Helmets
Team Owner
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From: S.F Bay Area
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From: Keswick, VA
C_Gio:
Check the rules and regs for the group you will be driving with. Most these days will require an SA2010 or newer helmet to drive on the track. They probably will continue to allow SA2005 helmets at least for the first few months of 2016 to give the manufacturers time to get inventory in the hands of their distributors.
Check the rules and regs for the group you will be driving with. Most these days will require an SA2010 or newer helmet to drive on the track. They probably will continue to allow SA2005 helmets at least for the first few months of 2016 to give the manufacturers time to get inventory in the hands of their distributors.
Banned
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From: Chicagoland Area
Racer
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Team Owner
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From: S.F Bay Area
I have both full face and 3/4 helmets - and have used Arai for the past few years but also like and have used Simpsons. A full face is safer and offers more protection, and I will always wear that when solo driving. When Instructing or doing low-speed autocross, I use the the 3/4 if I don't have a communicator wired up as its too hard to have a conversation with students with a full face. If I am using a communicator, then full face.
Why a full face? Ever seen a deer come through the windshield on a track day when the car is going 100 mph? Its ugly. Or have an airbag go off when the student runs his the Armco or a tree? Those exploding airbags are nasty and will leave you with a bloody face. Finally, when you go into the trees themselves (you can tell my track time is East Coast) if prevents intrusions from branches or if the car rolls you have more protection. 20 years of Instructing means you've seen or been in most of those scenarios.
One thing to think about in deciding 3/4 or full face is this - better to wash off sweat than have your jaw wired shut for 8 weeks and undergoing facial reconstruction!
When selecting a helmet, go for good fit obviously - but also light weight. A lot of people are so focused on fit and visibility they overlook the weight. A heavy helmet gets tiring by the end of the day.
Both of these are at Summit Point, my 'Home' track, both in 911's
Porsche 911 Demolishing Hitting A Deer In A Terrifying Track Day [ORIGINAL] - YouTube
EPIC CRASH - Porsche 996 Hits Deer at 100MPH on Racetrack - YouTube
Why a full face? Ever seen a deer come through the windshield on a track day when the car is going 100 mph? Its ugly. Or have an airbag go off when the student runs his the Armco or a tree? Those exploding airbags are nasty and will leave you with a bloody face. Finally, when you go into the trees themselves (you can tell my track time is East Coast) if prevents intrusions from branches or if the car rolls you have more protection. 20 years of Instructing means you've seen or been in most of those scenarios.
One thing to think about in deciding 3/4 or full face is this - better to wash off sweat than have your jaw wired shut for 8 weeks and undergoing facial reconstruction!
When selecting a helmet, go for good fit obviously - but also light weight. A lot of people are so focused on fit and visibility they overlook the weight. A heavy helmet gets tiring by the end of the day.
Both of these are at Summit Point, my 'Home' track, both in 911's
Porsche 911 Demolishing Hitting A Deer In A Terrifying Track Day [ORIGINAL] - YouTube
EPIC CRASH - Porsche 996 Hits Deer at 100MPH on Racetrack - YouTube
necessary tool for daily living ...
p.s
some dry cleaners will clean your helmet liner removing that oh so attractive smell of a locker room laundry basket full of jockstraps that accumulates over time!
Racer
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From: NY metro area
http://www.smf.org/docs/articles/dot
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From: Fairfax County, Virginia
It's primarily for impacts -- a motorcycle helmet is good for a single large impact, whereas a Snell helmet is good for hitting a roll cage multiple times (angle of impact also matters; the link below has a thorough explanation). However, both types of helmets should be replaced if they are dropped on the floor.
http://www.smf.org/docs/articles/dot
http://www.smf.org/docs/articles/dot
LOL, if I bought a new lid every time one of my bike or car helmets hit the ground, I'd have a couple of hundred in the basement.
Race Director
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It's primarily for impacts -- a motorcycle helmet is good for a single large impact, whereas a Snell helmet is good for hitting a roll cage multiple times (angle of impact also matters; the link below has a thorough explanation). However, both types of helmets should be replaced if they are dropped on the floor. http://www.smf.org/docs/articles/dot
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From: Fairfax County, Virginia
Without getting into the whole debate about Snell standards, which would take more space than this entire forum, remember, many moto helmets are also Snell approved. I'd really like to know why they wouldn't allow a moto helmet. I assume it's the flame resistance issue mentioned above.
And its silly. Because unless you are in your DE car in full Nomex and with a rollbar in the car, there is no need for a SA helmet. But then again, no one ever said Driver's Schools run on logic...
I remember showing up at Putnam Park in Indiana in 1998 for a track event with my pals - BMW OFest. It was terribly, stinking hot. Brutal heat. We come to the track day in shorts and t-shirts. They won't let us run, because 'track rules' say long sleeve shirts and pants for 'fire resistance'. Seriously???? What knucklehead thought that one up? We didn't pack any lone sleeves, it was over 100 degrees out.
There were five of us from NCC Chapter, so we went to Wal Mart and bought the loudest Men's Pajamas we could find. Buzz Lightyear ones or Spiderman or something like that....but they were long sleeve and long pants. Pulled them on and we were an instant paddock hit in the grid. And of course, MUCH safer from fire (rolling eyes). The track officials said "You can't drive in pajamas!" We said "Sure we can, they're long sleeve and all cotton, just like blue jeans and a shirt". They let us run.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Napa Valley, CA
This is really interesting. Not that you all ever might see them, but the debates/posts on bicycle helmets are even crazier and more vicious that the ones above. You all incredibly well mannered, intelligent and considerate by comparison - kudos!!! For the track, in a car, I am not sure that I go fast enough for the helmet certification to matter (for my safety) but I do take all your comments seriously. On a bicycle, anything over and above 50 microns of spandex and padded gloves that "might" protect my coconut in a 40 kph crash I'll gratefully use (as with cars, on a bicycle, you just have no idea how vulnerable you are until you go down/crash).
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Dec 2014
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From: Silicon Valley
I thought pajamas were required by law to have some flame retardant in them. If so, as ridiculous as you may have looked, you were a bit safer than running in just a short sleeve shirt and shorts. 
As for full face helmets, I will add that notwithstanding what I said above, I've more than once had clag or other debris hit me in the face on a track day, and made me glad I had a full face helmet.
As for cleaning, do you wear a helmet sock? I've found it helps a lot to wear one as a buffer between your head and the helmet liner, both with comfort and smell.
As for full face helmets, I will add that notwithstanding what I said above, I've more than once had clag or other debris hit me in the face on a track day, and made me glad I had a full face helmet.
As for cleaning, do you wear a helmet sock? I've found it helps a lot to wear one as a buffer between your head and the helmet liner, both with comfort and smell.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Newport Beach, CA and Melbourne, Australia
Over 35 years track driving, 30 as clerk of course / event director. Mainly in Australia where it gets pretty hot. We require full face and ankle to wrist natural fibre clothing at all speed events.
Heads go crunch when things hit them. Airbags are brutal, steering wheels perfectly placed to smack fragile jaws and faces. It's amazing how much belts stretch in decent frontal impacts. If you're relying on a lap sash inertia reel assume you'll hit something.
Fire in modern road cars is pretty rare but happens and on a hot day a light weight cotton top isn't a burden but provides a surprising amount of additional protection. You can take it off when you get out of the car. And anyway, you should be covered for your health if it's hot and the suns out.
Never go short on safety gear. Get the best you can afford or don't go anywhere near a track.
Heads go crunch when things hit them. Airbags are brutal, steering wheels perfectly placed to smack fragile jaws and faces. It's amazing how much belts stretch in decent frontal impacts. If you're relying on a lap sash inertia reel assume you'll hit something.
Fire in modern road cars is pretty rare but happens and on a hot day a light weight cotton top isn't a burden but provides a surprising amount of additional protection. You can take it off when you get out of the car. And anyway, you should be covered for your health if it's hot and the suns out.
Never go short on safety gear. Get the best you can afford or don't go anywhere near a track.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 26,124
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From: S.F Bay Area
I thought pajamas were required by law to have some flame retardant in them. If so, as ridiculous as you may have looked, you were a bit safer than running in just a short sleeve shirt and shorts.
As for full face helmets, I will add that notwithstanding what I said above, I've more than once had clag or other debris hit me in the face on a track day, and made me glad I had a full face helmet.
As for cleaning, do you wear a helmet sock? I've found it helps a lot to wear one as a buffer between your head and the helmet liner, both with comfort and smell.
As for full face helmets, I will add that notwithstanding what I said above, I've more than once had clag or other debris hit me in the face on a track day, and made me glad I had a full face helmet.
As for cleaning, do you wear a helmet sock? I've found it helps a lot to wear one as a buffer between your head and the helmet liner, both with comfort and smell.
Ive worn a helmet balaclava before, they can make quite a difference and worth using IMO
Over 35 years track driving, 30 as clerk of course / event director. Mainly in Australia where it gets pretty hot. We require full face and ankle to wrist natural fibre clothing at all speed events.
Heads go crunch when things hit them. Airbags are brutal, steering wheels perfectly placed to smack fragile jaws and faces. It's amazing how much belts stretch in decent frontal impacts. If you're relying on a lap sash inertia reel assume you'll hit something.
Fire in modern road cars is pretty rare but happens and on a hot day a light weight cotton top isn't a burden but provides a surprising amount of additional protection. You can take it off when you get out of the car. And anyway, you should be covered for your health if it's hot and the suns out.
Never go short on safety gear. Get the best you can afford or don't go anywhere near a track.
Heads go crunch when things hit them. Airbags are brutal, steering wheels perfectly placed to smack fragile jaws and faces. It's amazing how much belts stretch in decent frontal impacts. If you're relying on a lap sash inertia reel assume you'll hit something.
Fire in modern road cars is pretty rare but happens and on a hot day a light weight cotton top isn't a burden but provides a surprising amount of additional protection. You can take it off when you get out of the car. And anyway, you should be covered for your health if it's hot and the suns out.
Never go short on safety gear. Get the best you can afford or don't go anywhere near a track.
Race Car
Joined: Jun 2012
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Reality check? Odds of fatal head injuries are far higher in the bath tub.
Higher even than, dare I say it, bicycling.
Which reminds me, I once showed up on a group ride with (as was usual back then) no helmet. The only other guy like that came up and asked me, "do you all fall down a lot here?" Turns out he was from the UK. So I had to be the one to tell him no, we are not clumsy. We are just thoroughly pussified.
Higher even than, dare I say it, bicycling.
Which reminds me, I once showed up on a group ride with (as was usual back then) no helmet. The only other guy like that came up and asked me, "do you all fall down a lot here?" Turns out he was from the UK. So I had to be the one to tell him no, we are not clumsy. We are just thoroughly pussified.