re: Auto racing helmets

[Luca <nodoubt@domain.elided>]

At Sat,  6 Jul 2002 15:49:40 -0700 "Robert Rand"  wrote:
>I am looking for a source to purchase a snell certified auto
>racing helmet for autocross events.
>Has anyone had good luck with a particular manufacturer and vendor?
>Since I will not be using this that much, a nice used one would
>be workable.
>As always, any and all information would be greatly appreciated.

I don't really know about car racing helmets. I do use my full
face motorcycle one, but there are also guys using some motorcycle
"jet" (open face) helmets as well.  
Being a motorcycle rider myself, I do pretent to know one thing or
two about helmets. I've bought and used 6 helmets so far, plus
I assisted my girlfriend and previous ones :) in buying one as well.
Said this I strongly suggest you to buy a NEW one, forgetting
that used option you mention. This for mainly TWO reasons:
The 1st, not the most important, is ofcourse a matter of hygiene.
People do sweat, snot, spit, whatever inside the helmet... so
I'd stay OFF used items. I did buy one used helmet once, but
it was just a wrong buy a mate did: he test rode it once (10 minutes)
and realized that wasn't what he needed. Nothing more than a shop
test wear I'd say.
The 2nd reason is the most important: FIT. We are all different,
while helmets are all the same. Just ARAI uses to build 4 or 5
different structures fitting the sizes range (other brands do use
the single structure, and adjust sizes with internal thickness).
You can realized that among millions people, 4 or 5 standard
helmets are all but enough, ok? WEll, Helmets are built to
getting adjusted to your own HEAD. And that happens buying it NEW
and using it a bit. Comfort and fit will improve each time.
It took me 5 hours, 3 weeks ago, choosing my new motorcycle
helmet (Shoei XR900). I tested something like 20 different
models, out of 4 or 5 mayor brands (Shoei, Arai, Dainese, Shark,
etc). It took me coupla longer ride to find the TOP of the
comfort I feel now. This helmet is just MINE now, and would fit
completely different compared to the same model/size used by another
guy.

There's also a 3rd reason: helmet is an investment on the name
of safety. Getting an used one to save money is just saving on your
own health and safety. Not worth to me.

Ciao
Luca

nodoubt, 
"I like anything that don't talk." King Benny - Sleepers
937, 75 Turbo, RM250

http://nvr2fst.supereva.it
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