AX helmets, snell rating Options

[Aaron Cox]

M2000 or SA2000? would moto ones work?

[VegasRacer]

HELMET RATINGS

SA Rated Helmets:
Snell "SA" (Sports Application) rated professional helmets are designed for auto racing and provide extreme impact resistance and higher fire protection.

M Rated Helmets:
Snell "M" (Motorcycle) rated helmets are designed for motorcycling and other motorsports. They offer slightly less protection than SA rated helmets.

What are the key differences between SA and M Rated Helmets:

SA standard requires flammability test while the M standard does not.
SA standard has rollbar impact test while M standard does not.
SA standard allows narrower visual field than M standard (Some SA helmets aren't street legal).

[Aaron Cox]

didnt completely answer question. would M2000 work for AX

[anthony]

Yes, most likely. Check the rule book where you autoX to be sure.

[dbelleperc]

How about this one. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[ArtechnikA]

the answer is ALWAYS 'check with your sanctioning body.'

[GaroldShaffer]

If you plan to do ANY track time you need a SA rated helmet. Most SCCA regions you can use a M helmet for AXing but NOT when you do any track time.

I just started AXing this year, but I went with a SA helmet. I know there will be some track time / DE events for me next year so I spent some $$ for a SA helmet.

Edit: Damn, I really need spell check..... <_<

This post has been edited by itsa914: Oct 11 2004, 08:05 AM

[jdogg]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) Go ahead and spring for the SA now, it will save you down the road. When I bought my last helmet, all that was required for our club's track events was an M rated helmet, but that has been revised. So now I need to dig into the 914 account for an SA helmet this winter......

[seanery]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

Don't buy your helmet without first trying it on. Different manufacturers sizes are different and you need a helmet that FITS. This isn't a time to skimp. You know the old $10 head statement right?

[URY914]

Also be careful with open face helmets. The can be very confusing when putting them on. See here...

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

Paul

[seanery]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/slap.gif)
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/chairfall.gif)

[Sammy]

I bought a G-force SA2000 open faced helmet for around $150, they have full faced for under $200.
Good stuff.
BTW I have never bought into that $10 helmet/$10 head scam, it was a marketing trick to sell expensive helmets.
All helmets are tested to certain specifications. They have to meet the spec or they don't get the rating.
We need to focus on which specification is correct, not the price of the helmet.

I sincerely do not believe that a $350 simpson will not protect your noggin any better than a $200 g-force with the same rating. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

[URY914]

Helmets are rated (SA, M) but so are the wears of said helmet

The wearer above is rated DA.

Paul

[Aaron Cox]

Helmets are rated (SA, M) but so are the wears of said helmet

The wearer above is rated DA.

Paul

DA = dumbass

miles sent me that pic too (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[ArtechnikA]

I sincerely do not believe that a $350 simpson will not protect your noggin any better than a $200 g-force with the same rating.

the ratings are minimums...

some of the higher-end helmets are made of lighter materials (e.g. Kevlar, CF...) and one recommendation is to buy the lightest helmet you can afford.

that said, i bought a forced-air ventilation G-Force helmet for my wife, and when my SA95 Bell times out in 2006, i'll probably get one just like it for myself.

[seanery]

what I meant by my comment was...don't save $50 by using an M helmet when the SA is really what you need. $50 isn't worth it IMHO.

[Sammy]

Yup, I agree. Good points. I know people who spend decent money on an M2000 helmet, only to buy an SA2000 helmet less than a year later.
I believe the SA rating calls for Kevlar reinforced plastic and nomex lining for fire resistance.

[ArtechnikA]

I believe the SA rating calls for Kevlar reinforced plastic and nomex lining for fire resistance.

for sure it requires fire-resistance, don't know that it requires Nomex by name although that is typically how the standard is met. i don't think Kevlar is required, just a specific level of impact resistance.

all the standards are here. i'd check it out personally the but PDF reader on this particular comupter is buggy and hangs... i'll peruse it later, i've been looking for this link for a while ...

[later happened... there's good stuff there. of note just from the first couple of pages: Snell tests are Pass/Fail and passing helmets are not ranked. therefore, there MAY be a range from "just barely passed" to "passed by a wide margin" but you won't be finding that data on the Snell site. and this, from the forward, in bold there just like it is here: This Standard does not establish construction and material specifications. The Foundation does not recommend specific materials or designs. ]

[GTeener]

Seems ironic that motorcycle helmets provide slightly less protection than SA helmets, considering there is more vehicle protection in a car than on a motorcycle (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

I was using an outdated helmet for my first year of AX and no one ever checked (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

Couldn't get away with that one at the DE event last June though. They said M rating was acceptable, though, so I had to shell out for an approved helmet.

[ArtechnikA]

Seems ironic that motorcycle helmets provide slightly less protection than SA helmets...

it is not necessarily less protection, but it is (possibly) different protection...

motorcycles typically do not need fire resistance, so by testing to a standard that does not require it, the expensive aramid fabrics can be left out of the liners. similarly, motorcycles need much more peripheral vision and M helmets can have larger eyeports than you'll typically see on a SA helmet.