Track Day helmet

[Blues]

yes, oooh err missus

Where can i buy a decent helmet locally, that will pass the safety requirements for drving a car on track, and keep my bonce nice and safe?. IIRC normal bike helmets aren't up to scratch?

[Dave 500]

I got mine from Demon Tweeks

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/products/ProductList...

They did free collection and replacement service if it didn't fit properly

I have no idea of a local shop

[John D.]

Did'nt we do this thread a few weeks ago?

Got mine from Grand Prix Racewear in Chiswick (but that branch is gone now, Silverstone branch or website only now).

[funwithrevs]

I was hoping to buy one at Castle Coombe circuit, but not been there yet. Excuses to go there normally turn up every now and then.

[Blues]

Thanks chaps - blimey they are a tad more expensive than i expected. I know there is no point in scrimping on safety, but i think i'll take my chances with the rental ones they have at Brands.

[VerySideways]

David - you're welcome to borrow my motorbike one if you like, take it with you to Brands and if they aren't happy with it then you could rent one?

[Blues]

VerySideways said:

David - you're welcome to borrow my motorbike one if you like, take it with you to Brands and if they aren't happy with it then you could rent one?

Thanks Pete, i'll try it for size if i may (it has been suggested that my head brain may be larger than average )

[VerySideways]

Typical helmet sizes go from about 52 to about 62, and i'm a 59/60 (so my "brain" must be quite sizeable too )

[Dave 500]

Blues said:

but i think i'll take my chances with the rental ones they have at Brands.

Its not that they won't be safe but they might be all full of snot and sweaty greasy hair left behinds

[angryS3owner]

Dave 500 said:

Its not that they won't be safe but they might be all full of snot and sweaty greasy hair left behinds

All the better for getting Bird / Pig / Whatever flu early on

[blueg33]

try here

http://www.thehelmetcompany.co.uk/about.php

great service and competitive prices

[touching cloth]

I need a new one soon as need a car one for Brighton Speed Trials, have an ACU Gold motorbike lid which is currently fine for trackdays (not that it's ever been so much as looked at ever). There seems to be a confusing array of different regs but anything that involves racing basically needs a fireproof lining. Sprinting (Brighton Speed trials runs under Sprint regs) does not at the mo but has an MSA middle ground ruling (at least as far as I understand it) that seems to be somewhere between motorbike helmets yet not fireproof. However the main reason for my waffle...MSA are changing the sprinting regs and going to require nomex/fireproof by next year, more pertinently it is rumoured that trackdays may even follow suit!! My recommendation therefore if buying a helmet is to make sure it's got a fireproof lining, any SNELL SA2005 (not M2005) rated helmet is and is pretty much as future proof for the foreseeable as you will get.

These uk makers are new on the scene but make for bigger brands, these are the cheapest you can get in the uk with that accreditation.

http://www.v2sport.com/

I am torn between getting one of these or picking up a Bell or Simpson helmet when over in the states in August.

Edited by touching cloth on Tuesday 14th July 17:22

[xllifts]

iirc so long as they are MSA approved they are suitable for trackdays/events. Bought mini me one a while back for karting and it was about £50 ish msa approved as well i will dig out supplier info.

[touching cloth]

MSA approved ratings for car use are currently :

BS6658-85 Type A (non Fireproof) & BS6658-85 Type A/FR (Fireproof)

But as said, they are dropping the Type A for Sprints/Hillclimbs next year and that may filter down for trackdays too, full on racing already requires A/FR - Arguably I can see them doing this, if they want to implement it for Sprints where you have 1 car on track at any given time, I can easily see them wanting to do it for TD's also where you have multiple (arguably already closer to racing). Of course then you start to question if they will want to bring in race suits etc as pretty pointless making you where fireproof helmet and normal clothes?? As said, basically I'd make sure it's fireproof if you are already spending a reasonable amount of money, so make sure it's BS A/FR or the Snell SA2005 I mentioned earlier (which is basically the equivalent yank certification). The other option is to get a cheap motorbike helmet that will in all likelyhood be fine for current trackday but you appreciate may get phased out next year if they start clamping down and enforcing the regulation, if your only spending £40 on one then that's less of an issue. Spending £90 on an MSA type A helmet now might be annoying when you could have a fireproof one for £139.

Edited by touching cloth on Tuesday 14th July 17:43

[xllifts]

touching cloth said:

MSA approved ratings for car use are currently :

BS6658-85 Type A (non Fireproof) & BS6658-85 Type A/FR (Fireproof)

But as said, they are dropping the Type A for Sprints/Hillclimbs next year and that may filter down for trackdays too, full on racing already requires A/FR - Arguably I can see them doing this, if they want to implement it for Sprints where you have 1 car on track at any given time, I can easily see them wanting to do it for TD's also where you have multiple (arguably already closer to racing). Of course then you start to question if they will want to bring in race suits etc as pretty pointless making you where fireproof helmet and normal clothes?? As said, basically I'd make sure it's fireproof if you are already spending a reasonable amount of money, so make sure it's BS A/FR or the Snell SA2005 I mentioned earlier (which is basically the equivalent yank certification). The other option is to get a cheap motorbike helmet that will in all likelyhood be fine for current trackday but you appreciate may get phased out next year, if your only spending £40 on one then that's less of an issue. Spending £90 on an MSA type A helmet now might be annoying when you could have a fireproof one for £139.

Ah thats some very useful info,thanks TC may have a rethink on the ones that i was looking at now to encompass the fireproofing, i was told the other day that fire proof suits will be phased in shortly.

It may well be worth mailing Ranger 6 as he does quite a bit with motorsport etc.

Any ideas where i can get my hands on a MSA blue book at all ?

[touching cloth]

I have to say, it's all pretty confusing and this is just what I have gleaned from lots of searching on the subject over the past few months - it's ultimately however info that I have found and compiled from the INTERWEB, as such could be complete tosh (except the MSA implementing Fireproof for Sprints, I know that to be true).

If you look at this type A Helmet on Demon Tweeks

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/products/ProductDeta...

You will see this comment

"Catalogue Part Number(s): (SC00608)

This helmet remains a great choice for trackdays, clubs and schools as well as many other events however, due to a change in regulations for 2010 this helmet will not be suitable for MSA sanctioned competition use in the UK after January 1st 2010."

It does say competition use, I think the truth is noone really knows what trackday regs will be implemented, they may well stay with A being fine. However given those V2 bunch are SA2005 (A/FR equivalent) rated and not really much more than a type A helmet, it seems to make sense to hedge bets.

[Blues]

thanks TC... and breathe
I'll have a look at that linky