Driving Helmets

[scotth_uk]

Anyone know what the appropriate standard is for helmets that can be used on track days in this country?

I can really only find helmets for bikes - anyone know a place that does driving lids?

 

[Shude]

How about a karting helmet, looks like you can get them for under £100 and they're made to withstand karting environments, you might want to check with the supplier to see if they'd be ok to use in a passenger car.

I found these during a search:

http://www.zipkart.com/acatalog/OMPhelmetetc.html

EDIT: hey cool they also do racing suits, boots, gloves etc as well

 

[GRAV888]

According to The FIA Website , helmets must be: an FIA approved helmet conforming to FIA 8858-2002 or FIA 8860-2004, fitted with a glossy silver holographic FIA label.

 

[Shude]

According to The FIA Website , helmets must be: an FIA approved helmet conforming to FIA 8858-2002 or FIA 8860-2004, fitted with a glossy silver holographic FIA label.

Maybe for F1 drivers with exposed cockpits! Does this also include track day people?

EDIT: these guys might be able to help: http://www.easytrack.co.uk

2ND EDIT: LOL it's the same helmets as the karting ones, not similar; THE SAME!

 

[GRAV888]

Maybe for F1 drivers with exposed cockpits! Does this also include track day people?[/url]

Not sure mate, but was all I could find at the time.
Will give Brands Hatch a ring now and ask

 

[Shude]

Not sure mate, but was all I could find at the time.
Will give Brands Hatch a ring now and ask

The ones on the trackday website are all FIA approved with the specific certification number, I'm sure they're fine for use at a trackday.

 

[guydewdney]

msauk.org iirc (motor sports association) will tell you - also demon tweeks sell them...

 

[Ian B Walker]

Give Lotusmark2 a shout. I know he has one for his Hill Climb Machine and no doubt he would be able to point you in the right direction.

 

[prprandall51]

For the track days I have attended (motorbiking), I have been told that the helmet must carry the ACU Gold certificate. This will take the form of a sticker on the outside of the helmet itself. Not all helmets sold in this country meet that standard. All helmets sold in the UK will additionally carry the British Standard kite mark, which is a basic requirement.

Any helmet meeting these requirements should be fine for a track day - cars or bikes (I just take my bike helmet along when it's a car track day). I expect that full-on racing may require something more specialised.

Having said that, I have done track days at almost all of England's race circuits and never had my helmet checked once in the last 10 years....

All the car drivers at the track days I go to seem to wear standard motorbike helmets. Is there a specific "car" helmet?

 

[Satch]

Think you might be thinking of something like the Bell "Classic" open face racing helmets especially if you have someone else in the car. The conversation with full face helmets can sometime go:

"Mumph mumph mumph, ahhh, errrm wight. Hward wight. Awwwwk! Nnoooooohhh!! Bwwwaaaakkkke!! Bwwwaaaakkke!! Mfarrrgghhhh!

"Did mu say sumfing??"

On the other hand I am sure you would cut a dash in the traditional style

http://www.jameslock.co.uk/prod2.taf?groupId=100066&_UserReference=054727F68BBDBC38422C9899

A fine establishment and such wonderful stuff. Still got the Top Hat patterns for Charlie Chaplin & Lord Lucan on the wall. Where else could you get one of these?

http://www.jameslock.co.uk/prod2.taf?groupId=100077&_UserReference=054727F68BBDBC38422C9899

 

[GRAV888]

Just had an email back from Andrea Kendall (Assistant Ops Team Leader) at Brands Hatch.
She says:
"All helmets used at car track days must be of a recognised manufacture, comply with the current MSA standards and must be correctly fitted and fastened. Open faced helmets are fine unless the car is a single seater or an open top and then the helmet must be full faced"

I will be taking my Gold ACU recognised lid to Brunty, so will be well covered.