Helmet help!
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,572
Likes: 18
From: Second City
From soloracer.com
HELMET RATINGS
SA Rated Helmets:
Snell "SA" (Sports Application) rated professional helmets are designed for auto racing and provide extreme impact resistance and higher fire protection.
M Rated Helmets:
Snell "M" (Motorcycle) rated helmets are designed for motorcycling and other motorsports. They offer slightly less protection than SA rated helmets.
What are the key differences between SA and M Rated Helmets:
SA standard requires flammability test while the M standard does not.
SA standard has rollbar impact test while M standard does not.
SA standard allows narrower visual field than M standard (Some SA helmets aren't street legal).
How do I know if my helmet meets the necessary Snell specifications?
Always check your club rulebook to determine what helmet specifications they require. SCCA Solo rules, for example, will allow you to use the current Snell specification, as well as the previous two Snell specifications. So, for the 2006 season, you could use Snell Snell M95/SA95, Snell M00/SA00, or Snell M05/SA05 helmets. Snell M90/SA90 helmets would not meet requirements after October 1, 2005.
Some other racing organizations will allow you to use the current Snell specification and only the previous Snell specification, so read your rulebook carefully.
Also, be sure that your club will allow the use of Snell "M" rated helmets. SCCA Solo does allow these helmets, although some organizations that run high speed events will require Snell "SA" rated helmets.
SA Rated Helmets:
Snell "SA" (Sports Application) rated professional helmets are designed for auto racing and provide extreme impact resistance and higher fire protection.
M Rated Helmets:
Snell "M" (Motorcycle) rated helmets are designed for motorcycling and other motorsports. They offer slightly less protection than SA rated helmets.
What are the key differences between SA and M Rated Helmets:
SA standard requires flammability test while the M standard does not.
SA standard has rollbar impact test while M standard does not.
SA standard allows narrower visual field than M standard (Some SA helmets aren't street legal).
How do I know if my helmet meets the necessary Snell specifications?
Always check your club rulebook to determine what helmet specifications they require. SCCA Solo rules, for example, will allow you to use the current Snell specification, as well as the previous two Snell specifications. So, for the 2006 season, you could use Snell Snell M95/SA95, Snell M00/SA00, or Snell M05/SA05 helmets. Snell M90/SA90 helmets would not meet requirements after October 1, 2005.
Some other racing organizations will allow you to use the current Snell specification and only the previous Snell specification, so read your rulebook carefully.
Also, be sure that your club will allow the use of Snell "M" rated helmets. SCCA Solo does allow these helmets, although some organizations that run high speed events will require Snell "SA" rated helmets.
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,572
Likes: 18
From: Second City
I've never had a problem running top up or down. In fact, I thought I read somewhere that top down is preferrable. The idea being that if you flip over, the soft top won't make you safer but instead the soft-top bracing could snap and stab you.
Personally, I prefer top down for this reason, less glass, more visibilty, and more wind=greater sense of speed. Top down driving with a (full face) helmet on doesn't get that annoying until over 100mph which most tracks you might not reach and I would be shocked if you reached that speed for any amount of time in a auto-x.
Personally, I prefer top down for this reason, less glass, more visibilty, and more wind=greater sense of speed. Top down driving with a (full face) helmet on doesn't get that annoying until over 100mph which most tracks you might not reach and I would be shocked if you reached that speed for any amount of time in a auto-x.
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 79,195
Likes: 18
From: Home
I would prefer top up. You get better aerodynamics and less drag. The top up would help keep your extremities inside the car too.
If you run top down, then make sure you have arm restraints.
Most autoX events don't care if you run top up or down, but most HPDE events do require top up (but not all.)
If you run top down, then make sure you have arm restraints.
Most autoX events don't care if you run top up or down, but most HPDE events do require top up (but not all.)
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,572
Likes: 18
From: Second City
Originally Posted by ruexp67,Oct 17 2005, 02:35 PM
most HPDE events do require top up (but not all.)
Arm retraits are a good point though.
There would be more drag with the top down, but the few seconds or so isn't worth it to me (under my assumption that top down is safer).
(thinking out loud)
I wonder what creates more drag though...top down, or top up with windows down. I know that windows are required down (glass), but all that wind from the windows would hit the back of the soft top acting like a parachute. On the other hand, top down there may be drag but more area for the wind to escape...I have no scientific basis for this at all
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 772
Likes: 0
From: Bartlett IL
Thanks for the help everyone. I'm going to check out North Star later this week.
Hecash-Thanks for the advice but I don't like the idea of buying a potentially damaged helmet. They are only designed to take one impact. A soft hit could create stress cracks that greatly effect the way the helmet would work in a serious impact.
Hecash-Thanks for the advice but I don't like the idea of buying a potentially damaged helmet. They are only designed to take one impact. A soft hit could create stress cracks that greatly effect the way the helmet would work in a serious impact.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,170
Likes: 0
From: Brookfield
I've got a helmet that I dont use anymore.....if you are interested let me know and I can get you some pics....it is a motorcycle helmet, but approved none the less. Save yourself some money!!
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