Need a Helmet

[eville]

I've been doing a little reading on helmets here. Any new input from you folks would be great. I'm looking for something for Auto-X, Track Days and a little drag action.

Also, any good places in socal to go try some helmets? Preferably somwhere near OC, but I'd like to make a purchase this week and OC'ish area is more convenient, but willing to travel to make a decent purchase.

[Jim Nilsen]

I've been doing a little reading on helmets here. Any new input from you folks would be great. I'm looking for something for Auto-X, Track Days and a little drag action.

Also, any good places in socal to go try some helmets? Preferably somwhere near OC, but I'd like to make a purchase this week and OC'ish area is more convenient, but willing to travel to make a decent purchase.

I started a thread about this a while back without much response.

I have been looking on ebay and keep liking the Impact racing helmet a lot. Open face and snell approved. Pyrotech has a very nice one for $149. I have seen a Bell helmet for around $179. Scorpion has a really nice looking and easy to maintain helmet for $139. There are several others that look nice too that are a bit less and snell approved. Remember that most all of the events require a snell approved helmet.

I have seen several really good buys on helmets down under $100 in some close out sales but they move fast. KBC helmets say they meet or exceed snell standards but don't say Approved in the adds, but they are controlably ventilated they say and look good to for $79 and $10 shipping but medium size is sold out. I take a small.

I am going to buy a helmet soon so I hope to get some feedback too!

[zbugger]

I just got a Pyrotect helmet for a damn good price from a local vendor here. I got it at the autocross I went to in Marina. This guy goes to local events with his trailer and sells safety stuff there. That's up here in the bay area though. I really couldn't help you with what's down there. Maybe someone down there would know more?

[rsk68]

I just ordered a Pyrotect today online from JSC Speed, seemed resonably priced $157 delivered.

[monza]

Approved for sure, fit is key, tighter then you would think you'd want.

Besides that it's what ever is in your budget, you pay for light weight. Weight is not critical thing for Auto X or track days, etc. as it is for some sports. Big motor bike shops have the widest selection, you want to try different brands and all price ranges. I like carbon fiber (light but-$$) but I use it for other sports were my head bounces around a lot.

Edit: buying a helmet with out trying it on, sounds crazy? Going as cheap as possible... remember this is your head your protecting, the goal is to remember. If it's just to pass tech for a couple of autocross, sure go cheaper. Full blown track, get the best you can afford.

[NOT A TA]

Check the requirements for any sanctioning bodies you're going to run with th make sure the helmet you're interested in will satisfy their tech. There are helmets that don't meet the newer specs being sold cheap. They're New Old Stock they need to get rid of. Also M rated helmets aren't allowed at most car events because they don't carry the fire rating.

As for open face helmets, check the sanctioning bodies you want to run with. I believe this is from the SCTA/BNI rules updated this week and concerns open face helmets. http://www.landracing.com/index.php?...sk=view&id=243

While you can function without an arm, leg, hand, etc. you need your head. How much is it worth?

I sold bicycle and motorcycle helmets for years and there's a huge difference in quality, comfort, and protection for any given type of helmet which all pass the certification for a particular type of helmet. The certification requirements are the minimum level of protection for a given helmet type. Manufacturers are free to exceed those requirements and many do.

Me? I have an Arai GP5W. It's comfy with a wide eyeport so I can put my glasses on after the helmets on. It's a very high quality helmet, not cheap at all and hopefully I'll never smash my head and find out how good it really is. However since I spend quite a bit of time over 100 MPH and wear it 5-6 hours each track weekend I feel it's worth the expense. This shot was taken while figuring out stuff while the cage was being installed in my car.

[Roadbuster]

Looking for one as well. Summit has a wide selection, just a little light on the description. That and no way to try before you buy. I have to educate myself on helmet tech.

Jon

[Twentyover]

Make sure it's Snell 2005 SA rated. Don't know if they are selling Snell 2010 SA yet, if so that will be legal longer.

Most track day sanctioning bodies require Snell SA rating less than 10 years old. SA hats are designed for repeated impacts against stuff like roof and roll hoops, while Snell M helmets are designed for single big hits more often found on motorbikes.

[David Pozzi]

Around Sept of this year the new 2010 spec helmets will be out!
Wait if you can.

If you can't, look for a deep discount since present helmets will only be "good" for another 5 years!
David

[JEFFTATE]

I bought a helmet at Summit because I could actually try it on.

[Jim Nilsen]

I bought a helmet at Summit because I could actually try it on.

I'm thinking of goin to Lefthander Chassis in my area and maybe I will get lucky and they will have a great deal on one. At the least I will know what size I will need.

I also remember Dave Pozzi saying that you should try your helmet on with a flame retardant sock on your head to get the proper size for the tracks and it would be more comfy for just the autox events.

How about some opinions on this?

[eville]

This is all great info guys!
I'd like to wait until September but I might try and get something sooner. I'll look for deep discounts.
Anyone know of a place in socal (OC, IE, LA) that i can go try stuff on?

[asifnyc]

I just ordered this Simpson helmet from summit: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SIM-1150031/

full face, sa 2005 for $250. also, consider picking up a neck brace. some groups requires those as well. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/RCI-7802C/

[Jim Nilsen]

I just ordered this Simpson helmet from summit: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SIM-1150031/

full face, sa 2005 for $250. also, consider picking up a neck brace. some groups requires those as well. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/RCI-7802C/

Are you painting it YELLOW ?

[asifnyc]

yellow?! why would I do that? hmmm, come to think of it I do have a rattle can of yellow in the garage... maybe with some black stripes

[monteboy84]

Buy the BEST helmet you can afford, even if it's an SA05 it will be legal for 5 years. So figure the price spread across those 5 years, it gets to be a pretty small outlay of cash. There's no way I'd do anything with my brain stuck in one of those $100 specials.

The Simpson that asifnyc bought is a fantastic helmet, and only $250. Now stop and think about how many places you spent that same amount on your car. It's easy to justify, spend the money to buy quality, that way if you do have a chance to get on a track, you don't have to upgrade. Buy once, cry once.

[Jim Nilsen]

I haven't seen it advertised as such, but are the Impact Racing helmets made with the same fireproof material type that their racing suits are make of ?

I like Simpson products and I also like the Bell an Pyrotect. But the Impact racing helmets would fit into the category of buy the best you can get for the money if the materials were better.

I am also in the spot of buying a helmet to get me through the novice part of things and then buy another helmet, That way I have one for passengers to wear. I will always more than likely drive more conservatively with most passengers as the risk and the fear factor they have makes it that way.

[monteboy84]

I haven't seen it advertised as such, but are the Impact Racing helmets made with the same fireproof material type that their racing suits are make of ?

If you get a Snell SA certified helmet instead of a Snell M helmet, it will be fireproof. The M stands for motorcycle, so a flammable liner is acceptable, the SA is for automobile drives, so the liner is Nomex or some other flame-retardant material.

[796spdbu]

Wonder if I can carry on a helmet on an Airplane? I need to take on e to RTTC event in Cali...Hate to put in the cargo area and lose a new helmet

[6'9"Witha69]

By law, you can carry a parachute on an airplane, so a helmet should be fine.

Speaking of which, I wonder if my Carbon Fiber skydiving helmet would pass tech?



j/k