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Wearing a safety helmet is absolutely essential for anybody racing a vehicle on a track. There are no exceptions. Besides, buying your first car racing helmet is a gearhead’s rite of passage.
eBay Motors offers an unparalleled selection of racing helmets for sale. As you peruse the offerings, it helps to understand the basics of car racing helmets. These questions and answers will get you started.
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What Kind of Car Racing Helmet Should I Buy?
The Speedway Motors SA2020 full-face helmet starts at $199 in flat black.
While the type of helmet you need depends on the type of racing, it all starts with safety. In the US, auto racing sanctioning organizations rely on Snell certification. Snell’s requirements are updated every five years. The most recent Snell rating is the SA2020 standard.
Choosing an SA2020 or SA2015 ensures the highest safety levels in the US. On a global level, FIA 8859 is the gold standard.
The next time you’re in the paddock, take note of the helmets that other drivers use. Ask them if they’re happy with their choices. While style may feel like it’s crucial, fit and comfort are far more critical.
Each type of racing calls for different features. For example, consider a helmet’s ventilation. Greg Nicol, product manager at Speedway Motors, told us:
Dirt track racers don’t like to have the vent on the front of the helmet. Front vents are okay for an asphalt guy or for a dune buggy in the desert, but not for dirt.
Meanwhile, high-end sports cars use forced-air systems. For various NHRA drag classes, drivers need sealed helmets and fire-protection skirts as well.
The Zamp RZ-18H is one of the most affordable open-face SA2020 helmets.
Should I Buy an Open-Face or Full-Face Helmet?
Most drivers opt for full-face racing helmets these days. While manufacturers still offer open-face helmets, they provide less protection and are not appropriate for many forms of racing.
On the other hand, open-face designs are significantly less expensive. If you’re getting into autocross, drifting, or solo rallycross, an open-face helmet can be more affordable—although it doesn’t offer quite the same level of protection. If you’re tracking a street car with airbags, open-face should do.
Eyewear is an important consideration. While open-face designs are the easiest to wear with eyeglasses, some full-face helmets, like the Bell M8, offer larger eye ports to accommodate glasses.
Is It Okay to Use a Motorcycle Helmet for Auto Racing?
In a word, no. Motorcycle helmets only meet DOT or EURO standards. They are not appropriate as track car helmets.
Racing car helmets meet more advanced standards than motorcycle helmets. Here’s the most crucial difference: Snell safety specifications require fire retardancy in both the exterior and interior components—and provide protection at higher impacts.
How Do I Measure My Head for a Proper Fit?
Bell offers the full-face M8 with a reasonably priced composite shell, in addition to ultra-light weight carbon fiber.
Start with a soft measuring tape. (Check Mom’s sewing drawer.) Take a measurement an inch above your brow. Then try a second time. Look for the largest circumference around your head in inches or centimeters.
Some helmet-makers use generic sizes, such as small, medium, large, and extra-large. Others provide “hat sizes” in inches or centimeters. Regardless, all brands have a measurement chart.
As Kyle Kietzmann, president of Bell Racing USA, told us:
It all depends on what level of fit you want. You’ll need to dial in size by studying the specific brand’s sizing chart.
Bell Racing’s helmet sizing chart provides a handy cross-reference.
Greg Nicol from Speedway Motors recommends that you put on a new helmet—and then sit and watch TV for 30 minutes. This allows you to feel the pressure points. Once you find the trouble spots, you can finesse the liner. He said:
I’ve worked with professional drivers that have massaged the inner foam with a ball-peen hammer to make it fit right.
Loose helmets are dangerous. “When you put on a full face, have someone grab the helmet and try to turn your head, or visa versa,” said Nicol. “If the helmet rotates too much on your head, it’s too loose. It should be snug, but not to the point of hurting.”
Want to look like The Stig? Opt for a Simpson Diamondback.
How Much Should a Racing Helmet Cost?
The price of helmets (that are Snell-approved) starts in the low hundreds. As you add more style, features, technology, and weight, the price begins to climb—and can reach $1,000 or more.
Factors that affect cost:
- Communications (with the paddock or a stage rally co-driver)
- Construction technology/materials
- HANS (head and neck support) clips
- Hydration
- Pads
- Ventilation
- Weight
Bell’s decades-old motto still rings true: If you have a $10 head, wear a $10 helmet. However, you can add a zero to that number these days. Everyone has a budget, of course, but you shouldn’t cut corners when buying a racing helmet.
While you should never look for a cheap racing helmet based solely on price, opting for an SA2015 over an SA2020 can save a significant amount of money.
