Need a Trackday lid - Large oval-shaped head???
Discussion
I know you PHers are a sensitive lot, so I am sure you will not take the Michael at my situation.
I have an airfield/training day coming up and I need a helmet. My Dad has kindly given me one of his old lids (Bell, open-faced) but it feels very tight across my forehead and a bit loose as the sides. I am therefore thinking that my head may be slightly elongated front to back.
(Let the Conehead/Egghead jokes commence!)
Interestingly, I measured my head as 60cm circumference and Dad's lid is marked as L = 61cm which means that the tightness at the front appears to confirm my theory.
I did some searches on Google and discovered that finding helmets for elongated heads seems to be a surprisingly common issue in the Biker community. I can't find much info on Trackday helmets though.
So, does anyone know which brands of car helmets are more accommodating of an elongated, oval-shaped head?
I have an airfield/training day coming up and I need a helmet. My Dad has kindly given me one of his old lids (Bell, open-faced) but it feels very tight across my forehead and a bit loose as the sides. I am therefore thinking that my head may be slightly elongated front to back.
(Let the Conehead/Egghead jokes commence!)Interestingly, I measured my head as 60cm circumference and Dad's lid is marked as L = 61cm which means that the tightness at the front appears to confirm my theory.
I did some searches on Google and discovered that finding helmets for elongated heads seems to be a surprisingly common issue in the Biker community. I can't find much info on Trackday helmets though.
So, does anyone know which brands of car helmets are more accommodating of an elongated, oval-shaped head?
Actually bike helmets are constructed to lower standards than car ones. I'm not a biker, but my biker friends have told me when you come off you're not that likely to hit your head - normally just a slide across the tarmac. But there is a lot to hit your head on in a car. Plus car helmets are fireproof.
tozerman said:
Why not visit a motor bike shop and try some on they must have come across your situation before, When I bought my trackday helmet In did just that, if it is good enough for a biker then I think it is good enough for someone sat in a car, good luck.
Cheers.....Tony..
Your helmet won't actually have the required safety standards and stickers required for Trackdays then. Cheers.....Tony..
Fortunately for you..... I've never seen anyone ever check.
FlashBastd said:
I can't help the OP, but FYI car helmets should have a Snell approval, something like SNELL SA2005 & ECE2205 and comply with MSA regulations for all motor sports.
My Helmet (bike one) has ECER22-05 on it so can I assume that it would be OK ?, so far I have only done the Nurburgring with it (soft top car) and not a uk track day, so when I do do a uk trackday will I be ok ? Many years ago I did a track day at castle coombe and I used a very old helmet which I got from a car boot sale for £2.50 
are they a lot stricter now ?Cheers.....Tony..
FlashBastd said:
I can't help the OP, but FYI car helmets should have a Snell approval, something like SNELL SA2005 & ECE2205 and comply with MSA regulations for all motor sports.
My Helmet (bike one) has ECER22-05 on it so can I assume that it would be OK ?, so far I have only done the Nurburgring with it (soft top car) and not a uk track day, so when I do do a uk trackday will I be ok ? Many years ago I did a track day at castle coombe and I used a very old helmet which I got from a car boot sale for £2.50 are they a lot stricter now ?Cheers.....Tony..
>>>>>>>>>>>UPDATE<<<<<<<<<<<<
Guys - a new question for you.
Which would be better for me on a Car control/track day?
OPTION 1: An open-faced Bell Car helmet borrowed from my Dad, which is very heavy, uncomfortable and tight across my forehead but lose at the sides, or
OPTION 2: A £80 full-face Bike helmet which fits perfectly on my head and is accredited to:
SHARP 4-star
Gold stamp/sticker (?)
I ask because I went on to a bike shop and tried on some helmets and this one fits perfectly. It also has a "sun shade" visor that can flick down which would be great to fit over my glasses. The day organisers have confirmed that either would be fine for this particular session but the bike helmet might not be suitable for some future track days? I really don't want to spend £500 on a Racing helmet that I might only use once.
What are your thoughts?
Guys - a new question for you.
Which would be better for me on a Car control/track day?
OPTION 1: An open-faced Bell Car helmet borrowed from my Dad, which is very heavy, uncomfortable and tight across my forehead but lose at the sides, or
OPTION 2: A £80 full-face Bike helmet which fits perfectly on my head and is accredited to:
SHARP 4-star
Gold stamp/sticker (?)
I ask because I went on to a bike shop and tried on some helmets and this one fits perfectly. It also has a "sun shade" visor that can flick down which would be great to fit over my glasses. The day organisers have confirmed that either would be fine for this particular session but the bike helmet might not be suitable for some future track days? I really don't want to spend £500 on a Racing helmet that I might only use once.
What are your thoughts?
GDEvans said:
Actually bike helmets are constructed to lower standards than car ones. I'm not a biker, but my biker friends have told me when you come off you're not that likely to hit your head - normally just a slide across the tarmac. But there is a lot to hit your head on in a car. Plus car helmets are fireproof.
What utter rubbish.GreigM said:
option 2 - undoubtedly......you'll NEVER be checked at a track day and even if you are the gold sticker is usually more than suitable
comfort is very important
I am hoping that you are right, as the Bike helmet was WAY more comfortable.comfort is very important
I imagine it is really easy to spot a Bike helmet as being different to a car one. For starters, bike ones tend to have colourful designs with lots of vents, whereas car ones tend to be plain and white.
Anyway, would the gold standard on a bike helmet satisfy any of the trackday staff, or is it totally different regulations?
FreeLitres said:
Anyway, would the gold standard on a bike helmet satisfy any of the trackday staff, or is it totally different regulations?
ACU Gold is not the same as BS 6658 A/FR (red label), but IIRC some may carry both labels. There's an interesting (but old) article here http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=52&i=1330... , but bear in mind that general Type A lids (minus the fire proof lining) don't meet the requirements laid out in the Blue Book that a lot of TDOs seem to be mirroring.FWIW, I don't think I've ever seen a lid checked and a car maker's events team was handing out lids (to "experience" customers) that I seriously doubt met the spec at one session I attended. Obviously if one looked really shabby then I'd expect someone would have a closer look...
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