SCCA SA Rated Helmet

[Vicr]

I'm going to need to an SA rated helmet for track days. What suggestions do ya'll have for lightweight helmets?

Sponsored

 

[fatbillybob]

Track days should be closed helmet. Open is maybe ok for auto x. Get what fits you best like brands of shoes. Know what ratings mean like sa2015 helmets expire in 2020. Sa2020 are not really out until late 2020. The newer the more costly. An sa2010 is now 10 years old and there are limits on how long some sanctioning bodies will allow a helmet to be used. Save the money and buy an older helmet if you are not likely to do the hobby after a few years and are doing it occasionally. If you think you will go down the slippery slope and go all in buy the newest as helmet you can get that fits well as an investment used good and hard and retire the helmet in five years when the new rating comes out.

 

[GT0038]

Track days should be closed helmet. Open is maybe ok for auto x. Get what fits you best like brands of shoes. Know what ratings mean like sa2015 helmets expire in 2020. Sa2020 are not really out until late 2020. The newer the more costly. An sa2010 is now 10 years old and there are limits on how long some sanctioning bodies will allow a helmet to be used. Save the money and buy an older helmet if you are not likely to do the hobby after a few years and are doing it occasionally. If you think you will go down the slippery slope and go all in buy the newest as helmet you can get that fits well as an investment used good and hard and retire the helmet in five years when the new rating comes out.

I thought the SA rating was good for 10 years in SCCA which means the SA2015 rated helmet should be good until 2025. I could be wrong on that but that is how I remember it being.

Regardless get the lightest most comfortable helmet you can afford. There is not a big difference in the weights of the helmets from the most expensive to least expensive usually 3-4lbs between them, but if you are ever in an impact 3-4lbs makes a big difference on your neck when multiplied 4-5 times due to g-forces from the impact.

 

[Davesvt2000]

SA helmets are good for 10 years.

My SA2010 expires end of this year.

 

[fatbillybob]

You guys are right. I race a lot and helmets improve safety every 5 years as the new sa standard comes out. That's the reason to change them. Also helmet interiors are hard to clean. I race a lot so even wearing a headsock, like socks for your shoes, and a coolclava to keep heat down, I don't want a helmet after 5 years of use. I think of it like a smelly pair of shoes.

 

[AlbertD]

What is your budget? and how lightweight do you want? That will drastically alter options...

I went with an entry level cost helmet and am happy with it for my HPDE use... has provisions for HANS and feels great. $170ish and in the 4lb range.

Conquer Snell SA2015 Approved Full Face Auto Racing Helmet

 

[TeeLew]

You guys are right. I race a lot and helmets improve safety every 5 years as the new sa standard comes out. That's the reason to change them. Also helmet interiors are hard to clean. I race a lot so even wearing a headsock, like socks for your shoes, and a coolclava to keep heat down, I don't want a helmet after 5 years of use. I think of it like a smelly pair of shoes.

To clean an old helmet, fill a home depot bucket with hot water & a pour of laundry detergent. Put the whole helmet under & squeeze the padding to get the soapy water into everything. Then pour that out, fill it full of rinse water & do the same thing. Let it dry in the sun.

It won't give you a new Snell rating, but it'll smell better when you put it on.

 

[JD_GTPP2]

What is your budget? and how lightweight do you want? That will drastically alter options...

I went with an entry level cost helmet and am happy with it for my HPDE use... has provisions for HANS and feels great. $170ish and in the 4lb range.

Conquer Snell SA2015 Approved Full Face Auto Racing Helmet

+1 on this helmet. I got mine off Amazon and it is a very comfortable helmet. They also sell an open face version of it, fits exactly the same as the full face.

 

[Grintch]

If possible, check fitment in person and don't just buy off the internet. The sizing and shape tends to vary for the different manufactures. I have never had a problem with a helmet's weight, but a helmet that doesn't fit well also wont protect all that well. Bell's seem to fit me the best.

The SA2015's are on sale most places as most are waiting for the SA2020's to be released. For HPDE, I doubt your usage will be enough to wear out (or stink up) a helmet in 5 years. So I would lean toward waiting for a 2020 and getting more life vs. saving 10-20% getting a SA2015. But if you need a helmet NOW...

 

[1 old racer]

Two things. 1.) Always remember, if it smells like a toilet, clean it like a toilet. 2.) Full face with visor down.i used to drive with my visor up and have a line of dark tint on the bottom to use as a sun shield. I would just tilt my head if the sun hit me in the eyes. Just by sheer luck I drove with my visor down that day. A muffler strap broke off a car and entered my driver side window just right. Was it good luck or bad luck. Well I felt pretty lucky because crap happens on the track. And I got ten stitches.

 

[thelostotter]

Two things. 1.) Always remember, if it smells like a toilet, clean it like a toilet. 2.) Full face with visor down.i used to drive with my visor up and have a line of dark tint on the bottom to use as a sun shield. I would just tilt my head if the sun hit me in the eyes. Just by sheer luck I drove with my visor down that day. A muffler strap broke off a car and entered my driver side window just right. Was it good luck or bad luck. Well I felt pretty lucky because crap happens on the track. And I got ten stitches.

I saw this pic a while back and it solidified my decision to get a full face helmet when I got into HPDE.

HJC AR-10 III works great for me.

 

[PaddyPrix]

The new Snell SA2020 certified helmets will be released on October 1st, and like some others had mentioned, SA2015 is still acceptable, but SA2010 will be not accepted in lots of places. If you're on some racing store e-mail distribution lists, you'll notice some are having big closeouts on certain brands, as they're trying to lighten their SA2015 load, which is a good thing. Another good point is that if you have a way to, do try them on, some feel or fit a little better than others, some have better/larger visibility, some breathe better, and so on. Since you're going to be doing 20-25 minute HPDE sessions, they have plenty of good helmets between $200-500. I've been happy with my Bell Sport EV, big visor, foam just right, but I was just as happy with HJC, Pyrotect, RaceQuip, and Simpson helmets.

 

[BimmerDriver]

I think I currently have a Simpson, which does good for me. In my motorcycle days, I wore Arai because they fit me well. Long rides on the bike meant that comfort was job one.

Of course, safety is job one, but it has to fit well to work properly.

 

[Timeless]

I have a 2011 G-Force open face helmet and racing gloves left over from my HPDE days that I do not need anymore.

Can be yours for dirt cheap if interested.

PM me if you want them,

 

[PaddyPrix]

Of course, safety is job one, but it has to fit well to work properly.

Great point, and all the more reason to try them on. Some of us have perfectly round heads, some are more long/tall egg shaped, and different helmets fit us all differently.

Sponsored