Back in the day, we called racing helmets “crash helmets” because that’s what they’re designed for: To save your life when you hit stuff. I’ve also heard people refer to helmets as “brain buckets” because they protect your gray matter (it could be argued that some people are protecting more gray matter than others, but that’s a topic for another day). Regardless of what they’re called, helmets are an essential and ubiquitous item within motorsports. From Formula 1 to a Regional SCCA® Autocross, if you want to compete, you’re going to need a helmet.
When it comes to helmets, there are many, many, many variables that go into the purchase. But when you think about it, there are ultimately only five things you need to know.
1. You Need One
The first thing you need to know about helmets is that (with the exception of RoadRally) you’re required to have one if you want to drive in an SCCA event. The good news is even though they’re required, they are very rarely used for their intended purpose, which is to limit injury during a collision. I’ve been competing in SCCA events for more than 30 years and have never “needed” my helmet for safety reasons. I just needed a helmet on my head to be allowed on the course. And as long as the racing gods are forever on my side, I’ll never actually put my helmet to use.
Don’t have a helmet? At autocross events, there will occasionally be loaner helmets to borrow; however, they’re often limited in availability and/or the correct size for your particular noggin. To avoid wearing an uncomfortable borrowed helmet (or head lice), my suggestion is to go out and purchase the correct, certified, properly fitting helmet for your motorsport intentions. For that, one option is to head to the SCCA Track Night in America® Safety Store.
2. Certifications
Not all helmets are made equally.
A helmet that you can buy at your local bicycle store for $30 is not going to meet the standard for automotive competition. Additionally, a motorcycle helmet that has a small D.O.T. sticker on the back may not meet the standard for cars.
(The Snell Memorial Foundation tests each helmet model design prior to issuing their certification stickers to helmet manufacturers.)
The most common motorsports helmet certification in the U.S. is done by the Snell Memorial Foundation. It isn’t smell, as in, “your feet smell,” it’s Snell with an “n.” This all began in 1956 when Pete Snell passed away in a motor racing accident during a rollover collision. Afterwards, a team of doctors, engineers, and scientists got together and, in Snell’s memory, dedicated their work to certifying safety standards in helmets. Since 1957, the Snell Memorial Foundation has been certifying helmets, saving countless lives along the way.
SFI and FIA also certify helmets and use similar year numbering in their certifications.
(This is what a Snell SA 2020 sticker looks like and can be found in the inside of a helmet under the padding._
If you look inside a helmet under the padding you may see a distinctive Snell sticker indicating that the helmet is certified. Every five years, the Snell Memorial Foundation updates their standards, which is why there’s a year listed on the Snell sticker. Additionally, there will be a letter on the sticker indicating for which sport the helmet has been specifically certified for: Karting (K), Motorcycles (M), or auto racing (SA), which stands for Special Application.
For the 2025 SCCA competition season in Solo®, RallyCross, and Time Trials (Safety Level 1) a 2010 or newer Snell rated helmet (K, M, or SA) will suffice. For Road Racing and Time Trials (Safety Level 2 or 3), you’ll need a 2015 or newer Snell SA-rated helmet. But you’ll also want to confirm what we just said by heading to the rulebook for the motorsport you’re competing in.
The Snell Memorial Foundation has already released the new standards for its 2025 certification, but you won’t see a Snell 2025 SA helmet in the marketplace until October 2025. Helmets have to be designed by manufacturers to meet the new standards and then those designs tested by Snell prior to the stickers being released. SCCA has also built in a grace period for the implementation of the new standard within the Club, so don’t expect the helmet requirements to immediately update in the rule books as soon as helmets holding the new certification standard hit shelves.
3. Fitment
How the helmet fits your head is important for your comfort – and also for your safety. Collisions can be intense and the forces acting on your body are immense, so you don’t want a situation where the helmet comes off your head – the very head you purchased the helmet to protect. You want a snug fit, but not so snug that it’ll give you a headache.
(This helmet cut away shows the construction of an SA rated helmet. There’s a lot of engineering in the design of these helmets.)
Getting the perfect size is tricky. Different helmet manufacturers use different sizing for their models. Some sell helmets like hats, 7.5 inches, while others sell helmets as large, XL, etc. Some manufacturers have a larger or smaller “crown” shape than others for what is otherwise the same size helmet. What I’m getting at here is you need to actually try the helmet on (a challenging thing in the days of internet shopping). Put the helmet on your head, affix the chin strap, and then try to rip the thing off your head. If you can’t and the helmet is comfortable, that might be the one for you.
4. Style Choice
If you’re an F1 fan, you’re familiar with the closed-face, fancy-painted helmets of driving heroes Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. Outside of F1, not all helmets are closed faced. You can choose an open-faced option and still get a helmet that holds an SA Snell certification. Largely, this comes down to preference.
I like to wear a full-face helmet when I’m driving a kart or an open-top car (keeps the bugs out of my teeth), as well as during any wheel-to-wheel road racing. However, when I’m competing in autocross or RallyCross – where it’s me against the clock in a parking lot or dirt field – I prefer to use an open-faced helmet (which is lighter and easier to see out of).
(Many autocross and rallycross drivers choose to use an open face helmet for unobstructed vision of the track and ease of putting on eyeglasses. Photo by Paul Tibbals.)
There’s been online debate over the safety of people driving vehicles with active airbags using open-faced helmets instead of full-faced helmets (based on the theory that the airbag will hit the chin of the closed faced helmet during inflation and causing injury to the driver). This is where you’ll have to do your own research on the pros and cons of each.
5. Weight
Since we’re talking about collisions, here’s something to ponder with your gray matter: The heavier a helmet is, the more force will be acted upon your neck during an impact.
In a frontal collision, the seatbelt will slow your body while your head will continue in a forward direction. The only thing to stop your head is your neck. The heavier the helmet along with the larger change in velocity during the impact can cause you more injuries. This is the exact reason why head-and-neck restraints (like the HANS device) are required in road racing. The good news is all SA-rated helmets after 2020 have anchor holes for you to attach a head-and-neck restraint.
The outer shell of most helmets are made with composite fiberglass. However, some helmet manufacturers are using carbon fiber and Kevlar materials to build lighter helmets. Drivers who do endurance racing appreciate a lighter helmet on their head during a long stint. Conversely, lighter weight helmets are heavier on your wallet.
(The more weight on your noggin will increase the forces acting on your neck during a collision. This is where a lightweight helmet design is advantageous. Many manufactures are offering carbon fiber versions of their helmets (at a premium price). This carbon fiber Bell helmet weighs in at less than 3 pounds. Photo by Ken Myers.)
Now consider this: Spending $3,000 on a helmet doesn’t necessarily make it safer than a $300 helmet. The requirements to be certified are the same and all helmets that carry the Snell certification have passed the same rigorous tests. Still, the lighter the helmet, the easier it is to wear and the better it is for your neck.
As you pack up for your next SCCA event, don’t forget your racing helmet, because if you don’t have a helmet at all, you probably aren’t getting on the course for #funwithcars.
And take care of those noggins everybody, you only get one.
(About the author: Rob Krider is a national champion racer, the author of the novel Cadet Blues, and is the host of the Stories and Cocktails podcast.)
Main photo by Andy Howe
