HELP!! Im looking for a good helmet

[dynduo]

This winter my brother purchased a black 1993 NSX and I are getting things together so this spring we can learn skilled driving on the track. We are looking for a place to get a helmet, we live in NYC and finding it hard to locate such a store. It would be nice to find some place that also sells shoes for the track and other clothing. Can anyone recommend where to go?

I know there are different types of helmets, approved by different companies, what's the standard to not be rejected at a track because our helmet doesnt meet specs for safety?

Thanks in advance!
DYNDO and Boy Wonder

 

[nsxtasy]

This winter my brother purchased a black 1993 NSX and I are getting things together so this spring we can learn skilled driving on the track. We are looking for a place to get a helmet, we live in NYC and finding it hard to locate such a store. It would be nice to find some place that also sells shoes for the track and other clothing. Can anyone recommend where to go?

It's wise of you to look for a local store where you can actually try them on before buying. You need to do that to find one that fits comfortably. Hopefully someone in the area can point you to a local dealer.

I know there are different types of helmets, approved by different companies, what's the standard to not be rejected at a track because our helmet doesnt meet specs for safety?

Look for one with an "SA2005 Snell rating". SA is the code referring to car motorsports (vs M2005 for motorcycle helmets) and 2005 is the most recent rating, so you will be able to use your helmet for the longest period in the future. (Ratings are specified every five years and stop being accepted after roughly 11 years.)

 

[Feffman]

DynoDuo:

Ken (Nsxtasy)is spot on with the "SA" rated helmets. Yes, they are more expensive then a motorcycle "M" rated helmet, but you likely can use an SA2005 helmet until 2015. If you want to save a little money, look at an SA2000 but you'll be replacing it in about 3 years. Most track days run by clubs, driving schools, etc. are requiring an "SA" rated helmet.

Visit Simpson racing at http://www.simpsonraceproducts.com/products/ for a wide variety of helmet options, gloves, suits, shoes, etc.

Good luck and enjoy the track!

Mark "Feff" Pfeffer - MVP Track Time

 

[GreggMarkarian]

The closest store to us is Driving Impressions out in Dover, NJ (www.teamdi.com). Its just under an hour from midtown. Take the GWB to route 80 straight out and you're there. I managed the company for many years with the owner Bob Zecca before coming to work in the city. Tell Bob I sent you. He'll either give you a good discount or kick you out, not sure which. :wink:

The store up at Lime Rock Park is also Driving Impressions. Same owner, same products, but that's about 1:45 from the city.

As far as helmets go, SA stands for Special Application. They have a fire retardant (nomex) interior and are subjected to different impact testing than the M helmets (i.e.- SA's are designed to impact with a roll bar, M's are designed to skid across the pavement). The best helmets are the Arai. Expensive but worth it. I got a GP-5k last year and am very happy with it. Bell is good, Bieffe is good, MotorQuality is okay, but I'd stay away from Simpson or anything too cheap. You get what you pay for. And don't get an open-face. Your chin is a good thing, protect it. And the open-face won't do you any good if you ever want to get into a go-kart or open-cockpit car.

See you at the track,
-Gregg

 

[nsxtasy]

The best helmets are the Arai. Expensive but worth it. I got a GP-5k last year and am very happy with it.

FWIW, I tried on that helmet last year when I was shopping for a new one. I even went out of my way to find a place that sold Arai. I thought I would probably buy Arai because I heard that they were more comfortable and lighter weight, despite their high price ($800 and up). I found that it was not at all comfortable, and that the least expensive Bell helmet (around $300) was a lot more comfortable and very similar in weight, so that's what I bought.

I pass this along not to discourage you from getting an Arai helmet, but to point out the importance of trying helmets on, as you may find that something that one person likes may not be as comfortable for another person. Try on as many as you can. If you find that the Arai helmet fits YOU best, go for it!

 

[nsxnut]

The best helmets are the Arai. Expensive but worth it. I got a GP-5k last year and am very happy with it. Bell is good, Bieffe is good, MotorQuality is okay, but I'd stay away from Simpson or anything too cheap. You get what you pay for. And don't get an open-face. Your chin is a good thing, protect it. And the open-face won't do you any good if you ever want to get into a go-kart or open-cockpit car.

See you at the track,
-Gregg

You defiantly get what you pay for here. Yes a good helmet is expensive.
I tried on an Arai. They didn't fit my noggin as good as some of the Bells. Again, I would try on before buying.

When I first got into this I bought some equipment "shoes, gloves etc..."
To my surprise I have warn all this stuff out. I ware this stuff allot. I am an instructor and spend a lot of time in a car or walking the paddock.
I recently bought a new set of shoes. This time I bought some really nice
Sparco's. They were pricy! I love them. I wish I had bought these in the beginning.


Good luck.. Hopefully you will get hooked!

 

[dynduo]

Man I love this forum, ask and you shall recieve an answer. Everyone's reply was appreciated. I will look into that place in NJ and get the SA rated helmet that is most updated. I assume helmets are as personal a choice as a comfortable pair of shoes, so I know I will have to try them on no matter what. Thanks for the responses!

Michael

 

[Hrant]

WWaht they all said' fit comes first ...... but also look at Pyrotech. It's made by Bell and has almost the same fit as the Arei GP-5W, Bell M2 with which it shares many components. At $250, it is opne of the best values.

 

[JeffShoots]

I just got one of these: http://www.saferacer.com/sisubahe.html
Simpson Super Bandit 2005 Helmet not bad for an sa2005 rating for ~$400.

The best part for me was the helmet comes with 2 sets on cheek pads. So the Med size fit the best with the larger size cheek pads and the smoke shields are only ~$30 over my Arei at ~$70 a shield.

Just something to think about. You will replace shields as they will get scratched up.

Now in on the hunt for a new pair of shoes? :biggrin:

 

[Alan C.]

There was a thread on Rennlist and a link to helmet testing. What was really interesting was the results of expensive vs. cheaper helmets. Some of the helmets in the sub $300 range were the equal of those costing hundreds more. True you get what you pay for but in some cases what you are paying for is advertising.

 

[Boy Wonder]

I just got one of these: http://www.saferacer.com/sisubahe.html
Simpson Super Bandit 2005 Helmet not bad for an sa2005 rating for ~$400.

The best part for me was the helmet comes with 2 sets on cheek pads. So the Med size fit the best with the larger size cheek pads and the smoke shields are only ~$30 over my Arei at ~$70 a shield.

Just something to think about. You will replace shields as they will get scratched up.

Now in on the hunt for a new pair of shoes? :biggrin:

where did you get your simpson helmet? they seem to have a lot of stuff but no dealer locator on their website. no way im going to buy a helmet without trying it on unless i order a few and send back the ones i dont want

 

[nsxtasy]

The closest store to us is Driving Impressions out in Dover, NJ (www.teamdi.com).

There's an error in that website address. It should read www.teamdi1.com.

 

[stuntman]

HJC AR-11. I like it more than the Arai (which is considered the benchmark) and the HJC's fit, finish, looks are at minimum on par with the Arai. I like my HJC more than Sparco, Bell, Bieffe, and Stand 21.

 

[Boy Wonder]

www.teamdi.com works too if you dong have a ) stuck in there

any north east sources for simpson?

 

[Matt_337]

I just got one of these: http://www.saferacer.com/sisubahe.html
Simpson Super Bandit 2005 Helmet not bad for an sa2005 rating for ~$400.

The best part for me was the helmet comes with 2 sets on cheek pads. So the Med size fit the best with the larger size cheek pads and the smoke shields are only ~$30 over my Arei at ~$70 a shield.

Just something to think about. You will replace shields as they will get scratched up.

Now in on the hunt for a new pair of shoes? :biggrin:

To get the SA2005 rating on that helmet, you have to add that option (drop down box) and it adds $50 to the price (I know, because I got this same helmet and made mine black so it came out to $504). Did you do this? If not, then yours is rated M2005 and not SA2005 rated.

 

[GreggMarkarian]

There's an error in that website address. It should read www.teamdi1.com.

Ha! I didn't mean for the hyperlink to pick up the ')'. Sorry about that. It is supposed to be www.teamdi.com. Thanks Ken.

You're also absolutely right about the fit. Sometimes the best helmet just won't fit the shape of your head. Each brand fits a little differently. You want to get the best helmet you can afford but you also want to find the brand whose interior best fits the shape of your head. Once you determine which brand fits your head usually any style helmet from that manufacturer will fit as well.

We would also recommend you watch a half hour of tv wearing the helmet when you get it home. Sometimes it takes that long for pressure points created by a bad fit to become apparent. If you do this before you take it to the track and get it sweaty and dirty you can still return it.

And I agree with what Alan_C was saying about cheaper helmets protecting you just as well too. Paying more money won't get you a safer helmet. They all protect the same. Snell ratings are pass/fail, there aren't different levels. As long as it has that SA rating you know you're safe. What makes the better helmets more expensive is their durability, comfort and light weight. Helmets are generally accepted for 10 years, but the cheaper helmets don't last that long. The interior gets worn out and falls apart, the shield's ratcheting mechanism gets destroyed or just falls off, rubber seals come unglued, stitching unravels, I've seen all kinds of stuff happen. They're initially cheaper, but you end up replacing them long before their 10 years are up. Buyer beware, that's all.

Cheers,
-Gregg

 

[Peter Mills]

Yes, Behrants in Florida, NY (Orange Cty), they have all of Simpson helmets in display.

where did you get your simpson helmet? they seem to have a lot of stuff but no dealer locator on their website. no way im going to buy a helmet without trying it on unless i order a few and send back the ones i dont want

 

[nsxtasy]

Yes, Behrants in Florida, NY (Orange Cty), they have all of Simpson helmets in display.

Behrent's Performance Warehouse
38 Meadow Rd.
Florida, NY 10921
Phone#: 845-651-7389
Toll Free#: 877-372-2348
Fax#: 845-651-1200
http://www.behrents.com

 

[Boy Wonder]

behrents looks pretty cool, i will definitely go there. thanks everyone

 

[Andrew]

I highly recommend Simpson gear; I've always used their shoes, suits and helmets...

It's probably not the cheapest but reasonable for what you get

At the end of the day $20 helmet for a $20 head

The other thing; never ever drop your helmet, and usually not a great idea to share your helmet with others

 

[JeffShoots]

where did you get your simpson helmet? they seem to have a lot of stuff but no dealer locator on their website. no way im going to buy a helmet without trying it on unless i order a few and send back the ones i dont want

Summit Racing has a store in Reno. So for us Ca. guys no tax but if you gamble...........the helmet might be the cheap part of the trip.

 

[JeffShoots]

To get the SA2005 rating on that helmet, you have to add that option (drop down box) and it adds $50 to the price (I know, because I got this same helmet and made mine black so it came out to $504). Did you do this? If not, then yours is rated M2005 and not SA2005 rated.

I got mine at the Summit Racing store. They will match ANY price so I just printed out a page from FROOGLE.com (part of Google) and got the Bandit Nomex (IN BLACK) for $399.95 and in Reno no Tax got it fit with the larger cheek pads.

Cool people at Summit.

 

[NA1MT]

I highly recommend Simpson gear; I've always used their shoes, suits and helmets...

It's probably not the cheapest but reasonable for what you get

At the end of the day $20 helmet for a $20 head

The other thing; never ever drop your helmet, and usually not a great idea to share your helmet with others

+1 You only get one head...get the best helmet you can

 

[Red]

+1 You only get one head...get the best helmet you can

Also, get the most comfortable, I started with a Bell because its the most popular helmet in Ontario, but it was headache material - I now am an Arai guy (MUCH more expensive) but I enjoy my track days more because I'm soooo comfotable - why spend $400 on the day and be uncomfortable because you didn't spend an extra $20 on your helmet (if you amortize the purchase over all the days you're gonna wear it)

For that reason, I bought a cool suit too (my car has no AC) and this way I am comfortable on high heat days when the other guys are dying - I go faster too since I am able to be fully relaxed!:biggrin:

 

[nsxtasy]

get the most comfortable

I started with a Bell because its the most popular helmet in Ontario, but it was headache material - I now am an Arai guy (MUCH more expensive) but I enjoy my track days more because I'm soooo comfotable

And my experience was exactly the opposite - which shows how important it is to try on various helmets before buying them:

FWIW, I tried on that helmet last year when I was shopping for a new one. I even went out of my way to find a place that sold Arai. I thought I would probably buy Arai because I heard that they were more comfortable and lighter weight, despite their high price ($800 and up). I found that it was not at all comfortable, and that the least expensive Bell helmet (around $300) was a lot more comfortable and very similar in weight, so that's what I bought.

I pass this along not to discourage you from getting an Arai helmet, but to point out the importance of trying helmets on, as you may find that something that one person likes may not be as comfortable for another person. Try on as many as you can. If you find that the Arai helmet fits YOU best, go for it!