Landracing Forum

Loring Timing Association (Maine) => Loring (AFB) land speed venue => Topic started by: 944EVer on March 19, 2011, 03:51:41 PM

Title: Snell Helmet
Post by: 944EVer on March 19, 2011, 03:51:41 PM
I'm looking for a Snell helmet for racing this summer and I'm having a hard time finding a local dealer. I looking for recommendations for online retailers or local businesses. I'm in Connecticut, but can't find anyone in my area. So any advice on websites or places to try or to stay away from is welcome. If the price is right I'd like to buy a 2010, but might have to go with 2005. I can't afford to spend several hundred dollars on a helmet I'll use 2 or 3 weekends in a year.

Any chance the rules will let me go with a Snell M2010 if I don't have any fuel on board and don't really need the fire protection?

Thanks

Dave Cover
Title: Re: Snell Helmet
Post by: blackslax on March 19, 2011, 04:34:39 PM
Just do a Google search for "Racing Helmet".  All the options you will ever need.
Title: Re: Snell Helmet
Post by: DallasV on March 19, 2011, 04:48:34 PM
I can't afford to spend several hundred dollars on a helmet I'll use 2 or 3 weekends in a year.


I don't mean to sound brash but this is like saying I can't afford to pay several hundred dollars for a fire  supression system I may never use. Try to find a bargain but don't settle for...
Title: Re: Snell Helmet
Post by: blackslax on March 19, 2011, 05:05:29 PM
You can get decent discount on 2005s, but they will become obsolete 5 years earlier.

I'd have to agree with the $10 heads need $10 helmets
Title: Re: Snell Helmet
Post by: fastman614 on March 19, 2011, 05:35:15 PM
I bought one two months ago.... they had them on sale for a few bucks less than this.... maybe if you mention a sale price of $219.99, they will still honor it...

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Bell-Supreme-SA10-Helmet,47348.html
Title: Re: Snell Helmet
Post by: fastman614 on March 19, 2011, 05:40:15 PM
and if you do order from Speedway, don't forget to tell them you looked them up through landracing.com
Title: Re: Snell Helmet
Post by: ol38y on March 19, 2011, 07:41:33 PM
http://www.thehelmetman.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=498

Try these guys
Title: Re: Snell Helmet
Post by: Cajun Kid on March 19, 2011, 09:09:28 PM
Snell M ratings are for motorcycles... For Cars you must have a SA2005 or SA2010  it does not matter if you run gas or fuel.

Charles
Title: Re: Snell Helmet
Post by: Calkins on March 19, 2011, 11:20:52 PM
What's your life worth?  I personally would only buy good 'name brand' equipment.  I have bought Bell helmets for years.  My last four or so have come from TFD's Bell Store http://www.bellhelmets.com (http://www.bellhelmets.com) which is like an outlet type store in California.  I like buying my motor bike helmets from them.  When I finally start buying gear for a car, Simpson will be my only choice.  I buy my Simpson gear from Brendan Murry http://www.racecarparts.com (http://www.racecarparts.com) and straight from Simpson http://simpsonraceproducts.com (http://simpsonraceproducts.com)

You can't put a price on protection.  The gear is not cheap in the pocket book, because it is designed to help save your life.  Don't buy the best you can afford, buy the best available.
Title: Re: Snell Helmet
Post by: 944EVer on March 20, 2011, 12:46:52 AM
Thanks for the replies. I need a helmet for some SCCA racing before Loring, so I hope to get something soon.

Let me clarify my question about the M vs SA Snell rating. As I understand it the main difference between the two is fire protection. If it were just impact protection, I would guess the motorcyclist would need more protection. If they have a problem, there's no structure around them. Drivers in cars have a lot more between them and the road. But then you have the whole issues of fire and suddenly the person in a car can be in much more danger. That impact protection is now major liability. Fire is a much bigger issue in a car.

But what if you have no flammable liquids in your vehicle? I'm running all electric, no gas, no fuel. That was the only reason I mentioned the M vs SA helmet. I'm not the first to run electric, they've been doing that out on the salt for a long time. But I'm not facing the same dangers as a traditional racer, and I was just posing the question. Rules are in place for everyones protection and I'm all for them. But if I can be well protected by a $200-$300 helmet, I'd prefer not to spend $500-$700. That's all, just asking.

DAC

PS I'm hoping to get my license for 135MPH this year.
Title: Re: Snell Helmet
Post by: fastman614 on March 20, 2011, 01:12:27 AM
spedway motors is about $260 and NO shipping.....the helmetman etc has SA2010 helmets for around $160 (and probably plus shipping).... do check out the links..... the prices are pretty good.... or ..... if you are only going to race for one or two years, yeah, you can buy a SA2005 helmet.... and used ones are pretty cheap on ebay.... an "05 helmet will get you through tech
Title: Re: Snell Helmet
Post by: jdincau on March 20, 2011, 07:52:10 AM
944
There is an aditional impact test required for the SA helmet. I believe it concerns roll bar impact vs flat ground.
Title: Re: Snell Helmet
Post by: Bob Wanner on March 20, 2011, 10:59:10 AM
Considering you said you planned on some SCCA competition, you have another reason for putting out the extra $ for a more expensive Brain Bucket. A lighter helmet, although it costs more, is far less fatiguing after 20 laps on a circuit, and even if only Auto-Xing, you'll feel a difference in maintaining focus and retaining that Safety margin.
I'm also currently  shopping  similarly, and will probably want something that is appropriate for other motorsports, and my process involves picking out a model and manufacturer and retailer, then price last.
Spend the Time looking and the $ on a SA 2010, good for 10 years, is the plan here.
MHO-FWIW
Bob W
Title: Re: Snell Helmet
Post by: RansomT on March 20, 2011, 12:17:55 PM
If I read the rules correctly, helmets are only good for 5 years after manufacture.  Correct?

So a SA2010 manufactured in Dec. 2010, is only good until Dec. 2015.  A SA2005 manufactured in Dec. 2010 is also good until Dec. 2015.   Of course after 2015, SA2005 won't pass tech (unless rules change).

Beware of SA2005 and M2005, because they could have been manufactured in 2005 or even early 2006 and won't be good to use is year.
Title: Re: Snell Helmet
Post by: fastman614 on March 20, 2011, 01:28:03 PM
3.A.2    Driver’s Helmet:
Rewrite to reflect 2010 notice, 2nd sentence:
A Snell Foundation tag reading Snell SA2005(FIA 8860-2004) Competitors are encouraged to upgrade to the now available Snell SA2010(FIA 8860-2010), Snell SAH2010 or FIA 8860-2010 standard helmets if making a new purchase. The Snell rating label change date from 2005 to 2010 will occur in 2016.

This is the SCTA Rule from the archives on this site.

In 2016, SA2005 helmets will NO LONGER BE ALLOWED..... In the 2016 rule book, the sentence above would say to the effect that-

" A Snell Foundation tag reading Snell SA2010 (FIA xxxx-xxxx)....."


IN SCTA-BNI competition helmets are (at present) good for ten years from the year indicated by the Snell Rating... if it says SA2005, it is good through the 2015 calendar year.... a Snell SA2010 will be good through the 2020 calendar year.
Title: Re: Snell Helmet
Post by: Cajun Kid on March 20, 2011, 01:39:10 PM
Ransom,  there is no "written" 5 year rule from MFG Date.  That is a rule of thumb many racers use when you wear a helmet alot,, lots of wear and putting on and off and wearing for long extended drives or rides etc..

In LSR  we may only wear our helmets for 3 to 10 minutes at a time from time we suit up till time we finish a run,, and may only make 20 to 50 runs a year. 

So the SFI certifications and expiration's are what matters (from what I have read and been told)

Charles
Title: Re: Snell Helmet
Post by: fastman614 on March 20, 2011, 05:07:22 PM
Cajun.... that is a pretty good way to sum it up.... it is the way that I, as an inspector for over 30 years now, have always accepted the rule regarding helmets as being....

The rule book also states this- "....Helmets shall be undamaged and in serviceable condition" This clause pretty much cover what you said about helmets that are heavily used.... The one thing that everyone needs to know and be reminded of too is that the materials from which helmets are made can and will "bio" and otherwise degrade.... sunlight, ozone, oils/fuels etc will all cause material degradation.... that is the reason for a minimum of annual inspection of helmets..... and even if a person is aldo a dry lakes competitor and has had his helmet inspected, I still like to quickly look at it- to see, if nothing else, that the inspection decal is still intact.


And.... some of us.... me included, may only make 4 to 7 runs in a year.... my helmet which is 10 years old and now retired (as well as the last one from the 90s) is(are) in near new condition...  From the 70s, they are all lined up on a shelf in my downstairs "den"....

Have we all overwhelmed you yet? :wink:

Title: Re: Snell Helmet
Post by: Stan Back on March 20, 2011, 06:34:04 PM
"But what if you have no flammable liquids in your vehicle? I'm running all electric, no gas, no fuel."

An electrical short can't cause a fire?
Title: Re: Snell Helmet
Post by: fastman614 on March 20, 2011, 07:37:10 PM
You still need a helmet in serviceable condition, Stan..... just 'cuz the electrical won't cause a fuel fire.... doesn't mean you can run "air in the hair" style..... :wink:
Title: Re: Snell Helmet
Post by: RansomT on March 20, 2011, 08:24:13 PM
This CRS is killing me  :-D

Well, I did open up my rule book .... And I am not right! :-o
Title: Re: Snell Helmet
Post by: fastman614 on March 20, 2011, 08:46:19 PM
This CRS is killing me  :-D

Well, I did open up my rule book .... And I am not right! :-o

Ransom.... when ALL ELSE FAILS..... read the instructions.... look in the rule book....  etc....

You ARE one of us!!!!! Welcome home,Bro!!!!!!! ROFLMAO