Simpson Racing vs Bell

[racer_d]

Simpson make fine safety products. Of note, Bill Simpson, company founder, was pushed out of his own company. He markets a new line of safety gear, but the name of the new product escapes me... G-Force maybe??

Anyway, sage advice when spending $300 or so dollars. You want to be as comfortable as possible. What seems a "little snug" standing or sitting in a showroom will likely become "unbearable" when you sit in it for 20-30 minutes at a time as you will during your DE Events. If you wear glasses, bring them with you, to make sure the eye port is large enough and to make sure you can actually get them on once the helmet is in place. You may also consider that knowadays, instructors use in-car communicators. I mention this because you may be "cramming" an earpiece inside your helmet as well.

Not sure if you are looking for an Open face or Full face helmet, but try them both on and see what makes you more comfortable. Some will argue the dangers of either in an airbag equipped car, but its your knoggin when all is said and done.

[easyc]

SImpson now owns impact racing or something like that out of indianapolis

[thenavarro]

SC986,

Here's my Simpson:



Good quality, feels nice on your head. Definitely get fitted in person though and don't just take your measurements and order. I would have ordered the wrong size if I went by the measurements. Also, if you get fitted in person you can try various models and see what feels best for you. Get the SA2005 models. Take care,

Mike

[J-RAD]

They all have to pass the same standard for SNELL rating. Given that, any helmet with a SNELL rating will be "safe". After that, it comes down to things like how well it fits, styling, and features. Should you find a Simpson that fits well and you like the price, then go ahead and buy it.

You may be able to save some money (aside: saving money always sounds kind of bad when talking about important safety items, like helmets) and/or get more features by purchasing a closeout helmet. Just make sure it still meets the minimum SNELL rating for your region. The minimum in my region is SNELL 2000+, however, yours may be different. I'd be surprised to find a new helmet with a rating of SNELL 2005 or older but it's possible, so you just need to double check.

[noone986s]

I use a Simpson Voyager at the moment and it is fine. It is quite a large helmet even in the correct size but I have no problems using it with the roof up or down. This is in the UK and I was advised that in the US I would not be able to use it as it is above the roll bar and I would need to use an extension to the roll bar like the BK one.

Something else to check into, or just keep the roof up, or your hardtop on. I love being on the track with the roof down

I really like the look of your car in your avatar picture, my hardtop is being painted now.

Cheers

[MNBoxster]

Hi,

All three brands are very good, but there are differences between even the Model line-up within a single brand.

Fit is important, it must pass the Roll-Off test - should be snug enough not to be able to be rolled off your head.

Comfort is important too as is weight, ventilation, and field of vision. And, you have to be sure that with Helmet ON and Seat adjusted, that you can pass the Broomstick Test for some venues. That is, 2" between the top of your Helmet and a straightedge (broomstick) resting between the Roll Bar and the Windshield Header - not required for all venues - check the Tech rules of whateer venue (DE, SCCA Solo, etc.) you intend to participate in.

I use the Bell M3 and it's an excellent Helmet, but most important, it fits my type of head. I believe it's range is fairly broad.

One suggestion, get together with your buddies and acquaintances who use a Helmet and try theirs to see what you like. Also, consider that the Helmet will loosen up considerably with repeated use, so plan accordingly - it will get more comfortable with time.

A Helmet Sock (or Balaclava) is a good idea to keep the Helmet Fresh. A removable and Washable liner is also a nice feature. Hope this helps...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[mts]

Both Bell and Simpson make fine safety equipment so you can't go wrong with either. Imapact Racing (Bill Simpson's new company), Pyrotect (an off-shoot of Bell), Arai, OMP, Sparco and G-Force are also good brands to consider.

As others have mentioned, fitament is the most important thing. If you can try some friends helmets, or find a local shop to test fitament before you buy, that's probably the best option. If you don't have that option you might look here:
http://www.saferacer.com/autrachel.html

I've dealth with that company several times and they are good to work with. They have nice fitting charts so you can always pick one you like, order it and and return it if the fitament is off. I have no affiliation with that company, yada..yada...

Also, as far as ratings, the most important thing is to make sure you get an "SA" rated helmet, not an "M" rated one. Some DE's and most autocrosses will let you run with an "M" helmet, PCA events require the "SA" designation. The "SA" helmets are more expensive, but specifically designed for an automotive application.

Good luck.