Open Face Helmets...on Sale

[budjrfan]

http://www.bellhelmets.com/index.cfm...category_id=99

[tones688]

It's stated that these helmets are Snell SA 2000 approved. In the registration packet for the Talladega get together in May, there is a statement that SA00 rated helmets or higher are required at the track. It then states that this is the last year that this model of helmet will be permitted.

Is this stating that a SA2000 rated helmet will not be widely acceptable next year? The deal above looks like a winner, and I'd jump at it provided it'll be good for a couple of years at least and not just this year. Am I interpreting this correctly?

[cobrabitn]

Tony,

A helmet of SA00 is good till 2010. The helmet that is expired is the SA95 which expired last year. I just bought a SA05 helmet this week so I can get maximum usage out of it.

I highly recommend you buy your helmet from Jon who sells Bell helmets. Check your club messages for the information to contact him. I do not have it handy right this minute but will post it later..

[johnbasf]

Why replace helmet every five years?
The five year replacement recommendation is based on a consensus by both the helmet manufacturers and the Snell Foundation. Glues, resins and other materials used in helmet production over can affect liner materials. Hair oils, body fluids and cosmetics, as well as normal "wear and tear" all contribute to helmet degradation. Petroleum based products present in cleaners, paints, fuels and other commonly encountered materials may also degrade materials used in many helmets possibly degrading performance. Additionally, experience indicates there will be a noticeable improvement in the protective characteristic of helmets over a five year period due to advances in materials, designs, production methods and the standards. Thus, the recommendation for five year helmet replacement is a judgment call stemming from a prudent safety philosophy

[coreseller]

So what is the answer of how long these helmets will be good for? What year will you be required to have an updated version? Thanks.....Mark.

[LeadSSled]

FWIW - I ordered one of these helmets about 1 month ago. The helmet that was shipped to me is rated SA 2005. I wouldn't bank on that, but what a bargain for me.

I do know that the SCCA allows the use of helmets for 10 years past their Snell rating. So an SA 95 is not acceptable anymore (11 years now). I figured that this was a good buy for a helmet that is legal for 5 years, but I got a bonus and will get 10 out of it.

Originally Posted by johnbasf

Thus, the recommendation for five year helmet replacement is a judgment call stemming from a prudent safety philosophy

IMHO - Note that this replacement policy is recommended by people who sell helmets. Most racing sanctioning bodies allow 10-year replacement unless the helmet has experienced an impact. Even a dropped helmet is considered compromised. Remember that oil manufacturers recommend oil changes every 3000 miles, while the people that honor automobile warranties (the manufacturers) recommend significantly longer change intervals. The 5-year helmet replacement, like the 3000-mile oil change, is obviously the "safer" way to go, but is probably overkill.

[RF Cobra]

Originally Posted by coreseller

So what is the answer of how long these helmets will be good for? What year will you be required to have an updated version? Thanks.....Mark.

SA2000 can be used through 2010
SA2005 can be used through 2015

The registration form wording is a cut and paste typo/proofreading error from last year's registration form which said SA95 and noted it was the last year it could be used. When the info was used in the new form the rating was changed to SA2000 but the part about it being the last year the helmet would be accepted did not get deleted like it should have.

[RF Cobra]

I was looking at getting an SA05 helmet and was going on the recommedation that a full helmet was better since it provides more protection. However, I ran across a web site that said the SCCA has issued a warning saying that if you have an air bag equipped vehicle an open face helmet should be used to prevent a fractured jaw with the full face helmet if the air bag deployes.

Has anyone else heard this or seen the official statement from the SCCA?

[LeadSSled]

Originally Posted by RF Cobra

Has anyone else heard this or seen the official statement from the SCCA?

Yes, I've heard about the issue but have not been able to put my finger on the official satement. The SCCA does not mandate, but strongly recommends, an open face helmet for cars that have active airbags. They have been considering a full-out ban on open faced helmets in cars with steering-wheel airbags, but no action has been taken yet. Here is language the SCCA published in a recent Safety Steward newsletter:

"There has been discussion recently regarding the use of closedface helmets in Solo II cars equipped with air bags. The Solo Safety Committee has reviewed Solo incident reports from 2004 and found little documentation of either air bag deployment or type of helmet being used. At this time, the empirical data for the Solo program supports current language regarding types of helmets to be used in Solo II. The bulletin from the SCCA Technical Department will be made available to all participants in the program.

"The SSCA will continue to monitor incidents within the Solo program, investigate incident reports and work with the Solo Events Board, SCCA Risk Management and the Technical Department as any additional information becomes available."

Following is a statement issued by Ford Motor Company on the issue:

"EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, PLEASE CEASE USE OF FULL FACED HELMETS IN VEHICLES WITH LIVE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAGS."

It was brought up at the recent International Committee for Proving Ground Safety that several companies do not allow use of full face helmets in vehicles with (driver-side) airbags, due to the risk of severe neck injury for the airbag impacting the bottom of the full-faced helmet. Full-faced helmets are, of course, allowed in vehicles without airbags or in vehicles with de-activated airbags.

If the SCCA ban occurs, it will only be for drivers of airbag equiped cars. The concern is that the bag, which is pliable, could push the chin bar, which is a hard object, into your jaw and cause an injury that would not occur with an open face helmet. That does not mean that a chin bar is not a good thing to have if you hit metal, glass, or asphalt with it. It is a matter of considerable debate and there are merits to both sides of the arguement.

[coreseller]

Leadsled, you gotta deal. I just called them and all they have left is smalls, they offered me the SA2005 as an alternative at $148.95, good job!!

FWIW, I had a '96 Dark Cherry Impala SS as a company car, put 200k on it and sold it for $10k in 2000, it is still my favorite daily driver that I've had.....Mark.

[LeadSSled]

coreseller - $148.95 is still a good deal, and you will get 5 more years out of it. When I ordered several weeks ago, I ordered online using the link in the first post. I just checked and it does not indicate that any size isn't available. When my helmet arrived, it was an SA2005 version.

My SS used to be a daily driver but isn't anymore. It could be, but at 120K, I'm trying to reserve the miles on it for "fun time". I wouldn't hesitate to drive it cross-country though. Even with the 4.10 gears, it still gets 19 mpg on the highway if I keep it at 75 mph or below.

[RF Cobra]

Originally Posted by LeadSSled

Yes, I've heard about the issue...

Thanks for the info!


Guess I'll have to think about it some more before making a final decision.

[coreseller]

I tried the online thing, they called my house to let me know they were out of anything but smalls and again offered the SA2005 for $148.95, can't blame a guy for trying. LeadSSled, most of my driving was highway with the stock gear (3.23?) and usually got 22 to 24 mpg. In all of those miles I went through 1 water pump, 1 power steering pump and 2 fuel pumps. The guy I sold it to put another 175k on her last I heard. My current company car is an '04 GTO 6 speed, I'm going to try to get 200k out of her also, so far at 50k she's amazingly tight still. Hope to see you at 411 later in the summer.....Mark.

[coreseller]

Not to beat a dead horse, but if you look around a bit good deals can still be had on the Pyrotect helmets, availability is the issue (apparently Bell also makes military helmets). I just snagged an open face SA2005 $125 delivered, hope to see some of you guys at 411 in August......Mark.