going to my first track event and I need a helmet ASAP (forgot about it until last minute)

needs to be Snell 2005 Cert.

i found www.simpsonraceproducts.com everything i found there that i'd consider is in the $400 range...not sure if they even have over night shipping...

anyother sites i can order a helmet from thats maybe less expensive or same price and has over night shipping?

 

You can get a good basic starter helmet for a lot less. Check out www.summitracing.com and www.saferacer.com G-Force makes a decent starter helmet. Make sure you check the sizing guide from the helmet maker to determine your size first...

Best of luck!

 

Go to a local race shop if you can and get correctly sized; even a motorcycle shop will suffice to get a fit and measurements.

Try out several brands: not all helmets fit the same. I tried Simpson (least expensive), Bell, and Arai (most expensive), and settled on the Bell M3 due to the best fit.

Remember to make sure your helmet's snug on your head but not too tight or you'll get a headache. The foam will relax over a period of time, but not so much so and you still want a snug fit.

Wear the helmet for a few minutes at the shop to ensure that you have no 'hot spots' on the top of your head.

If you want to keep the inside clean, buy a balaclava and then fit the helmet. You might find that it's really snug with the balaclava, but it will eventually relax when you wear it over a period of time. This way you can wash the balaclava and not have to worry about steam cleaning out the inside of your helmet over and over.

Once you get your helmet, wear it around the house for a period of time to ensure you can wear it when you're driving. This way you'll be sure it's the one you want.

Buy a visor spare parts kit. My Bell M3 visor pivot washers broke after only a few days of wearing it around the house (and yes, I looked silly walking around the house in a helmet) and I had to contact the race shop for new ones. In the meantime, while waiting for the new washers, I bought a few more sets and an extra visor.

Buy a good carrying bag. They have special bags for helmets, but almost any gym bag will do.

Most of all, buy the best helmet you can afford. I went from the trying out the Bell M2 (fiberglass) @ $379.00 to the Bell M3 (kevlar & fiberglass) @ $479.00. There was a significant weight difference between the two so I opted for the lighter (and more expensive) of the two. Sure, there are carbon fiber helmets out there ($5000.00+) that the F1 drivers wear, but I'll make do with what I have for now. Mayber later I'll go for a helmet that has cooling ports, if and when I start racing, but that's down the road.