[robz71lm7]

After sunday's autocross a novice asked on our region's message board about getting a cheap helmet. He got replies ranging from links where you could get an M2000 helmet for $60 and one even $49!

The site we raced at sunday was a military air strip with tall grass off the sides. The dirt wasn't always flat and smooth. In fact, yesterday and S2000 went off into the grass sideways-he wasn't the only one to go off into the grass. Now is it just me or this the kind of place where a good possibility of rolling over exists?

It just kind of disturbs me that people will recommend and use such cheap helmets. Am I being a little excessive here?

What's everyone's opinion on helmets in autocross?

[sgarnett]

I don't see a problem with a cheap Snell-tested helmet. If it's passed the testing and fits properly, but the graphics or ventilation or lining isn't as nice, that's really a comfort issue, not a safety issue. I'd be more concerned about an old helmet that doesn't meet the latest standards or has been bumped around a lot.

One thing to keep in mind - helmets (no matter what they cost) are designed to absorb ONE impact. If you ever drop it, toss it in the trash even if it looks fine. THAT's really where being cheap can hurt you (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Also, if it doesn't fit properly, it won't help much.

My kevlar, Snell 2000 helmet only cost $60. I had no objection to paying more, even a lot more (and in fact I did pay more for the first helmet I bought and sold because it didn't fit right). The one I found that fit only cost $60, so that's what I paid. It meets the same standards as the $500 helmets.