Crash helmet question
Discussion
Most trackdays will allow any car or bike helmet in good condition, either open or full face.
Buy the best one you can afford - your head is a very valuable asset. You can get good quality new ones for around £300, and a bit less if yu are on a budget. A top notch one will be £500-1000 or more.
Buy the best one you can afford - your head is a very valuable asset. You can get good quality new ones for around £300, and a bit less if yu are on a budget. A top notch one will be £500-1000 or more.
I've bought one of there from Merlin Motorsport at Castle Combe www.merlinmotorsport.com/product_info.php?cPath=1901_2083_2089&products_id=5713
I know you can pay much more, but I have faith in that if they meet the required specifications, then you are pretty safe and are probably paying the difference for 'extras' like better lining and ventilation - prepared to be shot down!
I know you can pay much more, but I have faith in that if they meet the required specifications, then you are pretty safe and are probably paying the difference for 'extras' like better lining and ventilation - prepared to be shot down!
Cheap helmets are for those who don't value their heads. As has been said earlier, different manufacturers make helmets to suit varying shapes of head, so try lots to see which suits you (sir!). GP Racewear have a large stock in their shops (Chiswick, Silverstone & Paris).
Roy C said:
Cheap helmets are for those who don't value their heads.
If that were true, everyone would be buying Carbon Fibre lids at a few grand a time. Do some research into what tests are done by what organisations and go for what you're happy with. Being safe doesn't mean breaking the bank If you truly get what you pay for, how do you justify the original price of an MG SV?
Diminishing returns: a £250 - £400 GRP/Kevlar lid is a very big step forward from a £80 Polycarbonate one in terms of protection and longevity.
A £4k hand-laid carbon lid is better again, but not in proportion to the expenditure.
Outside top-flight single seaters you will seldom see a professional driver wearing more than £600's worth of helmet.
Paint job notwithstanding...
A £4k hand-laid carbon lid is better again, but not in proportion to the expenditure.
Outside top-flight single seaters you will seldom see a professional driver wearing more than £600's worth of helmet.
Paint job notwithstanding...
If you are buying a helmet, make sure it's to BS 6658 Type A or A/FR, or Snell SA2005, or SA2000. There are acceptable for all motorsport in the UK and any FIA event. This means that if you decide to do any sprints, hillclimbs or anything else it will be fine.
Make sure it fits properly, is comfortable, will not rock on your head when fastened, and buy one as light as you can.
Make sure it fits properly, is comfortable, will not rock on your head when fastened, and buy one as light as you can.
Nick_F said:
A £4k hand-laid carbon lid is better again, but not in proportion to the expenditure.
The biggest benefit of a carbon composite helmet is not that it protects you better, but that it weighs less. Not a major issue for the odd track day but if you pull 3G in corners for two hours at a time, several days a week, a lighter lid pays dividends.
Andrew Noakes said:
A £4k hand-laid carbon lid is better again, but not in proportion to the expenditure.
The biggest benefit of a carbon composite helmet is not that it protects you better, but that it weighs less. Not a major issue for the odd track day but if you pull 3G in corners for two hours at a time, several days a week, a lighter lid pays dividends.
Regular neck exercises are cheaper.
But then you need to go up a couple of collar sizes, so I guess it balances out in the extra cost of new shirts!
Roy C said:
GP Racewear have a large stock in their shops (Chiswick, Silverstone & Paris).
Demon Tweeks' stock makes GPR's silverstone place look like a corner shop. Plus when DT say they've got it in stock in the right size, they actually do. Rather than GPR who say they do and then cause me to waste a journey to silverstone and back to find out they haven't.
As for the "spend as much as you can", i went for the "don't spend as little as you can" and went for a Bell Sport 4 at £240. Fits nicely, and has all the right specs.
The choice of open or closed face will depend on your car. To race an open top car you need a full face helmet, whereas in a tin top you would be allowed an open face one. If you buy a motorbike helmet it will be VAT free and most of them exceed motorsports requirements.
After trying a lot of helmets I found that Schuberth are a good balance of price and performance. For about £400 you will get a ligh weight, quiet, comfortable and well made lid. (Only downside is that Schumacher wears one!)
After trying a lot of helmets I found that Schuberth are a good balance of price and performance. For about £400 you will get a ligh weight, quiet, comfortable and well made lid. (Only downside is that Schumacher wears one!)
sparkey said:
The choice of open or closed face will depend on your car. To race an open top car you need a full face helmet, whereas in a tin top you would be allowed an open face one.
Are full-face helmets actually a requirement? As far as I can tell from the Blue Book you need an approved helmet in good condition, plus goggles or visor in an open car - can't find anything about it having to be a full-face helmet.
there's no way I'd drive an open top car with an open face helmet.
Last time I took my Ginetta out the car infront chucked a stone up at me and it clouted my visor..
..I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of THAT at 100mph+ with an open lid.. !!
>> Edited by Si Shaw on Sunday 22 January 10:56
Last time I took my Ginetta out the car infront chucked a stone up at me and it clouted my visor..
..I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of THAT at 100mph+ with an open lid.. !!
>> Edited by Si Shaw on Sunday 22 January 10:56
Si Shaw said:
there's no way I'd drive an open top car with an open face helmet.
Last time I took my Ginetta out the car infront chucked a stone up at me and it clouted my visor..
..I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of THAT at 100mph+ with an open lid.. !!
>> Edited by Si Shaw on Sunday 22 January 10:56
Eqaully I have a friend who works at a hospital not a million miles away from a race track and he has shown me pictures of what happens when your face meets the steering wheel, its for that reason i wear a full face helmet regardless of the car. If you think it'll get too hot just take the visor off.
agent006 said:
GP Racewear have a large stock in their shops (Chiswick, Silverstone & Paris).
Demon Tweeks' stock makes GPR's silverstone place look like a corner shop. Plus when DT say they've got it in stock in the right size, they actually do. Rather than GPR who say they do and then cause me to waste a journey to silverstone and back to find out they haven't.
As for the "spend as much as you can", i went for the "don't spend as little as you can" and went for a Bell Sport 4 at £240. Fits nicely, and has all the right specs.
That's the one I have - plus a peak for the proper DTM effect...
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