[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?

[pknowles]

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.

Totally agree, if it meets the spec then it meets the spec. I've never cut open a helmet to see, but I presume most of the extra cost is for more breathable fabric and better padding. I use a $100 helmet and I'll buy my girlfreind a $100 helmet. I would like to see more testing data because I know they test these things. So I would like to see a impact rating for helmet, so when you go to buy one it would say "design is impact tested to 3,000 lb over a 1 second deration" or something rating like that. That would let you know if a more expensive helmet is really better, other wise it is just a guess with little to back it up.

I would also go to say that since these things are designed and tested for cars with rollbar's, that they build hemlets to pass that test. What I care about is rollover since I don't have a rollbar in my current car and one design of helmet that is good for protecting in hitting your head on a rollbar may not do so well in a rollover. I know I'm being a little course on my judment, but my point is that asumming a more expensive helmet is better for you is like saying the most expensive tire is the best; which is not always the case and we have a ton more data on tires then we do on helmet's.

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.

For SCCA Solo 2 it is 3 cycles, so when 2005 comes out then 90 will be out the door.