What Speedway Products Do You Need?
Tegan Harris
Choose Speedway equipment as a complete driver, car and communications package. Start with your country, governing body, grade and event rules, then match helmet fit, fire-resistant racewear, FHR equipment, officials' reception, timing and visibility. Browse Speedway equipment or ask Rex or Aaron for help.
The Complete Speedway Driver Equipment Package
Plan the helmet, harness, racewear, frontal head restraint, cooling, air, officials' receiver and timing transponder together. Check each item's fit, installation, label and current grade requirements. A bundle or matching brand names alone does not establish eligibility or compatibility.
| Equipment | What to match and check | Explore |
|---|---|---|
| Helmets | Accepted standard, required helmet style, head shape, fit, budget, FHR anchors and communications. | Speedway helmets |
| Lever-latch harnesses | Exact harness and buckle permitted by the grade; certification, service or expiry limits, belt routing, mounting, seat and FHR compatibility. Practise the release with gloves on. | Harnesses and accessories |
| Race suits | Required fire-resistant approval, size, seated coverage, condition and care instructions. | Race suits and P1 racewear |
| Fireproof underwear and balaclavas | Commonly called fireproof underwear, these garments are fire-resistant, not a guarantee against burns. Match required layers, labels and coverage with suit, gloves, boots and helmet. | Fire-resistant underwear and FreeM underwear |
| Driver cooling | Race duration, cockpit space, power, plumbing and required racewear. Cooling garments do not automatically replace mandated fire-resistant underwear. | Chillout cooling and driver cooling |
| Helmet air systems | Approved helmet inlet, duct, hose, filter, air source and routing that allows movement and exit. Ventilation is not a breathing apparatus or a substitute for fire protection. | Helmet air ducts and air systems |
| FHR and HANS devices | FHR is the frontal head-restraint category; HANS is a type of FHR. Match approval, size and angle to the seat, harness, helmet posts and approved tethers. | FHR and HANS devices |
| Hybrid restraints | Exact model approval, fit, harness arrangement, helmet attachment and manufacturer instructions for the grade and vehicle. | Simpson Hybrid |
| HANS and helmet combinations | Exact helmet standard and fit, device size and angle, posts, tethers, harness and audio. Buying a package alone is not event approval. | Helmet and HANS bundles, helmet/FHR packages and Roux combinations |
| One-way receivers | Hear voice instructions from officials, race control and referees. Match the event's authorised channel, programming, required receiver and helmet speakers or earpieces. Drivers listen; they do not transmit on this channel. | Speedway receivers and audio |
| Timing transponders | Identify the competitor to the timing system. Check track compatibility, model, mounting, power and subscription. This is separate from voice reception. | MYLAPS transponders |
Assess the complete setup seated in the car: belt routing, helmet movement, tether operation, receiver audio, cooling connections and the planned exit procedure all matter. Follow the manufacturers' instructions and have safety-critical mounting and installation checked by a suitably qualified installer.
Speedway Helmet Standards: New Zealand And Australia
This comparison concerns Speedway NZ and Australian Speedway only. It must not be applied as a substitute for MotorSport NZ or Motorsport Australia requirements. Check the physical label on the exact helmet, its condition and configuration, and the current rules for your grade before purchase or competition.
| Standard or requirement | New Zealand Speedway | Australian Speedway |
|---|---|---|
| Snell SA2010 | No longer eligible under the current Speedway guidance. | Not an eligible option under the supplied current Speedway rule list. |
| Snell SA2015 | No longer eligible under Speedway NZ's helmet standards update. | Cannot be used after 1 July 2026. |
| Snell SA2020 | Eligible until 2030, subject to current grade, helmet style, label and condition requirements. | Eligible until 2030, subject to current grade, helmet style, label and condition requirements. |
| Snell SA2025 | Added in Speedway NZ's standards update; check grade and helmet configuration. | Introduced from 1 October 2025; check grade and helmet configuration. |
| FIA 8858-2010, FIA 8859-2015 and FIA 8860-2010 | Check the complete current Speedway NZ rulebook for the exact standard and grade; do not infer acceptance from the Australian list. | Listed in the supplied Australian Speedway helmet rule 15.7; check current grade requirements. |
| FIA 8860-2018 | Included in Speedway NZ's standards update; check the exact helmet and grade. | Listed in the supplied Australian Speedway rule; check the exact helmet and grade. |
| FIA 8859-2024 and FIA 8859-2024 ABP | Included in Speedway NZ's newer standards update; check the exact helmet and grade. | Higher FIA-specification options may be accepted. Confirm the exact homologation under the current rules; a newer number alone is not proof of eligibility. |
| Full-face helmet requirement | Select a full-face helmet where required by your grade. Do not assume an open-face helmet is acceptable because it has SA2025 certification. | The supplied rule 15.7 specifies full-faced helmets. Check the exact grade's current requirements and any specific junior provisions. |
| Pyrotect open-face junior-grade exception | Some junior grades permit open-face helmets. Purchasers must check their exact grade, age group, governing body and event themselves. | Only consider an open-face Pyrotect for a junior grade whose current rules expressly permit it. Purchasers must check themselves; this is not a general exception. |
Read Speedway NZ's helmet standards update. NZ and Australian FIA lists must be checked separately; they are not assumed identical. Compare Speedway, dirt and offroad helmets, then confirm suitability for your exact Speedway class.
Fire Protection Is Part Of The Whole Driver Package
A Speedway fire can leave little time to react. Prioritise the correct approved helmet configuration and fire-resistant clothing as a complete package, rather than buying on colour, airflow or price alone. Check the required balaclava, suit, underwear, gloves, boots and any other mandated equipment for your grade. Look at coverage and how the items work together when seated, strapped in and using your FHR and communications.
A listed fire-retardant helmet lining does not make a helmet fireproof. An open-face helmet does not replace a full-face helmet where required. Follow the manufacturers' instructions, inspect condition and keep equipment correctly maintained. No equipment choice guarantees protection from every fire.
Choose A Helmet That Fits You And Your Communications
Harris Race Radios™ carries a broad helmet range to match racing type, head shape, correct fit, budget and communications requirements. We select a suitable helmet for the customer rather than force an unsuitable available model to fit. Check microphone position, speakers or earpieces, wiring, connectors and compatibility with officials' reception before buying parts separately.
The Pyrotect ProSport open-face models are limited Speedway options for junior grades whose rules permit them, not general Speedway recommendations. Compare gloss black and gloss white only after confirming your own grade rules.
Speedway One-Way Officials' Reception
Drivers receive voice instructions from officials, race control and referees through their one-way receivers. These instructions can help with regrouping, red-flag directions and other event operations, but they do not replace flags or the driver's responsibility to follow the rules. Confirm the receiver requirements for your class, the event's authorised frequency and programming, and compatible helmet audio. Drivers listen and must not transmit on this officials' channel.
One-way reception and a two-way team radio serve different purposes. Where team communication is permitted, plan the two functions together without assuming that any receiver or radio automatically supports both. Compare Speedway race radios and receivers. Rex can advise on programming, local operating requirements and the installation.
MYLAPS Timing And Transponders
MYLAPS transponders provide timing identification, not voice communication. Confirm the track's timing system, required transponder model, mounting position, power arrangement and any subscription before purchase. Do not assume one model or battery arrangement is compulsory at every Speedway venue. A timing transponder is separate from your officials' receiver and helmet audio.
When considering a receiver-and-helmet package, check the exact helmet label, size, fit, receiver configuration and your grade's rules. A bundle price does not establish eligibility, and low weight alone is not a guarantee of neck protection.
Tear-Offs And Clear Vision
Dirt and mud can obscure a visor quickly. Select helmet tear-offs for the exact helmet visor, post arrangement and permitted event use. Suitable tear-offs allow a contaminated layer to be removed without replacing the visor, but they do not guarantee collision avoidance or replace a clean, undamaged visor. Practise using the tab with gloves and follow the organiser's rules on tear-offs and disposal.
Advice Backed By Radio Engineering And Racing
Rex Harris is an Approved Radio Engineer and New Zealand RSM Approved Radio Certifier, with motorsport communications experience dating from 1975. Aaron Harris brings professional race-engineering and racing experience, including Porsche Carrera Cup and endurance racing, and is an MSNZ Licence Examiner. Their practical knowledge helps match the driver, helmet, radio, wiring and vehicle as a whole.
Read About Harris Race Radios™ and Expert Motorsport Advice for the people and services behind the recommendations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use an SA2015 helmet for Speedway?
Not under the current NZ and Australian Speedway guidance used in this comparison. Australian Speedway's SA2015 cut-off was 1 July 2026. Check the current rulebook for your exact grade.
Does SA2025 automatically make an open-face helmet eligible?
No. Certification does not override a helmet-style requirement. Some junior Speedway grades permit open-face helmets; purchasers must check their exact grade, age group, governing body and event themselves.
Are Speedway rules the same as MotorSport NZ or Motorsport Australia rules?
No. Speedway requirements must be checked separately. Do not use this table as approval for another motorsport discipline.
Does a helmet's fire-retardant lining mean it is fireproof?
No. Check the exact helmet's specified protection and required configuration, plus the complete fire-resistant clothing package for your grade. No helmet guarantees protection from every fire.
Does a transponder replace an officials' receiver?
No. A transponder identifies the competitor to the timing system; a one-way receiver carries voice instructions from officials, race control and referees. Confirm the track requirements for each.
Talk To Rex Or Aaron
Tell us your country, Speedway grade, age group, event, helmet size and existing equipment so we can help select an appropriate package.
Call Aaron on +64 27 449 9654 or Rex on +64 21 682 912. Email aaron@harriscomms.co.nz or rex@raceradios.co.nz.