RE: tires and helmets on a budget

["Will Hartje" <WHartje@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

If you've got a cheap head, get a cheap helmet.

Get as good a helmet as you can possibly afford, this is your life we are
talking about here, also be sure you buy an SA rated one, not an M (It'll
show on the Snell sticker)

M are motorcycle helmets and do not have the additional flammability
resistance nor do they take such an impact as SM helmets.

DON'T buy second-hand, it may already have been in a crash and is useless,
plus the chances of it fitting you are slim.

Get a full face helmet, open face don't give sufficient protection, ask Dale
Earnhardt, oh no, you can't.

Also, you might want to buy a nomex head sock (balaclava)too, There are
several reasons for this:

1 Better fire protection (Fire in a street car is worse than fire in a race
car, there's more flammable material)
2 You cannot remove the lining of your helmet and you will sweat into it, it
is difficult to clean. A head sock will soak up most of that and it is
washable. Therefore your helmet will last longer and stay fresher.
3. You can use the head sock as rudimentary air conditioning on hot summer
track days, dunk it in cold water before putting it on, it will keep you
cool on the grid and dry out as you drive giving a nice cooling effect.

Hope this helps.

Will Hartje
Chief Instructor
Pro AutoSports, AZ Region

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-bmw@domain.elided [mailto:owner-bmw@domain.elided]On Behalf Of Jed
Crystal
Sent: Thursday, April 17, 2003 4:02 PM
To: bmw-digest@domain.elided
Subject: tires and helmets on a budget


Howdy all -

I'm enjoying my first spring with my 88 325is, and getting ready for BMW CCA
driving schools.  Apparently I can't run my plugged tire, so I'm looking for
two new ones to replace my Yokohama AVS Intermediates that can with the car.
Any thoughts on the new Yoko ES100 ($72) vs. a Sumitomo HTR ($41)?  Both
205/60/14. Pretty similar reviews on Tirerack.com, but the price diff is
big.  I also need a helmet (snell 1995 and up)I don't want to shell out the
big bucks for one. Any tire and helmet advice from the old guard out there?
I'm in Providence, RI, so if any of you have local sources that would be
great as well.
As usual, thanks in advance for all the great help.


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