Where do you get your helmets?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 5,169
Likes: 6
From: Greenville SC
Where do you get your helmets?
Thinking about going to the track this weekend. I gotta have a helmet. The flyer I have doesn't say anything about the helmet.
What's typically needed? Can I just go to Wal-Mart and grab a Bell (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=3340484) and be good to go? Or is there a particular Snell rating or whatever that I need.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
What's typically needed? Can I just go to Wal-Mart and grab a Bell (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=3340484) and be good to go? Or is there a particular Snell rating or whatever that I need.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 45,600
Likes: 892
From: Texas
CI 1-4-5-8-9-10 Vet
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '10, '17
Last time I checked you needed a rating of 95 or greater - I think the required spec is "SA95" (it's been 6 years since I bought mine - I CRS). Some motorcycle helmets don't meet that standard. I bought mine at http://www.helmetcity.com/ . It was on my doorstep in a couple of days. I recommend them.
**edit**
I took a quick look at your link. Based on the price and the fact that they don't list the specific spec- I would be skeptical about them meeting the minimum spec.
And actually, the "cheapie" helmet would probably be O.K. at the drag strip. But if you ever take a driving school or run on a road course, they will require the SA95 helmet. Might as well only buy 1 helmet for all ocassions
**edit**
I took a quick look at your link. Based on the price and the fact that they don't list the specific spec- I would be skeptical about them meeting the minimum spec.
And actually, the "cheapie" helmet would probably be O.K. at the drag strip. But if you ever take a driving school or run on a road course, they will require the SA95 helmet. Might as well only buy 1 helmet for all ocassions
Last edited by need-for-speed; Oct 21, 2005 at 08:16 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,749
Likes: 0
From: Northeast Ohio
Originally Posted by need-for-speed
Last time I checked you needed a rating of 95 or greater - I think the required spec is "SA95"
Get a new 2005 Spec and you're good for a decade!
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,749
Likes: 0
From: Northeast Ohio
Originally Posted by cerino2000
Didn't know there was a rating like that! Is it on the tag of the helmet or something?
In the inside of the helmet usually underneath the padding. Also I have seen some marked on the outside of the helmet.
More info:
Snell Ratings: http://www.smf.org/
Info on Helmets: http://www.bellracing.com/faq/fq.htm
Impact Racing: http://www.impactraceproducts.com/
Simpson: http://www.simpsonraceproducts.com/
Hope this helps!
Last edited by TRAIL BOSS; Oct 21, 2005 at 08:35 PM.
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Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,937
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From: Costa Mesa CA
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09
2007 huh? That's rather irritating since my Arai helmet is Snell M95, still in good shape, and was about 500 bucks new.
Was actually planning to get it painted Millennium Yellow if I can find a decent painter that doesn't want to slap artwork on it.
Was actually planning to get it painted Millennium Yellow if I can find a decent painter that doesn't want to slap artwork on it.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,311
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles CA
I found the local motorcycle dealers and/or accesory shops to have the largest selection of helmets and they are well versed in the types of helmets required. Prices werent outrageous and were actually competitive with online stores.
If your a weekend warrior doing it a few times a year you dont need the helmets that run couple of hundred bucks (hell those things have oxygen, cooling, communication hookups, etc - they dice,cut,chop, ya name it)
Just find one that gives ya the biggest protection for the buck - you will need to decide if you want open face or closed face (i.e. does it have a mouth guard) - Cheapest I found ran around 100 bucks
If your a weekend warrior doing it a few times a year you dont need the helmets that run couple of hundred bucks (hell those things have oxygen, cooling, communication hookups, etc - they dice,cut,chop, ya name it)
Just find one that gives ya the biggest protection for the buck - you will need to decide if you want open face or closed face (i.e. does it have a mouth guard) - Cheapest I found ran around 100 bucks
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,695
Likes: 0
From: NY
Originally Posted by Tom Steele
Thinking about going to the track this weekend. I gotta have a helmet. The flyer I have doesn't say anything about the helmet.
What's typically needed? Can I just go to Wal-Mart and grab a Bell (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=3340484) and be good to go? Or is there a particular Snell rating or whatever that I need.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
What's typically needed? Can I just go to Wal-Mart and grab a Bell (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=3340484) and be good to go? Or is there a particular Snell rating or whatever that I need.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Being that i race SCCA maybe i should answer this one... First and foremost bell/pyrotect helmets are crap.. Now that SA2005 helmets are available, purchase an SA2005. (SA2000 will suffice) Do NOT buy an M2000 or M2005 as those are motorcycle helmets.. Most clubs allow them but they give way in a few categories (Like fire protection).
There are only really a few Helmet choices worth talking about.
Stand21 (Open Eye) (True carbon kevlar - Weighs next to nothing)
Arai GP5
Schuberth RF1 (Worn by Both Schumacher Brothers)
None of these helmets are remotely cheap.. The stand21 is 800, the Arai 1000 and the schuberth 1350..
But lets face it.. is your head the place you want to cut your budget?
The Arai GP5-K is a lower cost solution @ 650.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,695
Likes: 0
From: NY
Originally Posted by TRAIL BOSS
SA95 Spec is 10 years old and expires for racing events in SCCA in 2007.
Get a new 2005 Spec and you're good for a decade!
Get a new 2005 Spec and you're good for a decade!
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 26,714
Likes: 344
From: Houston, TX
For the drag strip or autocross, I use a $60 helmet. They have never checked to see it's rating. Let's be honest, running our cars at a drag strip or autocross is far safer than any driving we do on the street. This is not wheel-to-wheel competition I'm talking about.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,695
Likes: 0
From: NY
Originally Posted by jschindler
For the drag strip or autocross, I use a $60 helmet. They have never checked to see it's rating. Let's be honest, running our cars at a drag strip or autocross is far safer than any driving we do on the street. This is not wheel-to-wheel competition I'm talking about.
As for autox, plenty of autox's run in lots with Poles.. (All events in NY run in stadium parking lots which have light poles).. I have seen last year alone 10 cars get totaled hitting a light pole at 45-60mph when the driver lost control.. again would you want to be using a 60 dollar helmet?
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,695
Likes: 0
From: NY
Originally Posted by 16Again
Alex, links to the STAND and SCHUBERTH sites please?
Thanks
Bob
Thanks
Bob
http://www.stand21.fr
http://www.schuberth-usa.com
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 46,766
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From: Boynton Beach Florida
St. Jude Donor '07-'12, '20
Originally Posted by Alex Levy
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
From: Irvine CA
I know when i was working for SCCA a few years back... if someone came to the track and tried to get a Motorcycle helmet through tech inspection, we confiscated it until the end of the weekend. It was completely against the GCR to use an M rated helmet...
--Josh
--Josh
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,695
Likes: 0
From: NY
Originally Posted by santsys
I know when i was working for SCCA a few years back... if someone came to the track and tried to get a Motorcycle helmet through tech inspection, we confiscated it until the end of the weekend. It was completely against the GCR to use an M rated helmet...
--Josh
--Josh
Case in point.. thank you
