Helmet Suggestions?
Helmet Suggestions? I'm sort of in the market for a helmet, any suggestions on type / rating / where-to-get, etc.?
Full face? Open?
To do Road Atlanta I'll need a Snell 95-rated one, is that a 'car' rating?
Full face? Open?
To do Road Atlanta I'll need a Snell 95-rated one, is that a 'car' rating?
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 709
Likes: 0
From: DFW, Texas
Re: Helmet Suggestions? SA-2000 is the newest raiting. i prefere a closed face, but an open is fine at our level. Simpson makes a nice LX model. shop around on the price, it can be found for a really fair price. one sugestion though, measure your head w/ their size chart, and get the bigger size if you fall between sizes. i went down to the closest size and it is a little tight.
Staging Lane
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi, Texas
Re: Helmet Suggestions? You should try them on and see what fits. Some helmets have a "european shape" which is for a rounder type of head, and some have an "american shape" which is longer and more bullet shaped.
This may sound wierd but a friend of mine in Quebec owns a business that makes head forms to test helmets and this actually is his quick and simple explanation of helmet shapes.
Also, the helmet should not "roll off" your head with the strap on (when you want to take it off by lifting up and rotating the chin bar). I was surprised at this but it is sort of obvious when you think about it -- for a long time I had thought roll off was normal until I was set straight.
It's the only head you've got so buy a helmet at a retail shop and try them on. The Snell ratings are not relevant if the helmet doesn't fit your head.
This may sound wierd but a friend of mine in Quebec owns a business that makes head forms to test helmets and this actually is his quick and simple explanation of helmet shapes.
Also, the helmet should not "roll off" your head with the strap on (when you want to take it off by lifting up and rotating the chin bar). I was surprised at this but it is sort of obvious when you think about it -- for a long time I had thought roll off was normal until I was set straight.
It's the only head you've got so buy a helmet at a retail shop and try them on. The Snell ratings are not relevant if the helmet doesn't fit your head.
Re: Helmet Suggestions? Hey John, Judd here. The Snell 95 rating isn't really a car specific rating. It is just a more demanding rating than the DOT rating. For cars I like a open face as I have a little more freedom. If it is for Open Day lapping or drag racing I think it would be fine but it's pretty hard to be too safe so if the full version does not bother you get it. I bought a Snell 95 open face from a local cycle dealer for around 50 bucks. You can also look in the bike mags and order one for cheap. I like a very snug helmet and since you won't be wearing for hours at a time like on a bike, I would get it pretty snug. Also they tend to "wallow out" and fit like a glove as long as you don't get way to tight. Unless you have to get a certain fire rating, I can see no reason to get one of the high priced Simsons. Now if you were racing every week end, I would go ahead and spend the bucks. When I raced bikes I bought the best I could get. The chances of getting hurt during lapping in a car just is not as high as falling off while racing a bike and thats why I choose a cheapy for cars.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,705
Likes: 0
From: Iowa :-/~
Re: Helmet Suggestions? I use a full face. I seen a girl (on a motorcycle) fly off and land on her face (it was so sad) when they rolled her over she had no face just 5 holes. A full face might not have helped we'll never know but it would not have hurt.
<small>[ June 20, 2002, 06:36 AM: Message edited by: 2000 Camaro SS ]</small>
<small>[ June 20, 2002, 06:36 AM: Message edited by: 2000 Camaro SS ]</small>
On The Tree
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
From: Kennesaw, Georgia
Re: Helmet Suggestions? Hi John. I have been road racing for years.
I use a full face, no slide down visor, called
Bell SR-PRO!! I put on a pair of Simpson goggles
where the strap wraps around the helmet. With or
without the goggles this particular full face
feels, or better said, has the view of open face.
It is an old model, Snell-90, but I'm sure they
are making new ones. Good luck.
By the way when is the next Road Atlanta track event you are attending?
I use a full face, no slide down visor, called
Bell SR-PRO!! I put on a pair of Simpson goggles
where the strap wraps around the helmet. With or
without the goggles this particular full face
feels, or better said, has the view of open face.
It is an old model, Snell-90, but I'm sure they
are making new ones. Good luck.
By the way when is the next Road Atlanta track event you are attending?
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Teching In
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Thousand Oaks,California
Re: Helmet Suggestions? I have the Bell X-15.It's light weight and comfortable.Well vented and SA-2000.
http://www.racerwholesale.com/Mercha...de=BELL+SA2000
http://www.racerwholesale.com/Mercha...de=BELL+SA2000
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Re: Helmet Suggestions? I really like my full face Simpson Super Bandit. Great fit on me. One reason I like it is because it give me a narrower field of vision forcing me to concentrate on whats ahead of me. In Drag racing its great, but when I run the Open Road Racing events (Silver State Classic Challenge, Big bend, etc.) I feel it is a must. At 165mph you dont need to worry about whats on the side of the road, just whats ahead of you....about 2 miles ahead of you. This helmet is also a SA2000 rated. The SA USUALLY means that it has a nomex liner. In the ORR in my class the nomex is a requirement. But I would have gotten it anyway. To much saftey equipment is never enough. not only that but the helmet looks killer in black with the irridium lense
