Ask The Editors: Keep Me Cool in the Summer Heat
Amateur racers without the luxury of motor homes do indeed have a few options to keep body temps low while the mercury is rising. First you may want to check into a good cooling vest. These work by absorbing water and are then worn underneath your gear, making direct contact with the skin.
This process works two ways- first evaporation cools the skin naturally (this is how sweat works) and secondly, the water acts as a heat-absorber, drawing heat your body is trying to shed away from the skin. Some of the fancier units also incorporate gel packs that you can put into the freezer prier to an event for extra cooling capability.
And remember, in a pinch, you can put the principle to work for you on any budget by simply soaking a t-shirt in your ice chest then putting it on under your gear before your moto.
You may also want to consider a hydration pack. It seems hard to believe that adding something heavy and restrictive like a pack full of fluid to your back could be a technique to getting cooler but staying hydrated is one of the keys to beating heat stroke. These things allow you to sip water (or whatever it is you like to drink) right inside your helmet without interrupting your flow on the track.
Lastly, if you happen to have a canopy, tent or even just a sun umbrella for your pit, there is a product called the CanopyCool that runs off your truck’s cigarette lighter and provides a cool mist to anything and anyone under your shelter.
