re: helmets

[Tessie McMillan <tessmc@domain.elided>]

When I bought my first helmet a few years ago, I found the following web 
site to be helpful:  http://www.smf.org  This is the site published by the 
Snell foundation, the independent group responsible for certifying 
helmets.

I'm not sure how helmets are manufactured, but I do know the shapes and 
fitments vary between manufacturer so it's important to try the helmets 
on. I wear a Bell helmet now and like the fit very much. My first 
helmet was a Simpson but it did not fit my head very well. I'd ordered it 
by phone from a distributor without trying it on.

For auto sports I highly recommend an SA (special applications) helmet 
over an M (motorcycle) helmet. A couple of guys I know who ride 
motorcycles use their motorcycle helmets because they're comfortable with 
them. But the motorcycle helmets are designed for a different kind of 
impact and do not have Nomex lining. I suppose for an open car, it might 
be ok with a Nomex balaclava. Just not my personal preference. Also, 
having worn both fiberglass and Kevlar helmets, I'd also recommend 
forking out the extra (mine was TWICE!#$%! the price) bucks for a Kevlar 
helmet if you plan to do any amount of driving. They are so much 
lighter and do not create the same neck strain the heavy fiberglass 
helmets do. You might also consider a foam neck brace, which I'm seeing a 
lot of folks wear these days (I still haven't worn one, but I probably 
should since my neck gets a little sore by the end of the day). If you get 
a helmet without the face protection, you'll need to wear protective 
glasses anyway, so you might as well get one with a visor. And I *believe* 
the racers in the crowd will tell you for sure, that if you plan to 
drive an OPEN car, you'll need a FULL face helmet. I always wear a full 
face helmet just for safety's sake.

The most popular helmet brands I've heard of around here are Bell, Shoei, 
Arai, and Simpson. I used to take a Racer's Wholesale catalog which 
advertised G-Force, and just reading about the helmets didn't impress me 
much, but YMMV. I think there are tons more brands, and I also believe 
there are regional differences just due to which shops stock which 
manufacturers. I think that Bells are round and squat (ha! tells you about 
my head), Simpson are narrower, as are Shoei and Arai. If your chin is too 
long for a Bell, you might try a Shoei. Also, check the foam padding on 
the inside to see if you can remove the top pad. Good helmets have 
customizable padding that you can add or remove.

Do look at the certification sticker before you purchase the helmet. Get 
the newest certification (2000); don't settle for an older certification 
just for a price break. Your noggin is VERY important!!! Those are my 
suggestions...

Tess
Bellevue, WA, USA
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