I've been actively karting and am ready to purchase a helmet. At first I was planning on purchasing a cheap helmet but I read more online and realized that it makes sense not to skimp on safety. I've narrowed it down to an Arai SK-6, but maybe you guys will sway me to a better choice.

Secondly, I noticed some people at the track with some appealing custom designs on their helmets, some including sponsors. I thought that was pretty neat.

Show me yours!

 

HJC Si12...I love the helmet a lot. Great for people that wear glasses. I used to use a Bell M2, which has a large eyeport, but putting glasses on was a pain in the ***. I recommend the HJC since it's lighter than anything in that price range and has a lot of nice features.

 

Karting where?
Indoors or outdoors.
Is it going to be used in both karting and autos?
I use Bell helmets because of the fitment to my head and the eye ports tend to be much bigger than most.
Most club racers don't have their helmets painted... why... because the average paint job at a reputable helmet painter can cost twice what you paid for the helmet itself.
Money better spent on the car or track time

Plus getting in and out of the car through the window will scratch the helmet for sure.
That being said, my helmet was painted at Troy Lee Designs but the paint job was a gift, and a very nice one at that.
I don't think id pay to have mine painted out of pocket.
Let me see if i can post one up later on.

 

Scorpion Exo 400, SNELL and DOT approved. Was comfy and affordable for an entry level helmet for AutoX/HPDE duty. See if you can find any 2005 helmets still on sale, will still be good for 5 years and at half the price of a 2010 helmet.

 

indoor karting.

is the arai sk-6 approved for scca solo?

 

I woudl assume if its Snell 05 or newer it would be. This is the last year alot of places will accept a snell 00 helmet.

 

icon helmets

 

I have a Simpson Super Bandit of the SA2010 variety. I am extremely happy with it.

 

If you are only doing indoor karting no need to spend 600.00 bux on the arai.
Hell thats alot of indoor track time you're trading away.

If your using it for both then I can see the expense.
Go back and read the threads on helmets and learn what the various ratings are.
Then you'll know what the ratings mean so you can determine what helmet really covers all you want to do with it.

 

If you're racing a car or kart, be sure to get an SA2010 rated helmet. This will be legal for the most years and it is designed for multiple impacts. M20xx helmets are designed for a motorcycle crash where it has a big impact and a slide... Just because it's DOT or SNELL approved doesn't mean it's good for everything - check what type of SNELL approval it has... and DOT doesn't mean ****... a company can determine if their helmet meets DOT standards - they don't even have to prove it....

Also, K20xx are for karting and are the same as SA helmets, just dont need to have fire resistant parts.

 

sa2010 it is.

i'm just weary about spending $200 on head protection. am i being cheap or frugal? i've seen some pretty nasty crashes and although no one got injured i want to protect my head in the case that something will happen.

here are some i found online:

rci full race $200
http://www.soloracer.com/rcisahelmet.html

g-force pro eliminator $250
http://www.saferacer.com/g-force-pro...productid=2342

bell sport $280
http://www.saferacer.com/bell-sport-...productid=2210

i'm leaning more towards the bell sport...

 

light weight pays off in karts and just in general. heavy, slightly tight, hot day... and you could start having some issues.

 

For karting only, I just used an M rated Bell Star 1 for about $100. I wouldn't really use it for car racing though, but for karts, it works fine.

 

The bell will be fine.
Don't play into the more is better deal.
Takata harnesses cost an arm and a leg.. but they aren't any better than a set from G-Force at one third the price.

We have name brands in motorsports that get you solely for the name brand.
Just like jeans and shoes.. Designer labling.
You did your due diligence and found a reputable brand at nice price.
Go try one on and buy it!

 

i honestly don't know which helmet brands are "designer"

a friend recommended i go to Wine Country Motorsports at Infineon, which is not too far from where I currently reside.

Hopefully I don't get upsold!

 

That's a good plan, go try them on, and get what fits you best.
Wine country wont upsell you, they have a good staff that is low pressure.
I buy my helmets from Wine Country, make a day out of it.. while you are there go down the the deli down the road next to the 76 station and have lunch.
When your leaving Infineon make left and go down the road about 5 miles, you wont be disappointed.

 

oh, i see you're from tracy.

have you been to the umigo indoor karting place? le mans in fremont is where i go, but i heard some good things (although it seems pricey) about umigo.

 

When karting was in its infancy in the bay SpeedRing (Santa Clara) was the only game in town.
Then came Lemans.. small but nice.
I dont like their new karts.. they totally suck ***.
You dont buy karts with adjustable pedals, you buy adjustable seats.
Last time i was there i raced one session, and could not get comfortable in the seat.
I was reaching for the steering wheel. Thats not your classic kart driving position.
They gave me a cushion for the next session and i was falling out of the seat in the turns.
In the middle of the session i pulled off the track and asked for a refund for the remaining sessions.
I got my money, and never went back.
Go Kart racer.. not too bad but its in burlingame.

Umigo... funny you should mention them. I helped them open the place up.
Great karts.. adjustable seats. BIG track that changes almost daily, and great staff. Sponsored by Red Bull.
Nice facility!
Jim, Loretta, Nacho, and Karen are some great people and the owners.
They work hard at giving the patrons a good deal for their money!
Worth the drive and money.

 

i could really use those adjustable seats. k1 had me reeeeaaaaching for those pedals.

$25 for 15 minutes seems just about right, maybe a little better than other places, but no member pricing?

$28 will get me 55 laps and $35 will get me 75 laps at le mans.

those pricings are the only things keeping me from going to umigo. if umigo had member pricing i'd MUCH rather go there (it's closer to where i live by far)

 

I like to do the enduro's 75.00 for 2 or 3 people one hour of racing time for the enduro.
If I could get more of the nor cal HC drivers who live near by to go...

 

this was my first time karting. i had two runs and the results came out like this:

 

maybe someday we can do an enduro together!

 

Hector came in 9th? I guess the NIRA circuit thing didn't work out for him.

 

Pick a Friday when they run and lets do it!

 

I'm glad that you liked my recommendation, it's by far my favorite helmet out there right now.


Anyhow, head down to Wine Country Motorsports, try on a bunch of helmets and find the one that fits you well, and fits your wallet. I upped my budget when I tried on the Si-12 because of how well it fit and how light it was.

Here is the helmet that I'm speaking of:

SA 2005 $499- http://www.winecountrymotorsports.co...roducts_id=466

SA 2010 $699- http://www.winecountrymotorsports.co...roducts_id=900