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<p>
OK, let's cut through some things here. Helmets are a passion for me
(one saved my life).
</p>
<p>
First of all, in the US, if you are going to compete you are going to
need a Snell or a FIA rated helmet, almost without exception (the
exceptions will be exceedingly rare).
</p>
<p>
There is an idea out there that car helmets are designed for multiple
impacts and bike helmets are designed for sliding impacts. That is not
necessarily the case and in some cases the same shell is used for both
an M and an SA rated helmet. The only difference is the tests required
to get each rating and mostly likely both types of helmets could pass
each impact test required of both ratings. There are differences in
requirements and those can be found on the Snell web site.
</p>
<p>
I'm aware of the concern of motorbike riders regarding testing and
design of the helmets and one of the bike mags had a GREAT article
about bike helmets and design and the ways in which Snell fails the
motorbike rider. It's worth looking up.
</p>
<p>
Snell ratings come out generally every 5 years. Usually they come out
late in the year of the rating, i.e., a 2010 rating usually comes out
late in 2010, so the 2010 rating coming out in late 2009 is unusual.
The sanctioning bodies *usually* allow the current rating and the next
oldest for amateur racing. Pro racing almost always requires only the
latest rating. That said, helmets should be replaced LONG before they
are 10 years old. I have a good Bell SA rated helmet whose padding
totally deteriorated long before it was 10 years old. Pretty sobering.
</p>
<p>
George Roffe
</p>
<p>
Crash Test Dummy and Helmet Tester
</p>
<p>
<br>
---- JaretR1@aol.com wrote:<br><br>=============<br>I think the Snell
ratings are kinda bogus. They seem to change every<br>year, and with
every year it seems sanctioning bodies (or insurance companies<br>that
insure these groups) require the most recent Snell rating to
participate<br>in their events. Before buying a non Snell rated
helmet, make sure the<br>group you will be racing with will allow it.
Seems this is a way to make<br>people buy new helmet every few years.<br><br>Keep
in mind a few things (that I have not seen anyone mention), it is my<br>understanding
that some motorcycle helmets are not designed for multiple<br>impacts
(just one major impact) where auto racing helmets are designed for<br>multiple
impacts as well as motorcycle helmets may not be designed to retard<br>flame
while auto racing helmets will.<br><br>The last time I went to auto
cross, Iwent to my local club with my mint<br>Bell helmet with its
outdated Snell 85 rating. The club required Snell 95 or<br>above at
the time. I was forced to borrow a helmet that met this<br>qualification
yet did not remotely fit me, way to big. How ridiculous is that? I<br>mentioned
this to the club president and he said "its what our insurance<br>carrier
requires". So rather than wearing a helmet that was in perfect<br>condition
and fit me like a glove, I wore a helmet with a higher rating yet was<br>so
loose it would have done nothing to protect my head, yet this was ok.<br><br>Check
with the group, club or sanctioning body to find out what is required<br>of
your helmet before you buy one.<br><br>Jaret<br><br><br>In a message
dated 8/24/2009 9:49:11 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,<br>rfrey@iupui.edu
writes:<br><br><br>The advice saying you need to try on helmets is
right on. Brand is<br>insignificant really. Fit is more important.
When trying on helmets, grab the<br>back of the helmet and see if you
can peel it off, forward over your head.<br>You'd be surprised at how
many helmets can be pulled off that way. If you<br>can, obviously it
isn't going to work for you. IMO, don't buy a helmet<br>with a snell
rating. Snell has too rigid of standards on G forces and to get<br>that
standard, the manufacturer needs to use Styrofoam that is too rigid<br>and
won't crush enough and slow the deacceleration of your brain properly.<br>The
motorcycle guys have debated this for awhile and seem to prefer DOT or<br>European
standards. Interestingly, Snell 2010 standards have been relaxed<br>to
conform to DOT and European standards, therefore, requiring softer<br>Styrofoam.
They had to succumb to the argument that their Styrofoam was too<br>stiff.
Snell 2010 helmets are supposed to be out in October '09. Avoid Snell<br>unless
its 2010 s<br>tandards. Zues, Shark, HJC, Zox, Scorpion are brands
that come in for<br>lower prices, check 'em out. Obviously, protect
your brain, but spending<br>money on the name brands doesn't
necessarily do that. ECE (euro) standards are<br>the most certain but
harder to find here the States. If it meets those it<br>is a proper
helmet IMO. If I were buying a helmet today, I'd seek the ECE<br>standard,
they're available here. If you can wait for Snell 2010 you'd get<br>the
safety that is advertised, something a DOT rating might not provide.<br>I
am also a fan of the plastic shells rather than fiberglass or carbon<br>fiber.
They're cheaper and dent rather than fracture. You can buy a lot of<br>protection
for not much cash these days.<br><br>The graphics are up to you, :)<br><br>rick<br><br><br>-----Original
Message-----<br>From: se-r-bounces@se-r-list.org
[mailto:se-r-bounces@se-r-list.org] On<br>Behalf Of Jon<br>Sent:
Friday, August 21, 2009 10:31 PM<br>To: se-r list<br>Subject: racing
helmet<br><br>Anyone have a helmet they really like that would be good
for auto-x or<br>road race events? I have a Shoei motorcycle helmet
that I like pretty<br>well, but it is time to replace it. I am limited
to about an hour in<br>most helmets and my forehead starts to get
sore. I don't mind spending<br>some jack to get something nice... but
I don't like putting out money to<br>have a name brand on my head.<br><br>thanks,<br><br>Jon
Davis<br>+----------------------------------------------------------------------+<br>The
mailing list home page is http://www.se-r-list.org/<br>To modify your
subscription, go to<br>http://www.se-r-list.org/mailman/listinfo/se-r<br>+----------------------------------------------------------------------+<br>The
mailing list home page is http://www.se-r-list.org/<br>To modify your
subscription, go to<br>http://www.se-r-list.org/mailman/listinfo/se-r<br><br><br>
</p>
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