<VV> Racing helmet advice

Tue Jun 18 02:48:19 EDT 2013

Chris - You have a lot of choices in the Helmet market. The current  
required helmet spec - in American racing - is Snell 2010SA. The specs for the  
Snell 2015SA requirements have already been released, and helmet manufacturers 
 are building test models and running their own evaluations, but it will be 
a  while before the helmets are finished or released for sale, likely 2 
years. As  some folks noted, SCCA for Road Racing, requires the SA (Sports 
Application)  helmets. There are some minor mechanical differences between the 
SA and the "M"  (Motorcycle) helmets. The SA helmets have a fire resistant 
lining. "M"  helmets do not have that requirement. SCCA requires the helmet 
meet either of  the last two Snell specs, that is 2005 and 2010. There are 
also some European  spec helmets allowed, but those are rare and much more 
costly than the average  racer will buy. For most racing, the Snell 2005 SA 
helmet is fine. In a few  years, when the 2015 spec comes out, it will no longer 
be legal for Road  Racing.

SCCA GCR rules:
Crash helmets approved by the Snell Foundation with
Snell sticker 2005  or later Special Application (SA2005) or
SAH2010, or by the SFI with a SFI  Sticker SFI 31.1, or by the
FIA standard 8860-2004 or later, or British  Standards Institute
BS6658-85 type A/FR.

 For SCCA SOLO 2, autocross they are much more lenient. They allow the  
last three standards. Right now that is 2010, 2005 and 2000, and the "M"  
variants as well.

Current SCCA Solo 2 rules:
  Helmets meeting the following standards must be worn while on  course:
All helmets meeting the latest or two immediately preceding  Snell
Foundation standards (SA2010, SAH2010, SA2005, SA2000, M2010,
M2005,  M2000, K2010, K2005, K98), SFI standards 31.1, 41.1, 31.1A,
31.2A, 41.1A,  41.2A or British spec BS6658-85 type A/FR are acceptable.

Organizations such as Hooked on Driving, Green Flag, North East Corvair  
Council and others may have their own requirements for track events. 

NECC:
Helmet Requirement
All drivers at all times when on the course must wear  safety helmets. 
Helmets must have
a 2005 or higher Snell Foundation sticker  (either “M” or “SA”), and 
shall have been
manufactured within the past ten  (10) years.

There is no assurance of NECC changing the rules when the 2015 models come  
out. They might, or might not. 

So - What to do? If I was starting out, not knowing how far the adventure  
might take me, I would buy a full face M2005 helmet. A reasonable one is  
available in the motorcycle shops for less than $100. If you decide to get  
heavily involved in Road Racing, the only place the SA helmet is required, you 
 will probably also face the cost of a Head/neck restraint device and a 
fireproof  suit. That is a lot of money, but the risk in car-to-car competition 
is  measurably higher than Solo track events, and much higher than  
autocrossing. At that point, the 2015 helmets may be out and you will get a few  
extra years of service. Another plus for the "M" helmets - at least some of 
them  - is a wider field of vision, a slightly larger/wider front opening.  
Autocrossing, since it takes place on new venues at each event, rewards quick  
perception of the upcoming course. If/when you are in the market for the 
latest  SA helmet, you will not find a better helmet than the ones from Impact 
Racing.  Several of us toured the factory at Indianapolis, during the 
Corvair Performance  Workshop in March. We left very impressed with the quality 
of the American made  product. Impact Racing was sold a couple of years ago 
and is now being  managed by a new responsible team under the umbrella of 
Mastercraft  industries. 
Impact makes several lines of SA helmets starting just under $300.

PS - You can usually borrow a helmet for the autocross at the Convention.  
Many folks will have them and are usually happy to lend them to you.

- Seth Emerson 

In a message dated 6/17/2013 11:04:05 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
shadesclassiccorner at yahoo.com writes:

Chris Shade "The Original Slim  Shady"

________________________________
From: Chris Shade  <shadesclassiccorner at yahoo.com>
To: Warren LeVeque  <levair at aol.com>; "Virtualvairs at corvair.org"  
<Virtualvairs at corvair.org>; "Fastvair at yahoogroups.com"  <Fastvair at yahoogroups.com> 
Sent: Monday, June 17, 2013 10:39  AM
Subject: Re: <VV> Corvairs? at  Connersville  autocross

Hello Corvair enthusiasts, my name is Chris Shade and  I am excited to be 
participating in my first autocross/road racing event ever  this summer at 
convention.  My question is, what helmet would you  recommend for these 
events?  Obviously, I need the helmet to meet all of  the mandated specifications, 
but I am also looking for the best "bang for the  buck" if  you will. Thank 
you for your input in  advance.

Blessings, 
Chris

From: Warren  LeVeque <levair at aol.com>
To: Virtualvairs at corvair.org;  Fastvair at yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Monday, June 17, 2013 10:17 AM
Subject:  <VV> Corvairs? at  Connersville  autocross

Had a great time yesterday, in  spite of driving down through the rain and 
aiting in the rain until  registration almost closed to sign in. 
Best course ever at  Connersville; nice wide turn entries. I expecially 
liked 
he the big "U"  turn in the middle right before the tighter  and smaller 
"u" 
inish  turn.
I especially liked the before an after lunch split. It  gave me time to 
eplace my eyeglass lens which fell out at the start of my  first run. So 
much 
or 3 dimensions. 
In a way we didn't  miss the survival school on Friday as I saw many 
oungsters going for rides  with many "oldsters". Kathern Faucett being one 
of 
hem.
I  had the opportunity to take a lovely 17 year old athletic lady ,Kia, and 

er mother ,Heather, on rides. I improved almost  4 secs with Kia in  the 
car and 
as able to take the "Survival " U turn with out lifting with  Heather in 
the 
assenger seat. See; it pays to have a "Babes Welcome" sign  over the 
passenger 
oor. 
I brought the large,  ungainly  Corvair because of a proposed shoot out 
with 
he other CP  Corvairs. My story is: They were so intimidated by the thought 
of 
etting  beat by a "Super Senior Citizen (over 70) "  in a turbo Vair, that 
they  
hickened out.
Speaking of chickening out,I got to see  several nice new cars in or on 
railers, but not on the track.
There  were several Super Seniors running  (and winning); Jack Tovey, Lee  
iller, Larry Hartz, and myself..
Let me know if I missed any  seniors. 
I left early to attend a Father's day cookout, but  got home just as it was 
reaking up.
There were lots of  Corvair comments and questions while loading, 
unloading and running and  lots of pictures taken. It was worth the trip 
just for the Corvair  enthusiam.Every one
likes a fast classic.

Thanks to Ohio for supporting us.

arren

[Non-text portions of  this message have been  removed]

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