Entry level track day helmets...

[Davie]

Chaps,

Forgive my ignorance but have a track / sprint night booked at a local hill climb circuit via the local car club and have just realised with 48hrs to go that I need a helmet and I've tried to beg, borrow and steal but to no avail.

With limited time thanks to work, I've noted Halfords do a cheap line of helmets for £35.00 and my local store has the size I need in stock... have also checked a couple of local bike dealers and motorsport supplier and they're sort of £100+ for entry level stuff.

I assume, the Halfords effort will be up to the job / standards required... I hasten to add I'm not away to attempt a 6min lap of the Ring in a GT3 RS, in fact the sedate paced car I'll be driving would be like crashing a bouncy castle so it more to tick the "You need to wear a helmet" box.

I'm not being tight, but my options are very limited given the time constraints but before I spend £35.00 of my kids inheritance, assume that I should be ok... though obviously try it on first and then hope my lanky posture fits int he car with said helmet in place!

Thanks in advance

[Davie]

It's point to point on a short hill climb route so I very much doubt it'll be out of third gear at any stage so whilst I'd spend a few quid if it was a big track at speed, for this I think a basic helmet will suffice... more so given I wasn't even aware they were needed until today hence the slight urgency to get something. Middle aged man driving a Volvo at a sedate pace, wearing a helmet... not sure there's a stereotype for that... yet!

[Davie]

Thanks and that was pretty much my thought process too. Her father is a biker, he won't entertain a cheap helmet but then again coming off a bike at speed is a very different kettle of fish so whilst the bikers may not favour a cheap lid... for my needs, I'm thinking it'll be fine assuming it fits snuggly and doesn't weigh 25kg.

I can understand the "buy the best you can afford" logic but I could in theory afford a top spec lid at £1500+ but it'd be absolutely unnecessary for what I need and I won't be rushing out to buy an open cockpit instrument of death anytime soon but if I do get the bug and it's progresses, will invest in something a little better / lighter / less Tufty Club in due course.

I'd actually rather not wear a helmet for this little sprint event... the irony being there's probably more chance of me buggering up as a result of wearing one than if I didn't so on that basis, perhaps I should be thinking about an open face effort? Little less restrictive for driving a road car on a narrow track?

[Davie]

Actually, scrub that... whilst open face helmets are seemingly fine for a tin top, they're not permitted at the local circuit / car club stuff if it's an open cockpit and matey has a little Caterham that I'd perhaps passenger in sometimes so may as well future proof... at least short term.

[Davie]

Gents,

Thanks for the advice on this... I was ready to be flamed in the usual Pistonheads General gassing based manner but thankfully not!

I've taken on board the comments about checking with the organisers and from what I can gather, basically track days and non-competitive events such as sprints and hill climbs through the club, any road legal helmet that meets ECE something-or-other is fine but for any competitive event where the MSA blue book calls the shots... the helmet must meet their standards. So, a basic road legal full face helmet will suffice for what I need as I won't be competing but have also taken on board the comments about fit and such like so will have an extended lunch today and try out a couple of options locally.

Much appreciated

[Davie]

Excellent points and duly noted... I think with the clock ticking, I'll either grab the Halfords effort today (£28 with discount) or see what the local motorbike shop has in stock or worst case, beg, borrow and steal at the track and then assuming this is going to be a semi-regular way to drain my account, will spend a bit more time and get something a little more suited. Issue is, there's only really one supplier up here that I know of and it's all top end stuff... so mail order may be best but I'm sure some of the regulars may let me try on theirs tomorrow to help me get my eye in in terms of sizing etc then I could order one online in due course.

I'd be very surprised if I ever get to the point where I needs HANS compatibility... I suspect a divorce would come long before that happens so really it's going to be some track evenings, sprints and non-competitive stuff plus perhaps a few passenger rides in stuff that I can't afford!

Or it'll be used once and then sit on the shelf whilst I consider what to do with the twisted remains of my car following an "enthusiasm exceeds talent" moment!

[Davie]

Picked up a helmet from the Halfords value range... it's actually not bad, fits snuggly so must have a fairly standard size and shape of head. It's not very light but then again my neck muscles are feeble. Visibility seems less restrictive and the fit feels more uniform than other helmets I used previously... as in its quite snug all round, some I've worn before seemed a bit tight above my ears, this doesn't seem too bad at all. I did try another one on, also large but it felt quite tight round my brow.

Anyways, short term solution and can always look at something a bit better in due course though I may think about an open face helmet for driving... or perhaps just need to get used to the more restricted view!

Thanks gents, some invaluable advice and pointers there... now... what could possibly go wrong!

[Davie]

Just to conclude, Halfords value range helmet (black, size L and £35) was fine and much less restrictive than I anticipated and there were no concerns over it from the organisers. I'd definitely recommend it as a cheap / spare and to be honest, it'll probably do me a while as it's very comfy to wear. Thankfully I can't comment on how it fares in a crash and hopefully that remains the case.

Cheers