Crash helmets

 Hi

you do not need a special helmet for motorsport at any level including international.  The standard required is snell 95 or BS 6658type A on buying a helmet you need a MSA approval sticker this can be purchased for a pound at any event from the scrutineer. If you buy from someplace like GP racewear the sticker wil already be in place but it is no hassle at all to get a sticker. You would find it quite difficult to buy a hemet anywhere that was not type A approved. I have checked these facts in the RAC bluebook.

As for specific car helmets the main difference is usually a bigger viewing apperture. On a purely personal note I have looked at the car specific helmets and visually they appear to be of lower quality than the main bike lids.

The most important thing is the fit some people fit agv helmets best some shoe etc, etc. They all vary from make the size written on them is not the whole story. If you have any doubt about bike lid watch the racing on the tely safely resisting a 150mph helmet tarmac interface seems a result to me.

Hope this helps if you want any further info on hillclimbing sprinting m3 pm me i will be happy to help

cheers

Another difference with bike helmets is the weight I believe, I compared my Arai with a mates who races Caterhams, he paid more than me but the bike helmet was lighter I guess because your more exposed to the wind?

Regarding the £50 lid for a £50 head, I personally don't really agree with this. From some bike magazine tests they have found that the cheapest Gold seal lid (less than £100) passes the tests easily, they have performed multiple drops on the lids from various heights with measuring equipment inside to see the stress placed on the wearers head, and even after multiple drops the lids are still far exceeding the required standard, but the advice is still to replace the lid if you drop it.

My personal experience is that the more expensive lids, ie Shoei, Arai etc are better made with better quality fittings/insides/vents
My current Arai gets worn every day for 2 hours, is 1.5 years old and still fits the same as the day I bought it (doesn't smell the same though )
The visor fit is also very good but this is less of an issue for cars I guess.
A previous Lazer lid was feeling very sloppy after a year or so of usage when it only got worn for about 20 mins a day.

All IHMO of course

Mags

 Steve, Now you are the proud owner of a fullface Helmet, its time to Run it in.BMW Car Club Better Driving Day, Donington 27th September.

Instruction for Newbie,s and your own group.Good circuit for your First M3 visit.Good advice about getting use to how the helmet feels on your head, when sitting in a car, Before you drive on a circuit day.

Pirate Pete, which Climbs do you drive please?? and is this in an Unmodified car??

one point worth mentioning - Demon Tweeks will send you a helmet and take it back if not happy with the fit - I beleive they'll do this for as many times as it takes to get it right - bit of a pain but useful if you live in outer hebrides etc

jamesrose wrote: Again regarding the £50 lid for a £50 head, I don't agree either. On my recent trip to buy a helmet, I was told by an expert that all of the helmets conform to the same saftey standards therefore a £600 lid is no safer than a £50 one. The only difference is in the comfort / quiality of the lining materials.... This was coming from someone who was trying to sell me (a total 'lid' novice) a helmet, so I am sure that if he thought he could talk me into getting a more expensive one he would have done...

Yes and No. If it meets the standard then it gets the kite mark/gold sticker etc. But there are standards to that. The £50 one will probably just scrape through. The £400 one will exceed it. Also its the other features that you're paying for. The better the helmet the better the fit will be, the choice of visors/designs. But the major one is the ventilation. With all the vents open on my Arai (bike) you can feel the air circulating. On occasions its been too cold and I've had to shut a couple.

Badger 540 wrote: You get a few funny looks sitting at the traffic lights with a helmet on...

The official excuse is that you're going for the new EU-standard MoT test, in which both car and driver are asked some very searching questions...

B7VP

 My e30 is a 215 spec with stiffer springs bilstiens and a Bexley remap it pushed out 225 on dyno but sadly went bang at goodwood few months back. It also has full cage,harneses and three sets of wheels and tyres.

Currently fitted another 190 spec motor for temporary measure and am building a 2.5lt with knife edge crank 276-284 schrick cams pauter rods je pistons big valve head and money permitting motec. Also planning to fit 3.9 diff guess it bread and water for the next year.

I run in the circuit driver speed championship and some additional hillclimbes. My home base is bournemouth.

If you need any help please contact me, but lets not hijack this thread.

cheers pete