Helmet Advice

Author
Discussion

L1OFF

Original Poster:

3,402 posts

262 months

Friday 9th March 2007
quotequote all
I'm looking to do my very first track day soon in the Sagaris, as its a hardtop I'm thinking of an open face helmet such as a Sparco Pro Rally. Any suggestion for the best place to buy etc much appriciated.

Alan

(50 but going on 10 )

anonymous-user

60 months

Friday 9th March 2007
quotequote all
I got my Sparco Pro Jet from the Demon Tweeks stand last year at AutoSport, managed to get him to knock 20% off and throw in a free pair of Sparco gloves



It took me a while to find one that fitted my head snugly, so I'd advise you at least to try a few on before you commit to buying anything online.

stephen300o

15,464 posts

234 months

Friday 9th March 2007
quotequote all
GP raceware in chiswick?

shim

2,050 posts

214 months

Friday 9th March 2007
quotequote all
i tried a few on eventually at GPR in silverstone shop.I think they have the branch in chisick as well (gprdirect.com)

i got an Arai GP Jet-F White which seemed about same standard as sparco but they had an XXL for my massive head.

My only recommnedation is to make sure you try it on before you buy.


Edited by shim on Friday 9th March 21:19

GreenV8S

30,424 posts

290 months

Saturday 10th March 2007
quotequote all
Get a full face helmet. If you hit anything you will smack the wheel with your face and it isn't pretty afterwards.

schuey

705 posts

216 months

Saturday 10th March 2007
quotequote all
seatbelts solve that problem!

stephen300o

15,464 posts

234 months

Saturday 10th March 2007
quotequote all
Full harness will, not a diagonal.

schuey

705 posts

216 months

Saturday 10th March 2007
quotequote all
Depends how hard you hit something,If you hit hard enough to hit the wheel with your face,bearing in mind you will have braced for it,then I suspect your legs etc will be a bit of a mess!

GreenV8S

30,424 posts

290 months

Saturday 10th March 2007
quotequote all
schuey said:
Depends how hard you hit something,If you hit hard enough to hit the wheel with your face,bearing in mind you will have braced for it,then I suspect your legs etc will be a bit of a mess!


Bracing against the steering wheel just makes it more likely that you will have broken arms as well as a smashed up face. Honestly, under these G forces you are just a bag of jelly sloshing around inside the cockpit. With a full harness done up tight your body will move six inches and your head will move another six, that's enough for some people to eat the wheel. With a lap/diagonal you will move about twice as far. And all this is before you consider whether the steering column is being pushed back towards you.

schuey

705 posts

216 months

Saturday 10th March 2007
quotequote all
True but in all the years I have been racing,especially in karts with no seatbelts,I have never once hit the wheel with my head,ribs a few times but not face!!!
Its maybe more of a problem for those vertically challenged phers!

spells

2 posts

211 months

Saturday 10th March 2007
quotequote all
If your budget can stretch to it buy a stand 21 helmet,they are second to none!Located 1 mile from brands.

zumbruk

7,848 posts

266 months

Saturday 10th March 2007
quotequote all
schuey said:
seatbelts solve that problem!


How do seatbelts solve the problem of getting a facefull of broken glass?

yikes

L1OFF

Original Poster:

3,402 posts

262 months

Sunday 11th March 2007
quotequote all
so to sum up then:

my face will be smashed in
legs broken
arms broken
ribs broken
and a face full of glass

feck me, I thought trackdays would be safe

Alan
seriously
Appreciate the comments.

cross-eyed-twit

8,735 posts

266 months

Sunday 11th March 2007
quotequote all
I use a full face helmet as I don't have an airbag. I suspect though that paying shed loads for a helmet will make little difference.

The fact that you have protection round your nut is 99% of the risk reduced, the other 1% can be gleaned from how much you pay for the protection. I would say.

Having said that do get the best helmet you can afford.

shim

2,050 posts

214 months

Sunday 11th March 2007
quotequote all
i agree that full face is more protective but I have airbags and not open cockpit so took the view that clearer view would also be a safe option as not too much chance of hitting the wheel or dash.

lets not forget it is a non contact sport and roll cages are not compulsory so risk is not seen as high



Edited by shim on Sunday 11th March 19:26

GreenV8S

30,424 posts

290 months

Sunday 11th March 2007
quotequote all
If you have to talk to somebody then open face will be an advantage, otherwise closed face every time. Think what the helmet is for, do you assume you will only get hit in the back of the head?

stageandtrack

4 posts

212 months

Sunday 11th March 2007
quotequote all
Guys,Its all about personal preference.I personally favour open face to full,especially in a closed cockpit car.

sparco pro jet is reasonably priced,as is the stilo alternative.Not plugging here but check out my site

www.stageandtrack.net
if i can assist in any way let me know,

steve

L1OFF

Original Poster:

3,402 posts

262 months

Monday 12th March 2007
quotequote all
stageandtrack said:
Guys,Its all about personal preference.I personally favour open face to full,especially in a closed cockpit car.

sparco pro jet is reasonably priced,as is the stilo alternative.Not plugging here but check out my site

www.stageandtrack.net
if i can assist in any way let me know,

steve


Any PH discount on thet?

Alan

JonRB

75,753 posts

278 months

Monday 12th March 2007
quotequote all
That's funny - I'm in the same position. The expiry date of my trackday / karting helmet passed many years ago (I haven't used it since, BTW) and now I'm just about to do my first track day in years I'm going to need to buy a new helmet and am considering open face, so this thread came at the right time.

Personally, as someone who is not used to wearing a helmet, I found a full face distracted me somewhat and was a hinderance. For a road car on a non-competative track day I would have though an open face would be quite sufficient, surely?

Edited by JonRB on Monday 12th March 15:09

stageandtrack

4 posts

212 months

Monday 12th March 2007
quotequote all
L1OFF said:
stageandtrack said:
Guys,Its all about personal preference.I personally favour open face to full,especially in a closed cockpit car.

sparco pro jet is reasonably priced,as is the stilo alternative.Not plugging here but check out my site

www.stageandtrack.net
if i can assist in any way let me know,

steve


Any PH discount on thet?

Alan


More than willing to do a deal sir,
drop me an email on
info@stageandtrack.net

hopefully we can do something..

cheers

steve