There's been a number of people here that have asked about helmets, how about a survey as to what people actually have and what they like/dislike about them.

I looked some Bell, Simpson and G-Force helmets at my local speed shop. The one that I've tentatively picked is the Bell M3 helmet, which I believe is SA-95 rated.

The one that I currently use is a cheap $70 motorcycle helmet that is legal for autocross, but most clubs don't allow anything but SA helmets for the track. I'm looking to get one that will be legal for the track.

So what helmet do you have that you use for autocrossing or track time in your S2000?

 

Hey Tom,

The M3 is a great light helmet, but you might find the eyeport to be unecessarily small for the kinds of stuff you're going to be doing... a buddy of mine (I think you know him actually, Jason Uyeda.... former Corvette Grand Sport driver, now silver Z06...) has an M3, and found it to be a bit "much" for autocross duty. Plus, if you're a glasses wearer (prescription or sun) the M3 can be very annoying. He's since bought a Simpson open-face helmet that he's been much happier with.

That said, I have a Bell M2, which is also a full-face helmet, but with a much bigger eyeport. As you know, I wear glasses, and I have found the M2 to be very glasses friendly. My M2 is fiberglass, and is not as light as the Kevlar M3, but I have never had an issue with it's weight.

I've tried out J.U.'s Simpson, but I didnt like the way the Simpson padding felt on my head... maybe my head is more "Bell" shaped than "Simpson" shaped. (Of course all helmets will "break in" to the shape of your head, but I was able to be instantly comfortable with the Bell helmets).

I've also tried out an other friends Bell Mag 4 (open face)... I liked it better than the Simpson open face.

I understand that Bell now makes an "M2 Pro", a Kevlar version of the M2. This probably be the first helmet I check out when it's new helmet time for me....

Of course if you want to follow this boards typical zealotry, you should get whatever Gary Thomason has (Simpson open face)... unless of course Mugen made a helmet, in which case you should get that because it would have been proven to be the "best" by an army of the worlds greatest engineeers in the worlds most sophisticated testing facility dedicated to your exact needs, and then sprinkled with Mugen magic dust... ahem... sorry, I couldnt stop myself.

cheers,
jason keeney

 

I was tempted to take the cheap way out suggested by one retailer..

 

I've got a pair of HJC CL-5 open face helmets. One's a M90 and the other's a M95. They're fine for autoXing but that's about all. I am planing to buy an SA2000 full face for track days and the days that I end up co-driving open wheel cars.

 

I've got the Simpson LX-Plus open-face with chin bar, SA-95. Love it. Probably could have a lighter one, but mine works just fine. I got it on the recommendations of a World-Challenge racer.

 

I've been looking at the Arai. They have 3 SA helmets - all close faced. One is designed specifically for sedan racing - with a bigger eye port. When the new SA2000 comes out I'll get the new version of that.

I currently have a Shoei mid-range motorcycle helmet - my brother in-law had one laying around - but it's a bit tight.

Etgar

 

I currently have a shelf full of motorcyle helmets, two Shoei's Duotechs and a Nolan road helmets, and a full face MX helmet. The MX helmet works well, but looks just a little goofy. The MX is the only one Snell 95 Certified, as the shoei's and Nolans are flip-up style, which are not Snell legal.

My next helmet is likely to be the Bell SR Pro, which is kind of a hybrid open face/full face, or the Simpson LX8-plus.

From OG racing:

 

I've got a Bieffe F1 SA95 full face helmet. Mine is a tight fit, as it should be. If it's easy to put on, it's not going to do it's job very well in an accident.

For a full face helmet, it allows a suprisingly full field of vision. Keep in mind, a properly fitting full face helmet will probably be difficult to wear with sunglasses. But that's why they sell tinted shields.

I have to strongly recommend buying your own helmet. There is nothing quite as nasty as wearing a "track" helmet that has been used on hundreds of other sweaty heads.

I bought mine here, they're still on sale.
http://www.ompusa.com/bieffe.htm

 

I wound up getting a Bell full face SA-95 rated helmet (darn, can't remember the model #). Relatively inexpensive, but well constructed, and fit me well.

Ted

 

My personal favorites are the Shoei x-8/x-9
family. I've used a few them for mostly motorcycle racing but they would be ok for car stuff if you had one. A very tough helmet, believe me I know.

If I were shopping for a new car helmet I would go with a Simpson open face. As long as the rules allowed it. Open face helmets are alot cooler if you have a windshield in front of you.