I did a search on helmets and collars, and found some useful information. However, it would be useful for me to get some updated advice . . .

I'm hoping to do more DE and autocrossing this year, and I figure it's time to buy my own helmet and possibly a collar. Would anyone care to give advice on the following points?

I generally wear glasses. I have contact lenses, but they generally bug me after a couple of hours. Will a visored helmet be awkward with glasses? Should I go with the contacts and avoid wearing glasses when on the track?

What points should I consider in looking for a collar?

Cheers,

Mark

 

I wear glasses with the helmet.

First I'd suggest getting a pair of glasses with flexible temple/ear pieces. The helmet will be quite snug if it's fitted correctly, and the flex will help you get the glasses on once you have the helmet on.

Then try on lots of helmets, getting a snug but not uncomfortable fit that also allows room for your glasses.

Have fun

 

I wear glasses, and use the Bell M2, which has a larger eyeport, which makes putting glasses on after you put your helmet on easier. However, as Mike said, you do want to try on various brands, as they all fit differently.

For a collar, I use one from Racers Wholesale, a price performer at around $20. Sparco has some words to say on the benefit of their collar design, which I posted recently.

 

I like the Sparco collar with the anatomical design (has a bit of a dip in the back). I thought it would be uncomfortable, but it is no problem whatsoever in the car. I do my belts up prior to helmet, collar last. Given the G's one can incur with a hard hit, the collar is very reassuring for supporting the weight of my helmet and contents shooting off in various directions.

Investments in safety are never bad ones. Use all you can afford. Next in line of priority for me were good harnesses, extinguisher, and a bolt-in roll bar. I found unit at RedlineRennsport to be the hot set-up versus a harness bar. Didn't cost much more than a top quality harness only bar and it bolts right in, nice. By the way, I have made zero upgrades to the car in 3 years of DE (30+ track days). I don't count brake pads or alignment. The rest of my $$$ have gone to safety gear (helmet, collar, suit, harnesses, extinguisher, rollbar) and very solid maintenance. A 944 in good mechanical condition is a GREAT tool for upgrading the key ingredient... me, the driver.

No commercial interest, just a happy customer. Hope this helps.

 

recently my lovely wife bought me a Bell M2 for my b-day. I got to use it for the first time last Sunday. I must say for a helmet on the less-expensive end of the spectrum, it fits really nice and I think its a quality product. It cost right at $300.00.

 

I just bought a new Bell Vortex and although it is the same size as my current Bieffe it is very snug...I'm not even sure if I will end up wearing it...Go try them on...

 

I picked up a Stand 21 hat today.I was attracted to Stand 21 because of the light weight and the fitment method. We spent twenty minutes inserting various sized pads to get a really snug fit for the shell. Glasses work OK,it just takes a little practice to insert them. I found that true for all the helmets I have owned. Stand 21 is absolutely the best fitting and best feeling helmet I have ever worn! I get to try it next week with a HANS device! A bit pricey but not out of line with other top of the line offerings.

 

Ruf-Racer, you have private mail.

 

A large eyeport helps a lot with glasses, I use an Arai GP3K which I like very much for both open wheel and enclosed cars.

On hot/rainy days glasses fogging can be a problem before the session starts, raise the visor slightly and once you get going with some airflow it is OK.

Use some sort of slip on ear piece to keep your glasses in place. I bought a pair of Chums and cut off the fabric covered rubber endpieces and slid them on my glasses.

Sometimes you can get a pressure point somewhere on your head from an otherwise good fitting helmet. The solution is to compress the foam slightly and permanently with the back side of a tablespoon. There is no real loss in protection.

I personally don't think collars do much - the foam is going to compress fully and instantly anyway - so I think anything is fine.

 

I believe the collar just supports your head throughout the day, giving neck muscles a break. Your right,in the event of an impact, a collar wont be doing much.

I am still on the fence in getting a collar or not. I recently did a Kart school, where they made us wear a collar. I thank them for it the following day. Boy was my upper body sore.....

 

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by Silver Bullet:
<strong>Contacts may dry out as I'm not sure you blink much when you're on the track...
</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">I've had some trouble with that when driving with the shield up. Blinking should probably just be part of your front straight routine - you know, breathe!, flex your fingers, blink, check the gauges.

As to glasses - it's just a matter of practice getting them in there. BTW, put in the ear piece for the intercom first, then put on glasses.

Oh, I use a Bell M3. No problem with getting glasses in.

Stef

 

I wear glasses and use a Bell M2 Pro.

I would echo all of the positive comments regarding wearing a neck collar. Can't go wrong with Sparco.

Richard
'87 Carrera-3.6L

 

The collar made by Simpson is made of very dense foam and is not easily compressible. The Racer Wholesale collar is as soft as a pillow. I feel that the Simpson is the collar to buy. It was also recommended to me from an instructor at Summit point who does police driver training as well as club racing. She was featured im Panorama last year or the year before.