Acceptable helmet suggestions.
 

I want to attend my first autocross soon so of course I need a helmet. Not looking to get too crazy so I want a helmet that won't break the bank but still be safe.

I figure since it is just AutoX for now and not full on track driving I don't need the best of the best.

Any suggestions?

Need an M or SA rated helmet. Best affordable M rated you can get at http://www.cyclesportscenter.com/ on North JYP. They sell a good HJC for $129/139 (size dependant). Just dont get the XXXL as it isn't Snell M rated.

If you are running with CFRC, any helmet will do. Martin or SCCA will require this M rating minimum.

So HJC are descent? I found this one online for 90 bucks with free shipping.

http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/hjc-cs-r2-helmet

make sure whatever helmet you get has a SNELL sticker on it, DOT won't cut it for most autocross events in both US and CANADA

keep in mind the following

some helmets are on sale because they are old, the snell standard is at 2010 right now, so a SNELL 2005 or 2000 will be cheaper (but that means it's been sitting on the shelf for that long). Be careful of rogue seller who may try to push SNELL95 or even older on you.

Futhermore, SCCA right now allows a SNELL2000 or newer helmet, which could change at any point. This means that it's best to buy a newer helmet which will ensure that you can use it for a longer time. (Even if it gets old you can use it as a spare or donate for passenger use)

In terms of price, any SNELL rated helmet is good enough to protect you from pretty much from anything you'll experience in autocross, so unless you plan on doing track racing later on you really can go and get the cheapest helmet.

More money will, however, get you a lighter helmet. Spend 200-300 dollars more today but get more comfort for the next 5-7 years, fatigue is the number one reason for mistakes and shitty performance, so think about that.

Open face vs Closed face: Open face is less claustrophobic and generally lighter, but offers little face protection compared to a full face. Like something hitting your mouth/chin, like the steering wheel or if you forget or don't turn off your airbag, imagine the airbag going off as your hand is crossed and you get your own fist accelerating towards you face at a gajillion miles per hour.


M vs SA

M helmets are designed for one big crash, hence why they are marketed as motorcycle helmets, M

SA helmets are designed for many smaller dings and bangs, for use mostly in CAGED cars where you bang your helmet on stuff without even realising it.


Happy Helmet Hunting

Most AutoX (SCCA or Club) should have loaner helmets.

My suggestion is to use those for a while to see if you really like the sport and to get a feel of what you like and don't like about helmets before you spend your own green on one.

I can't see if the one I posted is Snell rated.

I want to spend 100-150 max and prefer a full face, any suggestions?

This one says it is Snell rated but no year.

http://www.jafrum.com/Motorcycle-Hel...ce-Helmet-Gold

There is this one also.
http://www.jafrum.com/Motorcycle-Hel...T-Helmet-Solid

if you're ever interested in buying a more premium full face helmet, i'm selling my arai rx-q size small in white. i've only used it a couple times. it's a M rated snell 2010 helmet.

Any current helmet with an M will be 2010. Haven't run across any new 2005s. That looks a lot like my HJC. Go test fit it first, do NOT go by other helmet's size ratings. This HJC fits more snug that it's rating implies. I'm a XL in most helmets, XXL in others. This HJC is almost uncomfortably tight in XXL. I needed it in XXXL but that size wasn't M rated.

i don't live in the states and i haven't looked at helmets in a while, your prices and selection may vary.

just keep in mind all i said and make your own decision, at the end of the day you don't actually have that large of a choice.

Personally though, i own a BELL helmet. My first helmet was HJC but it was big and clunky.

http://www.saferacer.com/zamp-racing...productid=2405 SA2010. $169.95 Full face


Here's a place in FL that has some. http://www.magnaracing.com/index.php...a37ko2ioovj6b0

I think I am going to hit up seminole powersports and try on some helmets.

Here is the helmet I use, got it from SoloRacer it is SA certified and pre drilled for Hans device.
http://www.soloracer.com/pyrotectopen.htmlhttp://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/soloracerdotcom_2228_56959680

I bought this Pyrotect helmet, and had major fit issues. I have 6 other helmets, for dirt bikes, street bikes and track events. EVERY single one of my helmets is a Large. I measured my head, and I was right on the edge of a medium and large...so I figured I would get a Large.

The Large Pyrotect was WAY too small. It was fine around the cheeks, but it wouldn't push all the way down on my head. My brother, who wears medium helmets, couldn't even get it to fit on him.

This has been the only helmet that didn't fit us. Did you find it was true to size? Does it push all the way down onto your head? I'm just curious...because I was a little disappointed I had to send it back on my dime, when I really felt it was an issue with this particular helmet.

+1 for solo racer.

Some really great helmet info on there.

http://www.soloracer.com/helmettech.html
http://www.racinghelmetguide.com/

You might find some useful info on what type helmet is right for you under those links.
A SA2010 helmet is going to offer the most protection out of any of them however most Autocross leagues will allow Snell M (motorcylce) and Snell K (Karting) rated helmets.

old stock has to go somewhere

But what about the future?

Say you want to autox now, great. Do you think you might want to do a HPDE, School or track day in the future? If so get a helmet that covers that too, after all your head most likely won't increase in size and a good helmet can be a 10 year purchase.

Basically, don't put yourself in a position where you'll have to buy another helmet in a year or two if you "expand your horizons".

I recommend getting an SA2010 model year closed face helmet or buy a nice SA2005 on clearance or "lightly used" but buy a higher-end model helmet. They will be lighter and more comfortable.

I like the HJC Si-12 (under 3lbs), that's what I race with. ($699)
Also the Arai GP5 and GP5-W are terrific. ($799)

Sure they're expensive but how much is your head worth?

Here's the HCJ si-12 SA2005 model for $499
http://www.ogracing.com/hjc-si-12-sa...acing-helmet-3

I used the tape measure bit, so I seemed to get a bit of a snug fit around the cheeks. Other than that it fits well and I like that my peripheral vision is better in an open face helmet versus a full face inside of the car.

Thanks. I really think something was wrong with the helmet I got. It just didn't fit right at all. I used a soft/fabric tape measure and took over a dozen measurements. My measurements should have been tight in a medium, or a tad loose in a large. The large I got was like an extra small up top. Personally, I think it was mis-labeled (the size).

You. Must. Try. On. Helmets!

Come on guys, find a local shop or a good online one that is willing to exchanges. Every brand fits differently.

This. That's why I recommended the shop on JYP since Jade's local

This. Absolutely this. Do a couple of events on loaner helmets before buying your own. You'll get an idea of what you actually want in a purchased helmet.

see this thread too
 

helmet
 

Just a bit out of your price range.

http://www.theracersstore.com/index....2ivvbiv0j64240

Snell certified helmets: http://www.smf.org/cert

How do you turn off the airbag? I didn't even know you could do that

pull the fuse, usually.

I asked this same question a few months back.
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?p=348117

I decided to use the loaner helmets for the 2012 season, and buy a good helmet from a local shop when the 2013 season starts up. My budget will likely limit me to $300, but it will last for a long time.


Edit: I see AJUSA.com already linked to my thread. Thanks :thumbup:
Double edit: deleted the line about M vs SA.

A helmet is a bit complicated.

Most people have a wrong fitting helmet. Especially in the Squid motorcycle community. Not sure about the car community (probably too).

A helmet doesn't fit all heads. It is best if you TRY it on yourself and wear it a good 30min to see if there are any pressure point.

People try buying a larger size helmet, so they don't feel any pressure points, but obviously its a helmet that doesnt' fit their head in the first place.

Since you're buying a "cheap" helmet, i wouldnt' worry much.
Just get a SA2005 or SA2012 helmet that is open face (without chin bar), and you should be fine.

if you're gonna buy a full face helmet, you REALLY should try it on first, or you'll regret wearing a wrong fitting helmet for 20min track days.

Good enough for what? Snell M rated helmets have been accepted by every autocross club/region I've autocrossed with in the last 13 years, and for SCCA and NASA track days as well, although I hear that NASA has now started requiring SA helmets for HPDE's (but not autocross).

worst argument ever

a 99 dollar HJC will protect your head just the same, it's just bigger, heaver, and has no features.

M and SA are type of helmets

DOT and SNELL are certification bodies

SNELL M or SA is fine for SCCA autocross.

ever? Sweet, breakin' records today! :D

Exaggerating to prove a point are we? Please include link(s) to the SA2005 or newer HJC closed face automotive for $99 that you think is equivalent to the SA2010 SI-12.

If there was an SA2005 HJC helmet that I could buy (used or unused) for $99 I would ABSOLUTELY recommend that to the OP and that goes back to what I said in my original post: "Or buy a lightly used higher end model..."
Exactly..


How's this:

How much is your head, your comfort, your neck and your in-car concentration worth? What's the price difference when measured out over the course of 5, 7 or 10 years?

You're preaching to the choir regarding saving money but helmets and racing suits I'll never skimp on again, and I wish I would have listened to this advice when I bought my first helmet and suit.

Like Dave said: Go try them on.

The difference in cost will be IMMEDIATELY apparent. After racing for several years I will never recommend the cheap items regarding racing suits or helmets to anyone who can afford otherwise. Not only do these things protect you (crash and fire) but comfort when competing inside a car is crucial and very important "luxury" that is worth every single penny.

7thgear, much of my recommendation on not "skimping" related heavily on the assumption that he might not stick to autox. If he wants to do track days, motorcycle helmets and open face helmets most likely don't apply. Most clubs around here require: Auto racing Snell SA2005 or new closed face helmet. So if he buys a $99 helmet for Autox and wants to go do something else he may find himself buying another helmet. In fact, that's why my post started off in bold asking, "What about the future?"

Sorry for the confusion. Thank you for the clarification. :thumbsup:

If all these sanctioning bodies (FIA< SFI<SNELL< DOT) didn't have a stranglehold on the industry I'd use my 10 year old hockey helmet for autocross and call it a day.

Remember that the majority of head damage is internal, your helmet isn't going to do anything to prevent your accelerated brain from hitting the inside of your skull.

In that regard I would only pay more for a helmet if the helmet was lighter, all the other bells and whistles have less of an impact in the scenario of you being inside a vehicle protecting your ass from the majority of the blunt force trauma, and any direct impact you might have with a flying object that happens to make it past the window or safety net will be easily absorbed by any SNELL rated helmet, HJC or FancyShmancy.

Racesuits are racesuits, lets not compares apples and organes now.


But really, I'm just peeved at the "how much is your head worth?", I don't know about you, but my head is priceless and neither a 100 or a 1,000,000 dollar helmet is going to come close to justifying my participation in a dangerous sport.

You gotta look at what's going to cause you harm given your activity.


BTW did you know some dude figured out a way to prevent a good protion of concussions by having Hockey players wear a small piece of string that applies a barely measurable amount of pressure around the main arteries so that your brain gets an extra padding of blood? Neat.

This would be incorrect. The helmet helps to disperse the energy of the impact reducing the momentum of your brain hitting the inside of your skull. That doesn't mean a $700 helmet will do this better then a $200 helmet. Above a certain price point, you're buying "extras". Like lightweight materials, graphics, upgraded liners, etc. All out race helmets were in the $300 range with the additional of comms and a blower inlet.

Again, the basic racesuit provides a certain level of fie protection. Get a thicker suit or add additional layers for additional protection. More money buys you light weight materials, custom graphics and custom tailoring. For the racing we did, we were in double layer suits with an additional layer of fireproof underclothes.

That's a fact. 3 layers of firesuit are overkill for autocross or most HPDE.

Would love to get more info on this.

In general I agree with much of what you're saying. thanks for posting.

Good points but there's loads of data that show a hockey helmet doesn't provide the same protection a road race helmet does, especially where fire is concerned.

I wouldn't rock climb without a rope, or tight-rope walk without a net. Knowing what I know now, I won't race without a HANS (or equivalent) device. Just because I participate in a dangerous sport doesn't mean I have to accept unnecessary dangers, like wearing a hockey helmet to race cars if allowed to do so, or heck even playing hockey with out pads.

Quality does matter regarding safety, even when price points are the same. Some racers really like the $500 Simpson Bandit helmet (the one the STIG wears) but several people have reported that just by dropping it on the ground cracks the casing! Turns out it's made in China in a facility with lower quality controls. The Simpson Bandit X (the more expensive one) is still made in a US facility and is a much stronger casing.

Also by using a heavier helmet you put more strain on your neck when G-loads are applied. Putting a 2.7lb helmet on your head vs a 4.5lb helmet is a big difference when hitting a wall at 80mph or rolling the car. So once again, how much is your neck worth?

So the $99 vs the $699 for equivalence in safety isn't always true but the "how much is your head worth" isn't just a comment regarding safety, but quality.

The racing suit is a fair comparison. It's something that you wear and protects from danger. But let's use Hockey equipment. If you wear bargain basement pads they may offer the same protection but offer lower functionality/maneuverability, maybe the wear out faster or chafe your skin. Maybe the cheap hockey helmet protects in a similar fashion but the chin strap keeps tearing at the joint or it doesn't sit over your ears well.

Ok good points.. I'll stop going round and round and let people get back to recommending helmets.

hans means bar at least, a 5 point and proper helmet

this is beyond autocross

At this point you are venturing into muddy ground because you can build safety into infinity.. up to the point of simply switching to iRacing or something ;)

When it comes to racing I'm a minimalist kind of guy, a bad crash will probably kill me, so let it kill me rather than leave me as an invalid for the next 50 years.

VIVA LA CHAPMAN!

I found that there are 3 basic features with helmets. Price, light weight and comfort. Unfortunately you only get to pick two! I bought a lightweight Bell. OMG what a difference! I didn't feel like I was wearing anything at all.
FYI Try a cheap helmet on then try a top line Bell, Simpson, Shoei, etc on. The difference is amazing. Youll also find that some brands don't fit you at all. I really like Simpson, but Bell fits me much better. If you think you might be doing track days in the future, make sure to buy a SA Snell. Most track day groups don't allow M rated helmets.

Steve