This is probably a very stupid question but are motorcycle crash helmets any different than one for a car ? .

The reason I ask is that now I've replaced my damaged M3 with another I'm determined to use this one for the odd track day or maybe a hillclimb or two , the plan is to buy a helmet this wk so any advise will be great ! .

I'll prob spend about £150 maybe more .

Cheers , Steve . 

Bike helmets also have ventilation slots in them.

Weight and construction wise I don't think they are any different really.

Pikey

Ok thanks for that , I was worried it was a crap question and I'd be laughed out of town ! .

I know now and so wont pop into a bike shop and buy the first shiny one I see .

Thanks, Steve . 

No I didn't think about that , it would feel less restrictive and maybe lighter .

In my head I pictured a full face ! I suppose its best to try them all on and sit in the car .

I'm looking forward to it as its another step towards track days ! , Is an open face a bit 70's rally driver ? .

Steve .

mysteron35 wrote: I'm looking forward to it as its another step towards track days ! , Is an open face a bit 70's rally driver ? . Steve .

And  the problem with that is.....................what exactly?  I wish I still had my Chevette HS or the Sunbeam Lotus that replaced it.  In fact I wish I'd never replaced it with a Sunbeam Lotus in the first place.  Nothing wrong with a bit of 70s rally driver look.  I might be able to dig you out a Paddy Hopkirk jacket if you get that open face Bell Star helmet.

Re the open/full face debate, my understanding is that closed car = open face. Open car = full face.

Ha ha , I was only joking about 70's ! Ive a soft spot for Mk1 mexico's and owned an rs 3100 only a couple of years ago .

The 70's is my era ! , I'll try an open face if I can and wouldn't rule it out .

Talking of your HS back in the early 90's I owned an ex works firenza with full house blydenstien motor in  rally trim ! , I never got it to run properly and sold it on  to a drag racer who fitted a V8 , always regreted that .

Steve . 

I think some Simpson  model of helmets are not road legal due to the angular chin design?

I personally wouldn't want to wear an open face helmet in any car, just think what would happen to your jaw and nose when a peice of interior trim hits you hard in the face!

Pikey

I have worn a full face Gold Standard helmet in the past for track days with my Clan kit car (head gets a bit close to the roof though !!).

I found it was beneficial to get used to the helmet the day before (I am not a biker, so it's a bit alien wearing several pounds of fibreglass on your head).

You get a few funny looks sitting at the traffic lights with a helmet on, 

but it's worthwhile so that you feel comfortable with it the next day on track.

Andy  West Midlands 

 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

A lot of good advice there , thanks ! . I've decided to go full face and have two wk's off work now so will hunt one down .

I've been round the Ring a few times as a passenger from my days working at mercedes in Stuttgart , and watched a few Uk track days but never driven myself .

Thanks Piratepete I may well pick your brains in the near future as I fancy the idea of hillclimbing my M3 , I've read a few articles about it and it sounds good ! .

Thanks all , Steve .    

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

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...

 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??

... and spare parts. If you need clips, visors, pads etc. you'll find someone like Arai have better customer service than smaller brands like AGV.

FWIW I've had Arai bike helmets for 10 years, and will be buying their open face version for track-days. Its a bit more expensive than most but so's my head

SS7

PikeyM3 wrote: I think some Simpson  model of helmets are not road legal due to the angular chin design? I personally wouldn't want to wear an open face helmet in any car, just think what would happen to your jaw and nose when a peice of interior trim hits you hard in the face! Pikey

You are ineed right that they are illegal for road use in this country, due to the size of the visor opening. However, they should be the choice of the discerning lunatic as they are very well made - just look at the thickness of the visor. It looks like it has been carved from the perspex off an old bus shelter.

They fit better if you have a mullet haircut, camoflage trousers and a denim jacket with the sleeves cut off though.....

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