Simpson Racing vs Bell

[MNBoxster]

Hi,

As mentioned, for Auto and Track purposes, be sure to get an SA rated Helmet and be sure it's SA05 rated. The Snell Foundation reviews and upgrades their Testing Protocol every 5 yrs. and some venues require the most current rating. This way, your Helmet will be accepted for the next 2.5 yrs until the SA10 ratings come out. Some venues allow both the current and the last SA ratings to be used. So, you could use an SA05 or SA00 rated Helmet. But, in 2010 the SA00 Rating will no longer be acceptable. So be sure to check the venues you expect to be paticipating in.

The Snell Foundation grants these ratings after randomly buying Helmets on the retail market and testing them in their own labs. If they find a Helmet which fails, the Mfgr is required to make corrective changes to design, materials or manufacturing techniques to maintain their SA rating. DOT, ANSI and ASTM rated Helmets are not independently tested. The Mfgr merely certifies that the Helmet conforms to the DOT requirements. While they may do actual testing, they are not required by the DOT to do on-going, continuous, testing.

An 'M' rated Helmet is for Motorcycle use. An SA rated Helmet is for Motorsports.

The primary differences are:

• SA standard requires flammability test while the M standard does not;
  SA standard allows narrower visual field than M standard (Most SA helmets may not be street legal);
  SA standard has rollbar impact test while M standard does not.

In addition, an 'M' rated Helmet is tested for a single impact. They are generally less robust and easily compromised. If an 'M' rated Helmet is dropped or otherwise severly impacted, it is considered compromised and should be replaced. An SA rated Helmet is subjected to multiple impacts because that's the type of environment it is expected to perform in. Hope this helps...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[efahl]

Originally Posted by MNBoxster

In addition, an 'M' rated Helmet is tested for a single impact. They are generally less robust and easily compromised.

Jim,

My reading of the specs years ago lead me to believe that the "M" spec helmets weren't "less robust," but suited for different types of impact. The "SA" stuff is meant to take more focused whacks, such as you mention (hitting a rollbar), versus the test protocol for "M" which I believe uses flat plate impacts, to simulate bouncing your head on the pavement. The non-SCCA-approved DOT helmet spec uses yet another impact protocol which, contrary to popular belief, is not less good than the Snell tests, but again emphasizes a different injury mechanism and makes it more suitable for road bikers.

I may be recalling this all wrong, of course, since I haven't read up on it since the early '90s, but that's my impression.

Eric

[Adam]

A few months back I checked into getting a helmet. I only live about an hour and a half away from the Bell plant/office and was in the Rantoul area the other day. I was surprised out how difficult and hesistant they were to sell me a helmet. They said I had to make an appointment to buy a helmet? Anywho, I ended up ordering the helmet from saferacer and it didn't fit very well. I tried a smaller size and that one was too tight. So I ended up going to a local motorcycle shop and they had a snell/dot approved helmet for less than half the price of the automotive helmet! It was the same full face style as the auto helmet, but also had a full face shield that is removable. It looks a lot like that black simpson model listed below. It fit very well and looked good so I went with that one. I think it was $140. Why does Bell and other companies jack the prices up of their auto helmets? I used it at the last two autocrosses and it worked great.

[SC986]

Thanks for all the info guys! There is a Simpson Racing Store up by the racetrack so I can try them on. Bell I would have to order without trying on. The closest vendor to me is about 2 1/2 hours.

My DE is the PCA Carolinas Chapter. Boxsterts must pass the broomstick test, soft top must be up, hard tops are ok. Not sure if it's the chapter or track requirement but helmets must be SA05.

Due to the hours I can't make it after work, this Saturday is opening day for college football, so looks like Saturday the 8th I'll go up to Simpson.

Thanks again for all the info!!

[mts]

Originally Posted by Adam

It fit very well and looked good so I went with that one. I think it was $140. Why does Bell and other companies jack the prices up of their auto helmets? I used it at the last two autocrosses and it worked great.

You most likely got an "M" rated helmet. You can't run any PCA track events with that helmet that I am aware of. I don't know of any manufacturer that sells an "SA" rated helment for $140.

[racer_d]

Originally Posted by mts

You most likely got an "M" rated helmet. You can't run any PCA track events with that helmet that I am aware of. I don't know of any manufacturer that sells an "SA" rated helment for $140.

to quote (or paraphrase)an old Bell Helments ad:

"Got a $10 head? get a $10 helmet"



Afterall, its only your head and your safety. I would also argue that risks of head injuries are higher at a track than at a "low speed" autocross.

While I haven't fully embraced my own issues on safety, it is amazing how much someone will put into "modding" their car to make it faster/better/quicker but then won't put similar money into protecting themself in case of an accident. Guess self preservation and the ability to dis-associate your mind that "you" could actually get hurt are both pretty strong.

[J-RAD]

Originally Posted by mts

You most likely got an "M" rated helmet. You can't run any PCA track events with that helmet that I am aware of.

Yes, you most certainly can. Perhaps your region doesn't allow but I know mine does as does another region in which I occasionally attend events.

I absolutely buy into the "Got a $10 head? get a $10 helmet" argument but I don't see that as the case here. At the same time, I don't know that you necessarily need to spend the kind of money that Bell wants for some it's helmets either.

You'll have a tough time convincing me that a "M" helmet offers inferior protection than that of a "SA" helmet. They both offer significant protection. Have you ever seen a Superbike rider crash at 120+mph? In addition, I know people that, when given the choice, prefer the "M" helmet to the "SA" due to their wider field of vision - I'm one of those (and I have both).

Just my $.02.

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by J-RAD

You'll have a tough time convincing me that a "M" helmet offers inferior protection than that of a "SA" helmet. They both offer significant protection. Have you ever seen a Superbike rider crash at 120+mph? In addition, I know people that, when given the choice, prefer the "M" helmet to the "SA" due to their wider field of vision - I'm one of those (and I have both). Just my $.02.

Hi,

Well, you make a point so far as it goes. For DE and Auto-X, it's unlikely you'd need the Flammability protection an SA rated Helmet offers. And, if the venue will permit an 'M' rated Helmet, you've jumped that hurdle as well.

But, an M rated Helmet is simply less robust, period. For one thing, every M rated Helmet I've ever seen comes with the disclaimer cautioning that if the Helmet is dropped or subjected to an impact, "even though no damage may be apparent", that the Helmet should be considered compromised and replaced or at the least, returned to the manufacturer for proper inspection. I own 3 'M' rated Helmets (Bell, AGV, HJC) and they all came with this documentation. A Superbike rider may well crash at 120+mph, but I doubt the Helmet was reusable or even offered the same degree of protection that an SA rated Helmet would have.

Also, though this is argueably a subjective matter, I brought one of my 'M' rated Helmets (the AGV) to an Auto-X event which sanctioned 'M' rated helmets, along with my Bell M3. I found the wider field of vision in the 'M' helmet to be a detriment to maintaining good focus - it allowed too much nonrelevant data for my brain to sort through and my ETs suffered with each run in the AGV. In Solo or running Hot Laps on a Track, I actually prefer the more restricted view.

The SA Helmets are required by many venues for a reason, a good one. It offers superior protection - more than you may need? Only one way to prove that arguement and I hope none of us ever have to...

Happy Motoring!... Jim

[mts]

Originally Posted by J-RAD

Yes, you most certainly can. Perhaps your region doesn't allow but I know mine does as does another region in which I occasionally attend events.

I absolutely buy into the "Got a $10 head? get a $10 helmet" argument but I don't see that as the case here. At the same time, I don't know that you necessarily need to spend the kind of money that Bell wants for some it's helmets either.

You'll have a tough time convincing me that a "M" helmet offers inferior protection than that of a "SA" helmet. They both offer significant protection. Have you ever seen a Superbike rider crash at 120+mph? In addition, I know people that, when given the choice, prefer the "M" helmet to the "SA" due to their wider field of vision - I'm one of those (and I have both).

Just my $.02.

Wow! I didn't know that. I stand corrected. I've run track events with 6 different PCA regions (track events, not autocrosses) and none of them will allow anything less than an "SA" rating. I thought it was a national rule, but I must have been mistaken.

In fact, most all the entities that I know that run track events (not autocrosses) require "SA" helmets. I know of only a couple that don't and they are run pretty poorly. I've always considered PCA to be at the very top of the safety chain for track events. What region do you belong to that allows "M" helmets for track events?

[J-RAD]

Originally Posted by mts

I've always considered PCA to be at the very top of the safety chain for track events. What region do you belong to that allows "M" helmets for track events?

I agree, PCA events are very well run and safety is paramount. I belong to the Nord Stern region. Your basic point is valid though, a person will be able to participate in more events with a "SA" rated helmet.

Originally Posted by MNBoxster

But, an M rated Helmet is simply less robust, period. For one thing, every M rated Helmet I've ever seen comes with the disclaimer cautioning that if the Helmet is dropped or subjected to an impact, "even though no damage may be apparent", that the Helmet should be considered compromised and replaced or at the least, returned to the manufacturer for proper inspection. I own 3 'M' rated Helmets (Bell, AGV, HJC) and they all came with this documentation. A Superbike rider may well crash at 120+mph, but I doubt the Helmet was reusable or even offered the same degree of protection that an SA rated Helmet would have.

My SA helmet comes with the same warning and if I ever had an impact that warranted it's use, I'd have it inspected as well.