Motorcycle Helmet Questions

I have a helmet that was gifted to me well over a decade ago, going on 15 years now.

Question #1 - Do helmets expire like seat belt webbing does?

Question #2 - How do I paint a helmet? This one is black and pink. Stop laughing, it was free.

I'm doing a track event in June at Hallett and I need a helmet to run. I'm driving a 2013 Focus ST that is stock.

Helmets are dated. Or they are spec'ed to date specs. The Secret Car Club of America requires that a helmet be spec'ed to no less than the previous spec, I think. Not sure what that is today, but your free helmet is before that.

In my experience with Tech at Hallett, you will be OK. They want to see a real helmet and aren't too anal about it, unlike a SCCA event.

Yes.. Foam is known to break down. But, I would say an old helmet is still better than NO helmet.

paint? Krylon, Rustoleaum, Airbrush... your call.

Oh, track days (HPDE) may be less critical than actual races, so that may depend also. I would think they would be a little more anal at tech for actual races. Then there's the "rent the track for a day" events, which are the best, in my opinion, and you are on your own for tech. Got helmet? Check. Got long sleeve shirt? Check. Got shoes? Check. You're good to go.

The big rating organization for helmets in the US is Snell. They release an update every five years for both motorcycles, "M", and motorsports, "SA." If a helmet was made between, say, 2005 and 2009, then it is probably a M2005 or SA2005.

If your helmet is ten or more years old it is probably at least a M2000 or SA2000, the SCCA has required M2005, M2010, SA2005, or SA2010 since 2010. This is why the Doc says yours is probably not kosher with SCCA.

It is probably worth calling/emailing someone to see what exactly they are going to require. If they do want you to have a newer helmet, maybe you can get away with a cheaper "M" rated helmet rather than a more expensive "SA" helmet.

EDIT: there should be a sticker somewhere on the helmet saying what the Snell rating is.

I have a quick question then the local auto cross around me says on their website you need smell 2005 or 2010 bit can it be a motorcycle helmet or does it need to be the sa one and what all are the differences?

In reply to nepa03focus:

I've never seen an autocross organization require an SA helmet (they are much more expensive), do you have a link?

nepa03focus wrote: I have a quick question then the local auto cross around me says on their website you need smell 2005 or 2010 bit can it be a motorcycle helmet or does it need to be the sa one and what all are the differences?

Check with them. I've always seen them be fine with motorcycle helmets though. If they just give the date for rating, that says to me it doesn't need to be SA.

If they aren't requiring you to wear other flame retardant racing gear, there is not reason to require an SA helmet.

And no, I wouldn't trust a helmet that old to protect my head. I just retired a Snell M2000 helmet that I bought in '06, and that has not seen constant use. Figure about a 5-year lifespan.

The helmet was best used as a paper weight or door stop when it was given to you at five years of age. I wouldn't put anything of much value like my head in it.

You can get new helmets that meet Snell 2010 moto spec for less than $200. I don't think Snell is really the greatest spec in helmet standards as far as keeping your head safe, but it's something I trust way before a helmet with nothing on it at all.

http://www.helmetcity.com/page/HC/PROD/bell-vortex-white

Here's one for less than $300 that meets SA2010;

http://www.helmetcity.com/page/HC/PROD/bell-sport

Here is the High Speed Touring checklist for Hallett. It says you need a Snell approved helmet that's less than ten years old. http://www.hallettracing.net/pdf/techinspectionform.pdf

ShadowSix wrote: In reply to nepa03focus: I've never seen an autocross organization require an SA helmet (they are much more expensive), do you have a link?

http://scca.cdn.racersites.com/prod/assets/2013_Solo_helmet_cert_decals.pdf

that the is SCCA's official list of what is allowed.

stuart in mn wrote: Here is the High Speed Touring checklist for Hallett. It says you need a Snell approved helmet that's less than ten years old. http://www.hallettracing.net/pdf/techinspectionform.pdf

While it does say that, I went out three times last year, with passengers, all wearing Motorcycle helmets.

However, the last even of the year one of the instructors said they were going to move away from that this year.

OP, best advice is shoot Connie an email, or give them a call and ask.

Which even will you be here in June for?

z31maniac wrote: While it does say that, I went out three times last year, with passengers, all wearing Motorcycle helmets.

Most motorcycle helmets are Snell M approved, unless you're talking about the beanie helmets which are only DOT approved.

However, I agree it's best to just contact Connie at the track to confirm if the helmet needs to be Snell SA or if Snell M is good enough. I suspect that Snell M is good enough for High Speed Touring.

stuart in mn wrote: Most motorcycle helmets are Snell M approved, unless you're talking about the beanie helmets which are only DOT approved.

Uhhh... no. Even in the world of full-face helmets, the majority are not Snell approved.

SCARR wrote:

ShadowSix wrote: In reply to nepa03focus: I've never seen an autocross organization require an SA helmet (they are much more expensive), do you have a link?

http://scca.cdn.racersites.com/prod/assets/2013_Solo_helmet_cert_decals.pdf that the is SCCA's official list of what is allowed.

Wow, I could have sworn I read somewhere that the 2000 helmets were no longer kosher as of the end of 2010, I stand corrected. Anyway, I was asking nepa03focus for a link to the org that he plans to autocross with since it could be a group not associated with the SCCA (NASA, Corvette Club, BMWCCA, etc.)

z31maniac wrote: Which even will you be here in June for?

I'm going to this: http://www.midamericafordmeet.com/

Ford is lending me a Focus ST for a story. I'm driving it from Atlanta to Tulsa, tossing it around the track, then driving it home and writing about the whole experience. My job isn't too bad sometimes.

I would check with the organizers of the event or the people of Hallett

.

Beer Baron wrote:

stuart in mn wrote: Most motorcycle helmets are Snell M approved, unless you're talking about the beanie helmets which are only DOT approved.

Uhhh... no. Even in the world of full-face helmets, the majority are not Snell approved.

Truth.

I just went to a local sport bike shop looking for Snell M2010's and they looked at me like I was asking for rocket powered rollerskates.

I was informed anything Snell approved had to be special ordered.

If you are going to paint it make sure you check what the shell is made of. Certain types of helmets (polycarbonate?) are affected by paint and it weakens the shell. Fibreglass is fine.

ShadowSix wrote: In reply to nepa03focus: I've never seen an autocross organization require an SA helmet (they are much more expensive), do you have a link?

Thanks for All the advice. Im sure its set up like you said if that is how all of the other ones are. i just have no idea what im doing haha. Their main website is www.nepa-scca.com but now I can't even find the part I read about the helmets at all. Im real excited tp give it a try. There is one this Sunday but I can't make it because of work:/

slefain wrote:

z31maniac wrote: Which even will you be here in June for?

I'm going to this: http://www.midamericafordmeet.com/ Ford is lending me a Focus ST for a story. I'm driving it from Atlanta to Tulsa, tossing it around the track, then driving it home and writing about the whole experience. My job isn't too bad sometimes.

Way cool!

If you need someone to show you where to get some decent food or have a beer or three, shoot me an email z31maniac at gmail dot com

ShadowSix wrote:

SCARR wrote:

ShadowSix wrote: In reply to nepa03focus: I've never seen an autocross organization require an SA helmet (they are much more expensive), do you have a link?

http://scca.cdn.racersites.com/prod/assets/2013_Solo_helmet_cert_decals.pdf that the is SCCA's official list of what is allowed.

Wow, I could have sworn I read somewhere that the 2000 helmets were no longer kosher as of the end of 2010, I stand corrected. Anyway, I was asking nepa03focus for a link to the org that he plans to autocross with since it could be a group not associated with the SCCA (NASA, Corvette Club, BMWCCA, etc.)

I figured that, but in case it WAS SCCA, this is the standard rules (but of course places CAN go stricter if they want...)

Well I'll put the pink monstrosity on the shelf then, or let my kids use it around the yard on their Power Wheels.

I just remembered that my brother-in-law has a nice motorcycle helmet that is only two years old. I'll hit him up since he never rides the bike anymore.

I think Hallett will rent you a helmet too. You might have to reserve it, I dunno. Ask Connie.

The likelihood is while you're required to wear a helmet, you'll never have to use a helmet.

That said, you may.

An older SM2000 lid might work fine.

Or, you might find yourself in a situation where you really wish you'd worn more fireproof gear. Not frequent, but not impossible either.

If you're going to be a motorsports writer or enthusiast, owning a Bell Sport or an HJC isn't a huge financial leap. When the 2010 helmets were released a couple years ago, SA2005 lids got cheap, so I bought a better (ie lighter, nicer lining) helmet than had I bought a 2010.

Racing an open car and doing a lot of events in 100 degree, 93% humidity means a new helmet every 5 years if not more frequently.

So I say make the commitment and get your own.