Helmets for racing

[RacerX]

Is a Snell M2000 certified helmet still ok? (HJC CL-14 Fuse) Snell 2005 is better I take it. Now is there a new class coming out since they do new certs every 5 years?

[Mr. Man]

Tracks are looking for SA 2005 rating. M is for motorcycle and is not a strong as SA auto

[RacerX]

Crap... Thanks. Gotta find one for tomorrow...

[Mr. Man]

Before you go out and buy a new helmet, check with the track to see what minimum rating they accept. Why spend$$$$ if you don't have to.

[RacerX]

Good advice! I'm all set. The helmet is ok. NEDragway uses IHRA rules:
Stock:
HELMET: SN-95 or newer or SFI 31.1A, 31.2A, 41.1A or 41.2A mandatory. See General
Regulations.

General Rules:
HELMET AND GOGGLES: As outlined under Class Requirements, drivers in all classes,
including motorcycles, must wear a helmet meeting SNELL or SFI specifications. Must
utilize the appropriate Snell SN (SA OR M) rated helmet as per individual class
requirements.
Specifications
Spec 31.1A - SNELL SA, open-face helmet
Spec 31.2A - SNELL SA, full-face helmet
Spec 41.1A - SNELL M, open-face helmet
Spec 41.2A - SNELL M, full-face helmet
Drivers of Sportsman classes and ET cars - 13.99 (8.59 1/8th mile) must use a helmet
meeting SNELL 95 or newer. Exception: drivers of open bodied, supercharged frontengine
cars must use a helmet meeting SN 95 or newer or SFI 31.1A or 31.2A Specs.
See class requirements.
Drivers of any open-bodied car wearing an “open face” helmet, must wear protective
goggles. Modifications to helmet/visor/shield are prohibited. All helmets must have the
appropriate certification sticker affixed inside the helmet.

[RR|Suki]

lol tracks don't requre SA. PS Snell is a joke

[SpartaPerformance]

Anything DOT approved will work for slower then 13.0 I think it needs recert. after certain E.T.'s but don't quote me on that.

[RacerX]

Realistically looking @ 12.5. Should be good! I'll post my best tomorrow and move up in the list. Thank you for the help guys. :beer: Looks to be a beautiful day at the track tomorrow @ 60 deg.

[RR|Suki]

Realistically looking @ 12.5. Should be good! I'll post my best tomorrow and move up in the list. Thank you for the help guys. :beer: Looks to be a beautiful day at the track tomorrow @ 60 deg.

Good luck man

[martyo]

Why spend$$$$ if you don't have to.

Affter all, if your head is full of thoughts about saving money, why spend money saving your head?

[RacerX]

Affter all, if your head is full of thoughts about saving money, why spend money saving your head?
Good lord... That does put things in very simple perspective. I do thank you for that. My line of thinking in all this was: I was suprised that a motorcycle helmet may not be as good as a helmet for auto racing considering you're surrounded by metal in a car. Is auto more inclusive because of more shrapnel being in a car, open air like a dragster???

[RR|Suki]

Good lord... That does put things in very simple perspective. I do thank you for that. My line of thinking in all this was: I was suprised that a motorcycle helmet may not be as good as a helmet for auto racing considering you're surrounded by metal in a car. Is auto more inclusive because of more shrapnel being in a car, open air like a dragster???

SA full face is no better than an M full face for what you are doing. Snell ratings are a joke anyway. Buy the best quality helmet that you can afford (that has a rating that'll pass tech). All helmets in with the same "rating" aren't created equal and better quality helmets with an "older rating" can be better than newer rated helmets of lower quality. I run a Suomy personally.

[martyo]

Good lord... That does put things in very simple perspective. I do thank you for that. My line of thinking in all this was: I was suprised that a motorcycle helmet may not be as good as a helmet for auto racing considering you're surrounded by metal in a car. Is auto more inclusive because of more shrapnel being in a car, open air like a dragster???


SA full face is no better than an M full face for what you are doing. Snell ratings are a joke anyway. Buy the best quality helmet that you can afford (that has a rating that'll pass tech). All helmets in with the same "rating" aren't created equal and better quality helmets with an "older rating" can be better than newer rated helmets of lower quality. I run a Suomy personally.



If I recall correctly, the Snell rated helmets have a fire protection standard that they must meet that an "M" rated or motorcycle helmet doesn't.

[martyo]

Poke around here for some good deals and for some good info:

http://www.thebellstore.com/Auto/auto.html

I have no interest in this company, but we have bought from them on several occassions with good results.

Keep in mind that many tracks also require you to have a jacket for pwer adder cars.

[fastblackmerc]

Before you go out and buy a new helmet, check with the track to see what minimum rating they accept. Why spend$$$$ if you don't have to.

Don't cheap out on safety equipment.... the life you save may be your own!

[RR|Suki]

If I recall correctly, the Snell rated helmets have a fire protection standard that they must meet that an "M" rated or motorcycle helmet doesn't.

Yeah in a technical way the SA Snell helmets in 2005 have a fire requirement that the M Snell 2000 helmet didn't have. But here is where it doesn't mater, all that means is that Snell didn't test the M 2000 helmets for that. It has nothing to do with the actual abilities of the helmets. As the CEO, I believe it was, over at ICON said: first we design the helmet to pass Snell testing, then we worry about making them safe.
So what I'm getting at is that the SA rating on the helmets make them cost more, and as such you can potentially buy a $600 M lid, and have a better lid than if you spent $600 on an SA since Snell is only a threshold.
As an example I would never wear a $100 SA 2005 over my $600 M 2000, because in building my helmet they actually took the time and spent the money to make a good helmet, not just ones that would pass Snell's "tests"

[Mr. Man]

Don't cheap out on safety equipment.... the life you save may be your own!
You guys are misconstruing what I meant. I got the impression RacerX was going to the track to run a few time trials. I agree with you guys wholeheartedly that skimping on safety equipment is a bad idea, but in this particular instance where he has a helmet and he is going to only run a few times I don't see the need to spend 5 or 600 dollars on a helmet that will see very limited use.:)

[MCAT]

Open track events (road racing) require SA (specialty automotive)
most drag strip do not. & yes in most cases it comes down to flame retardent lining of the helmet to get the SA rating.

[babbage]

Realistically looking @ 12.5. Should be good! I'll post my best tomorrow and move up in the list. Thank you for the help guys. :beer: Looks to be a beautiful day at the track tomorrow @ 60 deg.


You only need a helmet if you are 13's or faster! :D
I thought you were going to get an N/A run in? No bottle!

I may go tomorrow if the weather is good. Good luck Bill!

[RacerX]

Hey Eric! I tried to get at least one run in without nitrous, but, I couldn't get traction off tree no matter what I did so I just figured I'm at the track, may as well do the best I can with what I have. I got lots of torque back when i took off the NAZtake and put the stocker(ported) back on. The rules will change a little next year. New England Dragway is going from IHRA to NHRA. The whole track Is going to get revamped from what I hear.

[FordNut]

Some tracks look at the helmet's rating during tech.