I do a decent amount of AutoXing, and want to start road racing track days as well. I know that for AutoX, either open or closed face helmets are ok, but what about most road racing clubs and tracks....what do they require?

Also, should I be looking for a SA2000 rating or will M2000 be ok? I will never have a roll bar in my car....

Thanks

bad30th,
Be safe and go with the SA2000, I would think that would meet everybodies requirements.
Good Luck

ok thanks

how about open vs full face? anyone have any opinions/advice?

Open face is usually accepted in a closed car. I use a Bieffe Jet Auto (open face & SA2000). While M helmets work for autocross, some open tracking may require SA. I figured if I was buying a helmet I intended to use for several years, I may as well go SA just in case I ever run into an event I want to do that requires it.

Edit: By the way, welcome to the board!

thanks

looks like SA it is then

I would get a closed face SA2000. You'd get more protection for your face and chin.

Another vote for SA2000. I bought a Bieffe Integral from www.daveturner.com for $240 + $8 s/h. Very happy with it.

anyone who has a closed face helmet ever feel that their range of view becomes limited? i've just been curious if they do, because thus far, when i've thought about buying a helmet i was considering more an open faced helmet cuz i thought it might allow for a better range of view.

For autoxing I would recommend a closed-face helmet with big eyeports. Motorcycle helmets have good sized eyeports, I have an Arai I use for autox and instructing hot lappers. Go to a shop that has several different brands and get fitted there. I learned to do this after buying helmet mail order and it was too small. You will find different brands have different fits. One style may not fit you at all; best to find out before you purchase. You can shop around, get fitted and then mail order if that is the best deal. Personally I appreciated my helmet fitter so I purchased it from the retail shop I went to (Wine Country Motorsports at Sears*cough*Infineon Raceway).

I'm not trying to challenging you, but why do you recommend a closed face for auto-x? I could see the safety concern on a track, but it's tough to get seriously injured driving in autocross, particularly in a manner where a full helmet would provide more protection than an open-face.

Absolut, don't worry, I am taking your query in the spirit of curiousity. Good question! After doing a lot of hot-lapping and racing in our cars, I developed the attitude that more protection is better than less. Since closed-face helmets with big eyeports are really comfortable, why not? Most folks run in autox with their visors up anyway, that takes care of most folks complaints about being hot. My Arai motorcycle helmet came with a vent on top, that also helps keep things cool.

Personally I'd like to see open faced helmets die with my idol, rest in peace, Dale Earnhardt Sr. I also had a friend crash his snowmobile while wearing an open-faced helmet. Unfortunately that cost him many hours and $ of painful plastic surgery. You won't catch him in an open-faced helmet now! That does not equate to your risk in autox, however, caution with a measure of comfort just makes sense.

I use a BELL M2 PRO. It is SA00 rated and the M2 has the larger eyport that can be used with glasses.

I use a Bieffe closed faced on rr tracks and love it.
The eye ports are large and I feel comfortable with the visibility.
I also drive with the visor up, except when the sun is low late in the day.

Here is a pic of it.....
http://www.ddrockinrods.com/Event/1122HD113.jpg

Try it you will like it!