Does anyone know if a Snell style helmet is required at most raceways? I am driving my Clubman at Grattan Raceway, Belding, MI, and they say a helmet is required, SA2005 or better. I'd like to get an open face style, but I don't want to be turned away, and my ordering time limit is approaching ...

 

I'm not sure what your questions is. You say a SA2005 is required, so what's the problem? SA2005 come in open face if that's your question. Snell isn't a style, its a standard.

If you're getting a helmet, an SA2010 would be better, that will be current through 2020, an SA2005 will officially expire in 2015.

We got our helmets from Helmet city, they have several open faced SA2010s, like this one: http://www.helmetcity.com/page/HC/PR...irflowopenface

 

Thank you for helping on that. I got a bit confused about Snell from a saleswoman at the local Harley shop, who said that snell protection was the full face mask style of helmet. I knew that I wanted only the open style and now have confirmed that it will suffice. That one you highlighted is perfect, price and all- thanks!

 

I would recommend against a completely open style, but rather get a full face with a large opening for the eyes. Craniofacial injuries to the lower jaw are nothing to take lightly, having seen the end results from car accidents...


I started with an open,went to a full face with a wide aperture, and after I got used to it, I actually now prefer it.

 

Helmets are a very personal thing. They have to fit well, or you're going to absolutely loathe wearing them. Each model seems to be built slightly differently, and everybody's head is slightly different from everybody else's.

What I'm saying is you really need to try on a helmet before you buy it. It should be snug enough that you can't slide it right off easily, but not so snug you feel you are mashing your face. Either way is not safe.

Open-face is very convenient, but generally less safe than full-face. Though with our cars, the airbag would probably render any differences moot.

SA2010 will be useful for much longer than SA2005. Actually, I'd be surprised if you could find much in the way of 2005 helmets for sale new...

 

Note that the Snell standard for motorcycle helmets is different from the standard for auto helmets. Motorcycle helmets are intended to deal with one crash, while car helmets are expected to have the occasional solid whack against the inside of a car and continue being used.

That said, at my one and only autocross day, I used one of my motorcycle helmets because, well, I had them.

 

This may be outdated now, but a number of years ago there were exactly two differences between the standards for the M and SA helmets:

1- An impact test with a cylindrical object (obviously intended to simulate a roll bar impact)
2- The lining must be fire-resistant

That's it. The other tests (impacts against other shapes) were the same, and there was no single-impact versus multiple-impact difference.

As my driving instructor said, "As an engineer, I would find it very difficult to design a helmet that could pass the other impact tests and fail the cylinder test. And if I ever get to the point where my helmet lining being on fire makes any difference, I'm probably already dead."

That said, rules are rules. If the venue or the club requires SA, then get that!

 

I have a HJC AR10 II. It's not an open face design, but it's SA2010 and really comfortable.

 

Very good advice. The helmet that was number one on my list (For closed face) just wasn't comfortable. My second choice was perfect.

One thing about airbags: I'd still rather have a full face than open face helmet, especially if you wear glasses. Airbags are great for saving lives, but they can cause some pretty nasty, though recoverable, injuries to the face too.

I'd try both on, if you can live with a full face helmet, I'd go that route. To be honest, my full face helmet is much more comfortable than my open face helmet was, but my full face helmet is also a higher quality helmet.

 

I am not certain this is correct. I just hit the Snell site and read the M2010 spec and the SA2010 spec. The motorcycle spec makes no mention of multiple impacts, but the car/kart spec says:

a. Each site tested against the flat anvil shall be tested in two impacts according to the values in the impact velocity table adjusted for the mass of the head form assembly. No site shall be subject to the third impact for this anvil.
b. Each site tested against the hemispherical anvil shall be tested in two impacts according to the values in the impact velocity table adjusted for the mass of the head form assembly. No site shall be subject to the third impact for this anvil.
c. Each site tested against the edge anvil shall be tested in a single impact according to the values in the impact velocity table adjusted for the mass of the head form assembly. No site shall be subjected to the second or third impact for this anvil.
d. Each site tested against the roll bar anvil shall be tested in three impacts impact according to the values in the impact velocity table adjusted for the mass of the head form assembly.

So, two impacts on a hemi or flat anvil, one impact for edge anvil, and three on the roll bar anvil.

IMHO, this is a good reason to use a car spec helmet for auto cross, track days and racing instead of a motorcycle helmet. At least, if you don't want to discard your pricey motorcycle helmet after a single impact with the B-pillar :-)

(Then again, just because I bought a $750 Arai motorcycle helmet doesn't mean you can't buy an $80 HJC cheapie that meets the same Snell M-spec, and treat it as a disposable item.)

(Edit: fixed typo in link)

Sent from my iPad using NAMotoring