weeks to get your suit completed.
Could it take longer? Yes, it could. Our busy season is from February 15th until the middle of May. We do our best to honor our turn around time but sometimes due to circumstance beyond our control it takes longer.
Could it take longer? Yes, it could. Our busy season is from February 15th until the middle of May. We do our best to honor our turn around time but sometimes due to circumstance beyond our control it takes longer.
Shipping
How do you ship my suit?
We use UPS Ground shipping for our suits. It typically takes 3-4 days for your suit to arrive.
Can I get it faster?
Yes, you can. You can pay the upcharge for next-day or second-day shipping. Please call our office and someone can provide that cost for you.
Cleaning My Suit
How do I clean my suit?
We highly recommend you wash your suit at home with Velocita Suit Wash. If you do not have Velocita Suit Wash, Molecule will do the job. You can order Velocita Suit Wash here.
Close all zippers and Velcro and turn it inside out. Wash the suit in cold water on the gentle cycle using color friendly liquid detergent.
Close all zippers and Velcro and turn it inside out. Wash the suit in cold water on the gentle cycle using color friendly liquid detergent.
How do I deal with 40 laps of dirt on my suit?
Treat stains and let it sit for a for 10-15 minutes before washing.
Since stains need to be pre-treated for a time, and the suit needs to air dry, we recommend taking care of this task when you get home from the track instead of on Friday. Much less stress involved.
Since stains need to be pre-treated for a time, and the suit needs to air dry, we recommend taking care of this task when you get home from the track instead of on Friday. Much less stress involved.
Is there anything I should not use to clean my suit?
DO NOT USE BLEACH or OXYCLEAN! Oxy will break the fibers down in your suit and make it look distressed and vintage rapidly. Regular household detergents (Tide, Gain, All, etc.) will leave a flammable residue.
What is the best way to dry my suit?
Hang your suit to air dry in a covered area.
Can I put it in the dryer?
If you must, use no heat, just tumble on the air setting.
Fraying of embroidery and stitching simply comes from dryer or washing machine drum. Turn inside out for best results.
Fraying of embroidery and stitching simply comes from dryer or washing machine drum. Turn inside out for best results.
Can I dry clean my suit?
NO! Dry cleaning solvents are flammable and they also cause bleeding.
My suit is faded from wearing and washing – is it still safe?
Yes it is. It might not look as crisp as when it first arrived but it will keep you safe.
Why is my embroidery fraying?
Sliding in and out of the car can contribute to fraying. Check your car for any offending areas. Fraying of embroidery and stitching also comes from the dryer or washing machine drum. Turn inside out for best results.
The colors on my suit have bled and run. What happened?
Running will only occur with recycled dry cleaning solvent or any bleach residue in the drum of your washing machine.
If you dry cleaned, the dry cleaner ran the suit, then attempted to wash it in a commercial washing machine. Have seen many times. Our suit wash will easily fix bleed issues.
If you dry cleaned, the dry cleaner ran the suit, then attempted to wash it in a commercial washing machine. Have seen many times. Our suit wash will easily fix bleed issues.
Something's Wrong with My Suit
I received my suit and there is a problem – What do I do?
First, take a deep breath. We will work with you to make it right.
Contact us in writing at repairs@velocita-usa.com (driver’s first and last name in the subject line) and tell us what the problem is. Pictures are required.
Helpful hint: Mistakes happen and kindness goes a long way.
Contact us in writing at repairs@velocita-usa.com (driver’s first and last name in the subject line) and tell us what the problem is. Pictures are required.
Helpful hint: Mistakes happen and kindness goes a long way.
Crew Apparel
Can I also get shirts for my crew?
Absolutely! We have quick dry shirts (sublimation process) that can have the same design as your suit or something a bit different if you want. The colors are bright and crisp and they look amazing. Browse our crew apparel here.
What else can I order for my crew?
Pull over hoodies, zip hoodies, and winter jackets with hoods. Pizza might be nice. You can see all our crew apparel here.
What is the set up fee?
The set up fee is the cost incurred to prepare the sublimation machine for a new order. It is charged PER design order so make sure you order enough pieces. It would be more costly to have a $50 set up fee on a 3 piece order than a 15 piece order.
Miscellaneous
Is everything done by email?
Well no, not everything, but most things. We are a small staff with many details to keep up with. We prefer to work out suit details in an email so we have documentation of what you want.
If you need to talk to someone, send us an email and we will give you a call.
If you need to talk to someone, send us an email and we will give you a call.
When is the “busy season”?
We are sunup to sundown from December until the first of June. Orders are coming in, logos, proofs, emails, phone calls, texts, carrier pigeons and it gets a little crazy.
If we don’t answer emails right away, give us some time to get caught up.
If we don’t answer emails right away, give us some time to get caught up.
Are you open all year?
Yes we are. We go to a dozen or so trade shows per year but someone is in the office. Summers are the “off season” for us and we have more relaxed hours. We are not in the office on Fridays. We also race, fish, surf and camp during the summer, so a little patience goes a long way.
Safety
Are our suits SFI certified?
Yes! We are currently certified for many levels, not only are our suits certified, but our gloves and shoes are also certified. In addition to SFI certification, many of our products are also FIA certified and are legal for use in International competition including Formula One. You may contact SFI directly to inquire, they are a foundation that is committed to keeping you safe and are always delighted to answer your questions.
Are Velocita suits safe?
Our suits exceed SFI specifications for each level of certification. However, auto racing by nature is not safe. Though we do our best to construct the finest garments possible, we cannot guarantee your safety. There are currently many manufactures of fire protective clothing, none of which offers any warranty as to the ability of their product to protect you from injury or death. We are very confident in our product and wear the same products in our race cars that we sell to you!
Are Velocita suits fire proof?
We can honestly say NO! No manufacture anywhere in the world makes a fire proof driving suit, NO ONE!! Every man material has a temperature where it will fail. Suits are designed to protect you from thermal penetration or heat, not the fire itself. If you have ever run your hand through the flame of a fire, it may become warm, but does no evident damage. However, if you move your hand a few inches above the flame and hold it still, it will only take seconds for damage to occur. With this in mind, we use box quilt construction to redirect the energy or heat from the fire to allow the driver time to exit the heat exposed or flaming area. Keep in mind, at some temperature, everything burns, including rocks! If not there would be no Hawaii.
The more layers the better?
There are companies that would indeed lead you down the path of more is better. We too agree more is better, more TPP or more ability to dissipate damaging heat energy, that is. Technical fabrics have seen great advancement in the last couple of decades, and we as an industry, have learned much from those who have experienced fire. We use many fabrics in single and double layer construction that protect much better than three or even more layers of certain materials. Three layers, in some cases, may be needed to reach a minimum certification that simply cannot be achieved by that manufactures choice of low cost materials. Therefore, you will hear the pitch “we only offer, have or produce” three layers because it’s better. Not a totally false statement, better for them, maybe not better for you. Also keep in mind, the more layers, the less likely the suit will breathe. It will also weigh more and could be less comfortable to wear.
Nomex is the best and only material for suits?
First of all, Nomex is a registered brand and trade mark of the DuPont Corp. Dupont has spent countless hours making an affordable, functional material that does work well in driving suits. Originally engineered for fire protective clothing in large industrial facilities for work clothes, it has become the most popular by far. However, there are many mills around the world that also make fire protective fibers, thread and cloth. Though you may not have realized it, chances are you have worn or owned a suit that was not made from Nomex. We too use Nomex in most of our construction, but also use other technical fabrics that offer the same or higher level of protection, comfort and durability.
Do we recommend fire protective underwear?
YES! We specifically recommend protective underwear manufactured using Kermel. Kermel is a blended fiber that not only has naturally high thermal penetration ratings, but it also wicks moisture from your skin as you sweat. The advantage to wicking is it keeps you much cooler by breathing and by keeping the moisture off of the skin, you are less likely to be steamed in your suit in the event of a high heat situation. Though it is an additional layer of protection if you wear the underwear, we do have an option. For a nominal up charge we will install kermel lining in your suit instead of the traditional Nomex liner, thus providing the thermal and wicking benefits without underwear.
Why does our suit cost roughly ½ of “The Big Guys”?
Velocita is a small company and will always be for the racer. We are not publicly traded or owned or answer to a board of directors. We make power buys of material and supplies, have few employees and are only interested and able to produce a certain number of suits each year. We are interested in Quality, never quantity! We have no FREE suit programs, free sponsorship deals or any desire to be the biggest company on the block. In fact, you’ve probably never heard of us. Strange as it seems, we’re excited that we are the best keep secret in driver’s safety. With all of the above in mind, we simply have less overhead. Our suits speak for themselves and the great team at SFI is here to back us up. Superior, fit, finish, quality and safety are our goals. We offer the best value in driving apparel anywhere in the world.