Re: Can someone recommend a helmet for motorsport?

["Linus D. Toy" <linust@interramp.com>]

At 01:52 AM 3/31/96 -0500, STEADIRIC@aol.com wrote:

>THERE ARE TWO MAKERS OF HELMETS FOR AUTO USE, BELL AND SIMPSON......  

not necessarily so...Shoei also makes SA-rated helmets (at least they used
to).  as for what's easy to find, bell and simpson are (seem to be) more
readily available.

>Sorry about the shouting but if you want to keeps your brains in the 
>bucket get either a Bell (What I wear) or a Simpson only which is rated 
>"SA" for Special Application which means Car Use, Motorcycle helmets are 
>designed for one impact when you hit the ground and slide, Car helmets 
>are designed for MANY Impacts like when your head is rattling around on 
>the roll cage when your doing 6 barrel roll's in turn 5 at Road America, 

eric, i think you're giving in to a few dramatics here...M-rated helmets ARE
designed for some pretty severe use, and are not limited to just motorcycle
use only.  one big difference is the SA helmets are designed with fire
protection in mind--most have a nomex lining instead of nylon (ever melted
the ends of nylon rope to keep it from fraying?  the flame won't stop by
itself).  there are other differences.  still, since you're looking to buy,
get the SA (yes, it costs more, but how many heads do you get in your
lifetime?) 

>But I digress (BTDT).  The difference is the fit.  Bell's fit my head and 
>Simpson's don't.  for $200-$300 your looking at the M2RS in a bell Helmet 
>and a RX in the Simpson.  Go for the Kevlar the weight difference is 
>amazing. In a closed car Chin Bar vents will not really do anything to 
>keep your head cool.  Keep the visor on the first notch or remove it 
>altogether.  I usually wear my balaclava (Head Sock) when I have my 
>helmet on that way I sweat into it and not my helmet liner..... they get 
>STINKY quick! Remember a single layer head sock will bump you one helmet 
>size and a two layer (what I wear) will bump you two sizes.

Absolutely agree to all this.  Those lightweight kevlar helmets are reeallly
nice--and $$$.  Not to demean the mail-order vendors amongst us (who could
save you a few $), but this is one area I would find a local
supplier--different helmets fit differently, sometimes within the same
manufacturer.  Find the one that fits comfortably--that's probably most
important.

A couple other points:  Snell ratings change every so-many (5?) years--the
later the better.  For our typical driver-education type events, the
important thing is to have a reasonably acceptable helmet--good fit, not
cracked, not ancient, etc.  For competitive purposes, sanctioning bodies
(i.e. SCCA, PCA, etc) usually require the latest rating or no older than one
back from that--i.e. now that Snell 95 helmets are out, Snell 90 helmets
might be acceptable, but 85's aren't.  The ratings just changed--Snell 95 (M
or SA) helmets are just becoming available--if you're buying a new one, I'd
look for the -95 models.  

FWIW, I'm using a Shoei RF200 helmet from my crotch-rocket days (M90
rating).  When I replace it (this year?), it will be with an SA-rated
helmet.  In other words, do as Eric says (and does), not as I do!  

--linus
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* linus toy           email:  linust@interramp.com                   *
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