Buying a helmet is a lot like building a roll cage: if you build more than you need, you don't need to worry about not passing tech. 
So I'd spring for an SA, that way you know you'll get through.
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Feb. 9, 2010 12:37 p.m. Jensenman MegaDork
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Feb. 9, 2010 12:47 p.m. Kendall_Jones Reader
kanoe
I'm a dealer for Racequip. I can get a pretty decent deal on SA05 Close faced helmets as seen here:
http://www.racequip.com/helmets.html
I can get a pretty decent price on the helmets (or anything else they offer) - Not quite @ the OP's price but somewhere in the middle of what they retail for & OP's price. Email me for details.
kanoe
Kendall
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Feb. 9, 2010 6:16 p.m. iceracer HalfDork
Hill climbs in New England require an SA helmet. Ask me how I know.
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May 10, 2010 11:16 a.m. Duke SuperDork
ea_sport wrote:
How about the G-Force Pro Force Hybrid? It looks like this one: http://www.gforce.com/products/helmets/5409.php
This is the helmet I've been planning to buy.
However, due to a misorder, I have a chance to buy the open-face version of that helmet, brand new, for about half that price (haven't negotiated price yet, but I know the seller is trying to get rid of it). I only autocross at this point, but I hope to do a track day or two in the next year or so.
Should I just pony up the extra hundred bucks and get a full face, or should I go with the open face? OF are more comfortable, of course, but FF are better when you really need it...
Or, should I just keep using loaners until next spring and get the SA2010 version?
Thoughts and advice are appreciated.
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May 10, 2010 1:01 p.m. pinchvalve UberDork
The G-Force Phenom is available for just over $100. It is comfortable, and M2005 rated which will cover you for Autocrossing for a while. A full face helmet is nice on a motorcycle where your face may drag across the pavement, but in a stock car with good belts it won't do you much good. Save you money and buy what the regulations call for whenever you start to venture out on track. By then, you may have a full cage and no airbag and your needs will have changed.
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May 10, 2010 3:58 p.m. wbjones Dork
iceracer wrote:
Hill climbs in New England require an SA helmet. Ask me how I know.
hill climbs are different... they fall in with TT .. where you need nomex suits/undies/balaclava/socks and SA helmets
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May 10, 2010 4:02 p.m. wbjones Dork
Duke wrote:
I have a FF which I only use when it's raining... I know it's safer than my OF but way less comfy... in the rain the wipers throw the water in my face (no rain gutter on the CRX) so that's when I use the FF.... + I'll use it when I start TT's... and I went to a MC shop to get my first a-x helmet (OF and cheep... 6 yrs ago but about $60)ea_sport wrote:
How about the G-Force Pro Force Hybrid? It looks like this one: http://www.gforce.com/products/helmets/5409.php
This is the helmet I've been planning to buy.
However, due to a misorder, I have a chance to buy the open-face version of that helmet, brand new, for about half that price (haven't negotiated price yet, but I know the seller is trying to get rid of it). I only autocross at this point, but I hope to do a track day or two in the next year or so.
Should I just pony up the extra hundred bucks and get a full face, or should I go with the open face? OF are more comfortable, of course, but FF are better when you really need it...
Or, should I just keep using loaners until next spring and get the SA2010 version?
Thoughts and advice are appreciated.
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May 10, 2010 8:05 p.m. Apexcarver UltraDork
I seem to remember reading somewhere that if you have an airbag you are far better off with a open face (chin structure makes your neck bend funny ways IIRC).
Here is what I have http://www.soloperformance.com/HJC-CL-31-Open-Face-M2005-Helmet_p_308.html
M2005 open face for $89.95 (I have only auto-x'd with mine)
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May 10, 2010 8:22 p.m. getfast New Reader
Apexcarver wrote:
I seem to remember reading somewhere that if you have an airbag you are far better off with a open face (chin structure makes your neck bend funny ways IIRC).
Funny, I seem to remember reading somewhere that such a statement was a load of BS.
Are you perhaps thinking about the S-club debacle 5+ years ago? (In which they issued then retracted a safety bulletin about exactly this...)
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May 11, 2010 7:51 p.m. dean1484 Dork
I would try to borrow one. If this is your first event see how you like it. If you get addicted the the go fast pipe consider investing more in a good helmet. If you decide that this sport is not for you are not out a dime. There really is a difference especially when you get in the $300+ to the $400 range and up. Weight is the biggest thing I have noticed.
You know you will soon need a Hanz or equivalent restraint system so might as well plan now.
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May 11, 2010 8:03 p.m. Apexcarver UltraDork
getfast wrote:
Apexcarver wrote:
I seem to remember reading somewhere that if you have an airbag you are far better off with a open face (chin structure makes your neck bend funny ways IIRC).
Funny, I seem to remember reading somewhere that such a statement was a load of BS.
Are you perhaps thinking about the S-club debacle 5+ years ago? (In which they issued then retracted a safety bulletin about exactly this...)
Searching I am finding that it has faded into the fog over the last several years, I dont see any statement of BS, but I do see that the SCCA bulletin on it has disappeared.
Interesting...
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May 11, 2010 8:39 p.m. getfast New Reader
Perhaps that's because closed face helmets are ok in cars with airbags?
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May 12, 2010 7:55 a.m. z31maniac Dork
dean1484 wrote:
I would try to borrow one. If this is your first event see how you like it. If you get addicted the the go fast pipe consider investing more in a good helmet. If you decide that this sport is not for you are not out a dime. There really is a difference especially when you get in the $300+ to the $400 range and up. Weight is the biggest thing I have noticed.
You know you will soon need a Hanz or equivalent restraint system so might as well plan now.
This. The nicer helmets tend to be much lighter, fit better and have better airflow.
Just sucks when you crash and ruin your $700 Shoei.
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May 12, 2010 9:42 a.m. iceracer Dork
To add, New England hill climb clubs require an SA helmet.
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May 12, 2010 11:18 a.m. mensmetals09 New Reader
Thanks for the info that will help us to grow faster then others. Who done a kind of nice job in these field so that once again.Quality Cufflinks
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May 12, 2010 11:23 a.m. 4cylndrfury SuperDork
mens metals = canoe
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May 12, 2010 4:31 p.m. Duke SuperDork
dean1484 wrote:
I would try to borrow one. If this is your first event see how you like it. If you get addicted the the go fast pipe consider investing more in a good helmet. If you decide that this sport is not for you are not out a dime. There really is a difference especially when you get in the $300+ to the $400 range and up. Weight is the biggest thing I have noticed.
You know you will soon need a Hanz or equivalent restraint system so might as well plan now.
I've been borrowing for the past 2 years, which is how I know I want my own. My real question is do I buy a $100 G-force open-face for autocross now, and then get into a $500 helmet in a few years assuming I get into track days as planned... or do I borrow for another season and buy after the SA ratings have rolled over to a new edition?
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May 13, 2010 7:47 p.m. JeepinMatt HalfDork
Heck, I've had every single person recommend a closed face. I was rather set on an open face, thinking I would be able to see better and it would be more comfortable. After hearing unanimously to get a closed face, I reluctantly agreed. I was pleasantly surprised to find that vision in a typical closed face isn't bad at all; not even close. And a properly-fitted closed face shouldn't be that uncomfortable. I went to CV Products out in Thomasville today and got a new helmet. A cheapy, a Racequip closed face. Will I get a better SA 2010 closed-face in the near future, maybe lighter and with a hookup for a ventilation hose? Probably. But this will be fine for a while.
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May 13, 2010 8:18 p.m. Josh Dork
I don't know why people care so much about having the latest Snell rating. Do you really want to still be wearing that helmet when it has up to 15 years worth of sweat, hair, dead skin and dandruff embedded in the liner? The SCCA (and by default, most other clubs) allow the latest, plus the last 2. So even if you buy a helmet in the last year of the Snell rating, you still get at least 10 years out of it. I find I'm usually dying to get a new one after 3 or 4 years.
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May 13, 2010 8:23 p.m. JeepinMatt HalfDork
Josh wrote:
I don't know why people care so much about having the latest Snell rating. Do you really want to still be wearing that helmet when it has up to 15 years worth of sweat, hair, dead skin and dandruff embedded in the liner? The SCCA (and by default, most other clubs) allow the latest, plus the last 2. So even if you buy a helmet in the last year of the Snell rating, you still get at least 10 years out of it. I find I'm usually dying to get a new one after 3 or 4 years.
I didn't particularly, but word is that the 2010 rating made a larger-than-usual jump. 220 bucks for a helmet is pretty good. I wouldn't mind one a bit lighter and with possibly with a ventilation hookup, haven't ever used one, but it can wait.
Didn't matter anyway. I needed a helmet now, and didn't have much money.
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May 13, 2010 9:49 p.m. midniteson New Reader
So i wound up getting the HJC CL-SP from helmet city.It was 99.99 I got the candy red, witch i guess they dont sell anymore. heres a link to the same helmet in silver http://www.helmetcity.com/page/HC/PROD/clspsolids-nd/hjc-cl-sp-silver. I got an iridium gold visor and it looks sick! with the visor it came in at a lil under $150.00, fits well and is rated m2005 which covers my autox and track days.
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May 13, 2010 10:13 p.m. JeepinMatt HalfDork
M2005 - M for motorcycle - isn't equal in rating to an SA 2005. Someone can get more detailed than me, but motorcycle helmets aren't rated for multiple impacts against things that a car may have, such as a roll cage.
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May 13, 2010 10:38 p.m. midniteson New Reader
In reply to JeepinMatt:
Who said they were?
I dont plan on doin any wheel to wheel racin anytime soon. and as we went over earlier sa rated helmets are not required for trackday/autox. so it fits my needs just fine.
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May 13, 2010 11:11 p.m. JeepinMatt HalfDork
In reply to midniteson:
They might not be required, but my head and peace of mind are worth the extra Franklin. But go with whatever you're comfortable with.
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May 17, 2010 4:55 a.m. CLNSC3 Reader
I am able to get away with using an "M" rated helmet at all of the events I compete in. I went with a basic HJC, cost me about $140. Then I covered it in stickers and now it looks like a million bucks. Sooner or later I am going to have to get an "SA" rated helmet though, the G-force helmets appear to be the biggest bargain on the market....
