Buying a helmet for a track day
Discussion
Hi,
I've just gone through the process of buying a helmet for track days, and I'd thought I'd post up a summary of info I used to buy one. The best advice I guess is try before you buy, as the fit is very important.
There are various standards of helmet, if you want to do motorsport, the helmet needs to comply with one of these :
www.fotango.com/p/eba00242416f00000006.jpg
Although you can buy a motorbike helmet for track days, I didn't. I went and bought one to motorsport standards. You can read the debate in the threads below.
Snell and BSI are the main standards, Snell is considered to be the "better" one.
Snell - M2000 is the "motorbike" standard, SA2000 "special" one for racing. "2000" is the date - the helmets have to be replaced after 10 years, so be aware that an SA95 helmet will have only a couple of years left in it.
BSI BS6658-85A is the other standard. If appending with "FR" it means "fire resistant".
Octagon seem to state that "BS6658-85A" is the only standard they will allow on track, but people have contacted them (see below) and they will allow Snell standard helmets as well.
Useful links and info for you to browse :
www.na-motorsports.com/Journal/1997/3/Helmet.html
www.smf.org/stds.html
www.smf.org/pdf/mstds_cmp.pdf
www.pistonheads.net/gassing/topic.asp?t=33441&f=13&h=0
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?p=2&f=13&t=30142&h=0
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=24279&f=18&h=0
www.pistonheads.net/gassing/topic.asp?t=16021&f=13&h=0&hw=helmet
www.grandpri.com/
I've just gone through the process of buying a helmet for track days, and I'd thought I'd post up a summary of info I used to buy one. The best advice I guess is try before you buy, as the fit is very important.
There are various standards of helmet, if you want to do motorsport, the helmet needs to comply with one of these :
www.fotango.com/p/eba00242416f00000006.jpg
Although you can buy a motorbike helmet for track days, I didn't. I went and bought one to motorsport standards. You can read the debate in the threads below.
Snell and BSI are the main standards, Snell is considered to be the "better" one.
Snell - M2000 is the "motorbike" standard, SA2000 "special" one for racing. "2000" is the date - the helmets have to be replaced after 10 years, so be aware that an SA95 helmet will have only a couple of years left in it.
BSI BS6658-85A is the other standard. If appending with "FR" it means "fire resistant".
Octagon seem to state that "BS6658-85A" is the only standard they will allow on track, but people have contacted them (see below) and they will allow Snell standard helmets as well.
Useful links and info for you to browse :
www.na-motorsports.com/Journal/1997/3/Helmet.html
www.smf.org/stds.html
www.smf.org/pdf/mstds_cmp.pdf
www.pistonheads.net/gassing/topic.asp?t=33441&f=13&h=0
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?p=2&f=13&t=30142&h=0
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=24279&f=18&h=0
www.pistonheads.net/gassing/topic.asp?t=16021&f=13&h=0&hw=helmet
www.grandpri.com/
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