Helmets

Mark Ruset · 11-13-2011, 01:22 PM

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?

james schaechter · 11-13-2011, 09:57 PM

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

Chad Rhodes · 11-14-2011, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by james schaechter

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

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.

Jim Kaekel · 11-14-2011, 10:23 AM

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.

Run to Rund · 11-14-2011, 11:39 AM

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."

Roberts Motorsports · 11-14-2011, 12:11 PM

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.

THE LEGEND · 11-14-2011, 02:14 PM

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

11-13-2011, 01:22 PM	#1
Mark Ruset Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Southwest Florida Posts: 263 Likes: 35 Liked 43 Times in 29 Posts	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? __________________ Mark Ruset 2048 STK

11-13-2011, 09:57 PM	#2
james schaechter VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Cumming GA Posts: 1,992 Likes: 1,293 Liked 1,436 Times in 299 Posts	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 __________________ James Schaechter 3163 STK Last edited by james schaechter; 11-14-2011 at 05:03 AM.

11-14-2011, 10:23 AM	#4
Jim Kaekel VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,229 Likes: 133 Liked 535 Times in 110 Posts	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. __________________ Jim Kaekel 3836 STK

11-14-2011, 11:39 AM	#5
Run to Rund Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 583 Likes: 8 Liked 54 Times in 27 Posts	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."

11-14-2011, 12:11 PM	#6
Roberts Motorsports Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Davidson, NC Posts: 25 Likes: 1 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	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.

11-14-2011, 02:14 PM	#7
THE LEGEND VIP Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Fayetteville, n.c. Posts: 1,411 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	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