Racing Helmets

Dont know if this is the right section, but worth a shot.

Im in the market for my first racing helmet. I do track days and some kart racing both are casual kinda things. My budget is less then $500, what should i be looking for? My only real request would be that i can remove the interiors of the helmet and wash them. So whats out there?

 

Check out the Arai line of car helmets. Interesting to note: while the motorcycle helmets have a different standard than the car system, on the Arai line, both met each of the standards, but they will not put the car stickers in anything but the car helmet (because they sell the same helmet for quite a bit more to the car guys).

Art

 

(Rob, I think it's time for "The Helmet Thread".)

Auto racing helmets typically don't have removable linings or padding. There are helmet dryers available, if that's a concern.

Motorcycle helmets are not the same as car helmets. Do not buy a motorcycle helmet for car use. Buy one rated SA2000.

The most important factor is fit. Don't buy before you try. Try as many brands as you can.

Buy quality, buy something manufactured in Japan, US or Europe.

 

thats for the great advice, im racing at limerock in april for a track day i think, so ill stop in drivers impressions and try some stuff out. The washable linings was basically because if i get sweaty id like to clean those pads out so they dont smell over time, unless theres another way. Im still kinda new at this. And the people that are giving my advice on helmets are motorcycle guys. This is why i came here to ask.

 

Indeed car and motorcycle helmets ARE different. I wouldn't wear a bike helmet other than for bike purposes and karting. Never in a car.

Arai car helmets are great but well over your $500 budget. Try Bell's entry level line, nice quality for a decent price. Wear a balaclava to soak up the sweat.

Do a search this topic has been discussed just recently...

 

Glad to be of service.

For everyone else, I'll make this point for the eight-hundredth time on f-chat: motorcycle helmets are not car helmets. But, hey, don't take my word for it. Feel free to bore yourself to tears at http://www.smf.org.

 

I keep seeing that Motorcycle helmets aren't the same as the car helmets. While the standards maybe different. I'm told that some of the brands use the same helmets, with minor changes, because both helmets meet the requirements. Not legal, and they won't let you on the track without the proper certification, but a fact. I got that information from one of the manufacturers' distributors, who I've know for the last 20 years.

Art

 

Auto helmets have nomex and a no-melting chin strap. Motorcycle helmets don't. Thats not a minor difference, especially in a mid-engine car. Auto helmets also typically have a thicker shield.

My wife uses a Bell M4. It has a larger eyeport for better peripheral vision, is reasonably light, and doesn't have the "built in a basement" look some of the other Bell models have. Arai helmets have beautiful fit and finish. I use a GP5 and a Bell GTX. Both are nice. G-force helmets are extremely popular at their price point. I think UPR has a special on a high end Sparco model that puts it easily in your price range. If it were me I might give that one a shot and if you don't like it just exchange it.

 

You're right about the lining, but some of the Arias have replaceable linings, and if you price the helmets, and the replacement parts, you'll see that the companies have been running a scam on their pricing. One of my friends (someone I used to race against, he was at the back end of his career, when I started in the late 60s) is a distributor for one of the brands, and he tells me that other than the two items you mentioned, the helmets are identical because their helmet meets both standards. However, the auto helmet is about 300 more model for model than the motorcycle helmet, so the manufacturer is making quite a bit more on the auto helmet.

Art

 

I bought one of these, since I didn't want a generic white helmet, but didn't want to pay a lot for a custom paint job. I've only used it once, but it proved to be quite comfortable. These are bona fide auto racing helmets, with a Snell 2005 certification.

http://www.zamp-racing.com/ferrari.htm

 

Repost:

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=185887&highlight=helmet

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=177365&highlight=helmet

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=173495&highlight=helmet

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=171486&highlight=helmet

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=156617&highlight=helmet


Just to name a few found with a quick search on "helmet" in the Racing forum.

 

thanks for all the help and responses. I think i have a better understanding now and kinda going somewhere with it now rather then just spinning around and around in circles

Sorry about the repost, wasn't really thinking, just wanted to make a thread when i came back from a karting session and it was on my mind.

 

These are more than bona fide. The top helmets in this line are brand-engineered Bell Europe pieces.

 

www.helmetcity.com

 

Yeah, mine is branded Bell (Sport 4 model) and was factory-painted in Europe.
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thanks for all the help guys, i think ive decided to go with a Bell helmet. Quite possibly the M4, i just gotta find somewhere that i can test fit. i still have a couple months before i NEED one, so hopefully i can find somewhere in the tri-state area to do so. Once again thanks again guys!

 

If budget is a concern (its your head not mine, personally I'd buy the best that really fits regardless of budget).

You should look at HJC they make a fiberglass helmet that is only slightly heavier than an Arai at about 300$

I use HMS motorsport in MA since they are near to me, but this does give you prices for comparison.

http://www.hmsmotorsport.com/store/racing-apparel/hjc/ar-10

 

The argument about "only the most money in the world can buy adequate protection" is getting a bit old. Helmets used in racing in the States have to meet a certain standard. Currently the Snell2005 standard is the one that matters. If a helmet meets that standard, you're good. If it wasn't that way, then why have a standard?

I said it before and say it again: Get a Snell2005 rated helmet for automobiles (not bikes!) and invest the rest of the money in a HANS device. Your overall protection is better than put all the money in the most expensive helmet you can find.

PS: Here is my helmet: Zamp FSA-1
http://www.helmetcity.com/page/HC/CTGY/autozamp

 

My point was that I would choose fit over price, not price over fit. By all means pick a cheap helmet that is snell '05 certified, but don't pick a cheap one because its cheap or an expensive one because its expensive if it does not fit your head. I chose the Arai GP5 because it fit my head much more snuggly than the much cheaper HJC.

I would also pay good money for lightness - note that if HJC fits, even their fibreglass helmets are just as light as much more expensive helmets.

 

Agreed.

Funny thing is though, that I have rarely had a helmet so far that didn't really fit. By now I probably wore (not necessarily owned) over a dozen helmets and they were all pretty good. I think that is because they have a lot of cushioning material (well duh!) and that tends to adjust for even when you don't have the perfect size.

In my Army days I had to wear a lot of different hats and if the size was one size off, it wouldn't fit. Never had that with a helmet.

The thing that used to annoy me the most was fogging up, but today's helmets normally come with all kinds of air circulation vents.

 

I didn't know that! Mine looks identical except for the logo.

 

I haven't checked lately, but once upon a time Bell Europe's website listed (and showed photos of) these, and my recollection is that when they first appeared in North America they were all branded Bell, but later that changed- badge engineering?