Hey Rory,

THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT,

What a great advice,
Go to a store, try a helmet for 15 minutes and then GO BUY ONE ONLINE.

As a vendor of racing equipment, with over $100,000 in inventory, that really upsets me to hear things like that,

You have no problem using the precious time of the vendors and their ressources.

Please support your local shops and at least give them an opportunity to match the internet prices.

Victor

 

I agree with Victor, if you hit a shop for their resources, at least give them the shot of matching the online prices. Usually theres not that much difference, unless you see a end of life unit thats on closeout.

Rory either:

a) doesnt really race
b) really doesnt care about supporting his local scene
or
c) got screwed by his local "pimp yo' Ryde" retailer and is trying to stick it to em

Hes lucky to live in an area with "race stores". Most people dont have access to proper retail outlets for this stuff, or the supply is limited and/or single brand offerings.

 

Victor,

Read my post again. I said to buy online "If you like" because of all the people talking about buying online (yourself included). Buying something like a helmet (or shoes for that matter) online is a very risky move unless you know that it's going to fit correctly.

If I contacted you about a helmet that I've never had on my head you'd be ok with selling me one through your website if you've never seen how it fits on MY head?

BTW, I bought mine in the store I tried it on in.

Rory

 

As an initiator of this thread and per NAM rules I will ask that you refrain from personal attacks. I have not met Rory, but know people who have and I am looking forward to meeting him at the next AutoX event and perhaps picking up a few tips.. By all accounts he is a nice guy and an outstanding driver.

Cary on.

 

I will have a helmet prior to that event.

 

Katmeho,

a) You're right, I don't race (anymore) per say but I do autocross with the BMWCCA for grins and have had a little bit of success.

b) I spend way more money at my local stores and pro shops when the things I need are accesssable. Not so much with the Mini because no one around here sells things for them, but I do with my RC cars, scuba equipment, wakeboards, quad accessories etc......I know that if I don't support them they'll go under and then I wouldn't have a local guy to get things from in a hurry when I need them.

c) I bought the Helmet from Cycle Gear in Murrieta, CA. Hardly a "Pimp yo Ryde" retailer. Just a motorcycle gear store.

 

No attacking here on my part, just trying to substantiate a comment that would put ANY NAM advertiser who resells out of a brick and mortar store on edge. And my comments are 100% valid, theres a reason why Rory had that suggestion...the question is why? Did he get burned by a local shop, if so share with the people here so they dont get burned. Does he not know any better, and this can be a learning exercise for him and others who have yet to buy their first helmet? etc etc

We all learn these leasons over time, or by the experience of others. I've been lucky to have resources like NAM and Vortex to get me going in the right direction. Even then, Ive been out cash because of poor or ebay induced decissions. Why not save some of the newer guys the pain and some cash in the long run? For someone new to all this, reading "After finding the size and model you want, then go online and purchase if you like." makes sense. I remember a shop in Fremont, CA that is dead now because of that type of statement...and from what Im told, they supported the whole Bay Area race scene from the mid 60's only to have to sell off their company to a liquidator to pay the last months rent.

Anybody that has gone through the process of working with local race gear retailers knows the value in the relationship thats established. We put out tons of money, and its nice to have someone local who has your back when Sparco wont honor a warrenty or whatever...

Rory, I'm sure your a great guy. No personal harm intended.

 

Cheers mate...good luck with the autox

 

Katmeho,

READ my reply to Victor as to why I said to buy online "if you like".

goaljnky,

Thanks and see ya there!

 

Guys,

I never intended to start a fight,
Just wanted to bring my point of view on this matter.

All I am going to add is this,

1) Some "racers" see us, ""the race shop owner" as the enemy, someone who wants to take advantage of them when they need parts for they hobby.

2) We are in this business because we LOVE AUTO RACING, not because of the money, trust me on this one.

3) Nobody should buy these products, "safety equipment" from someone who is not a legal dealer or distributor.

4) The reason you see some prices way below what is supposed to be is because these people do not have any stock and most of them work out of their garage, good luck with any exchange or warranty issue.

Thats it for today
victor

 

Simple:
- Get a full face design unless you're claustrophobic
- Only buy Snell SA-2005 or M-2005 standard
- If you buy an SA helmet, make sure it has a large eyeport
- Make sure your normal eyewear works with the helmet
- Don't buy mail order unless you've tried on that exact make/model/size

Yes the whole fullface+airbag thing was a hypothesis that temporarily got blown out of all proportion and has circulated on the net ever since and refuses to die.

As of Jan 06 the only documented case of airbag injury in this connection was a Viper driver whose face shield deflected the deploying airbag into the eyport, causing minor injury. Remedy: if driving an airbag car don't use a flip-up faceshield and don't wear a helmet with a bill over the eyport, which might do the same thing.

I recently bought a new helmet, since my old one ages out this year. The SA standard Bells had rather small eyeports, so I ended up getting another Simpson Voyager. Cost about $375.

Neil
05 MCS
96 M3

 

Very much Agreed.

(and YES, the helmet/airbag thing has taken on a bad-life of its own)

Here in new England, a Snell95 M or SA is required. I personally use a Bell M2 (for us fartz wearing glasses), and can use it at any track, and in open-wheeled vehicles. ($299.00 at racerwholesale.com)

HJC is a decent brand. http://www.hjchelmets.com

You can find a good Snell M for between 100.00 to 200.00 and even a tad less. Just make sure whatever you buy is at least Snell2000, but Snell2005 is just out now. Some retailers may be discounting the Snell2000's to move them off shelves.

Bottom line: I tell this to all my Novices-

You have only one noggin'. Protect it wisely. Amortized out over the life of a helmet, a $175.00 full-face will have cost you ONLY $17.00 a YEAR. If you can afford those whiz-bang-widget-things you put on your car, you can afford a decent helmet.

As someone said over on Mini2: $5.00 head, $5.00 helmet.

Think about it.

 

I've borrowed full face helmets from time to time and absolutely hate them (maybe I'm claustrophobic). Only way I'll wear one is if I don't have a choice in the matter (like if whatever racing I'm doing requires a full-face helmet) or if I'm on a motorcycle or an open car with no windscreen. Especially for low speed events like autocrossing, I feel a full face helmet is overkill most of the time. I started out with an inexpensive G-Force open face helmet six years ago, and last year switched to a Bell Mag 5. I bought the Bell without trying one on first, but bought one size smaller than the G-Force I was using, and it is a nice snug fit.

-Keith

 

Goaljnky,

So what helmet did you end up with? I am in need of one prior to the June 3-4 BMWCCA Willow Springs driving school event. As well as the Inglewood AutoX event. Which I think you are signed up for

-Jason

 

I bought a Bell Sport III, as it was the only helmet I tried, priced less than $700 bucks, that fit my big noggin comfortably. (Paid $350 out the door..a little more than the internet price, but I got good service). I tried on plenty of helmets over a period of time to see what worked. You should do the same. They really do fit like shoes. Bell (like Arai) offers replacement sheilds as well. I purchased an iridium blue shield for sunny days (karting, etc), and track use.

Purchased from Ron Brown, a local trackside support company. http://www.competitionmotorsports.com/



I would've purchased the GP 5, however, the helmet construction was not considerably different than my helmet choice, according to the shop, but it was $1000 bucks. A little too steep for my needs at this point. It was comfortable though.

We bought my wife an nice HJC automotive helmet trackside, from Wine Country Motorsports, a great rescource. In this case, a trackside support truck/ booth. $350 bucks or so, IIRC. She loves it.

http://www.hjchelmets.com/auto/products.htm



Here's the wife, makin' use of her noggin protector , as she's headed out of the pregrid for some track time. Visor flipped up, with the WCMS visor strip on it.

 

Another good resscource is Speedware Motorsports outside of Seattle. They do have a good internet business.

www.speedwaremotorsports.com

 

I'm not lucky enough to live in an area with a good helmet selection, so I had to order mine online.

Helmet #1 G-Force 750 Too wide. No matter how tight the strap, it wobbled. It fit the crown and everywhere else, but it was just to wide around the jaw. I thought maybe it was because it wasn't an expensive helmet and a little more expensive helmet might fit better.

Helmet #2 Bell Mag 5 Too big. Sent it back. Nice helmet. Really light. I wish it fit.

Helmet #3 Bell Mag 5 Too small. Not good 'cause I only went down 1 size.

Helmet #4 Pyrotect Open face SA2000 (I think it's made by Bell) This is a pretty nice helmet. I looks just like a Mag5, has ventilation that actually works, not heavy, only cost me $140, and fits like a glove. (can't tell you where I bought it until I find the receipt)

All this took me 6 weeks. I went through the same thing with my suit and shoes. (gloves fit first try) I had to have the last helmet and suit sent to the track next day air just to have it in time for my first race.

Soooooooooo, if I was buying a helmet I would do what ever nessasary to get myself to a local helmet dealer or race supply house or a race track with a nice tuner store and try on some helmets. They are worse than trying to fit shoes. When you find the helmet that fits your head you'll know it. When you put it on and say auhhhhhhhh. BUY IT!!!!! Where ever you are.

 

The airbag issue aside (good advice though), we wear open face, because frankly it just gets too bloody hot in California's central valley. I used a Simpson full face in the 80's when I ran my MGB. With the top down it was bareable. Now, with a Mini S with a very fixed roof, we go open face. Heat stroke is an ugly thing.

http://www.bellhelmets.com/index.cfm...roduct_ID=4911