helmets

[Mark_Bennett]

www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=40880&mpage=1 Might help

 

[AntB]

Oh it has to be a Simpson Racing one: http://simpsonraceproducts.com/products/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1&start=0&sort= If your going to wear a helmet on a track - you've got to have a Stig Hat!!!!

 

[sawood12]

Yeah, but everyone will expect you to drive like the Stig! Nothing worse that someone with "All the gear and no idea".

 

[sawood12]

By the way, not meant to be a slur on the original posters driving skills. For all I know he could be the Stig.

 

[AntB]

Very true.. What about one of these then:[]

BRILLIANT - LOVE IT! http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/custom-paint-airbrushed-helmet-simpson-bandit-PREDATOR_W0QQitemZ170350415054QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Motorcycle_Helmets?hash=item27a9ad0cce&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C72%3A1689%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50 The graphics this guy does is stunning! (well I think so)

 

[pauljmcnulty]

By the way, not meant to be a slur on the original posters driving skills. For all I know he could be the Stig.

Don't be silly. Stig's login is "mshumy". []

 

[si30boxsters]

Looking for some advice re:helmets for doing trackdays........

What are people using?

Open face vs full?

Recommendations?

Anyone know any shops in Yorkshire?.........would prefer to try on before purchasing (eg from Demon Tweeks!)

Trackday regs? FIA approval etc.....Bike helmets appear a lot cheaper can these be used?

This will sound awful but I do have a tight budget and I know the more you spend the better helmet you will get but the reality is I want a cheap one!!

 

[James_G]

I use a motorcycle helmet at trackdays, and I've never had a problem. Wouldn't be allowed if I were racing in a series, but for trackdays it's fine. If you are planning on doing lots of driving with passengers, or taking a lot of tuition you may find an open face helmet better, as you will be able to converse more easily. All instructors that have been in my car have had open faced helmets. There was also a thread about this a few months ago and there was some talk that one brand don't fit as well as they are optimised for American heads not European ones. Not sure if that was a joke or not, but you are right to want to try a few on. Finally, don't skimp on a helmet - you're a long time dead.

 

[Neil Haughey]

I have an OMP Jet Open face helmet that is a maybe 3 years old now. I am however considering doing 2 things when moving into racing; 1) Use either HANS or something like HANS. 2) Change to full face helmet. Now for a trackday I can't see myself changing from open face, in a race car I am thinking a face full of glass is not a nice prospect. Get a helmet that fits properly, more important then anything else.

 

[buchos]

Prefer an open face myself.. must be claustrophobic, i have a couple of Stilos with headsets and a Sparco

 

[944 man]

Simpson fit American heads. The RX7 has a more European shape than the Bandits, but its been superceded now. Talk of 'motorcycle helmets' is misleading too, as most decent motorcyle helmets were tested to BS6658-A until recently, and thats the same standard currently required by the MSA, for national events.

 

[Lancerlot]

Full face offers greater protection. Stilo manufacture one that's half and half. Like most safety equipment, it pays to get the best you can afford. The lighter it is the better. It's more comfortable to wear and safer in terms of neck stress in the event of an incident. Glassfibre helmets are the cheapest but heavy. Kevlar and carbon fibre offer better protection but are much more expensive. Helmets range from £50 to in excess of £600, dependant on materials, level of fireproofing etc. European manufactured helmets are VAT free. Non--European helmets eg. Japanese and American attract VAT at 15%. FIA approved helmets are expensive due to the testing required before they are marketed. MSA approved are a bit cheaper and still good. You'll be in an enclosed cabin, so don't bother with fancy built-in ventilation systems and visors, but do chose one that has a decent size apperture for maximum visibility. Try before you buy. The helmet should be a firm fit - but not overly tight. I would contact a few specialist suppliers. You can get contact details from the motorsport mags. Demon Tweeks do a good supply and free return service, but it would be advisable to get some idea of size and type before you contact them. I have used Arai helmets for many years. They are light, well made and reasoanably priced for their quality. Good luck. If you need any further info. please let me know. [] Regards, Clive

 

[si30boxsters]

Thanks for the replies... I'm going to avoid motorcycle helmets as my understanding is they don't meet regs and trackdays are tightening up on checks. OMP seem to be the best value that I can see. Still undecided about open vs full These are the front runners.......OMP speed helmet (full) and OMP jet 3.5 (open) [link=http://rallynuts.com/motorsport/OMP_Helmets_1776/OMP_Speed_Helmet_4092.asp]http://rallynuts.com/motorsport/OMP_Helmets_1776/OMP_Speed_Helmet_4092.asp[/link] [link=http://rallynuts.com/motorsport/OMP_Helmets_1776/OMP_Jet_3.5_Open_Face_Helmet_2580.asp]http://rallynuts.com/motorsport/OMP_Helmets_1776/OMP_Jet_3.5_Open_Face_Helmet_2580.asp[/link] I really want to buy in a shop so that I can compare, though I can't find any in Yorkshire (it all seems to be bike helmets). Might take a trip to demon tweeks in Wrexham as they have a good selection (I would just like to say I would never normally consider buying anything from them)

 

[Mark_Bennett]

ORIGINAL: si30boxsters Thanks for the replies... I'm going to avoid motorcycle helmets as my understanding is they don't meet regs and trackdays are tightening up on checks. OMP seem to be the best value that I can see. I really want to buy in a shop so that I can compare, though I can't find any in Yorkshire (it all seems to be bike helmets). Might take a trip to demon tweeks in Wrexham as they haveee a good selection (I would just like to say I would never normally consider buying anything from them)

Seriously, don't go out looking for a particular brand (consider all the quality ones you can afford - and consider if the cost limit is real - how valuable are you?). When we bought our helmets we ended up paying twice what we originally hoped, but found ones that fitted us, and were comfortable as well as meeting all the regs. For example I tried a Bell helmet on, which at first seemed fine. But after a couple of minutes I realised that the "padding" was actually pressing hard against my forehead and was increasingly uncomfortable. It would have been horrible to wear for any length of time. They say you should try it on for half an hour or more - watch some tv etc and if you are still comfortable then buy it. [] It shouldn't be too loose though (don't mistake that for comfort). If you can slide it sideways then it's no good. If you can grab hold of it and slide it back and forward it's no good (can't have it sliding over your eyes under braking []). It should be a bit tight to get on over your ears, but then be comfortable. It's no good to you if the thing flies off because it's too big.[&:] You can buy a nomex balaclava to wear as well - it helps keep the helmet cleaner inside and can pad it out a smidgen if you are between sizes. Not a bad idea to wear one anyway...

 

[si30boxsters]

Cheers Mark will put aside an afternoon for fitting!

 

[944 man]

What exactly is a 'motorcycle helmet' and what is it that makes them inferior to a 'car helmet'?

 

[Mark_Bennett]

There's a good discussion on the differences here: [link=http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cacheFeNaCfbalUJ:www.6speedonline.com/forums/track-autocross/67413-auto-motorcycle-helmet.html+difference+between+bike+and+car+crash+helmets&cd=7&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk]http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cacheFeNaCfbalUJ:www.6speedonline.com/forums/track-autocross/67413-auto-motorcycle-helmet.html+difference+between+bike+and+car+crash+helmets&cd=7&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk[/link] It seems that typically, a MC helmet is designed to take many small impacts over a large area (the ground), whereas a car helmet is designed to take fewer heavier impacts in a smaller area (rollcage). MC helmets are not fire retardent, but car ones are. There are some that meet the approval of both car and bike approvers though - not many though.

 

[944 man]

*scratches chin* Theres a lot of nonsense talked about 'motorcycle helmets' and 'car helmets'; and I suspect that that thread is full of it. Until the EU interferred with its ECE22.05 standard all motorcycle helmets (defined as being helmets which could legally be sold for and used on the highway in the UK) were tested to British Standard 6658 Type A, or Type B (typically very cheap thermoplastic helmets). I have an Arai helmet which is tested to BS6658-A which has a non-expiring blue MSA scrutineers approval sticker: bought from a motorcycle shop as a 'motorcycle helmet'. My father who is a club racer has a similar Type-A helmet, as does my uncle who is a well known professional racer (his preferred helmet for 'national' races). Now, I do know that the MSA is falling into line with the FIA and from the first of January next year every competitor will have to have a fireproof lined lid. For many this will be a BS6658 Type-A/Fr approved helmet: thats a 'bike helmet' with a nomex removable lining in it, according to many internet forum threads. Talk of 'motorcycle helmets' has gained momentum since the EU required that all helmets sold for road use met ECE22.05, and Id certainly agree that many of these helemts arent fit for ACU or MSA use, BUT: there are many Shoei and Arai helemts available now only approved to this standard which were tested to BS6658 Type-A when that was required. The helmets arent any different now; theyre just being approved by a testing institution who require lower standards... "Car helmets are designed to absorb repeated strikes on the same spot whilst inferior motorcylce helmets are only designed to absorb one strike". This nonsense/myth came about due to the Snell Foundation's 2000/2005 test which includes repeated strikes to the same spot. To conclude then, that 'car' helmets are made stronger in order to withstand similar impacts and that 'bike' helmets are only constructed to withstand one impact, is erroneous at best. Any BS6658 Type-A/Fr helmet should pass Snells tests, but the cant be said in reverse: many Snell approved lids fall short of the BSI's requirements (for 'bike' helmets according to t'internet wisdom). As an aside, the SF has modified its tests for the proposed Snell 2010 standard and the repeated strike requirement has been greatly altered... As Ive said on a number of forums now (in case any of this looks familiar []), Im all in favour of you wearing the best helmet that you can, but in order to do that you need to know what the craic is. I dont think that we shold al be forced to wear Nomex lined helmets by the MSA for national events though, and I'll explain why. A Nomex lining is of no practical use when you dont have to wear Nomex underwear, gloves or boots, or a balaclava. The MSA are still happy for you to compete wearing what is effectively a welders proban boilersuit ffs! When theyve forced everyone to don underwear, gloves, boots and balaclavas, as well as proper two layer + Nomex suits, THEN maybe a fireproof helemt lining will be the last thing left for them to improve on; but right now its pointless. Apologies for any typos or spurious grammar, as Ive rushed... Simon

 

[Mark_Bennett]

Ahhh... So your original question wasn't in fact a request for info, as you know a lot more then most people here about it all... [] I've got to say it would have saved me a bit of time searching around for something helpful to back up what I remembered finding out myself when I was buying if you had just posted the above in the first place - but I thought I was helping.[&o] When I bought I was informed that Brands Hatch etc would not be accepting bike lids for track days - this may never have actually come in to force (I don't know)? - but it was a reason I went for car over bike myself. Got to point out I did say that some meet the approval of both car and bike - as does your Arai (which I couldn't afford!).

 

[RichardF]

I have to say I have done around 20 trackdays over the last 3 years and not once has anyone been checking crash helmets.