Helmets!

[azapa]

Any recommendations for an occasional trackday lid, without getting into formula 1 money?

Thanks

 

[rockits]

I bought a really nice Bell one that has been really good. They dropped the price as it was a model they weren't selling so went from 350 to 150. Full face full carbon unit with double d ring fasteners in black. Lovely Bell carry case all furry lined. The lid was finished in high gloss black. Very pleased with it & would recommend it 100%. I went to J&S Accessories in St Albans as they had maybe 200 helmets on show to try them all. The assistant was very good and spent an hour with me going through all options & we arrived with this Bell. Perfect for car track days more than motorcycles in my opinion which is why we think it wasn't deemed a popular model. I'll try to find a link or dig out the model name.

 

[rockits]

I lied....it was 300 down to 150. Very cheap for a full face carbon helmet from a known good manufacturer IMHO. I would have paid at least 50 quid for the bag alone I think. It was a fair bit lighter and more comfortable that any other helmet I tried. I went full face as most tracks stipulate full face for open top cars. As I was looking for a TVR I thought it would be worth going full face. At Brooklands I had the face open & it worked a treat.

Link is
www.jsaccessories.co.uk/buy/Bell-M5X-Helmet/19768

 

[azapa]

Thanks there Rockits!! Any ideas why motorbike helmets are not used much for trackdays? The link you point to is for a bike helmet. I am guessing its for some certification. Most of the car helmets I have seen are over 300 quid..

 

[CatmanV2]

Thanks there Rockits!! Any ideas why motorbike helmets are not used much for trackdays? The link you point to is for a bike helmet. I am guessing its for some certification. Most of the car helmets I have seen are over 300 quid..

It used to be that all that was needed was an ACU gold certification. Just about every bike helmet I've ever seen had one, so no idea why car helmets are different and more expensive.

C

 

[2b1ask1]

Generally a traditional open face helmet is fine for a car whereas on a bike you generally want a full face, either will be properly tested but don't buy from fleabay or other 'cheap' sources and there are many counterfeit ones out there that are not to standards and you don't want to find out too late!

[video]https://youtu.be/mdWvU9RF5ew[/video]

 

[rockits]

Thanks there Rockits!! Any ideas why motorbike helmets are not used much for trackdays? The link you point to is for a bike helmet. I am guessing its for some certification. Most of the car helmets I have seen are over 300 quid..

It is a car & bike helmet but has less sealing material around the neck area so would be a bit draughty/chilly I expect on a bike. Perfect for a car though as allows better ventilation & more resistance to fogging. Has the attachments to add anti fogging system but I don't think you would need it in a car with roof especially with face open.

I asked that question to the assistant & he suggested there wasn't really bike or car helmets per se. They both need to do the same job regardless. I found the plastic ones a bit heavier and the internal foam/padding a bit lacking especially on the very top of my head. I could feel an uncomfortable bump in many of them. As soon as I tried on the Bell I know it was the one. Was just a case of getting the right size. Snug but not too snug. Different people have very different shaped heads apparently so different helmets have different shapes so you need to try them on really as this Bell might not work for you as it did for me. Have you a J&S store near you? They are a small franchise or chain I think so have a few stores around.

 

[BennyD]

MAFs a helmet, does that count?

 

[rockits]

Hopefully he doesn't have a yellow one!

 

[azapa]

thread swerve detected!

All the lids here for cars seem to cost 500 quid or more "homologated" they tell me. The generally means "you sound like a foreigner, I'll sell you the most expensive one in the shop". I'll go shopping tomorrow. Hopefully Sunday I'll get to reduce my clutch life and leave some rubber on a track... exited..

 

[rockits]

I went to a small motorbike accessories ship in Stevenage near our Hitchin first. The Italian guy there seemed to know everything & felt I need to spend 300+ on something that wasn't what I wanted or needed. I do maybe 1 or 2 days a year I might need a lid.

I thought my initial budget would be 100 quid but was happy to pay 150 for this one to get a carbon lid that fitted well, was comfortable, from a decent known branded & well respected manufacturer. Also it had a nice bag to keep it nice as well that sealed the deal.

What track day you doing?

I just signed up for a Rye House karting driver development evening on 25th Sept. They also do a monthly championship thing I might look at as Rye House is only 20 odd mins away from me.

 

[BennyD]

Hopefully he doesn't have a yellow one!

Fortunately, I don't know what diseases the tw4t suffers from!

 

[casadalloro]

I got a snell standard open face off ebay..not expensive... its drilled for HANS posts but clips not fitted...if you do proper motorsport you now need snell..
Its a pain as i havent competed for around 5 years and found out my sparco full face carbon lid with peltor intercom wasnt legal anymore(BS standard, not snell)....would be fine for trackdays still if anyone wants it..£75... cost around £400 new..size small.