[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?

[LT4Firehawk]

Where a lot of people get confused is on the M vs. SA rating. For the 2000 ratings, there is only one testing difference. This test simulates an impact with a rollbar. Otherwise the main difference is in the lining (SA requires fire retardant materials, but many of the M helmets have this even though not required). For me, since I don't have a rollbar/cage, I go with M rated helmets which have a couple of benefits. One, they are less expensive, and two, they have a larger opening on the full face units (part of the SA standard dictates a smaller opening).

Also, keep in mind that helmets are only good for 2 certification cycles (certification occurrs every 5 years). For example, if you have a M/SA95 helmet, it will no longer be accepted once the 2005 certification comes out.