Helmets

[VeeTwin]

What part of "or later" don't you understand???

What part of "Snell Foundation 2005 Certification will be required on all helmets beginning on January 1, 2011." don't you understand?

Yes, the rules say 2000 & later. BUT THE VERY NEXT SENTENCE SAYS 2010 HELMETS ARE NOT ALLOWED STARTING IN 2011!

So go right ahead and buy a 2010 helmet. You can use it in 2010. But you only get to use it one year according to the rules. Starting in 2011 a 2005 helmet will be required.

Like I said, it's a stupid rule.

[McRat]

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong:

As a racer, it's simple.  And nothing has really changed but the SA req.  Helmets have always expired.

If you want to race in the 2010 season, for normal motorcycles you need a M2000/M2005/M2010.
If you are in a car or a m/c streamliner, you will need SA2000/SA2005/SA2010.

If you want to race in the 2011 season, M/C's need a M2005/M2010.
Cars and M/C streamliners need a SA2005/SA2010.

[VeeTwin]

VEE TWIN  slow down and breathe deep---that is the rules way of saying that the OLD 2000 standards are no longer allowed----I would suggest you ASK about UNDERSTANDING  the rules 1st----THEN SPOUT

How in the world can you read the rule any other way than it's written?

It says very clearly:

A Snell Foundation tag reading SA2000 or M2000 or later is required. Snell Foundation 2005 Certification will be required on all helmets beginning on January 1, 2011.

There's only one way to read that rule.

The first sentence says that as of right now, anything 2000 or later is required. So a Snell 2010 is legal.

The second sentence says that starting January 1, 2011, a Snell 2005 is REQUIRED. That means anything other than a Snell 2005 is no longer legal. How can you read it any other way?

(not sure when the SA2010's come out?)

They're readily available. They've been shipping for more than a month.

[VeeTwin]

If you want to race in the 2011 season, M/C's need a M2005/M2010.
Cars and M/C streamliners need a SA2005/SA2010.

The rule states very clearly that this is not the case. A 2005 helmet is REQUIRED starting in 2011. Nowhere does it say that a 2005 -OR- 2010 helmet is required starting in 2011.

[Cajun Kid]

McRat  you are correct.

VeeTwin,,, you are not quite correct. Let me "try to simplify"  Snell certifications are good for 10 years.  So the 2000 spec is good through 2010, then in 2011 that would make the next Snell spec of 2005 the minimum you could use. 2005 good to 2015.  So in 2011  you can use the older Snell 2005, or the then new Snell 2010.

So if you buy a 2005 spec today you get 5 years use out of it,,, Not bad, but if you wait and buy a 2010 spec date you have until 2020

So when you read in 2011  a 2005 spec will be required,,, what that means is in 2011 the Snell 2000 spec is no longer usable and the newest spec today is Snell 2005 and that will be required as the minimum spec, but by 2011  the Snell 2010 will be out so you can use the 2005 "or the later"  2010 Spec.

I hope that helps.

[McRat]

The World According To Bell:

Kyle Kietzmann of Bell Motorsports lays out the details, along with some advice for your future helmet purchase:


For the Snell SA or Special Applications standard, the first Snell SA 2010 certified helmets will not be available for sale from any manufacturer until October 1, 2010. This is the official release date for the latest Snell standard. Between now and October 1, 2010, Bell Racing will continue to sell Snell SA2005 certified helmets.

Retail customers may start to question the necessity of buying a Snell SA2005 helmet and decide to postpone purchasing a new helmet until the Snell SA2010 standard is released. It is important to remind customers of the necessity of having adequate head protection and the need to replace helmets that have been damaged or have exceeded their useful life expectancy regardless of the next Snell transition date.

When the next Snell SA standard is released, sanctioning bodies will require Snell SA2005 or above. In reality, a customer that buys a Snell SA2005 helmet between now and October 1, 2010 will be able to use that helmet for at least another 5 years. Bell recommends replacing helmets that have been exposed to normal wear and not subjected to an accident after a 5 year period.

[Stan Back]

Welcome back, Dan.  Probably seems like you never left.  Like . . .

"What kind of -------- ------- make up these rules anyway?"  Too bad I didn't copy it before it got edited.

And by the way, all -- this is under ECTA so most of what's been said and missaid don't count anyway.

Stan Back

[McRat]

Over the years, I remember that getting SNELL XXXX helmet has always been hard to do in that year.  

It's because dealers have a hard time selling left over inventory of last year's helmets.  Until they run out of stock, they do not reorder on transition years.  I used to work at a motorcycle shop in a previous life.

If you want a 2010 helmet in 2010, they will appear at shops that have high volume sales first, but certain models might not even be available until mid 2011.

[Cajun Kid]

I am not certain, but think SCTA and ECTA   use the same Helmet rules ??

Either way... as of Today... 2005 is the latest/most recent Spec and is good through 2015.
The prior Snell 2000 spec is good "through"  2010
Sometime in 2010 you should be able to buy a Snell 2010 spec good through 2020

Since the rule for today is being written before the 2010 spec is out, the best Snell spec readily available is the 2005 spec and that is what you will need in 2011, that is the written word, but in 2011  you may use the 2005 "or later" that will be the 2010 spec in the next rule update.. the "or later" is a key phrase..

Just like a roll cage,, if the rules says  1 5/8 .120  wall .. that is the minimum,, however you may go above the minimum and you may use  1 5/8 .134 wall or even go to 1 3/4 etc. etc. etc..

Of Fire system, rules says 5lbs of agent,,  you can opt to use more,,, etc. etc. etc..

So when todays rule says  Snell 2005 (which is the latest as of press time) when the Snell 2010 comes out, it can be used as it exceeds the current minimum rating !!!

Why is this hard to understand ?

[McRat]

PS - If you do buy a M or SA2010 helmet from Oct 2010 - Dec 2011, make sure you buy from a reputable shop.  At least once I was lied to, as have many others about rating, and lose 5 years of use if you can't return it.  Swap meets are NO-NO or small mail-order houses.  If the price looks to good to be true, there is a reason.

[Peter Jack]

Look inside the helmet and find the Snell tag. They're sometimes a little challenging to find but if the helmet's Snell certified it will be there attached to the inner compressible lining.

Basically the rules mean that the newest and next to newest standard are acceptable. Pretty simple.

Pete

[jimmy six]

Mc's got as close to right as you can get..30 years ago we didn't get that extra year and it caused some problems. The 2010's probably will be hard to get at the begining of 2011 and for the most part "not available" in 2010 at all. Be very careful when purchasing like he said.

A lot of "discounters" sell Snells cheap but they are leftovers. If you can live without the newest and best your can run this deal 5 years behind and get them at a lower price and just chang every 5. If you can, make sure you get what you want. I've seen the side air models diappearing for the top air ones which won't work for me. I also like a large vision shield......Good Luck

[relaxedfit]

I hadn't considered the availability/cost ratio on the 2010's. Much less figured in my innate clumsiness and the probability of a helmet actually surviving 10 years in race worthy condition. By the way VeeTwin, though I don't make any of the rules, a lot of folks around ECTA think I'm in strong contention for the -------- ------- title.

[jimmy six]

Relaxed..Every helmet I have ever had to retire has been a pristine as it was when new. The only time the are out of the bag out of the box is when they are on my head in the car. They are put away each time and every time they are used; even over night at Bonneville. I know they deteriorate from age so they are changed under SCTA direction. I never have trouble selling them at swap meets because I keep them as new...Just can't get the price I wish I could. The guys look for the Snell date too......Good Luck

[relaxedfit]

My doctors want me wearing my helmet any time I'm outside playing. They keep telling Mom "not in the head" but she just won't stop.