Notices
991 2012-2019
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Helmets

Old 12-26-2015, 05:57 PM
  #1  
jmagbita
Cruisin'
Thread Starter
 
jmagbita's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Alamo, CA
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Helmets

Hi all!

What helmets do you wear when doing track days?

Brand?

Full face or?

Pics?

Thanks!
Old 12-26-2015, 06:38 PM
  #2  
gbree
Racer
 
gbree's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: In my car
Posts: 364
Likes: 0
Received 27 Likes on 18 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by jmagbita
Hi all! What helmets do you wear when doing track days? Brand? Full face or? Pics? Thanks!
Sparco WTX-5. You may be able to see it in my avatar.
Old 12-26-2015, 06:47 PM
  #3  
chuck911
Race Car
 
chuck911's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 4,522
Likes: 0
Received 56 Likes on 38 Posts
Default

I wore full coverage, until time and experience showed me its a real waste of money. Heavy and hot, hard to talk out of, makes you look like The Stig. So I upgraded to a nice comfortable lightweight kevlar open face helmet.

Only problem is, the track is BSD Ground Zero. And let's face it, open face is simply not BSD. So odds are you will follow the next 20 guys advice and get something much more suitable for the grid at LeMans. By the time you are done here, some time this spring, they will have you in a roll cage, with a fire extinguisher, Nomex suit, gloves and shoes, and a great big horseshoe thingy shock-absorbered to your carbon fiber racing seat. Just so you can do a few DE's, maybe learn how to drive a little better. Sigh.

Oops, #1 of 20 chimed in while I was typing.

Last edited by chuck911; 12-26-2015 at 06:49 PM. Reason: More right than I thought
Old 12-26-2015, 07:59 PM
  #4  
Larry Cable
Rennlist Member
 
Larry Cable's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: S.F Bay Area
Posts: 25,514
Received 3,423 Likes on 2,237 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by jmagbita
Hi all!

What helmets do you wear when doing track days?

Brand?

Full face or?

Pics?

Thanks!
HJC HX-10 ii ...
Old 12-26-2015, 08:06 PM
  #5  
hsmith
Rennlist Member
 
hsmith's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: CT
Posts: 658
Received 19 Likes on 12 Posts
Default

Arai GP-5. I plan on upgrading to the GP-6 this spring as my GP-5 is getting old.
Highly recommend Arai
Old 12-26-2015, 08:12 PM
  #6  
Larry Cable
Rennlist Member
 
Larry Cable's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: S.F Bay Area
Posts: 25,514
Received 3,423 Likes on 2,237 Posts
Default

I'd love to get va Stand21 made to measure
Old 12-26-2015, 08:15 PM
  #7  
kwikit356
Rennlist Member
 
kwikit356's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Southern NH near MA Border
Posts: 434
Received 123 Likes on 65 Posts
Default

I agree with Chuck911. I presently have a full face HJC, which is hot, and really limits my vision and hearing. Generally, I would much prefer open face. I would like a much better seat and a harness, but that's so I don't feel like some kind of wobbly wing-walker going through corners. I'll take my HJC if some fool offers me a drive at the 2016 Classic LeMans. Not bloody likely.

Chuck, I know I should know, but I can't come up with what BSD stands for??
Old 12-26-2015, 08:31 PM
  #8  
Archimedes
Race Director
 
Archimedes's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 13,163
Received 3,857 Likes on 1,901 Posts
Default

I'm guessing B is for big, S is for swinging and D...
Old 12-26-2015, 08:33 PM
  #9  
Archimedes
Race Director
 
Archimedes's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 13,163
Received 3,857 Likes on 1,901 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by hsmith
Arai GP-5. I plan on upgrading to the GP-6 this spring as my GP-5 is getting old. Highly recommend Arai
Does Arai offer different models for different head shapes, like they do for motos? I love Arai, but only the Signet model fits my head.
Old 12-26-2015, 09:41 PM
  #10  
Carrera51
Addict
Rennlist Member

Rennlist
Site Sponsor

 
Carrera51's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Keswick, VA
Posts: 3,857
Received 148 Likes on 94 Posts
Default

Not sure where Alamo CA is, but there are several suppliers in the state who will have a selection on hand that you could try on. Each manufacturer's helmets will fit a little differently. Since this sounds like your first helmet purchase, ideally you should try on helmets from different manufacturers since some will fit better than others.

As far as open face, vs full face, that's subjective and up to you. Personally, in the 17 years I have been driving on the track, I have only owned a full face helmet for racing, drivers ed, and autocross. For car club drivers ed events, you'll just need an SA 2010 or SA2015 helmet which is rated for motorsports use.
Old 12-26-2015, 10:20 PM
  #11  
shewu
Racer
 
shewu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: NY metro area
Posts: 250
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Default

I have a basic OMP full face helmet. It's a decent starter helmet. I just started tracking this past year so it's fine for now.

Alamo is fairly close to the Sonoma track. You should make a trip there to Wine Country Motorsports to try various helmets.
Old 12-26-2015, 10:27 PM
  #12  
Carrera51
Addict
Rennlist Member

Rennlist
Site Sponsor

 
Carrera51's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Keswick, VA
Posts: 3,857
Received 148 Likes on 94 Posts
Default

Since you are near Wine Country, it's worth the trip. They will have a good selection on hand, and nice knowledgeable folks to boot.
Old 12-27-2015, 12:08 AM
  #13  
jmagbita
Cruisin'
Thread Starter
 
jmagbita's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Alamo, CA
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I was actually just there at Sonoma Raceway this past month for the Porsche World Tour! We were able to drive 7 different Porsches each!

Is the store located within the raceway?
Old 12-27-2015, 12:21 AM
  #14  
ipse dixit
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
 
ipse dixit's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 16,308
Likes: 0
Received 10,729 Likes on 4,762 Posts
Default

I have a Bell M8 Carbon helmet.

But what fits me, won't fit you.

Really really need to go to a physical store and try on various helmets, sizes, weights, etc.
Old 12-27-2015, 03:14 AM
  #15  
Need4S
Burning Brakes
 
Need4S's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Silicon Valley
Posts: 1,171
Received 76 Likes on 58 Posts
Default

Had a Bell M8. New SA2015 is a Bell Vador.

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: Helmets



All times are GMT -3. The time now is 11:34 PM.