Best place to buy a helmet in SF

Arnie · 02-19-2001, 12:28 AM

Was at the 3com Autocross today and it gave me the itch to start racing again. I need a new helmet. Where is the best place to buy one here?

By the way, it was nice meeting those that I met and it was a blast to watch. And that one yellow S4 (#32?) was incredible! That car was set up nice.

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adrian03 · 02-19-2001, 12:48 AM

Bell Motorsports in Oakland. They carry Bieffe and Bell. Good price and nice people!

3227 14th Ave
Oakland, CA 94602
(510) 536-2355

bluesaint · 02-19-2001, 11:59 AM

Hi all, Im selling my Bieffe Predator helmet, size Large. Total used time is 4 hrs on the head. 3 autox and 2 speedring sessions. Asking for $175. Im selling it because I got a bigger head than I thought =) i need a XL and not a L.

[This message has been edited by bluesaint (edited February 19, 2001).]

Necromancer · 02-19-2001, 07:44 PM

SA or M helmet? For SA, try Bell as Adrian mentioned, or Frey Racing in Milpitas. For motorcycle helmets, Cycle Works in SF has a good selection of Arai and Shoei stuff. Note that M helmets are OK for autocross and most track events.

rnwang · 02-19-2001, 10:37 PM

Do you want a car helmet or a motorcycle helmet?

There is a difference. Motorcycle helmets have larger visor area because of the position motorcylist are in when riding. Motorcyle helmet are also generally heavier than car helmets because of the increased protection required.

I've not seen a motorcycle helmet which is Snell SA2000, which is going to be mandatory in SCCA by 2003. So that's another consideration.

In San Francisco, for motorcycle helmets go to Scuderia West. Good prices and they race.

If you like closed face get a motorcycle helmet. They work fine for autocross, but are a bit heavy. Don't get a open face motorcycle helmet. Even if they're snell, they have cheap construction.

All my racing has been done in closed cars, so I wear a open face helmet. I trade protection for more circulation and more visibility. I wear a Bell Mag5, which you can get from www.bellmotorsport.com. Open face with kevlar construction.

For the true WRX fanatic, you must have the same helmet as Burns. A Peltor Carbon Pro Rally in ProDrive Blue. www.peltor.co.uk

Arnie · 02-19-2001, 11:00 PM

Well the helmet will be primarily for the car since I refuse to ride motorcycles anymore after a bad wreck some years ago. So I guess an open face would be fine though I do like the look of the close face ones. Need to check on the Snell certification. Thanks for that tip. I need to get licensed again for SCCA and read up on all the new rules, categories and whatnot.

Anymore suggestions? I'd like to try on some helmets locally and in the end probably mail order to save a buck or two. Any places here that have a decent knowledge of helmets for car use or can I get by with the motorcycle shops?

kaminari · 02-20-2001, 12:22 AM

I just picked up a Bieffe Predator for a pretty good discount because my group and I bought five.

they sell shoei, bieffe and simpson, might carry bell.
http://www.helmetcity.com is their site.

we went to their warehouse, downtown oakland ... 26th street i believe

check them out, but they might not be extremely cheap since we bought in quantity.

-jason

vintageracer · 02-20-2001, 12:32 AM

Hello. I know that it is nice to support the local vendors, but in my search for racing equipment I found the deals offered by Racers Wholesale (they have an online site) to be hard to beat. They have driving packages also that include helmets, shoes, gloves and suits.

02-19-2001, 12:28 AM	#1
Arnie Scooby Guru Member#: 1725 Join Date: Jun 2000 Chapter/Region: International Location: Germany Vehicle: 99 Subaru Impreza GF silver	Best place to buy a helmet in SF Was at the 3com Autocross today and it gave me the itch to start racing again. I need a new helmet. Where is the best place to buy one here? By the way, it was nice meeting those that I met and it was a blast to watch. And that one yellow S4 (#32?) was incredible! That car was set up nice. * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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02-19-2001, 12:48 AM	#2
adrian03 Scooby Newbie Member#: 240 Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: Fremont, Ca	Bell Motorsports in Oakland. They carry Bieffe and Bell. Good price and nice people! 3227 14th Ave Oakland, CA 94602 (510) 536-2355

02-19-2001, 11:59 AM	#3
bluesaint Scooby Specialist Member#: 876 Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Newark, CA USA	Hi all, Im selling my Bieffe Predator helmet, size Large. Total used time is 4 hrs on the head. 3 autox and 2 speedring sessions. Asking for $175. Im selling it because I got a bigger head than I thought =) i need a XL and not a L. [This message has been edited by bluesaint (edited February 19, 2001).]

02-19-2001, 07:44 PM	#4
Necromancer Scooby Specialist Member#: 477 Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Vancouver Vehicle: GC4 -> GGA -> GM6 Yeah, that's about right.	SA or M helmet? For SA, try Bell as Adrian mentioned, or Frey Racing in Milpitas. For motorcycle helmets, Cycle Works in SF has a good selection of Arai and Shoei stuff. Note that M helmets are OK for autocross and most track events.

02-19-2001, 10:37 PM	#5
rnwang Scooby Newbie Member#: 3968 Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: San Francisco, CA	Do you want a car helmet or a motorcycle helmet? There is a difference. Motorcycle helmets have larger visor area because of the position motorcylist are in when riding. Motorcyle helmet are also generally heavier than car helmets because of the increased protection required. I've not seen a motorcycle helmet which is Snell SA2000, which is going to be mandatory in SCCA by 2003. So that's another consideration. In San Francisco, for motorcycle helmets go to Scuderia West. Good prices and they race. If you like closed face get a motorcycle helmet. They work fine for autocross, but are a bit heavy. Don't get a open face motorcycle helmet. Even if they're snell, they have cheap construction. All my racing has been done in closed cars, so I wear a open face helmet. I trade protection for more circulation and more visibility. I wear a Bell Mag5, which you can get from www.bellmotorsport.com. Open face with kevlar construction. For the true WRX fanatic, you must have the same helmet as Burns. A Peltor Carbon Pro Rally in ProDrive Blue. www.peltor.co.uk

02-19-2001, 11:00 PM	#6
Arnie Scooby Guru Member#: 1725 Join Date: Jun 2000 Chapter/Region: International Location: Germany Vehicle: 99 Subaru Impreza GF silver	Well the helmet will be primarily for the car since I refuse to ride motorcycles anymore after a bad wreck some years ago. So I guess an open face would be fine though I do like the look of the close face ones. Need to check on the Snell certification. Thanks for that tip. I need to get licensed again for SCCA and read up on all the new rules, categories and whatnot. Anymore suggestions? I'd like to try on some helmets locally and in the end probably mail order to save a buck or two. Any places here that have a decent knowledge of helmets for car use or can I get by with the motorcycle shops?

02-20-2001, 12:22 AM	#7
kaminari Scooby Specialist Member#: 1781 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Hayward, CA, US Vehicle: 2000 2.5RS Blue Ridge Pearl	I just picked up a Bieffe Predator for a pretty good discount because my group and I bought five. they sell shoei, bieffe and simpson, might carry bell. http://www.helmetcity.com is their site. we went to their warehouse, downtown oakland ... 26th street i believe check them out, but they might not be extremely cheap since we bought in quantity. -jason

02-20-2001, 12:32 AM	#8
vintageracer Scooby Newbie Member#: 3744 Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Santa Cruz, CA USA	Hello. I know that it is nice to support the local vendors, but in my search for racing equipment I found the deals offered by Racers Wholesale (they have an online site) to be hard to beat. They have driving packages also that include helmets, shoes, gloves and suits.