Helmet approval

[Dave270R]

I'm going to Llandow next weekend for the SXOC trackday for which a helmet is required. I went to my local motorbike dealer, got measured and tried one on, all going smoothly. I then mentioned that it was for trackdays and he said it may not be good enough for the scrutineers. I plan to use it more than once (obviously) and am concerned if I buy it it may not be acceptable. The guys in the shop said it's approved for world superbike championship but some car trackdays are more fussy. He said he knew someone who was told he needed an FA (not FIA) approved helmet even if it wasn't competitive racing. :confused:

Help! I'm seriously confused and don't want to spend £350+ on a lid. Advice or comments welcome :)

[Guy]

I would be interested to know this, as at some point down the line I'll prolly need one.

[FergS13]

ive got an old bike helmet for £70 if anyone's interested

(if its acceptable that is)

[Dave270R]

ive got an old bike helmet for £70 if anyone's interested

(if its acceptable that is)

Thanks for your help :thumbs: :rolleyes:

[drifter]

I bought an OMP lid for trackdays, never had a problem with it. Blue kite mark is the important bit :) I'll post a link :)

[drifter]

This one....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SC-604-OMP-Jet-New-Axis-HELMET-KARTING-TRACKDAY-SIZE-L_W0QQitemZ390006150208QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Car_P arts_Vehicles_Automobila_ET?hash=item5ace2d9440&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A1|72%3A1683|240%3A13 18|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

Bare in mind they might need to get it from Italy so lead times can be a bit longer :)

[FergS13]

apparently this code is regulated for this season FMVSS 218

[Dave270R]

I bought an OMP lid for trackdays, never had a problem with it. Blue kite mark is the important bit :) I'll post a link :)

Cheers :thumbs:

Also do people recommend open face rather than full face? I imagine you have much better peripheral vision.

[drifter]

Cheers :thumbs:

Also do people recommend open face rather than full face? I imagine you have much better peripheral vision.

Didn't fancy full face, but that's personal opinion :)

[gander]

i dont think its to much of a problem doing public track days. they just want to see something on your head just in case.

its when you start doing competition stuff they will start looking at your helmit closely :wack: . time attack and edc things like that.

i use my motorbike helmit for pod and they have never looked closely at it. ive seen people with helmets from the 80's and they never gel checked on public days

[pdh 14a]

I use a £22 lidl helmet,and never had a problem! i think any helmet will be fine!
As stated its when it gets to competitions that it gets strict! :thumbs:

[BreadBin]

^^ what Gander said - on a public trackday any helmet wil do.

[Jonny]

Yep. I've never seen a trackday check a lid for certification. If it's got the ACU Gold sticker on the back it means it's certified for bike track work, which should be plenty good enough for cars if they ever do check :)

[Jonny]

PS. Open vs. Full face - I went for full face for a few reasons. I go karting every now and then, and it means I can use it for that and not some stinky rental lid. Also it means I can go in single seaters, caterhams etc at the track.

I may be wrong with this, but I think open face car lids are designed to be used with a full harness, as they don't protect you from chinning the steering wheel. But then again I'm not sure if you are supposed to use a full face with an airbag?

[base-1]

Full face with airbag - not really no, but there's leeway of course as the airbag has to be suitable for a certain percentile range of people. So if you're short it might give you whiplash, if you're tall you will probably get away with it, maybe.

Personally I use open face as I only ever use it for the Ring and trackdays - and I'd rather have the extra vision, and be able to talk to my passenger (or driver if I'm pax'ing). If I ever drove Caterfield types, karts, rode a bike etc then I would probably just have one full face for all. But that's because I'm poor/pikey :D

Edit: and also I have to wear bloody glasses, which can get fogged up in a full face with the visor down, which is probably more dangerous than just wearing no helmet in the first place :wack:

[StuyMac]

^^ what Gander said - on a public trackday any helmet wil do.

And another one for that - on trackdays they just want added protection and they dont inspect helmets.

For competition you need special approvial - I have a Snell rated lid, you can also get british blue and red sticker types to show the approvial - Type A and B.

My lid gets inspected at every meet when the car gets scrutineered, along with my overalls etc - but all thats abit ott for a trackday lol