OMP 'Track-day' helmet - false economy?

[kmpowell]

Looking for a helmet suitable for literally a couple of recreational open-pit track days a year. I'm by no means a track warrior, just to blast out in my GT4 (buckets, but no CS cage) without having to worry about the usual unexpected things you may find out on road.

However, having thought I'd need £250-300 to get one, I see the likes of OMP do a 'track-day' specific helmet for just £80...

https://www.gprdirect.com/omp-star-helmet?f=19

What am i missing here... too cheap and a false economy, or will this more than suffice?

TIA

[Xcore]

My cheapo sparco £60 fullface does the job, I’d consider a fullface over an open if you intend on going out in a soft top car or going to track one in future.

[Dave.]

I bought the cheap OMP one, as I didn’t know how many / how often I’d be using it, but didn’t fancy using an old stinky loaner.

If I was to buy another, I’d buy the lightest one I could justify to myself.

[Applause]

Consider it an insurance policy, buy the best you can afford! - Fit is important, try before you buy if you can.

[LennyM1984]

The FIA approved helmets will need to meet regulations with regards to fire resistance etc. If you are only driving at 7/10th on track you could possibly forgo this. I suspect that the actual impact resistance is very similar.

Do you have harnesses in your GT4? If so, invest in a HANs. They're not hugely expensive (about £200) but could potentially save your life in the kind of accident you may have on a track day.

Personally, I'd prefer to use a non-FIA helmet with a HANs over an FIA helmet without...

[b0rk]

LennyM1984 said:

Do you have harnesses in your GT4?

You need the cage (CS pack) to get the factory harness attachment points. Aftermarket options exists obvs.

[kmpowell]

Thanks all for the comments so far, my GT4 has buckets, but it does not have the CS pack (I specced it for predominantly road use with the occasional track day), so there's no harnesses/cage.

When I did trackdays back in the mid noughties I had a full face, but I felt that due to my limited ability it was a bit OTT and restricting, so this time around I thought I'd go open face.

[brillomaster]

nothing wrong with a cheaper OMP/sparco/bell helmet, for trackday use, they know what they're doing. the more expensive ones tend to be lighter, which when you're pulling real g force around corners can reduce neck muscle fatigue.

my new helmet is an OMP Circuit EVO helmet, at about £95. i also considered an open face, but i do a reasonable amount of karting, where you need a full face with visor, and also a mate with a caterham which i occasionally passenger in, which needs a full face with visor.

if you're absolutely sure you'll only ever go out in fixed roof cars, then open face would be ok. otherwise, get a full face.

[Ian-27xza]

I went through the 'what new helmet' process back in January, I wrote at the time :

I've just gone through the process of choosing and buying a helmet for track days.

With regards to 'fit' it is totally true that the various manufacturers have different views on the shape of a standard head. Anecdotally I read that you've either got a 'Bell' shaped head or an 'Arai' shaped head (add other manufacturers too).

I spent an hour or so at GPR https://www.gprdirect.com/ at Silverstone trying on various helmets, last week.

For me, the Arai's fit really well but the Bells had a a hard pressure point right across my brow. So, it looks like I've an Arai head, not a Bell head, so to speak.

It's also very possible to be between two sizes of helmets, even within the same brand. Whilst I recommend getting a tape measure you'll only really know your size once you start trying a few helmets on.

If you're between sizes, some brands have different size cheek pads / liners available which means you can make further comfort adjustments.

So, if you take all of the above into consideration and if you don't know which brand of helmet typically fits, you might need to order 4 or 5 helmets to be sure if you decide to buy online......Returning all but one of them would be quite a faff, in my opinion.

Whilst I had a great customer experience at Silverstone, there are other helmet shops at Thruxton, Brands and Castle Combe (after March 23).

[kmpowell]

Thanks all - I tried on & bought an OMP Star. I am between sizes (58cm), but was advised to get the smaller M over the L.

I will give it a go at Brands and see how i get on. It's my first time back out on track since 2008, and in that time I'm now a father, so I won't be pushing too hard, or taking chances.