Helmet for a closed cockpit car

[Graham]

Hi, all Im looking to buy a new helmet, as i want to go to hans.

Im moving from an open car to a closed car, and wondering what to do about visors...

I'll be going for a full face helmet,a and i quite fancy the Stilo sr3




as

a) its silver and i have silver hemets
b) its got built in comms


there is the st3 which seems to be the same but without the comms ?

now neither of these have visors that you can close. now I know a lot of people in closed cockpit cars take the visor off, but if your unlucky enough to be in a car with a fire, you can always quickly shut the visor and it gives you a few seconds of protection from flash burns.. ( just ask the guy in the G50)

but you counter that with comfort and vision distortion...


Whats the PH racer preference...

My exiting helmet is still ok, and I'll use that if i race an open car.

[Phoenix]

Always worn a full face helmet with visor in a closed car. It can get a bit hot but nothing that can't be solved by running a fresh air pipe into the cockpit and leaving the visor open a tiny bit. I guess this goes back to when I raced a saloon car with glass side windows and was always worried about an accident breaking the glass right near my eyes.

[pistol pete]

Buying a helmet that can't have a visor fitted means you can never race an open car in that helmet.

Are you going to be driving a Sag (or closed top Tuscan) for as long as you will have the helmet?

Pete

[RT/10Dave]

Most of the Stilo range can be converted between having a peak or a visor, take a look here:

http://www.nickygrist.com/stilo-extras-52-c.asp

The Visors are available as an extra purchase.

I have an SP2 for which I have both options. It's a great helmet! I would definitely recommend Stilo

[s.m.h.]

Are you doing a specific series?
Some of the helmets with coms in are not liked/allowed by the scrutineers.
We had to remove the speakers from a helmet for a FIA GT meeting, apparently the helmet was for rallying and not circuit racing.

One option is the Arai GP5w. All our guys have them, reportedly have the best/biggest field of vision.
Speak to Malcolm at MSAR as he will give you some options.

[RogueMotorsport]

s.m.h. said:

Some of the helmets with coms in are not liked/allowed by the scrutineers.
We had to remove the speakers from a helmet for a FIA GT meeting, apparently the helmet was for rallying and not circuit racing.

Was their issue with the helmet itself or the fact that it could be used with a radio? I've got a Stilo WRC helmet that I bought specifically for circuit racing (this year's Britcar 24hr). In races I've entered where comms are not permitted the scrutineers will often query the helmet but let it through with no issues once assured that the car has no radio capability to plug into.

Surely if you've got all of the right approvals and the helmet is in good condition it can't be refused?

Patrick

[Graham]

This did come up when talking to one of the stilo distributors... They mentioned the silverstone Fia round as well.

apparently the problem is with the ear cups... some brands of helmet have hard ear cups which can cause injury.. The stilo ones are made from something deformable and are actually ok and approved but some scruits at FIA level will complain about them...

Apparently only a possible issue if your racing at fia level and fine in uk msa events.

I do fancy the rally version as the speakers are built in rather than ear pieces..