Track Day helmet advice for a novice.

[MikeGF]

Hi everyone

Doing my first track day in a few weeks time, it's the PHers day at Dunsfold, in the events section.

I need to get a track day helmet. Are there any (cheap-ish!) recomendations? I have had a look at Demon Tweeks but not sure what the safety levels are that they need to have?

I have a large motor cycle retailer near me (I live in Fleet, Hants,) in North Camp (near Aldershot) can I just get a motorbike helmet?

As you can tell, bit out of my depth here any help appreciated.

Cheers
Mike

[JonRB]

Have a drive up to Grand Prix Racewear's Chiswick showroom - it's not a long journey from Fleet (M3 -> M25 -> M4 J2) - and try on helmets until you find one that fits both your head and your budget.

For casual track use I found Sparco's budget open face helmet fit me better than helmets twice the price so went for that.

Edit: A bike helmet should be ok, but you should check with the track day organiser as some insist that helmets conform to an FIA standard that a bike helmet does not. But most won't care so long as what you're wearing looks ok.

Edited by JonRB on Wednesday 29th August 12:05

[speedychrissie]

if you just want a helmet for the day most of the track day organisers will lend you one for a tenner. if you are definitely going to have reason to use one more often then look into getting one for yourself. normally bike helmets are ok (and as has been said they very rarely check the helmet only that you are wearing something on your head.)

i have my dads old racing helmet which is fine for me as i know it is safe and never been dropped, but if was going to go into racing i would have to replace it with something newer.

the most important thing to remember when buying one though is that all helmets are different. it is virutally impossible to order one from a catalogue as you need to spend an hour in a shop finding the one that fits correctly.

[JonRB]

You may want to check out this thread: "Motorsport helmet showroom in Thames Valley or London"

Edited by JonRB on Wednesday 29th August 13:14

[Sean Edwards]

MikeGF said:

I need to get a track day helmet. Are there any (cheap-ish!) recomendations?

Cheap... How much is your head worth?

When it comes to safety, I would only buy the best, as can you put a price on your life? I use Arai GP5 for my racing and instruction, but a cheaper Arai is still very good (the £300 ones).

[MikeGF]

Probably about 50 quid with what's rattling around in there

Seriously though, I was looking around the 2-300 pound mark.

JanRB, see you are in Fleet too!

[JonRB]

Sean Edwards said:

When it comes to safety, I would only buy the best, as can you put a price on your life? I use Arai GP5 for my racing and instruction, but a cheaper Arai is still very good (the £300 ones).

Yes, but let's be reasonable here. If you took that to it's logical conclusion then you would strip out your car and put in a fully triangulated FIA-approved full roll cage, racing seats, FIA-approved harnesses and use a HANS device and an FIA-approved 4 layer Nomex race suit and the like.

However, this is a track day we're talking about here, not a race meeting. I just don't agree that you need the same level of protection for both.

There's nothing wrong with a budget helmet for occasional and casual track day usage. It will be a lot better (and be of more known provenance) than a helmet you hire from the track day organiser.

Edited by JonRB on Wednesday 29th August 16:25

[MikeGF]

Just to shed some light..

The track day is as follows:
The first sassion is led laps of the top gear track, ie a car leads us around so not flat out.
Then, a few Vmax runs up the 2 mile runway
Then, finally, a few hot laps in a Caterham, so I don't need the best, just one to do the job.

If I do more trackdays, then I will obviously spend a few more pounds.

Cheers
MikeGF

[Munter]

JonRB said:

There's nothing wrong with a budget helmet for occasional and casual track day usage. It will be a lot better (and be of more known provenance) than a helmet you hire from the track day organiser.

And thats the view I took. If i'd had to buy the best helmet I would be pricing myself out of a lot of fun. So I went and got a good brand helmet with a gold sticker on the back from a reputable trader. You only have to glance at some of the rental helmets at coombe action days to think "how many times has that been dropped!" If your ears are not red raw from trying on helmets you've not tried enough!

[JonRB]

MikeGF said:

The track day is as follows:
The first session is led laps of the top gear track, ie a car leads us around so not flat out.
Then, a few Vmax runs up the 2 mile runway
Then, finally, a few hot laps in a Caterham, so I don't need the best, just one to do the job.

To be honest, if that's all you're doing then I'd enquire if helmet hire is available and go with that.

[Sean Edwards]

JonRB said:

Sean Edwards said:

When it comes to safety, I would only buy the best, as can you put a price on your life? I use Arai GP5 for my racing and instruction, but a cheaper Arai is still very good (the £300 ones).

Yes, but let's be reasonable here. If you took that to it's logical conclusion then you would strip out your car and put in a fully triangulated FIA-approved full roll cage, racing seats, FIA-approved harnesses and use a HANS device and an FIA-approved 4 layer Nomex race suit and the like.

However, this is a track day we're talking about here, not a race meeting. I just don't agree that you need the same level of protection for both.

There's nothing wrong with a budget helmet for occasional and casual track day usage. It will be a lot better (and be of more known provenance) than a helmet you hire from the track day organiser.

Edited by JonRB on Wednesday 29th August 16:25

Well yes and no. A helmet is already a manditory thing (unlike the other stuff), so you may as well get one that actually protects you properly in case of a big crash. The helmet is one of (if not the) most important thing in terms of safety. I have seen too many people killed in racing and at track days/school days because they brought a cheap helmet. Like I said above, can you really put a price on your life? Ok, you don't need to get everything, but a the helmet is a top priority.

The least I would reccomend to spend if your doing a few track days is £300.

Mike, if your only doing that, there is not a huge amount of danger, so use one of theirs, unless you do any proper track days of course.

[tertius]

Sean Edwards said:

JonRB said:

Sean Edwards said:

When it comes to safety, I would only buy the best, as can you put a price on your life? I use Arai GP5 for my racing and instruction, but a cheaper Arai is still very good (the £300 ones).

Yes, but let's be reasonable here. If you took that to it's logical conclusion then you would strip out your car and put in a fully triangulated FIA-approved full roll cage, racing seats, FIA-approved harnesses and use a HANS device and an FIA-approved 4 layer Nomex race suit and the like.

However, this is a track day we're talking about here, not a race meeting. I just don't agree that you need the same level of protection for both.

There's nothing wrong with a budget helmet for occasional and casual track day usage. It will be a lot better (and be of more known provenance) than a helmet you hire from the track day organiser.

Edited by JonRB on Wednesday 29th August 16:25

Well yes and no. A helmet is already a manditory thing (unlike the other stuff), so you may as well get one that actually protects you properly in case of a big crash. The helmet is one of (if not the) most important thing in terms of safety. I have seen too many people killed in racing and at track days/school days because they brought a cheap helmet. Like I said above, can you really put a price on your life? Ok, you don't need to get everything, but a the helmet is a top priority.

The least I would reccomend to spend if your doing a few track days is £300.

Mike, if your only doing that, there is not a huge amount of danger, so use one of theirs, unless you do any proper track days of course.

Do you have some links that reference that and what helmet they were wearing?

[Sean Edwards]

tertius said:

Sean Edwards said:

JonRB said:

Sean Edwards said:

When it comes to safety, I would only buy the best, as can you put a price on your life? I use Arai GP5 for my racing and instruction, but a cheaper Arai is still very good (the £300 ones).

Yes, but let's be reasonable here. If you took that to it's logical conclusion then you would strip out your car and put in a fully triangulated FIA-approved full roll cage, racing seats, FIA-approved harnesses and use a HANS device and an FIA-approved 4 layer Nomex race suit and the like.

However, this is a track day we're talking about here, not a race meeting. I just don't agree that you need the same level of protection for both.

There's nothing wrong with a budget helmet for occasional and casual track day usage. It will be a lot better (and be of more known provenance) than a helmet you hire from the track day organiser.

Edited by JonRB on Wednesday 29th August 16:25

Well yes and no. A helmet is already a manditory thing (unlike the other stuff), so you may as well get one that actually protects you properly in case of a big crash. The helmet is one of (if not the) most important thing in terms of safety. I have seen too many people killed in racing and at track days/school days because they brought a cheap helmet. Like I said above, can you really put a price on your life? Ok, you don't need to get everything, but a the helmet is a top priority.

The least I would reccomend to spend if your doing a few track days is £300.

Mike, if your only doing that, there is not a huge amount of danger, so use one of theirs, unless you do any proper track days of course.

Do you have some links that reference that and what helmet they were wearing?

Nope, sorry Tertuis. Only what I have seen my self and also heard from other instructors. But mainly cheap Sparco helmets and some other random makes, that are on the cheap side.

I saw one person invest in a roll cage and kept his cheap lid (piss pot helmets we call them, as that is all they are good for) and when he crashed, he hit his head on the roll cage and got killed from head injuries (he should have had roll cage padding though). If he had worn a top of the range one, he would have probably got away with just injuries, rather then a fatality. It is very sad to see anyone get killed in racing or track days, but because of not buying a decent helmet is very silly imo.

[GhostyDog]

If you shop around you can get something half decent, I wouldn't spend a fortune on something you might wear 2 or 3 times a year unless your seriously thinking of doing competitive stuff or going out every other weekend on track. Most track days are just there to allow you access to an environment where you can play with the limits of your car, you don't have to there's no racing involved/allowed so just go out enjoy yourself and don't crash. If your sensible out there as a first timer and get some track tuition you'll be fine, I think unless your driving like a tt the only way your really going to have a bad accident is through mechanical failure or there's always the odd instances of some tit who might be doing a bit of covert timing (generally frowned upon at the track days i've been to for safety reasons) and if you know your car isn't up to it, don't take it on the track.

That said your local bike shop should be a god place to start as they can advise you on the correct fit for a helmet, etc. worst thing you can do is get one that doesn;t fit correctly even if it's cheap or expensive.

[agent006]

In terms of quality they're all much of a muchness over £150 until you get over £550 ish. How it fits your head is the most important thing as a badly fitting expensive helmet will do you far more damage than a £90 that fits properly.

[tertius]

Sean Edwards said:

tertius said:

Sean Edwards said:

JonRB said:

Sean Edwards said:

When it comes to safety, I would only buy the best, as can you put a price on your life? I use Arai GP5 for my racing and instruction, but a cheaper Arai is still very good (the £300 ones).

Yes, but let's be reasonable here. If you took that to it's logical conclusion then you would strip out your car and put in a fully triangulated FIA-approved full roll cage, racing seats, FIA-approved harnesses and use a HANS device and an FIA-approved 4 layer Nomex race suit and the like.

However, this is a track day we're talking about here, not a race meeting. I just don't agree that you need the same level of protection for both.

There's nothing wrong with a budget helmet for occasional and casual track day usage. It will be a lot better (and be of more known provenance) than a helmet you hire from the track day organiser.

Edited by JonRB on Wednesday 29th August 16:25

Well yes and no. A helmet is already a manditory thing (unlike the other stuff), so you may as well get one that actually protects you properly in case of a big crash. The helmet is one of (if not the) most important thing in terms of safety. I have seen too many people killed in racing and at track days/school days because they brought a cheap helmet. Like I said above, can you really put a price on your life? Ok, you don't need to get everything, but a the helmet is a top priority.

The least I would reccomend to spend if your doing a few track days is £300.

Mike, if your only doing that, there is not a huge amount of danger, so use one of theirs, unless you do any proper track days of course.

Do you have some links that reference that and what helmet they were wearing?

Nope, sorry Tertuis. Only what I have seen my self and also heard from other instructors. But mainly cheap Sparco helmets and some other random makes, that are on the cheap side.

I saw one person invest in a roll cage and kept his cheap lid (piss pot helmets we call them, as that is all they are good for) and when he crashed, he hit his head on the roll cage and got killed from head injuries (he should have had roll cage padding though). If he had worn a top of the range one, he would have probably got away with just injuries, rather then a fatality. It is very sad to see anyone get killed in racing or track days, but because of not buying a decent helmet is very silly imo.

But do you have any evidence that a better/more expensive helmet would have made a difference? (Especially given that he didn't have roll cage padding). Or that the helmet he was wearing was in good condition had not been mistreated?

I have to say I am very firmly of the view that you should buy a new helmet made to a recognised standard, that fits you well and is comfortable and then look after it. How much it costs is (within reason) an irrelevance.

The response along the lines of "Got a five pound head, buy a five pound helmet" is I think very misleading. My head is worth about £10 million quid, but no one makes a helmet that price ...

[JonRB]

agent006 said:

In terms of quality they're all much of a muchness over £150 until you get over £550 ish. How it fits your head is the most important thing as a badly fitting expensive helmet will do you far more damage than a £90 that fits properly.

Quite. That's why I bought a £90 Sparco Clubman. I couldn't find another helmet that fit me better short of silly money.

[chip*]

Arai GP5W is what I use . Old post below asking the same question, and with a similar response..

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=18&...

[JonRB]

It's all very well saying to get a really expensive helmet, "how much is your head worth?", etc. but let's be really honest here - track days are not competative, there is not meant to be contact, you're not driving on the ragged edge trying to get a few more 10ths of a second (or you shouldn't be anyway), and it is an order of magnitude less dangerous than racing.

Sure, get a really expensive helmet and join the other willy wavers, but if you're only going to do 1 or 2 track days a year and you're driving in "fast road" mode rather than "maximum attack" then in all honesty a budget helmet is going to be quite sufficient and more justifiable. I don't know about anyone else, but with a track day costing £150-£200 I'd find it hard to justify spending 3 times that on a helmet that is only going to be used a few times a year.

[Oilchange]

I agree. A bike helmet should be fine as, lets face it (excuse pun) you're in a crash shell (car) and if there is an impact the difference between a helmet and no helmet is the big leap. Not the cost of it.
A good fitting comfortable helmet will be fine providing it has the BS kitemark or equivalent to show its fit for cranial protection etc.
The cost only really comes in when you are a professional or have a fat wallet and want to show off. The two are unrelated btw.
I would recommend a full face if you have no airbag as you don't want to leave your teeth embedded in the steering wheel in the unlikely event...