I got my Mag 5 from Dave at Whittles, great helmet, great service, Thanks Dave. I never realized how much your head moves around in the car while your thrashing around the course. The first time I used my new helmet I was amazed to see a few marks on it where my head had made contact with the interior of the car. With a good helmet you don't even notice the contact. :crazy:

 

Start off with, very new to this, as in know nothing. Read the whole discussion and noticed very late some comments about helmet weight and head moving around. There was also comment on a neck brace? Any additional info would be appreciated as I plan to watch for a few more weeks and by spring take a class or several before trying my luck. Thanks for all the info.

 

As far as weight and a neck brace they deal with the same thing. Your neck is used to carrying your head around add the helmet weight and G-forces from racing and it leads to strain. In an accident the extra weight can lead to extra injury to you neck. A lighter helmet will create less strain while racing and the neck brace helps support the extra weight. Also in a wreck the neck brace limits movement of the neck some what, to possibly reduce injury from the extra helmet weight. It depends on the amount of time you will wear the helmet. For longer races the lighter helmet will help. I always wear the neck brace and am more comfortable with it.
Hope this helps

 

OK, thae lighter helmets are always nicer to use as they are easier on you neck. You will not really understand this until you are fighting the G's for 15 to 20 min. or how ever long your session is. As I said earlier, i have a safety equipment business, this takes me to many race tracks and events and I talk to hundreds of racers on a weekly basis. I have been to several driving schools and events as a vendor and a student and most beginner performance driving class insrtuctors recommend you wear a neck brace for safety reasons. Once you ride with an instructor or a pro who knows all the brake points and limits of the cars in turns, only then will you realize that your hear weighs 30 to 40 pounds in a high speed turn. (feels that way) Helmet restraint straps can also work but the easiest way is with a neck brace. I sell them that range from a low budget $20 to $25 some support neck braces to the $45 pyrotect and $65 Sparco (not worth it) neck braces that actually fit the better helmets and contour to your shoulders and neck. The Pyrotect Pro Sedan style brace is shaped to fit your shoulders and is bigger in front and back to keep your head from moving forward and back in a crash. This is my most popular sold to many oval and road racers. Talk to some serious road racers and instructors and get their opinions on the whole matter. Just remember, its your head and neck on the line, people can tell you all sorts of things to get you to try this and that, but you are the one strapped in the car when all is said and done, and if you spend $5000.00 on a helmet, you are still getting off cheaper that a night in intensive care and any hospital.