DOT approved helmet
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,163
Likes: 6
From: Oceanside California
DOT approved helmet
Hey guys, I am clueless when it comes to helmets and race apparel. I am trying to hit up the race-legal drags in San Diego next Friday the 19th. I need a helmet to attend. The site says a Snell 2000 or better is needed. I don't know how to tell by looking at helmets which are made for cars, motorcycle, off road, etc.
I'm looking for an approved helmet that is as cheap as I can get it. I want the basic full face/shield design. And not to look like a d-bag showing up with a helmet meant for something else
.
Any recommendations on helmets and ideas on where I can get one? I don't think I have time to order one, and I don't know where to look for one in a store either.
Nothing crazy, black or white is fine with a clear shield. (Races are at night)
I'm looking for an approved helmet that is as cheap as I can get it. I want the basic full face/shield design. And not to look like a d-bag showing up with a helmet meant for something else
.Any recommendations on helmets and ideas on where I can get one? I don't think I have time to order one, and I don't know where to look for one in a store either.
Nothing crazy, black or white is fine with a clear shield. (Races are at night)
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,449
Likes: 409
From: Portland OR
Usually the Snell rating is under the ear flap, or somewhere under the padding inside. Open face is fine,and usually the cheapest.
Easier for me as I wear glasses.
Must be some race shops in the area? Otherwise Summit can get you one in 2 days.
Might give the track a call, sometimes they have loaners.
Going for some baseline runs?
I'm jealous as the Oregon rains have arrived.
BTW, my baseline passes were 14.3X......Now 11 teens, 9 months later.
Ron
Easier for me as I wear glasses.
Must be some race shops in the area? Otherwise Summit can get you one in 2 days.
Might give the track a call, sometimes they have loaners.
Going for some baseline runs?
I'm jealous as the Oregon rains have arrived.
BTW, my baseline passes were 14.3X......Now 11 teens, 9 months later.
Ron
Last edited by RonSSNova; Oct 13, 2012 at 04:58 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,163
Likes: 6
From: Oceanside California
Usually the Snell rating is under the ear flap, or somewhere under the padding inside. Open face is fine,and usually the cheapest.
Easier for me as I wear glasses.
Must be some race shops in the area? Otherwise Summit can get you one in 2 days.
Might give the track a call, sometimes they have loaners.
Going for some baseline runs?
I'm jealous as the Oregon rains have arrived.
BTW, my baseline passes were 14.3X......Now 11 teens, 9 months later.
Ron
Easier for me as I wear glasses.
Must be some race shops in the area? Otherwise Summit can get you one in 2 days.
Might give the track a call, sometimes they have loaners.
Going for some baseline runs?
I'm jealous as the Oregon rains have arrived.
BTW, my baseline passes were 14.3X......Now 11 teens, 9 months later.
Ron
I am from Oregon too by the way. Little hole called Myrtle Point.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,163
Likes: 6
From: Oceanside California
And I want a face shield because it says you must wear goggles with an open shield... Id rather make it simple and get one thats got everything I need.
So more reading has lead my to this. The rating of 2000 was form the year, and snell 2005 and 2010 are later versions out now right? So if I am fine with a 2000, it should be cheaper right?
So more reading has lead my to this. The rating of 2000 was form the year, and snell 2005 and 2010 are later versions out now right? So if I am fine with a 2000, it should be cheaper right?
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,904
Likes: 29
From: Vancouver Washington
And I want a face shield because it says you must wear goggles with an open shield... Id rather make it simple and get one thats got everything I need.
So more reading has lead my to this. The rating of 2000 was form the year, and snell 2005 and 2010 are later versions out now right? So if I am fine with a 2000, it should be cheaper right?
So more reading has lead my to this. The rating of 2000 was form the year, and snell 2005 and 2010 are later versions out now right? So if I am fine with a 2000, it should be cheaper right?
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,449
Likes: 409
From: Portland OR
Hwy 42, if I remember right, fun drive......minus the motorhomes.
I played golf at Bandon Dunes....I sucked!
After I fixed the prev owners mistake of putting on an 85mm MAF w/o tuning for it (I bought a used stock MAF), on street tires, VaraRam and axle back:
2.03 60 ft
8.46 660ft
86.2 mph
13.05 1/4 mile
106.77 mph
You will be right in that ball park.
My car wouldn't spin the tires even.
Buy the snell 2010, it will be good for years.
Have fun!
I played golf at Bandon Dunes....I sucked!
After I fixed the prev owners mistake of putting on an 85mm MAF w/o tuning for it (I bought a used stock MAF), on street tires, VaraRam and axle back:
2.03 60 ft
8.46 660ft
86.2 mph
13.05 1/4 mile
106.77 mph
You will be right in that ball park.
My car wouldn't spin the tires even.
Buy the snell 2010, it will be good for years.
Have fun!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,163
Likes: 6
From: Oceanside California
Hwy 42, if I remember right, fun drive......minus the motorhomes.
I played golf at Bandon Dunes....I sucked!
After I fixed the prev owners mistake of putting on an 85mm MAF w/o tuning for it (I bought a used stock MAF), on street tires, VaraRam and axle back:
2.03 60 ft
8.46 660ft
86.2 mph
13.05 1/4 mile
106.77 mph
You will be right in that ball park.
My car wouldn't spin the tires even.
Buy the snell 2010, it will be good for years.
Have fun!
I played golf at Bandon Dunes....I sucked!
After I fixed the prev owners mistake of putting on an 85mm MAF w/o tuning for it (I bought a used stock MAF), on street tires, VaraRam and axle back:
2.03 60 ft
8.46 660ft
86.2 mph
13.05 1/4 mile
106.77 mph
You will be right in that ball park.
My car wouldn't spin the tires even.
Buy the snell 2010, it will be good for years.
Have fun!
.I did just make a new thread for this though with much more information and some mods etc that I have done.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,239
Likes: 2
From: Naples FL
St. Jude Donor '12
Buy the 2010. The 2005 is only good for a few more years, I doubt they'd accept the 2000 anyway. M means motorcycle. SA is cars. You can use either in your bracket. K is for karts. SA means its passed repeated roll bar impacts and is fire rated. SA is preferred but M is perfectly ok.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,163
Likes: 6
From: Oceanside California
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Cheap Helmets for Cheap Heads.
and get a full face helmet with an eye shield. Things can and do bounce into the car and hit your chin or nose
Look at the percentages of injuries areas of the helmet and head
Good place many racers buy products from
http://www.discoveryparts.com/
many of us wear HANS devices too.
We put 10s of thousands of dollars in HP and little in safety. that is crazy.
accidents are not WILL IF IT EVER HAPPENS.
BUT in reality..
10 sec runs 10 times a night, or 30 min runs 4 times a day two days in a row
It is "WHEN IT HAPPENS."
I have a pile of body parts in my basement. reality of hard racing.
and get a full face helmet with an eye shield. Things can and do bounce into the car and hit your chin or nose
Look at the percentages of injuries areas of the helmet and head
Good place many racers buy products from
http://www.discoveryparts.com/
many of us wear HANS devices too.
We put 10s of thousands of dollars in HP and little in safety. that is crazy.
accidents are not WILL IF IT EVER HAPPENS.
BUT in reality..
10 sec runs 10 times a night, or 30 min runs 4 times a day two days in a row
It is "WHEN IT HAPPENS."
I have a pile of body parts in my basement. reality of hard racing.
Last edited by AU N EGL; Oct 14, 2012 at 11:46 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,048
Likes: 5
From: Metairie LA
Helmets
helmets are cheap. just get the newest one you can find
My answer to that kind of comment has always been "How much is your head worth?". Depending on class (above) you may be able to use a motorcycle helmet (or not). I've had a lot of luck with Arai. They offer "round" and "oval" shapes to better fit your head (type), and have interchangeable cheek pads to further assist fitment. NOT cheap, but it's better than being a door stop the rest of your life if you crash.
My answer to that kind of comment has always been "How much is your head worth?". Depending on class (above) you may be able to use a motorcycle helmet (or not). I've had a lot of luck with Arai. They offer "round" and "oval" shapes to better fit your head (type), and have interchangeable cheek pads to further assist fitment. NOT cheap, but it's better than being a door stop the rest of your life if you crash.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,163
Likes: 6
From: Oceanside California
Safety is defiantly important, but guys... I really am not going to be doing anything different than when I race a mustang or whatever revved at me at a stop light. I basically drag race all the time not wearing a helmet.
I just need a helmet to race at the track. If I am going to get one, it will be a proper functioning and safe helmet, no worries there. Its just more for being able to participate rather than the actual need though. I mean, we don't wear helmets daily driving, that doesn't mean **** is flying up and hitting us in the face or banging our heads around.
But point taken. As I do more mods and the car gets faster, I will definitely be glad to have a good helmet and suit or whatever I may need in the future.
I just need a helmet to race at the track. If I am going to get one, it will be a proper functioning and safe helmet, no worries there. Its just more for being able to participate rather than the actual need though. I mean, we don't wear helmets daily driving, that doesn't mean **** is flying up and hitting us in the face or banging our heads around.
But point taken. As I do more mods and the car gets faster, I will definitely be glad to have a good helmet and suit or whatever I may need in the future.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,163
Likes: 6
From: Oceanside California
True enough. I cant argue with you. Im just saying, its a near stock automatic car. Its not going to be totally crazy now just because its on the strip. I have no problem wearing a helmet. But I am fine with a cheaper one for now.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,239
Likes: 2
From: Naples FL
St. Jude Donor '12
I also emailed the local road coarse, they said the same for track events.
For what we do, any M rated or SA rated is acceptable as long as it's 2005 or newer until you start running pro levels.
I'd have to double check, but I believe even the K rated helmets are acceptable.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,239
Likes: 2
From: Naples FL
St. Jude Donor '12