Helmets and safety gear for track days
Every track day requires a helmet that meets the organizer’s minimum rating rule. Car-rated helmets, often labelled “SA”, are designed for auto use and are fire-resistant; motorcycle-rated helmets, often labelled “M”, may be accepted by some HPDE organizers but not others. Fit matters as much as the rating, and helmets have a working life, so check the label and your organizer’s rules before you buy.
- Your organizer sets the minimum helmet rating. Check it before buying.
- Car-rated (“SA”) helmets are made for auto use, including fire resistance and roll-cage impacts.
- A helmet that doesn’t fit snugly won’t protect you properly.
- Most organizers only accept helmets from recent rating cycles, and any helmet that has taken a hard impact should be replaced.
Helmet ratings in plain terms
Helmets are tested to published standards and carry a label inside showing the standard and its year. Car-rated helmets, commonly marked “SA”, are tested for multiple impacts, roll-bar contact and flame resistance. Motorcycle-rated helmets, commonly marked “M”, are tested for single heavy impacts but not for fire.
Many HPDE organizers accept either type; most competition events and many advanced groups require a car rating. Some require a minimum standard year. Your organizer’s rules are the only ones that count, so check them first.
Fit and comfort
Open-face helmets are common in cars, and full-face helmets add protection. If you wear glasses, try them with the helmet before you buy.
- 1Measure your head around the widest part, just above the eyebrows, and use the maker’s size chart as a starting point.
- 2Try it on: it should feel snug all round, with even pressure and no hot spots. The cheek pads should touch your cheeks.
- 3With the strap fastened, try to roll it forward off your head. It shouldn’t come off or move far.
- 4Wear it for several minutes. A small pressure point becomes a headache after a 25-minute session.
- 5Check vision: you should see your mirrors and the apex without craning your neck.
Age and replacement
Helmet standards are updated periodically, and many organizers only accept the current or the previous rating cycle. That effectively gives a helmet a working life of about ten years from its standard, sometimes less. The materials inside also degrade with heat, sweat and time.
Replace any helmet that has taken a significant impact, even if it looks fine. Store it in a soft bag away from heat and solvents, and don’t buy a used helmet with an unknown history.
Head-and-neck restraints
A head-and-neck restraint tethers the helmet to a device on your shoulders, limiting how far your head can whip forward in a frontal impact. They’re required in most wheel-to-wheel racing and recommended by many experienced track drivers.
They only work properly with a racing seat and harness. With a standard seat and three-point belt, the shoulder belt doesn’t hold the device correctly, so they aren’t usually recommended in standard road cars. Ask your organizer or a safety equipment specialist before fitting one.
Clothing and fire safety
For HPDE in a road car, long sleeves and long trousers in natural fibers such as cotton are the usual minimum. Synthetic fabrics can melt onto skin in a fire. Thin-soled, closed shoes give good pedal feel.
Fire-resistant suits, gloves and shoes become relevant as you move into competition, and some organizers require them in advanced groups or open-cockpit cars. A securely mounted fire extinguisher is required by some organizers and recommended by many. If you carry one, it must be firmly bolted down, never loose in the cabin.
FAQ
Can I use my motorcycle helmet at a track day?
Some HPDE organizers accept motorcycle-rated helmets, others don’t. Check with your organizer before the event, and consider a car-rated helmet if you plan to keep doing track days.
How old can my helmet be?
Most organizers accept only recent rating cycles, which works out to roughly ten years from the standard’s year. Check the label inside your helmet and your organizer’s current rules.
Do I need a head-and-neck restraint for HPDE?
Usually not in a road car with standard seats and belts. They become relevant with a racing seat and harness, and are often required for wheel-to-wheel racing.
Can I borrow or rent a helmet?
Some organizers have loaner helmets, usually with a liner or balaclava for hygiene. Ask in advance, as supplies can be limited.
- What is HPDE?HPDE is coached, non-competitive driving on a real race track in your own car. How run groups, instructors and classroom work, and how it differs from racing.
- Your first track day: what to expectA timeline of a first track day: arrival, registration, tech, drivers’ meeting, your first session, classroom, and when to call it a day.
- Track day checklist: what to bring and prepareA practical track day checklist for the car, the driver and the paddock: fluids, tools, tire gauge, helmet, clothing, food, water and paperwork.