Noobie question - What kind of helmet to use?

[bwell]

Tried searching this question but no luck.

Going to my first DE event next month. I have done some autoX and used a motorcycle helmet for that. Now I need to have an SA95 or newer auto helmet.

Question - is a full face helmet necessary in a closed car (911 coupe)? What about the "hybrid" helmets - which look like a full face helmet without the shield.

What is a good source for helmets - since I don't think our sponsor carries them?

Thanks.

[JNadal]

dont buy helmets online or out of a catalog. You need to try them on, they're like clothes; diferent brands with the "same size" will fit differently.
Oh, also never buy a used one because it may have been dropped or involved in an accident, this can render the helmet useless.

[jpachard]

Full face is the way to go. Roughly 50% of impacts to the head involve your facial area. Remember that seatbelts are designed to stretch and this can allow your chin to hit the steering wheel. After having a Dr. tell me "If you hadn't had a full face helmet on, you would have been eating through a straw for the rest of your life" sealed the deal for me. Also, follow the excellent advice given by the posters above and try on before you buy.

Cheers, James

[naparsei]

Originally posted by jpachard
Full face is the way to go. Roughly 50% of impacts to the head involve your facial area. Remember that seatbelts are designed to stretch and this can allow your chin to hit the steering wheel. After having a Dr. tell me "If you hadn't had a full face helmet on, you would have been eating through a straw for the rest of your life" sealed the deal for me. Also, follow the excellent advice given by the posters above and try on before you buy.

Cheers, James

Great advice, here. Also, things can get into the cabin via the window. I know people who have rocks ricochet off the side mirror and into someone's visor. I drove through a wall of gas once (don't ask...). Safer is better, always.

[John Rogers]

Some other things to consider: Do you wear glasses, if so there are only a couple of helmets with large opening so glasses can be worn comfortably. Do you want an air hose connection? That can be nice if the temps are high when you are driving with cool air blowing on your head. The helmet should fit snug but not tight. When I bought mine one size was just a little snug but the next size up was too large and moved around. I bought the snug size and have an inflatible ball inside to keep the foam compressed just a little. Also look at visors and what color they come in. The helmet I bought does not have an amber colored visor available, but 2 packages of Rit bright yellow dye colored it exactly like an amber visor and things are very clear, especially at a track like Las Vegas where the race surface and gravel are close to the same color. Good luck

[bwell]

Great advice! Sounds like I will definitely be going full face.

Anyone have suggestions for good shops in the Ohio/Kentucky/Indiana area? Indianapolis is OK since I will be driving by there on my way to the track.

[jhadler]

What has been said above is all excellent advice. I'd also like to add/emphasise a couple things.

Fit is -crucial-, you've got to try before you buy. If it's not comfortable, you won't want to wear it, and you'll be distracted and not paying attention to what's really important. Find a shop that carries a LARGE selection of helmets. Try on as many as you can. As for how much to spend, my philosophy is "If you've got a $10 head, buy a $10 helmet.". It is one of the most critical safety components you'll have, don't skimp, the life you save may well be your own.

When fitting, make sure to bring with you any glasses (prescription or sun glasses) that you might be wearing under the helmet. Make sure that they fit well with the helmet on. Not all helmets are shaped the same. A 7-1/2 Bell will fit differently than a 7-1/2 Simpson.

Definitely full face. Not only is there the issue of what happens in a big impact (belt stretch, chin-vs-steering wheel), but when (not if) you do spin, you'll be kicking up a cloud of dust, dirt and debris, and with an open face helmet, you'll be getting that in your eyes, nose and mouth, belch!

Not all sanctioning bodies and clubs are the same. Some require an SA (car racing) helmet, others allow M (motorcycle) helmets. Either way, I would HIGHLY recommend getting a SNELL rated helmet. And most clubs require it. If it doesn't have the SNELL sticker inside the helmet, I would pass on it. Okay, there are some FIA/SFI rated helmets that are just as good, but the certifications are a little more complicated and not all clubs allow them yet.

The main advantage to M helmets, is that they're a lot easier to find, easier to try on different styles, and often cheaper. But if you're intent is to do a lot of track time, get the SA helmet. It's designed for multiple hard point impacts, whereas the M helmet is designed for single large area impacts.

-Josh2

[Jeff Alton]

The "A" helmet has been tested for fire protection. The "M" has not.

Jeff

[jhadler]

Originally posted by catca
The "A" helmet has been tested for fire protection. The "M" has not.

Jeff

True, but that's not to say that the SA helmet is any better at fire protection than the M helmet. More to the point, it is possible that for some manufacturers, the M helmet would (or could) likely pass the fire test as well, but the M helmets are not subjected to that test, and as such are not certified for it.

That's not to say that all M helmets -could- pass the fire test, just that some manufacturers might just as well build their SA and M helmets the same way. The SNELL spec only requires that the materials in question be resistant to combustion at a certain temperature for a certain duration, and be self extinguishing, e.g. don't continue to burn when the flame source is removed. The spec does NOT specifically mandate the use of Nomex or other unique flame retardant materials.

-Josh2

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

If the M-rating tests require multiple smaller impacts, that is something new in the past five or eight years. Last I checked--those five or eight years ago--the only differences were the helmet lining spec, and an impact-on-a-tube (i.e., simulated roll bar impact) test.

A friend of mine once said, of this discussion:
"I, as an engineer, would have a very tough time designing a helmet that would pass all of the snell M-rating tests and would still fail the SA-rating impact test. Furthermore, if it gets to the point where having a fireproof lining in the helmet actually makes a difference, I probably won't be around to worry about the consequences anyway."

I myself have gone against almost all of the excellent advice given in this thread. I have an open-face M-rated helmet. Mostly because I find it to be a lot more comfortable than any full-face helmet or any SA-rated helmet that I could find. (Large head + glasses means most helmets simply do not work for me.) The helmet was also just over $100...

If my local rules required an SA-rated helmet, I would still be looking. The Rules are The Rules, and ya gotta follow them. My local rules do not require an SA rating--and I do not feel any less safe with the M-rated one than I would with the SA-.

I don't recommend anyone follow my particular path, but it has worked for me up to this point. However, if I get more serious about DEs and TTs I will likely look for a full-face helmet that fits me well.

--DD

[jhadler]

Dave brings up a good point. If all that fits you is an M rated helmet, and your sanctioning body allows them, then that would be the best choice. Not because it's all you have, but a poorly fitting SA helmet, while in most cases is better than no helmet at all, it is going to be more hazardous than a properly fitted M helmet.

Personally, I prefer M helmets for autox, as the impact situations are not as severe as in track use, and they have better peripheral vision too.

But for frequent track use, I would recommend the SA...

-Josh2

[addictionMS]

SA have nomex lining, MA probably does not.

Full face allows the use of HANS, optional now, but may be required before too long.

Jim

[John Rogers]

Speaking of the HANS device, I just bought one and I love it. There is very little restriction to helmet movement and it is more comfortable than that donut I used to use.

[rich22]

Jhadler is right, there is a difference between the impacts an M and SA helmet is designed for. And yes, there has been a change in the last 8 years. It was in 2000, thus the 2000 standard.

If you're racing in a car, get an SA helmet. Jeez, do you need any better example than Ernhardt Jr? With an M helmet, probably more than his chin would've been burned.

[Schrup]

Originally posted by bwell
Now I need to have an SA95 or newer auto helmet.

Do yourself a favor & buy a SA2000, I heard that the rules will be changing soon, (at least in my area) & will require a 2000 rating. I bought a new full face Bell M2 Pro when I was getting my car aligned. The guy sold it to me for $250 which was a screaming deal (think he messed up), they retail for $440. I took the shield off & wear safety glasses.

[jluetjen]

Think about how much money you have spent on your car. If you trash your car on the track, you'll be able to find another one for about the same money as you've invested in the first place.

Now think about how much money we are talking about investing on a helmet to protect the one and only head that you were born with. If you trash that at the track, well...

Speaking of DE Jr, there's an interesting footnote here. He burnt (I assume from reading between the lines) the insides of his theighs and his neck and chin. Why??? Because he chose to skip wearing a balaclava and nomax long underwear, in spite of the minimal cost and recommendations in many areas and organizations to do so. In some organizations (SCCA) it is required. (I don't know about IMSA. I doubt it in NASCAR.) He believed that an accident will never happen to him. I assume that he was meeting the minimum requirements of the rules at the time of the accident. My wife pointed out that depending on the severity of the burns on his legs, his girlfriend might be pretty frustrated with him right now.

So, are you feeling lucky...?