Track Day Helmet for Glasses Wearer
Discussion
Just booked a couple of Porsche Club Track Days. Silverstone and Brands Hatch. Can't wait. I *need* Track Time 
Two queries, really. (And I already have the Autosport Guide...).
1) Any general advice
2) I wear glasses and find other people's Crash Helmets make my head ache. I need to buy a Helmet that won't do that if I'm to wear it for the best part of a day. Any experience you could share, fellow glasses wearers....?
Two queries, really. (And I already have the Autosport Guide...).
1) Any general advice
2) I wear glasses and find other people's Crash Helmets make my head ache. I need to buy a Helmet that won't do that if I'm to wear it for the best part of a day. Any experience you could share, fellow glasses wearers....?
easytrack.co.uk are good value for track days, and a nice bunch - about 80 quid will get you a day on an airfield coned circuit.
I wear glasses, use full face helmets and just put glasses on after the lid's on. No probs - I take it off when not driving. You never do more than about 20 mins at a time on track, because of sessions etc. Besides it is very knackering on car to drive for much longer at ten tenths as things get very hot. I reckon on about no more than two hours on track per trackday, and the adrenalin means glasses are quickly forgotten about. The Evo Lancer/Wesftfield Megabusa up your tailpipe is more concerning.
I wear glasses, use full face helmets and just put glasses on after the lid's on. No probs - I take it off when not driving. You never do more than about 20 mins at a time on track, because of sessions etc. Besides it is very knackering on car to drive for much longer at ten tenths as things get very hot. I reckon on about no more than two hours on track per trackday, and the adrenalin means glasses are quickly forgotten about. The Evo Lancer/Wesftfield Megabusa up your tailpipe is more concerning.
As far as glasses are concerned, I echo domster's comments entirely. It can be a bit of a fiddle manouvering the arms (do glasses have arms or legs?) down the inside of the crash helmet but once on I soon forget they are even there. It was a point I was careful to try when I was choosing the helmet but in the event was less of a problem than I anticipated.
Thanks guys. So did you guys get open or full-face types - and why? Any recommendations as to the make? I am quite happy to spend a few quid on preserving my thick skull through inadvertantly writing off the pride and joy (all heavens forfend - I don't expect to do any damage at all...)
quote:
Yeah, full face does it all really.
Spend 300-400 quid and you won't go wrong. Spend much less and you may be gambling a bit.
Arai is quite a respected make.
I have to disagree with you here Dom, you don't need to spend that much money on a helmet. All helmets have to conform to the same safetly standard. 150+ quid is all you need to spend , anything above 200 quid and I think you paying for brand name/kismo's.
IMO of course.
Yep, full face for me as well, Shoei as it turned out but once spec. and comfort sorted it was the obvious choice because of the sale offer at the time.
As an aside, how do you pronounce that? Does it make you sound as if you are a supporter of a certain Teutonic gentleman who drives red italian crap? Anybody want to buy a crash helmet? Only one careful owner but will only sell to a caring person who doesn't like the sea of red flags at most GPs.
As an aside, how do you pronounce that? Does it make you sound as if you are a supporter of a certain Teutonic gentleman who drives red italian crap? Anybody want to buy a crash helmet? Only one careful owner but will only sell to a caring person who doesn't like the sea of red flags at most GPs.
Bosshog's right, all helmets come with a minimal guarantee (well, no guarantee actually) but are tested to a certain point to British Standards. This is only for tiny impacts up to about 30mph. Basically you should be ok wearing one to the local Dodgems but I wouldn't recommend imbedding your face in a tree at 165mph and claiming 'it wasn't up to the job' 
I only mention 300 quid as a benchmark because of my days working on bike advertising... the consensus re bikers was that sub 200 was a bit risky when your bonce is at stake. I also think comfort (air circulation), fit, quality of fittings (visor) all came into consideration.
That said, they anticipated hitting solid things hard with theirs, and in car you are more protected.
Maybe 200-300 would be a more reasonable estimate.
Rgds
Domster
That said, they anticipated hitting solid things hard with theirs, and in car you are more protected.
Maybe 200-300 would be a more reasonable estimate.
Rgds
Domster
So where did you guys actually go to buy these blasted things. I am normally 'net competent and have been singularly unable to find stores selling these things.
Clearly - I am being DIM. But any help welcome. Are there chain stores flogging 'em somewhere. Motorbikes'R'Us or something...?
Clearly - I am being DIM. But any help welcome. Are there chain stores flogging 'em somewhere. Motorbikes'R'Us or something...?
Don
I wouldn't buy on line. I'd pick up the yellow pages and go to your local motorcycle shop. Once you've found the proper specification range, it's all about comfort, and you'd be surprised just how variable this can be. We've all got different shaped 'eds and one man's comfy bone dome is another man's medieval hell. Try them all on.
That's my 2p worth
I wouldn't buy on line. I'd pick up the yellow pages and go to your local motorcycle shop. Once you've found the proper specification range, it's all about comfort, and you'd be surprised just how variable this can be. We've all got different shaped 'eds and one man's comfy bone dome is another man's medieval hell. Try them all on.
That's my 2p worth
Sorry Markh dunno
My Shoei is blue kite BS6658. It also has the ACU approved "quartered" gold label (I think that's quite important for proper motorsport).
If you have a look in the shop at one of the expensive Arai (sp?) helmets and see what kites etc it has, you can probably bet that that's pretty much as good as it gets.
>> Edited by DavidP on Thursday 28th March 16:50
My Shoei is blue kite BS6658. It also has the ACU approved "quartered" gold label (I think that's quite important for proper motorsport).
If you have a look in the shop at one of the expensive Arai (sp?) helmets and see what kites etc it has, you can probably bet that that's pretty much as good as it gets.
>> Edited by DavidP on Thursday 28th March 16:50
quote:
But what is the right Bs number? Ive been told look for the 'kite' make then else where someone said blue kite not red type A but not type B who really knows?????
BS6658 - 85 "A" (not "B")
BS6658 Type A/FR
SNEL SA95 or later
SFI 31.1, 31.2
Of these the BS standards are legal for roadgoing bikes so will be sold in bigger quantities (easier to find, and cheaper). The other standards generally apply to the more exotic helmets used in international motorsport, which offer more protection but aren't road legal in the UK.
quote:
Is a motor cycle helmet okay for track day use in a car? Are there sort of general purpose helmets that are designed to do both?
Yes if it is a recent 'type A' helmet i.e. not one of those 30 mph moped jobs and not something you inherited from your grandad. The helmets have a design life of ten years or so, so every few years one the older standards are dropped and replaced by a newer one.
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