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RACER 1927:
A century of excellence in the service of movement.
A century of excellence in the service of movement.
It all began with leatherwork in the tanneries of Vendôme, with one idea: to cut a second skin for those who love speed and wide open spaces. Since 1927, the glove has been and remains the original core craft of RACER and its most precious know-how. By shaping this unique point of contact between Man, his equipment and the elements, the brand has learned, decade after decade, to tame the cold, to follow the movement of the hand and to absorb impacts. Over the course of its history, and strengthened by this mastery of protection, RACER naturally chose to broaden its horizons: it put this proven expertise at the service of the whole body by creating dedicated protective equipment.
On the eve of its hundredth anniversary, RACER has never stopped protecting those who practice their sport while keeping the glove as the unchallenged pillar of its DNA. A look back at a century of boldness, innovation and passion.
1927
The birth of a pioneer.
Everything begins in the heart of the Vendôme tanneries, in the Loir-et-Cher, where glove-making is a demanding art handed down from generation to generation. Here, leather is worked with patience: each hide is selected for its suppleness and strength, because a good glove is judged as much by the precision of its cut as by the quality of its material. Back from a trip to New York, the founder Hubert Patault grasped the power of a short, universal name. Inspired by the first skiers racing down snowy slopes at full speed ("race" in English), he founded the RACER brand, carried by the family workshop of Établissements Patault. Its first creations, intended for mountaineers and winter sports pioneers, laid the foundations of a reputation for excellence that would become the core business of the house.
1950 - 1970:
The industrial era under Michel Patault's leadership.
The industrial era under Michel Patault's leadership.
As the family craft workshop grew into a true industrial production entity under the leadership of Michel Patault (Hubert's son and a prominent local figure, also deeply involved in sport and tennis in Vendôme), the name Ganterie Patault gave way fully to the commercial brand RACER. Under this impetus, the factory modernized its know-how, extending its production to technical gloves for aviation, the army and high-level sport.
1970:
The turn to motorcycling.
The turn to motorcycling.
Drawing on its expertise in extreme cold and high mountains, RACER understood that the demands placed on skiers: biting cold, speed, abrasion and a vital need for dexterity, are exactly those faced by motorcyclists. In 1970, the brand launched its very first collection dedicated to two wheels. RACER gave riders a true second skin, combining protection, robustness and optimal feel of the controls. 1982: The revolution of the first heated glove
Refusing to accept numb hands in extreme cold as inevitable, RACER took a decisive step in 1982 by designing the very first heated gloves for motorcycles. Powered directly by the vehicle's battery, these gloves were a major worldwide innovation. RACER no longer simply insulated the hand passively from the cold: it generated its own heat and established itself as the undisputed pioneer of a thermal technology that would never stop improving.
1982:
The revolution of the first heated glove.
The revolution of the first heated glove.
Refusing to accept numb hands in extreme cold as inevitable, RACER took a decisive step in 1982 by designing the very first heated gloves for motorcycles. Powered directly by the vehicle's battery, these gloves were a major worldwide innovation. RACER no longer simply insulated the hand passively from the cold: it generated its own heat and established itself as the undisputed pioneer of a thermal technology that would never stop improving.
1998:
Heading south: Salon-de-Provence.
Heading south: Salon-de-Provence.
At the dawn of the new millennium, the company went through a major strategic turning point. Acquired by the Upperside Capital Partners group, RACER left its historic home in Loir-et-Cher to establish its headquarters and its research and development center in the south of France, in Salon-de-Provence. This new base turned the house into a true laboratory of textile and technical creation. Materials are carefully selected there and every glove is scrupulously inspected before and after manufacture to guarantee an impeccable standard of quality.
2000:
The era of smart materials and high-tech engineering.
The era of smart materials and high-tech engineering.
The start of the 2000s marked a metamorphosis in glove architecture. Traditional leather now joined forces with advances in textile chemistry: RACER integrated waterproof, highly breathable membranes such as GORE-TEX®, as well as cutting-edge synthetic insulation, like PRIMALOFT® or goose down. Each model became a complex assembly, designed to block rain and wind while wicking away perspiration.
2007:
The D3O® alliance: tailor-made protection.
The D3O® alliance: tailor-made protection.
To protect without hindering movement, RACER teamed up with the British laboratory D3O® and launched the iconic Racer R Cup model. This technology relies on a smart material that stays flexible at rest to follow the movements of the hand, but locks instantly on impact to absorb the energy of the shock. Award-winning from its release, this glove revolutionized motorcycle safety by combining ergonomic comfort with high-performance protection.
2012:
The revolution of removable batteries.
The revolution of removable batteries.
Thirty years after its first wired model, RACER freed movement thanks to the miniaturization of electronic components and advances in Lithium-Ion cells. The brand launched its first heated gloves with autonomous, removable batteries housed directly in the cuff of the glove. Free of any cable, this thermoregulated system opened the door to active warmth for all outdoor enthusiasts.
2015:
Conquering cycling.
Conquering cycling.
With more than three decades of expertise in thermoregulation, RACER widened its playground to cyclists and mountain bikers. In 2015, the brand rolled out the first heated glove collection designed specifically for cycling, complemented by a range of body protection (knee guards, vests, etc.) developed with enduro and downhill riders. Riders can now ride in all weather.
2017:
90 years of expertise and the Eurobike accolade.
90 years of expertise and the Eurobike accolade.
For its 90th anniversary, RACER proved that its heritage is its best engine of innovation by unveiling the E-GLOVE 2. This heated cycling glove features a smart battery indicator and ergonomic routing of the heating circuits under the fingers. The model won the prestigious Eurobike Award, the highest worldwide distinction in the cycling industry, confirming RACER's place among the international elite of sports equipment.
2020 - 2022:
New horizons and the historic union with CÉBÉ.
New horizons and the historic union with CÉBÉ.
The brand continued to push its technical know-how toward the most extreme demands with the creation of the professional division Racer Tactical in 2020. Then, in October 2022, history offered a masterful nod to the 1968 Games: RACER acquired the century-old brand of helmets, masks and goggles CÉBÉ. Brought together under the same roof in Salon-de-Provence, the two houses joined forces to offer complete protection, from head to hands.
2027
100 years of heritage.
One hundred years have passed since the first leathers were cut in the Vendôme workshop. By crossing the symbolic milestone of its centenary, RACER celebrates a century of passion shared with those who ski, ride or pedal, offering the best protection against the elements. From the tanned hide of its origins to smart membranes, D3O® protections and today's heating technologies, the same standard of excellence runs through the generations. As this second century begins, RACER continues to innovate with eco-designed, durable equipment, true to its eternal promise: to protect the hand to free movement.