wratran

My local track require a snell 95 helmet if your your car is quicker than 13.9sec. I dont want to spend $200+ for a full SA rated helmet. Will the M2000 rating meets the 95 rating?
I think the number represent the certification year....so anything that is newer than the 95 should meet the minimum?...
Need help with this Snell system. I found a thread that said to use SA 2005, but those helmet are $400+. I dont track my car that much to waste all this money.

glennhl

I bought an M2000 helmet off of Ebay. It's made in Korea, it's a full face, and it costs around $75. Fits great, very comfortable, and it meets the track requirements where I run. You have to check to see if they accept the Motorcycle standard, but most tracks do. Some people will give you a hard time saying isn't your life worth more than a cheap helmet and why don't you buy an expensive helmet? My answer to these people is why don't they wear a helmet everyday that they drive on the street, it's a lot more dangerous than any track.

Just a word of warning, the track will normally not go by the SNELL sticker on the back of the helmet, they will look for the sticker inside the helmet. Make sure the helmet you buy has the SNELL M2000 sticker on the inside.

Good luck

talon90

Here's a link to a helmet that several forum racers use:

http://www.racerwholesale.com/produc...products_id=50

With all due respect, it's your life you are talking about here. You say you don't track your car all that much and you don't want waste all this money. I personally don't understand this philosophy. It only takes one accident and frankly I'd value my head and my life to be worth well more than the price of a good helmet. My .02.

AFVETTE

Most events for automobiles won't accept the M rated helments. I'd recommend you buy an approved SA2005 helmet. Many can be bought for $200 to $250. I don't understand how saving $50 is worth it.

Check out Apex - http://www.apexperformance.net/cartgenie/pg_helmets.asp

That's where I bought my helmet, in addition they offer free:

FREE Ground Shipping to US 48 plus
Your choice of:
FREE Fleece Lined Helmet Bag & FREE Cotton Balaclava (head sock)
or FREE Apex Performance NOMEX Racing Gloves

My G Pro Force 1 helmet cost me $249 (to my door) and I can use it riding motor cycles, you can't reverse and use the M rated helmets in cars at any sanctioned event that I know of.

Don't be cheap, be safe.

Tom

GER42

I'd like to take our C6 A6 to the track once to see what it and I can do. If I have to spend $250 for a helmet I think I'll pass.

AU N EGL

a 95 helmet is only good for a few years, or maybe only a year.

Get a Snell SA 2005. SA means Special Applicaiton ( Nomex or fireproof liner) and kevlar shell. M is for Motorcycles. Fiberglass shell and a a bit heavier.

but if you think your head is only worth $100 then get a cheap helmet.

G-Force makes very good helmets for under $250 to over $500

not08crmanymore

I bought a snell 2000 off ebay also.It was 60 bucks,I think.

Gburg

SafeRacer is selling GForce GF750 Open Face SA2005 helmets for $149.
Their regular price is listed as: $169. Check it out:
http://www.saferacer.com/gfopfasahe.html

Get the SA2005 helmet. Don't bet your life on the M2000 brain bucket.

If you are not in an accident and do not drop your helmet, why would it not be an approved helmet in a year or two?

Gburg

BRCC

Most road tracks rent them, if you are talking drag strip find a friend that has one you can use. SA is a must on most tracks.

AU N EGL

Most tracks will allow SA helmets back (1) two ratings OR (2) up to 10 years. SOme tracks or clubs will give the person with an older helmet a small one year grace priod to get an aproved current helmet. That would be to the end of 2006 for an 95 rated helmets with some clubs and tracks. That is why a 95 helmet may only be good for the remainder of 2006 and ONLY for a few clubs or tracks.

the current ratings are

SA 2000 and the New SA 2005. So a SA 95 is now out of date for almost all tracks and clubs.

Dont waist money on a 95 helmet or a M for motocycle helemt.

SA helmets can be worn on a Motocycle with no problem, but not the other way around.

There are a few manufacutres that have what they call "Exceeds Snell Ratings" and make all kinds of fuss about how their helmets are better. That may be or may not be. Those few companies just dont want to Pay for the Snell testing. Turns out many of those helmets are made in China and a junk anyway, even with fancy eye catching paint skeems.

Also it is a Moot point as there is no way a track or car club will allow a helmet without the DOT SA rating. Tech ppl will not argue about the details they dont have the time and they are in charge.

SOme one came to one of my HPDEs last year with one of these helmets, the tech ppl called me over and I said " Not a chance, cant use it." I had a spare helmet for this guy to use.

wratran

I agree with buying a +150 dollars helmet when i am only use it maybe once a month. All the SA helmets are in that price range. The M2000 helmet are only $75. I just need to check with the track and see if they accept M2000.

Anyone in Dallas know if Texas Motorplex will accept M2000 helmet?

AFVETTE

I don't believe the facility that sets the requirements, rather the sanctioning body hosting the event does.

Tom

AU N EGL

So your head is only worth $75 ??


Track rules http://www.texasmotorplex.com/rules.php

glennhl

So I guess if your head is worth more than $75, then you probably wear your expensive helmet whenever you drive your car? I haven't seen the statistics, but I'm betting that driving on public highways/streets has to be more dangerous than the track.

Adam Boca

Check out http://www.thebellstore.com. Great prices!

Adam

AU N EGL

Check your tracks or event promotors Tech and Safty requirnments.

Percentage wise it is very close to being equal and relaying my expericnes for years of ON track and being a Chief Instructor for a corvette event.

Dont drive my vette on the public roads. Drive a 1500 as DD.

my helmet is not expesive, $300 +/- SA 2000 full face

glennhl

Fair enough. I would have thought the track would be safer with all the idiots out there on our roads today. Sounds like you are very experienced, if you ever do a Corvette event here in Arizona, please drop me a line. I have never done a track day, just a whole bunch of autocrosses.

Thanks,
Glenn

fergy flyer

I bought an M2000. I've been to a bunch of tracks including Orlando Speedworld, Gainesville, Pittsburgh Raceway park, Quaker City raceway, Englishtown, LA County Raceway, Vegas, Famoso, and a couple others. No one has said anything about it.

What is the difference between an M and a SA? I know one is a Motorcycle and I'd think that would be the higher of the 2.

glennhl

The local drag strips (Firebird and Speedworld in the Phoenix area) and the local SCCA (Solo 2) both take the M2000 rating.

glennhl

I looked into the differences and found that it's mainly the fireproof lining that has to be used in the SA ratings.