Aero helmet for windshield-less locosts?

[racerboy000]

RacerBoy000, was that Mt. Tremblont a few weeks ago?

no at calabogie

was it a red sr3 or?

[chetcpo]

Speaking of wind buffeting, I passed a semi today and one of the loose ends of my shoulder harness adjusters was flapping around and caught me in the lip. I actually tasted blood. I have to remember to tuck those things under.

[dfdahl]

Any helmet that costs as much as your locost will make you feel relatively secure!

[Blackbird]

I have to remember to tuck those things under.

Or just put a rubberband around it, that works too .

Moti

[Feffman]

I run a Simpson (www.TeamSimpson.com) Speedway Shark in my Radical SR3 which has an aero package that keeps my head from buffetting. My partner in teh car is unloading his helmet because the wind pulls his head back (very uncomfortable).

Feff

[Grintch]

The aero of your own car will vary somewhat, and the taller you protrude from the top of the scuttle, the worse it will be.

Right. I am 6'4" and had major buffeting issues at the track (it wasn't a problem for autocross). I would think the eddy behind trucks for a street 7 could be as bad or worse for those without a full windshield.

My Locost solution was $10 in clear plastic corner guard (for the corner of a wall), made into vortex generators and spoilers front and rear attached w/ clear silicone adhesive. A back to back comparison at a racing school with a similar helmet showed a great reduction in buffeting. The car actually felt much more stable because my head wasn't being pushed around.

The aero helmets typically run much more that the standard ones, but if I was buying a new helmet I would look for aero features.

[Grintch]

Speaking of wind buffeting, I passed a semi today and one of the loose ends of my shoulder harness adjusters was flapping around and caught me in the lip. I actually tasted blood. I have to remember to tuck those things under.

I have had the end of the helmet strap flap around enough to cause an abrasion on my jaw during a track session. So tuck them too.

[Winston]

My Locost solution was $10 in clear plastic corner guard (for the corner of a wall), made into vortex generators and spoilers front and rear attached w/ clear silicone adhesive. A back to back comparison at a racing school with a similar helmet showed a great reduction in buffeting. The car actually felt much more stable because my head wasn't being pushed around.

Excellent info, thanks for that Grintch. I was already fretting the high cost of aero helmets vs. the standard type. I think that I'll make some aero mods out of carbon fiber when the time comes (still "locost" because I already have all of the materials).

Can you post some pics of your aero mods? I have some ideas based on production helmets, but I'm curious about what yours look like.

[Grintch]

Some info on DIY vortex generators that inspired my helmet mod.

http://www.markfelling.com/id384.htm

[Grintch]

For the rear spoiler, you want to place it behind where the flow would normally separate, but not so far back that the flow is not "spoiled" or effected by it. Looking in profile, mine is ~1" at the spoiler tip below the height of the helmet crest. And two mini spoilers were easier to mount than a single full width version. Plus I figure there is a little bit of vortex generation from their edges.

I kind of like the looks of the starter HJC racing (non motorcycle) helmet, it has a little rear spoiler that should help and is no more expensive than my Bell M2 and most other lower end SA rated full face helmets with no aero features at all.

[flyboy333]

I plan to just use some old driving goggles and a big scarf, preferably checkered. OG.

[Stynger]

I'm preparing to buy a helmet for LeMons, autocross and other such work, and I'd like for the helmet to pull double-duty for when I get my locost roadworthy. Since I'm planning on running no windshield initially, I think it's required to protect my beautiful face ( ) from stones and bugs.

Question: Is there any value to get a helmet with aero features? I'm thinking I'll almost never get above 90, but that wind buffeting could be fierce in a windshield-less car. Specifically I've been looking at this lid:

http://www.saferacer.com/bell-k-1-sport ... ductid=364

It has a little chin spoiler, which seems like it would be helpful. Do features like that get in the way?

William,

I've used this exact helmet for the last 3 years in my Locost.
I started with a very short windshield, later I added a small extension on the drivers side due to rocks/debris chipping the front top of the helmet.
I never had problems with lift with top speeds close to 120mph.
I also use a HANS with it.
Sorry I'm a little late with the info.

[weconway]

Thanks for the response. Since the original post I've made a major shift in philosophy concerning my build, so I've decided to go with a windshield from the get-go.

Money is also a little tighter, so I may be going with a lower-cost option. I hope to compete in the LeMons South event in April, so I'm going to have to make a decision pretty soon.