Helmet dealers in Texas?

AggieMaroon · #1 (**permalink**) 09-14-2006, 09:55 AM

Needing -I hope soon (soon to finish build of LSC)- safety helmet for tracking and am looking for a dealer with large selection to try some on. I understand all don't fit alike and want a good store selection of size and brand.
Any dealers in Houston (I'm there a lot), Austin, Dallas?

Thanks for the help folks.

JT

hey,littlecobra · #2 (**permalink**) 09-14-2006, 12:14 PM

I'm looking for a helmet as well, and Rob, the partner/mechanic at Keith Craft in Plano said to go to Smiley's. I don't know if they have them in Houston/SA. The one I'll head to is near me, I think, somewhere in Mesquite- a few miles east of Dallas, right off of I-20, and 635.

It's called :smiley's racing

HOUSTON
Smiley's Racing Products of Houston
1622 Sawdust Rd.
The Woodlands, TX 77380
View map
281.362.7872

I looked at their website, and they do have helmets.

Kristen

AggieMaroon · #3 (**permalink**) 09-14-2006, 12:33 PM

Thanks, Kristen
I've seen a lot of your posts so know who you are. Rob got me my transmission/clutch assy and dialed it in. Good shop. I'm not familiar with Smiley's but soon to be.

I plan to be in Tulsa next as well. My wife's from there. Hope to be in Austin too. Car is near fininshed. Just drove to calibrate speedo and the cooling fan blades flew apart. Oh well!

Thanks again.

JT

Cammer · #4 (**permalink**) 09-15-2006, 09:22 AM

To All,

Simpson racing products has a showroom that you can visit at the following address:

328 FM 306
New Braunfels, TX 78130
830-625-1774

Never been there.........word is they manufacture everything in their product line at this location.

Dee Walters/Cammer

AggieMaroon · #5 (**permalink**) 11-27-2006, 05:55 PM

I went to Simpson's New Braunfels location. They have no showroom.

They said if I called ahead for an appointment and knew what I wanted they could have someone bring it up from the back to look at.

JT

Tim Brewer · #6 (**permalink**) 11-27-2006, 06:32 PM

Why don't you just go to a motorcycle shop?

hey,littlecobra · #7 (**permalink**) 11-27-2006, 07:10 PM

not that you asked me....
but.... most tracks do not recommend or accept motorcycle helmets. they do not meet the same requirements, by a long shot. Now for casual tracking, motorcycle helmets have been accepted by many tracks; but for what i consider driving experiences, high speed track events, i prefer a Snell rated (appropriately) Racing helmet.
I found a good quality Bell at the Smiley's in Mesquite. The 'kevlar' Simpsons are very nice, but $700 and up. wow. I just don't think i'm on the track enough for that. My Bell was just under $300 I think. will have to get out my receipt. They are fiberglass, and if you don't know any differently, the fiberglass is just fine. I think it would be hard to go from a Kevlar (very very lightweight) helmet back to fiberglass.
just my $.02 worth!

Kristen

JustOne · #8 (**permalink**) 11-27-2006, 07:33 PM

I dindn't think Aggies needed helments..............

I got mine off of E-Bay and used it for kart racing, and now the cobra. As long as the helment is Snell rated you should be fine.

392cobra · #9 (**permalink**) 11-27-2006, 07:48 PM

There are two different Snell ratings.
M - Motorcyle
SA - Sports Application

Snell "SA" (Sports Application) rated professional helmets are designed for auto racing and provide extreme impact resistance and higher fire protection.

Key differences between SA and M Rated Helmets (from Snell website):
SA standard requires flammability test while the M standard does not.
SA standard has rollbar impact test while M standard does not.
SA standard allows narrower visual field than M standard (Some SA helmets aren't street legal).

Don't cheap out an get an motorcyle helmet.Get something worthy of your life and Cobra.
Go to a Track Day with the wrong helmet and they will send you home.

ROUSHAC · #10 (**permalink**) 11-27-2006, 07:55 PM

Check out this site: http://www.apexperformance.net/cartg...t.asp?scat=274

Lots of SA2005 helmets in different styles.

If it doesn't fit, return it for an exchange for the correct size.

Sale on now on many helmets.

Fast shipping. Pleasure to deal with.

I got this one last month: http://www.apexperformance.net/cartg...pid=977&cid=18. Good bang for the buck. It's pretty true to the hat size that I normally wear.

Or you could get this one: http://www.apexperformance.net/cartg...id=1418&cid=18

Its ONLY $3000.00

ffindling · #11 (**permalink**) 11-27-2006, 08:37 PM

This talk about helmets started me wondering about the HANS device and
if it might be advisable to use one for tracking. Although most circuits usually
have fairly generous run-off areas and gravel traps so the "blunt" type impacts
against walls are quite rare and we're dealing generally with somewhat lower
speeds than with all-out race cars, the possibility still remains such as t-boning
a stationary car. Most, if not all of the sanctioning bodies for pro-type racing
require their use now. What do others think on the subject?

....Fred

Tim Brewer · #12 (**permalink**) 11-27-2006, 10:14 PM

I'm not talking about "cheap" motorcycle helmets. I'm talking about Shoei, AGV, Arai, Shark and of course Bell. These helmets are as good or better than any helmet on the market. SCCA only requires a Snell rating and does not care if it is a Snell "M" or "SA". You won't be "cheaping out" by buying a motorcycle helmet, unless it's a no-name brand.
Tim

Admiral · #13 (**permalink**) 11-28-2006, 03:25 AM

Go to Pro Am Auto in Houston: www.proamauto.com

They sell to SCCA and NASA racers, plenty of SA helmets to select from.

Telephone 713-781-7755 / 1.800.847.5712
Fax 1.713.781.8207

Address 6125 Richmond, Houston, TX 77057

Hours: 9:30am to 6:00 pm CST Monday thru Friday

9:30am to 4:00 pm CST Saturdays

392cobra · #14 (**permalink**) 11-28-2006, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Brewer

. SCCA only requires a Snell rating and does not care if it is a Snell "M" or "SA". You won't be "cheaping out" by buying a motorcycle helmet, unless it's a no-name brand.
Tim

Not entirely so Tim.
If you stay with Solo I/Solo II (AutoCross hard surface) or RallyCross (AutoCross on dirt,gravel,etc.) a Snell M helmet is approved.These are fairly slow with only one car at a time on the track.
Past this Snell SA is required. For good reason.

Why not just buy one helmet,SA,and be covered in any event you enter ?

Bwana Snake · #15 (**permalink**) 11-28-2006, 01:54 PM

Check out Racer's Choice Inc. , I do business with these people "Tom Dargewitch" is one of the owners and they are located in Tyler, TX., they do a lot more tha helment.

Gary
http://www.rciracing.com

Madmiles442 · #16 (**permalink**) 11-28-2006, 08:06 PM

I'm getting hooked on the racing thing, so I've done a lot of shopping recently for an SA2005 helmet and Apex Performance's prices match the best I've found, including ebay. I've heard positive things about them too.

AggieMaroon · #17 (**permalink**) 11-29-2006, 07:59 AM

Thanks again for the sources, folks. I was aware of the many good online dealers but primarily wanted some place to actually try a bunch on to compare comfort and fit. (working up a Christams list

)

I am looking for an SA - everyone else has appropriately responded to why. Some helmets are shaped differently - Arai is one. Also I compared some of the ventilation systems. Do they work?? Some have the vent holes flowing through to thick pads behind them - seems like it would block the airflow - Any comments? G-force appears like it would flow much better than Simpson but don't know.

I went to Smiley's in Houston (Woodlands) yesterday and they had a few. Will try other places as I get close.

Like they say - If you have a $20 head then wear a $20 helmet

Thanks again.

JT

Admiral · #18 (**permalink**) 12-01-2006, 04:52 AM

I have no experience with the Forced Air ventilation but can tell you that the little vent holes and slots in my Bell helmet do exactly "SQUAT" to flow air inside my race car. Hot hot hot. Did I mention it gets hot?