Helmets
 

My Simpson helmet will reach its expiration next month as I'm sure a few others racers will. What brands of helmets are you looking at, and what reasons you are choosing it? Is it a money thing or a safer made helmet? I know the specs are Snell SA 2010, but what's the difference?

Re: Helmets
 

I really like the Bell S2R, but I think it is SA2005. I bought a new Simpson Superbandit. I like that one too. It is SA2010. The Bell is more open, which makes it easier to see any gauges in the car, but I find I like the Simpson since I moved most of my gauges up.

The SA part is for fire resistant liner. Good idea. You can get these helmets all over. I got mine at TheCarShopInc from Tim Ryherd. He is a good person to deal with and good prices. A racer and he sponsors our Heartland Stock Superstock series. Worth a look.

http://www.carshopinc.com/index.php

Re: Helmets
 

the SA is much more than a fire resistant liner. M rated helmets are motorcycle helmets and are tested for a single impact against a flat surface (head to road). In addition to fire retardant interior an SA helmet is put through a multiple implace acute angle test (helmet to roll cage, repeatedly as if a car was barrel rolling). While many helmet manufacturers construct their M and SA helmets the same except for the the fire retardant interior, many cheaper M rated helmets are not up to the SA standards for impact. Also some prominent helmet manufacturers make their M helmets offshore and SA in the USA.

Re: Helmets
 

It's funny that you guys brought this up as my Bell Mag 5 (open face) is expiring this year as well. At my last race of the year, I made a run with a full face helmet just to try it and quickly found that you can't teach an old dog a new trick. I felt like I lost about two of my five senses. It will be another open face for me, probably a Bell Sport Mag. My 02.

Re: Helmets
 

I like my Bell SR Pro (precursor of the S2R) SA2005 because it fits my head nicely and has the large eyeport for glasses. I haven't found a Bell SA2010 with such a large eyeport. At SEMA a few years ago, Bell said that the full face design was "dental insurance."

Re: Helmets
 

I got a Bell M4 this year. It is SA2010 and it has the larger eyeport which makes wearing glasses easier. It has worked well for me.

Re: Helmets
 

Jim,
I agree about the FF helmet. I had to use one in S/R and hated it. I also tried it in my 10.90 car and did'nt like it either. I had been wearing it in my dragster so it was'nt a Helmet issue it's a helmet to Roof issue.

If you buy a FF helmet. I have a Simpson Super Bandit. I like it much better than the Impact I had before.

Open Face I love the Bell Mag series.

I will need one next year too. I will wait to see who is paying contingency.
Chip