How to find a cheap helmet?

Yes, I know, you don't want to cheap out on a helmet.  Unfortunately, the Challenge is the only place i will need it for at least the next year.

Also unfortunately, I have a bit of a huge dome, so I doubt I'd be able to share one.

So what is the bare minimum I will need, and where can I find it?

"Every competitor must wear a helmet when driving in the autocross or drag race. Minimum helmet requirements are as follows: Snell-certified SA- or SM- helmet with a certification not more than 10 years old. NHRA rules will require SA- rated helmets if your car has certain modifications or runs a certain E.T. or MPH."

So depends on how you do drag racing?

You can get a lot of cheap sa2020 helmets just over $200, though a quick google showed simpson closing out their viper helmet (probably getting ready for SA2025 inventory)

https://www.simpsonraceproducts.com/products/discontinued_product/parts/7100002?gQT=2

That's what I'd get over the $220 no name brands.

In reply to theruleslawyer :

I almost went the Viper route, except for the no-exchange policy, and I was kind of afraid I'd get the wrong size. 

That being said.. if you're more confident than I was, I would also go with the Viper. 

In reply to theruleslawyer :

On a related note, I'm seeing these kinds of rules popping up in lots of places. Does this mean that a sa2015 helmet would be illegal next year, even if it was only 5 years old?

Maybe see if you can borrow one from your local SCCA? They have loaner helmets!

AMiataCalledSteve said:

In reply to theruleslawyer :

On a related note, I'm seeing these kinds of rules popping up in lots of places. Does this mean that a sa2015 helmet would be illegal next year, even if it was only 5 years old?

I believe so.  In most of the organizations I have Raced with, that was the case.  They only allow the current and the previous standard no matter the date of manufacture. 

Check out Zamp's selection. They'll take you all the way from a sub-$200 helmet (I believe) up to forced air ventilation carbon fiber units. I have a rather giant head, too, and the XL size fits me well with a balaclava. I can also fit in a Large, I suspect, but leaving room for the balaclava was a good move.

https://zamp-racing.com/auto

I have their RZ-70E. It's blue and it makes me happy. I will probably pipe fresh air into the lid of it this summer, and, wouldn't you know it, the thing is pre-configured for just that. Also for water. Also for radio. It also came with an alternate set of ear cups, but they didn't say why or how I'm supposed to swap those out. Even their basic auto racing one comes with posts for tear-offs if that's your jam.

I rocked a zamp for awhile.  Fit well and was fairly comfortable.  Only downside was the interior wasn't removable at all and I had to take care to keep it unstinky.

wvumtnbkr said:

AMiataCalledSteve said:

In reply to theruleslawyer :

On a related note, I'm seeing these kinds of rules popping up in lots of places. Does this mean that a sa2015 helmet would be illegal next year, even if it was only 5 years old?

I believe so.  In most of the organizations I have Raced with, that was the case.  They only allow the current and the previous standard no matter the date of manufacture. 

Same, though you may get a little leeway in the transition year. It would be a little awkward for October-December events. I think most of them update requirements on an annual basis.

AMiataCalledSteve said:

In reply to theruleslawyer :

On a related note, I'm seeing these kinds of rules popping up in lots of places. Does this mean that a sa2015 helmet would be illegal next year, even if it was only 5 years old?

Seems like it would be worth clarifying whether that means "ten years old period" or "ten years older than the current standard". Most groups operate on the latter to my knowledge, but maybe that's changing. In any case, anyone that currently allows 2015s should allow them through the end of the year since 2025s don't go on sale until fall.

The plastics in helmets age, and they don't know how it's been treated in storage or transport in those years, so having a rolling certification allowance makes sense as it is guaranteed to force old helmets to retire.

Personally, I'd try to find a place that sells them so you can try them on, as different manufacturers fit differently.  I have a Simpson shaped head (the helmet, not Homer) and G force helmets, for example, are a bit loose side to side.  Or rather, I had to go up a size relative to their measurement spec in order to be able to wear it comfortably.

Being stupid, I didn't spend the extra 50 for a Simpson.  Fortunately (?) it's aged out and this year is new helmet year.

Do you have a large motorcycle store nearby? Locally we have Iron Pony and their closeout aisle typically has helmets with steep discounts if you are ok with crazy graphics that nobody wanted.

If it's only for the Challenge, are loaner helmets still available? Borrow one this time and then buy your own when SA2025 is available...

GameboyRMH said:

If it's only for the Challenge, are loaner helmets still available? Borrow one this time and then buy your own when SA2025 is available...

It would be awesome to be able to use a loaner just for the challenge.

EvanB said:

Do you have a large motorcycle store nearby? Locally we have Iron Pony and their closeout aisle typically has helmets with steep discounts if you are ok with crazy graphics that nobody wanted.

As it turns out, spray paint isn't all that expensive, too.

I like to go for the color-flopping paints because helmets are pretty much the only thing they look good on, but it's three stages and the middle stage can have like 5 or 7 applications if you really want it to pop.

GameboyRMH said:

If it's only for the Challenge, are loaner helmets still available? Borrow one this time and then buy your own when SA2025 is available...

They did away with them during Covid and they haven't returned.

In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :

Used to be that anything applied to a helmet, even some stickers, was an automatic failure in tech. 

EvanB said:

Do you have a large motorcycle store nearby? Locally we have Iron Pony and their closeout aisle typically has helmets with steep discounts if you are ok with crazy graphics that nobody wanted.

Don't expect to pass tech with a motorcycle helmet. You won't.

Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) said:

EvanB said:

Do you have a large motorcycle store nearby? Locally we have Iron Pony and their closeout aisle typically has helmets with steep discounts if you are ok with crazy graphics that nobody wanted.

Don't expect to pass tech with a motorcycle helmet. You won't.

The rules literally say you can. I'm not sure what the nhra limits are that require a SA helmet however.

theruleslawyer said:

Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) said:

EvanB said:

Do you have a large motorcycle store nearby? Locally we have Iron Pony and their closeout aisle typically has helmets with steep discounts if you are ok with crazy graphics that nobody wanted.

Don't expect to pass tech with a motorcycle helmet. You won't.

The rules literally say you can. I'm not sure what the nhra limits are that require a SA helmet however.

Indeed they do, going by the post at the top. 

Good question about passing tech for the drags, though.

My motorsport participation has been limited to autocross and SCCA time trial rules, and motorcycle helmets are excluded. This is my first experience with an exception.

In reply to theruleslawyer :

Definitely dont need to worry about any modifications, certain ET or MPH.  So I guess I'll check out some motorcycle shops tomorrow 

Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) said:

theruleslawyer said:

Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) said:

EvanB said:

Do you have a large motorcycle store nearby? Locally we have Iron Pony and their closeout aisle typically has helmets with steep discounts if you are ok with crazy graphics that nobody wanted.

Don't expect to pass tech with a motorcycle helmet. You won't.

The rules literally say you can. I'm not sure what the nhra limits are that require a SA helmet however.

Indeed they do, going by the post at the top. 

Good question about passing tech for the drags, though.

My motorsport participation has been limited to autocross and SCCA time trial rules, and motorcycle helmets are excluded. This is my first experience with an exception.

I dug around the nhra rules for a bit out of curiosity. It seems mostly open bodied turbo, supercharged or methanol cars in some classes. It seems unlikely for a production based car. Pretty much anything else you can run a M.

My brother-in-law was a motorcycle mechanic and I asked him about a cheap helmet back in the day.

Cheap helmets are for cheap heads. Spend the money. 

Datsun240ZGuy said:

My brother-in-law was a motorcycle mechanic and I asked him about a cheap helmet back in the day.

Cheap helmets are for cheap heads. Spend the money. 

It depends. For a motorcycle, absolutely yes. But the nice thing about Snell ratings is that they're all pretty much equally protective (as long as you don't go so cheap that you get some knockoff/falsified Snell compliance garbage). For the most part what the extra money gets you is durability and lightness. Lightness is safety related, but for something that's going to see minimal use and probably exclusively low speed use, neither one is overly critical. I have a sub $300 helmet that has seen probably 20-25 weekends of use per year since 2018 and it's just starting to show its age a little. There's absolutely situations where "spend the money" applies, but one low speed autocross per year isn't one.

I'm dating myself ~ back in the early 80's Kmart sold helmets of this style in Sporting Goods.  

He was more referring to me not getting a $29 helmet unless I had a cheap head to protect.