Helmet recommendation

[BigD]

The Pyrotect is Bell's Chinese manufactured helmet. Thus the lower price. They work fine but there's a substantial difference between them and a higher priced helmet from Simpson, Bell, Arai, etc. Most notably the padding.

I don't mean to sound arrogant but if you are spending a couple hundred $$$ to attend a track day, thousands(??) to improve the performance of your car, why not protect your most valuable asset, your head?

Feff

I've used many Bell loaners at tracks, once a Simpson, and I've tried out several models at shops, I saw NO difference in padding or build quality. They're not that much cheaper than Bell helmets to justify me buying one if there was. In fact all car helmets suck in comfort compared to my hundred dollar motorcycle Shoei helmet.

Any car helmet from the past 30 or 40 years will protect your head just fine. The only reason Snell standards are updated is to keep Bell et al in business. I mean how often do people crash? That's how often people would buy new helmets.

Personal preferences aside, there is nothing more you are doing to protect your head by splurging on a brand name to brag about (or something ridiculous like a CF helmet), than me with my Pyrotect, or Billy Bob with his 40 year old can that he has never damaged.

At the end of the day, what Pyrotect allows you to do is buy a helmet that will be legal for the next 10 years for the price of a used brand name helmet with 0 sacrifice in safety and in my opinion, comfort.

[JGood]

I don't mean to sound arrogant but if you are spending a couple hundred $$$ to attend a track day, thousands(??) to improve the performance of your car, why not protect your most valuable asset, your head?

Feff

I'm a cheap bastard that does stupid things and regrets it later.

[Feffman]

The Pyrotect is Bell's Chinese manufactured helmet. Thus the lower price. They work fine but there's a substantial difference between them and a higher priced helmet from Simpson, Bell, Arai, etc. Most notably the padding.

I don't mean to sound arrogant but if you are spending a couple hundred $$$ to attend a track day, thousands(??) to improve the performance of your car, why not protect your most valuable asset, your head?

Feff

[BigD]

I'm in love with Pyrotect. I've used motorcycle helmets and various car helmets but these are awesome. They are based on the Bell M2 but they are cooler shaped, they're full face, comfortable and CHEAP. I know it's not under 100 as you had hoped but it doesn't get much better than this for a full face helmet. And it's hardly a no-name brand - they're made by Bell. My guess behind this arrangement is that they figure that they're losing clients that aren't willing to pay for the Bell brand name, so they took a design they are no longer selling as a Bell, changed its appearance (for the MUCH better imo, I've always found Bell helmets to be too plain, and Simpsons make you look like a Storm Trooper), and are selling them to the more frugal crowd. Oh and for people like me with a huge ass head, the XXL size actually fits.

Anyway, get one from Daniel:

http://www.flyingbrickperformance.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=24_17_44&products_id=29

[JGood]

It will depend on the event sponsor. The CCA HPDEs around here all require SA from the current standard or the one prior. So, SA2000 is as old as you can go.

You might be able ot use that old K or M helmet for an auto-x, but if you have any plan of any track days, plan to buy a new SA one.

It's not K or M, it's SA.

That sucks though, it's virtually new. I don't have $300 for a helmet. I guess that means I don't have $300 for a track day, though.

[Dave]

It will depend on the event sponsor. The CCA HPDEs around here all require SA from the current standard or the one prior. So, SA2000 is as old as you can go.

You might be able ot use that old K or M helmet for an auto-x, but if you have any plan of any track days, plan to buy a new SA one.

[JGood]

Sorry. Helmets are good for 10 years. That one expired 2 years ago.

Keith

Since when do helmets "expire"? The SCCA Solo II rules:

-----------------------
4.3.1 Helmets
Helmets meeting the following standards must be worn while on
course: All helmets meeting the current or two immediately
preceding Snell Foundation standards (SA, K, or M), or SFI
standards 31.1A, 31.2A, 41.1A, or 41.2A are acceptable.
-------------------------

The current standard for SA, K, and M is 2005. The previous 2 are 2000 and 1995. This makes my SA95 usable until the next snell rating.

[JeffR116]

I love my Bell M3

[Keith M]

Sorry. Helmets are good for 10 years. That one expired 2 years ago.

Keith

[JGood]

Some good news:

I moved this weekend, and digging through old stuff I found my kart helmet from nearly 10 years ago. It was used once, and looks brand new. Full face, snell 95. And it fits my head still (haven't grown much).

Might not be good enough for track days, but should be fine for autox (it's current rating and previous 2, right?) If so I will be good til 2010 if that's when they do the next design.

[Feffman]

JGOOD:

If you plan on doing any track days, plan on spending the money for an SA rated helmet (minimum SA2000) as most track events use this as the minimum. Some track events allow M (motorcycle) helmets but it's becoming fewer and fewer.

Visit Simpson Racing at www.TeamSimpson.com. Happy Motoring!

Mark "Feff" Pfeffer
www.MVPTrackTime.com

[Lance Racing]

First of all, find out if you are required to have an SA rated helmet, or if an M rated helmet is accepted. If allowed, an M rated helmet will be fine for Auto-X and the occasional DE. M rated helmets are cheaper than SA helmets.

As for fit, the rule of thumb I give out is the helmet should be snug, but not tight. Put the helmet on and shake your head side to side. If the helmet moves independent of your head, it is too loose.

If going to a store, wear the helmet for a good 10-15 minutes to see if it gives you a headache or not. For DE events the helmet must be comfortable for up to 30 minutes.

M helmets also have a slightly wider eyeport than many SA rated helmets. I personally have a "Wide Eyeport" Shoei (sp?) SA helmet for the added peripheral vision. I race an E30, so dropping $800 on a lightweight helmet that I will use for 10 years before replacing is part of the cost of racing. It is an $80 per year expense. But for DEs and Auto-X the added cost of high-end helmets is not served. Better to put that money into some driving gloves and shoes, which will also help your driving experience.

Good luck!

[2002maniac]

i think walmart has full helmets for like $80...that or they were bike helmets. go check em out

eek!

[Dave]

i think walmart has full helmets for like $80...that or they were bike helmets. go check em out

that's not gonna work too well.

May not even be SA rated, most likely just DOT rated.

[etxxz]

i think walmart has full helmets for like $80...that or they were bike helmets. go check em out