Anyone else have this requirement at their local tracks? I have no helmet, but am dying to take my car down the track (never have gone down the track in any car).

I figure that I'll tell them that I'm expecting to run 14 flat and see if I get kicked out if I should happen to beat that time (my car is completely stock).

Ever seen a 14 second car hit the wall or get sideways and roll at speed? It can get pretty ugly.

The official NHRA rule is 13.59 I believe but personally wouldn't go down a dragstrip without a helmet.

Problem with your plan is that they could kick you out for more than just the day....

My track (New England Dragway in Epping, NH) requires a helmet with any pass FASTER then 14.00. So, 13's or better, requires a helmet. I'm not sure if they now require a newer SNELL standard, but last I knew it was Snell 95. Either way, any old SNELL rated (to your track) motorcycle helmet (used) will work. You can get them for cheap money.

A guy I work with offered to loan me his motorcycle helmet (race kind with the full front face), so I guess I'll use that.

Helmets should be required regardless of time. 14 seconds is enough to kill you if you go sideways. Unlikely, yes..but why take a chance. I do not get in any race car or prepared street car in a racing event without one. Helmets are cheap insurance against years of suffering or death. I will now end my rant ;).

--Mike

Yep out here at HRP (Houston Raceway Park- where they have the O'Reilly Spring Nationals) 13.99 or faster. You can usually get away w/ the first time w/ a warning but after that they will kick you out on the second run. Any legal DOT helmet will do the job. I use my motorcycle helmet myself...but I haven't been down the track in the G8 yet just my truck and our TBSS...

Since the recent death of Scott Kalitta there a new focus on safety within the NHRA. The nitro classes are now running to 1000 feet rather than the full 1320 and I would expect to see other changes as well, some likely filtering down all the way to the brackets.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/printedition/la-sp-nhra11-2008jul11,0,6261725.story

A helmet is required for 13.99 and lower times up the road in Milan MI. The first time I went there with my Trailblazer and just a tune, I had no idea how it would run, fearing it would not break into the 13's. I could have kissed the guy when I pulled up to get my timeslip and he asked me if I had a helmut :hail:. Ended up running a 13.69 by the way, twice in a row, it was cool outside though then.

Indianapolis Raceway Park also requires a helmut on runs faster than 14.0. I'ven not had any problems running a couple tenths faster than that though.

Ever seen a 14 second car hit the wall or get sideways and roll at speed? It can get pretty ugly.

The official NHRA rule is 13.59 I believe but personally wouldn't go down a dragstrip without a helmet.

Problem with your plan is that they could kick you out for more than just the day....


NHRA rule is 13.99...

NHRA rule is 13.99...

OK, thanks. I was relying on bad memory rather than the book.

To the OP...I say go, have fun. You can at least get one run in. If it is under 14s, they may make you wear a helmet for the rest of the night. Some tracks may not...it just depends who's working that night...and how strict they are.

Go give it a try...if the DA is too high...you may be pretty close to the cutoff. However, I do agree that it is in your best interest to have a helmet regardless...

Keith

Can you just rent these helmets at the track?

Probably not... but you can get snell helmets for less than $100 http://www.bellhelmets.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=6965

That I found with a thirty second search.

BTW all snell helmets are full face.

DOT helmets can be had for even cheaper. You can probably pick up a fiull face fulmer for less than $60. That is a tank of gas people... Hell they throw them in free when you buy a bike.

Can you just rent these helmets at the track?

That is just nasty.

A helmet is required for 13.99 and lower times up the road in Milan MI. The first time I went there with my Trailblazer and just a tune, I had no idea how it would run, fearing it would not break into the 13's. I could have kissed the guy when I pulled up to get my timeslip and he asked me if I had a helmut :hail:. Ended up running a 13.69 by the way, twice in a row, it was cool outside though then.


Holy Snap "Slowhite", that is a fast SUV! I hope I can pull a 13.6 next time I go to the track.

The Mid-Michigan Motorplex in Stanton, MI requires a helmet for 13.99 or faster.

I got a used old motorcyle helmet from my inlaws. It is totally ghetto, but so cool.

It is open faced, so it's not restrictive or awkward at all. :)


...

Both Milan, Mi and Norwalk, Oh require helmets for 13.99 and under. Just makes good sense. I run with an AVG Full Face with full opening face......not just the visor. Helps to keep a little cooler in the car while you wait. Wish I could find my damn Simpson helmet....In a damn box somewhere in my parents attic. It's painted to look like Boba Fetts helmet and looks tight as hell! lol

When I did my G8 Rental Racing at Great Lakes Dragway I did not have my helmet with me. Their rule was also 13.99 for a helmet. I ran a few 13.9s that night and they never said a thing to me. They did have rental helmets avalible if needed.

Neil
'08 MGM G8 GT

here in NJ at englishtown, helmets required no matter how slow/fast you are. You race, you wear a helmet

Not sure I would race without one even if they let me.

FYI, if the track is strict they'll require you to have a snell-approved helmet, most motorcycle helmets are NOT Snell approved, just DOT. I found this out my first time at the track, thought I was good to go with a cheap Bell I bought at WalMart, guy said it wasn't legal but let me slide anyway since it was my first time. I brought it with me a few times since then and never heard a peep about it, and now have an open-face Snell-approved helmet that's much better.

If you don't feel like getting a helmet, you can always try the "my friend here has one he'll let me borrow". If you actually are there with someone who does have a helmet they'll let you in, I've gotten other people in saying they can use my helmet plenty of times. Usually they don't break into the 13s so it's a moot point anyway.

There is a stock vs modified caveate in there somewhere.....

only way you can get away with no helmt would be to go to an IHRA sanctined track, they are normally not strict on tech or safety features on street cars. but thats you putting yourself at more risk. i jsut bought a new helmet for the series im in.

G-Force racing, top saftey rated snell everything. 250.00 shipped