MX-5 OC Forum

Hi All,

So you're thinking of attending a track day, hill-climb, sprint-meet or anything else that requires a helmet but you don't want to buy one.

Then fret no longer!

All Club members have the use of the Club helmets. All helmets are supplied with a cotton balaclava for hygiene purposes. Please wash before returning!

***New Club Helmets being puchased, please see Blyton Helmet buy thread***

Just email or PM me the measurement around your head (just above the eyebrows around the widest part of the crown) and provide your membership number and an address and I'll post you a helmet. Postage approx £10, then, once your finished with it, simply post back

Or, if you happen to be around Yorkshire, you're more than welcome to come and collect one

All helmets have the BSA blue standard so are suitable for general motorsport use, including trackdays and many hillclimb and sprint events. They are not suitable for Racing.

The Club helmets have been checked for obvious signs of wear and cracks etc but are lent in good faith and used at your own risk.

Cheers, and happy track-day!

Jon (peleton72)

 What a great idea Please put us down for two for our `Nurburgring on a Budget` trip in June, PM sent.

Dr. & Mrs Eunos

Great timing, I'll have one! I'll PM the details across later how would you like payment for postage?

Great Idea Jon, Just a quick questions, what Spec are they? Are they suitable for motorsport and opposed to Track Days?

These are most likely motocycle helmets which have to meet certain specifications as below and I think that these regulations are applied for racing as well - as long as they have the sticker on them they will be ok.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/vehicles/vssafety/motorcyclehelmetsvisorsandgo4563?page=2

 I dint know what they are....But if they are general bike helmets they are Ok to go for trackdays..

But NOT for racing...But who here is going racing without there own helmet ?

Race helmets have to meet MSA , FIA regs and are usually SNELL marked.

My first helmet was 2nd hand and still get used on occasions now.

Great Idea Jon. 

Alan

 I was querying it as Jon had said helmets for Hillclimb and Sprints as well as for Track Days and as you quite rightly say the motorsport requirements are different.

Where I agree if you are going racing it would be wise to buy your own helmet, given the lower level of requirements for Hillclimbing and Sprinting you can more or less rock up  in your road car and take part.  To that end, someone who would like to "give it ago" may be tempted by the helmets Jon is offering as it is a low outlay, to try the discipline initially.

 Helmets used for sprints and hillclimbs need to be BS 6658-85A (what was blue sticker); you do not need the fire resistant version  (red sticker), nor do you need to fork out for a gold sticker lid.. Trackdays vary; I've seen some trackday organisers accept green-stckered moped helmets, or even, on one occasion, a police riot helmet. If for competition (sprints, hillclimbs), it will also need to be scruitineered; any damage to the helmet might mean you will fail scrutineering. Helmets for wheel to wheel racing will need to be of the first resistant lining type.

Gold stickered helmets will generally have a nicer finish and fit, compared to cheaper ones. In principle, they have been subjected to additional QC procedures (ie. percentile fewer fails).

Helmets vary considerably in fit and comfort; different manufacturer's sizings are often very different. Given that you can pick up a perfectly good blue stickered helmet from a motorbike shop for £50-60, if you are intending on doing more than one trackday, it doesn't make a lot of sense renting one (which will cost you £20+ by the time you've factored in postage), particularly as you can spend a bit of time sorting out a helmet that actually fits your head, and that isn't too uncomfortable for 10-15 minute stretches. You don't want a helmet that rattles around on your head, loose.

Full face or open face. Some events may actually ban open face helmets in open cars, because of the risk of debris taking out your teeth. There aren't that many open faced, blue stickered (or the newer equivalents) helmets at the cheaper end (OMP and Sparco clubman lids are £120ish) anyhow.

Given the other expenses required for participating in bone fide motorsport events, it seems a bit odd why you would want to rent a helmet out every time. Average sprint/hillclimb season; £50-100 per championship, £50-100 per event (say 6 or 7 events per summer season), £100 for a cheap Proban suit, £50ish for a non-race natB licence, £50 for miscellaneous bits and bobs (numbers, light breaker etc); best part of £1000 spent. Spend £140 on a rented helmet per season, which doesn't really fit, and will need scruitneering each time (first time; you get a MSA sticker, which they will charge you £1 for, to save time on subsequent events that season): so actual cost is more like £147.

Loan lids are good for those who have never tried a trackday before, or are looking for a spare for a passenger, but its much better/nicer to have your own. I feel the same about bowling shoes......

AT:

 Helmets used for sprints and hillclimbs need to be BS 6658-85A (what was blue sticker); you do not need the fire resistant version  (red sticker), nor do you need to fork out for a gold sticker lid..

Sorry AT, MSA helmet rules changed fairly recently and now all have to be fire resistant. Here's the current specs:

10.3.1. Standards. Helmets bearing one of the under
mentioned ‘standards’ may be approved by the MSA
subject to other criteria being met.
(a) INTERNATIONAL EVENTS & ALL MSA EVENTS.
FIA 8860-2004.
SNELL SA2010.
SNELL SA2005.
SNELL SA2000*.
SNELL SAH2010.
SFI Foundation 31.1A, 31.2A.
BS 6658 Type A/FR**.
*May be withdrawn with effect from 01/01/15.
**May be withdrawn with effect from 01/01/16.

The older BS 6658 Type A spec won't pass scrutineering anywhere now.

The cheapest new, current spec, helmets are the V2 or HedTec helmets. I have an open face HedTec which was £118.50 delivered August last year and I'm perfectly happy with it.

andyelcomb:

AT:

 Helmets used for sprints and hillclimbs need to be BS 6658-85A (what was blue sticker); you do not need the fire resistant version  (red sticker), nor do you need to fork out for a gold sticker lid..

Sorry AT, MSA helmet rules changed fairly recently and now all have to be fire resistant. Here's the current specs:

10.3.1. Standards. Helmets bearing one of the under
mentioned ‘standards’ may be approved by the MSA
subject to other criteria being met.
(a) INTERNATIONAL EVENTS & ALL MSA EVENTS.
FIA 8860-2004.
SNELL SA2010.
SNELL SA2005.
SNELL SA2000*.
SNELL SAH2010.
SFI Foundation 31.1A, 31.2A.
BS 6658 Type A/FR**.
*May be withdrawn with effect from 01/01/15.
**May be withdrawn with effect from 01/01/16.

The older BS 6658 Type A spec won't pass scrutineering anywhere now.

The cheapest new, current spec, helmets are the V2 or HedTec helmets. I have an open face HedTec which was £118.50 delivered August last year and I'm perfectly happy with it.

Blast. I guess my helmet is now scrap :(

Still £118 isn't bad, and hopefully its a Standard that won't change again for a long time.

 I appreciate that we are all part of the same club but is there a danger of any legal issues arising  if someone was still injured while wearing one of the helmets that was being loaned/hired from the club. Dont want to be a spoiler but just in case.

Phil H:

 I appreciate that we are all part of the same club but is there a danger of any legal issues arising  if someone was still injured while wearing one of the helmets that was being loaned/hired from the club.

Yep, I appreciate the point but surely it's no different to using a helmet at a go-kart track or hiring one from a circuit at a trackday.

The difference is we are NOT charging for their use, purely asking for postage costs and simply offering them to Club members that may not wish to commit financially to something they may only use once/occasionally.

They will also be available at the Silverstone National Rally for anyone attending the various trackside events being organised there.

Phil H:

 I appreciate that we are all part of the same club but is there a danger of any legal issues arising  if someone was still injured while wearing one of the helmets that was being loaned/hired from the club. Dont want to be a spoiler but just in case.

No it isnt an issue, wearing a helmet is always going to lessen the risk of injury as opposed to not having one on, whatever specification it conforms to and whatever stickers it carries.

I'd expect the club already supplies statements disclaiming liability for such equipment; damaged and out of date crash helmets are as much use as a torn seat belt. I expect any helmets returned damaged are disposed of, and any deposit retained. I'd also expect out of date helmets are disposed of.

taff eunos:

What a great idea Please put us down for two for our `Nurburgring on a Budget` trip in June, PM sent.

They're on their way Taff, I got to the Post Office in time but the Parcelforce man had already left so they will sit there 'till Monday! Still, they'll be with you long before your trip.

Good luck, and remember, don't mention ze Var