Helmet - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Pyrotechnic · 02-08-2009, 12:01 AM

The track here requires a helmet if you are running 13.9 or faster. I see lots of helmets but I am not sure what to buy. I'm thinking an old school open face helmet would be alright for my needs ? I'm in college, so I'd like to keep the budget somewhere around the $100 level. Any recommendations ?

bigjimzlll · 02-08-2009, 02:19 AM

There is an old saying...If your head is only worth a 100 bucks, then get a 100 dollar helmet. The helmet needs to be a snell 2005 rating. There are 2 types a MA which is basically for motor cycles but will pass tech. It is not fire proof. The SA is fire froof

hotrodhomi · 02-08-2009, 11:46 AM

make sure you get a helmet rated for what you are doing. Motorcycle helmets (MA rated)are cheaper, but many autocrosses or drag racing tacks don't allow them. I bought a Zamp open face helmet when I did the 24 hours of Lemons. Great price and SA rated.

Marv D · 02-08-2009, 04:15 PM

I ran with a open face helmet for many years. The Bell SA open face helmets are in the $150 range as I remember and will get you all the way down to 8.50 if your so brave. It has a much less restrictive feel than the full face helmets. I know that sounds redundant, but the full face helmets are very restrictive, kind of like blinders / tunnel vision, and the only thing you really see is what's important,, the tree and the track. My reaction times improved dramatically when I went to a full face helmet. I don't "like" it, but I win more. And besides,,,, in a firey crash you will be wishing you had bought a full face helmet.

Helmets are kind of like fire extinguishers,,,, one of those things you hope you never 'need'. But when you do,, your hoping to hell you bought the very BEST available. Do yourself a favor,, never cheap out on the safety items. It's just not worth it.

Pyrotechnic · 02-09-2009, 12:50 AM

Well it does make sense that a cheap helmet is a bad idea. Guess it was just my eagerness to get out on the track that made me think a cheap helmet was a good idea. What price range should I look at for something that will really offer some good protection ?

Marv D · 02-09-2009, 11:45 AM

I'm partial to the Bell helmets. But that's just me. There comfortable and they seem to protect my hard head just fine although I've never really put them to any 'real' test. (knock on wood). There is a site,, 'helmetcity.com' or something like that. They have good prices on the Bell line,, open face for around $200, full face for about $250,,, typically around $50 more for the same at most places.

Pyrotechnic · 02-09-2009, 10:59 PM

http://www.helmetcity.com/page/HC/PROD/bell/2004356

http://www.helmetcity.com/page/HC/PROD/bell/2004335

Looks like it'll come down to those two. Just gotta decide if I want open or full face.

Thanks everyone for the help ! Lots of good info here.

djracer · 02-09-2009, 11:04 PM

the top one looks like mine!

02-08-2009, 12:01 AM	#1
Pyrotechnic Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 3,930	Helmet The track here requires a helmet if you are running 13.9 or faster. I see lots of helmets but I am not sure what to buy. I'm thinking an old school open face helmet would be alright for my needs ? I'm in college, so I'd like to keep the budget somewhere around the $100 level. Any recommendations ? __________________ 1977 GMC Sierra Grande

02-08-2009, 02:19 AM	#2
bigjimzlll Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Redding,CA...USA Posts: 4,736	Re: Helmet There is an old saying...If your head is only worth a 100 bucks, then get a 100 dollar helmet. The helmet needs to be a snell 2005 rating. There are 2 types a MA which is basically for motor cycles but will pass tech. It is not fire proof. The SA is fire froof __________________ It's called "drag racing" if they called it "tic..tic..WHAM!..BANG! F*&K!!!", they'd have to keep the magazines under the counter with the other men's publications click the clicky to join the site.... http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/payments.php 67 lwb..first hotrod in 25 years..540 best ET is 9.45 @ 141.44 Anderson,CA

02-08-2009, 11:46 AM	#3
hotrodhomi Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Sacramento Posts: 3,737	Re: Helmet make sure you get a helmet rated for what you are doing. Motorcycle helmets (MA rated)are cheaper, but many autocrosses or drag racing tacks don't allow them. I bought a Zamp open face helmet when I did the 24 hours of Lemons. Great price and SA rated. __________________ '72 2wd blazer, bagged w/ watts link & EDC '72 C10 "Lowered Farm Truck" STOLEN 5-18-11 '66 impala ht

02-08-2009, 04:15 PM	#4
Marv D Registered Truck Offender Join Date: May 2008 Location: hells training ground (aka Ariz) Posts: 3,118	Re: Helmet I ran with a open face helmet for many years. The Bell SA open face helmets are in the $150 range as I remember and will get you all the way down to 8.50 if your so brave. It has a much less restrictive feel than the full face helmets. I know that sounds redundant, but the full face helmets are very restrictive, kind of like blinders / tunnel vision, and the only thing you really see is what's important,, the tree and the track. My reaction times improved dramatically when I went to a full face helmet. I don't "like" it, but I win more. And besides,,,, in a firey crash you will be wishing you had bought a full face helmet. Helmets are kind of like fire extinguishers,,,, one of those things you hope you never 'need'. But when you do,, your hoping to hell you bought the very BEST available. Do yourself a favor,, never cheap out on the safety items. It's just not worth it. __________________ Still playin with trucks, even at my age! When you're dead, it's only a problem for the people around you, because you don't know you're dead. .....It's kinda the same when your STUPID. I just did my taxes and reviewed my SS statement. Thanks to the current administration it looks like I will only have to work till noon on the day of my funeral.

02-09-2009, 12:50 AM	#5
Pyrotechnic Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 3,930	Re: Helmet Well it does make sense that a cheap helmet is a bad idea. Guess it was just my eagerness to get out on the track that made me think a cheap helmet was a good idea. What price range should I look at for something that will really offer some good protection ? __________________ 1977 GMC Sierra Grande

02-09-2009, 11:45 AM	#6
Marv D Registered Truck Offender Join Date: May 2008 Location: hells training ground (aka Ariz) Posts: 3,118	Re: Helmet I'm partial to the Bell helmets. But that's just me. There comfortable and they seem to protect my hard head just fine although I've never really put them to any 'real' test. (knock on wood). There is a site,, 'helmetcity.com' or something like that. They have good prices on the Bell line,, open face for around $200, full face for about $250,,, typically around $50 more for the same at most places. __________________ Still playin with trucks, even at my age! When you're dead, it's only a problem for the people around you, because you don't know you're dead. .....It's kinda the same when your STUPID. I just did my taxes and reviewed my SS statement. Thanks to the current administration it looks like I will only have to work till noon on the day of my funeral.

02-09-2009, 10:59 PM	#7
Pyrotechnic Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 3,930	Re: Helmet http://www.helmetcity.com/page/HC/PROD/bell/2004356 http://www.helmetcity.com/page/HC/PROD/bell/2004335 Looks like it'll come down to those two. Just gotta decide if I want open or full face. Thanks everyone for the help ! Lots of good info here. __________________ 1977 GMC Sierra Grande

02-09-2009, 11:04 PM	#8
djracer Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Wetumpka, Al, U.S. Posts: 8,891	Re: Helmet the top one looks like mine! __________________ Kevin Special Thanks to All who have helped on the TRUCK! My Pass Time Show http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p...Chapter1-0.mp4 So Far my best Times are: Motor only: 6.44 1/8 @ 104.13 10.39 1/4 @ 125.83 Nitrous Times: 5.785 1/8 @ 118.65 with a 1.336 60ft 9.168 1/4 @ 142.58 with a 250 shot dead out of the hole!



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