A Track day helmet.

[jmelhuish]

Hi all,
A bit of advice required.
I need to buy myself a helmet for the forthcoming track day. I've had a look on ebay and there are many that are discounted to around the £30 mark. The question I have is what type do I need to buy, open face or closed face?
Also what factors should I consider when buying a crash helmet?
Thanks
Jason

 

[edh]

you need one that fits, so buying mail order is very risky.

for example with cheap car helmets - the v2 doesnt fit me at all but the hedtec one is fine.

open face is fine, until you mash your face into the steering wheel.

bike helmets seem a bit cheaper and more available. Maybe the place to start is a local bike helmet dealer? I used a vemar helmet for years - comfy and lightweight composite lid.

 

[Fred Hindle]

Jason,

Things to consider:-

Does it have the correct Safety stickers,
Weight,
Construction,
Fit,
Field of view (car helmets generally have a wider fov than bike ones.
Full face or Open Face - on a bike I wouldn't wear anything but a full-face helmet, in a car I wear open face, lighter in weight and cooler on the head. (People can also see your grin!)

Always go and try a helmet on, different manufacturers make different head shapes. So a Shoei M size may fit whilst a Schuberth M size may not.

The other golden rule is never buy second hand - no knowledge of it's history (Even dropping a helmet can render it useless in a crash).

Cheers,

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: Fred Hindle

The other golden rule is never buy second hand - no knowledge of it's history (Even dropping a helmet can render it useless in a crash).

This. The little I know about helmets of different types is that you should only buy them new, from a good supplier who can be trusted to have looked after it before you buy it. A damaged helmet may appear to be fine but fail rather badly when you most need it.


Oli.

 

[c13sjw]

basically buy new and try on until you find a good fit (you only have one head) for trackdays you don't need top notch like i do for racing, but please buy new and try on buying second hand is daft and dangerous , you dont know there history god forbid you need them to stop you causing injury or worse in the case of an impact but..........
GRP are reasonably priced ive seen but don't go open face as someone has said they arnt good for cars things have moved on since classic racing days, don't forget all brands differ on fitment and insert fitments so trying one on and buying another online unless the exact same maker and range is a bad idea my fav is Arai GP5 every time but my choice is limited for motorsport needing snell approved to a high degree.

do however try on in a store and then order online you will get discounts!

 

[MartinRS2K]

ORIGINAL: Fred Hindle

Jason,

Things to consider:-

Does it have the correct Safety stickers,
Weight,
Construction,
Fit,
Field of view (car helmets generally have a wider fov than bike ones.
Full face or Open Face - on a bike I wouldn't wear anything but a full-face helmet, in a car I wear open face, lighter in weight and cooler on the head. (People can also see your grin!)

Always go and try a helmet on, different manufacturers make different head shapes. So a Shoei M size may fit whilst a Schuberth M size may not.

The other golden rule is never buy second hand - no knowledge of it's history (Even dropping a helmet can render it useless in a crash).

Cheers,

Valid points above. Never buy second hand as you don't know if it has been dropped.

At the end of it all there is one thing to add : What value do you put on your head? If not much buy cheap if you like your brains and face get a new decent helmet

 

[andy watson]

Will watch this thread with interest and for the advice, I am thinking of buying a helmet instead of hiring this time as hoping to do more trackdays.

The reason I wanted to go to Autosport []

I will probably go for open face, the helmets I have used at the track have all been open faced and I feel more comfortable than when I kart with a full face.

Obviously as Ed says the steering wheel would make a mess in a crash, but my thinking is everyday driving will do the same or a lot worse.

Are there any "better" manufacturers and is a more expensive lid mean that it is better quality?

 

[c13sjw]

Are there any "better" manufacturers and is a more expensive lid mean that it is better quality?

yes,you get what you pay for!

 

[944 man]

Be wary of warnings!

Theres so much boll*cks talked about helmets its untrue. You dont need a 'car' helmet and a cheap Chinese Snell approved helmet will be massively inferior to a good Arai or Shoei,

You will also probably find that either an Shoei or Arai will fit you better than anything else. Unfortunately the ECE/EU testing has put paid to BS6658-A testing now, but any Arai/Shoei with an ACU gold sticker will be to the same standard (and itll far exceed ECE requirements).

A reasonable and cheap ECE helmet will provide all of the cover that youre going to need on a trackday. Id treat '£30 helmet for a £30 head' remarks with contempt, although theyre often repeated.

Id also advise against being swayed by cheaper, but very expensive for what they are, lids from name who you know, such as OMP and Sparco. If theyre only ECE approved then youre paying £100+ for a £30 helmet.

No trackdays require a fireproof lined helmet and unless youre wearing matching socks, underwear and a min double layer Nomex suit with balaclava, gloves and boots, then there is absolutely no benefit to you (and even if you are theres no benefit as youre wearing a Nomex balaclava already).

Finally, if anyone tells you that 'car helmets' are designed to withstand impacts but 'bike' helmets are only designed to resist sliding down a road, then politely excuse yourself, realise that theyre a fool and carry on as though they hadnt spoken! []

 

[c13sjw]

if your insistent on an open face as ive said you get what you pay for but if you want a budget helmet with minimal usage in mind

try www.blackcathelmets.com/Helmets/Open%20Face/index.asp

very good price but you need to try one , enjoy your trackdays btw

 

[option911]

Have a look at the Plays kool site, they sell a reasonable priced helmet meating all latest RAC requirements in open and full face. I use one of these full face myself for any track days or instruction i do. I do believe in fireproof helmets, and yes I do also wear 3 layer nomex puma suit, boots, gloves and socks for all participation. A few may think this is overkill but have you seen what happens to polyester and skin when heat is applied.
Blyton park issues these helmets for hire on all of its track days, it is the minimum standard that owner Richard Usher will use, so hope this helps!

Gavin
R4 Assist RO & instructor

 

[944 man]

Plays Kool Motorsport and Black Cat's Snell/FIA HANS lid is one in the same, I believe.

 

[edh]

I think the hedtec is the same as well

 

[944 man]

Looks like everyone is buying from the same factory now. The original Hedtec could be bought for about £15 each direct from the manufacturers, but you had to buy a container full and ship them yourself...

 

[supersport]

I took the decision that a track day is not racing and so I didn't need to spend £100s on a helmet, but did want one with the right approvals, which should be the measure really. I bought an OMP open face for about £60 and am happy with it.

I really like the ventilation especially as you are not allowed the windows open.

 

[graham.webb]

I bought a Hedtec and it's just fine...my only observation is that the thickness of the padding seems greater than in helmets I've hired in the past. I'm quite tall and this makes me a little taller, and clearance to the sunroof a bit tight if I don't lower the seat a bit or tilt the sunroof. Is this a result of the latest Snell standard I wonder?

 

[944 man]

Perhaps, more more likely due to their only making one shell size and padding them out more for smaller fitments.