The Facts
Unit D
San Diego, CA 92111
Phone: 858-495-9200
Fax: 858-495-9200
Email: Info@c2racers.com
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performance, and yes, style.
Some factors to consider in selecting a helmet:
Certification:
Helmet performance is certified by several independent groups- the Snell
Foundation, SFI, FIA, and so on. The certification which is specified by most
sanctioning groups is from the Snell Foundation.
Snell certifies all kinds of helmets, from bicycle helmets to the high-end helmets
found in top tier motorsports competition. The have three certifications which
concern the four-wheeled motorsports competitor- SA, M, and K.
SA certification is the most rigorous standard. It the standard required by most
sanctioning groups for most motorsports events. It must offer protection against
violent, multiple impacts, and must be lined with fireproof material. Here is the label
you should see in an SA2005 helmet:
The Snell M certification is the next level. This is really a certification geared
toward two wheeled, street transportation, but it is accepted for low impact events
such as autocrosses and track day events.
Certified karting helmets bear a K designation. These helmets tend to be similar or
identical to SA helmets in construction, but do not have fireproof lining.
Snell certifications are revised every five years. The current standard is Snell
2005. As helmet effectiveness decreases with its age, sanctioning bodies
progressively ban helmets which are made to an old standard. For the SCCA,
helmets for road racing are acceptable for ten years past their certification date,
and for autocross they are acceptable for fifteen years.
So, which should you pick? We believe that most racers are best off going with an
SA helmet from the start, even if their initial racing events don’t require it.
It is true that M’s are cheaper at purchase. However, many racers who start in the
low-risk-of impact events find themselves entering higher risk events well within the
lifespan of the helmets. Further, safety rules tend to get more stringent over time,
rather than less; so an event where an M helmet is acceptable now may require an
SA next year. Why risk having to buy two helmets, or show up at an event and be
told that your helmet is not up to standard? If you start with an SA, you can use
that same helmet in the highest echelons of the sport without worry.
More importantly, SAs will protect your head better than an M if things go bad. Our
heads are important to us, and we bet that yours is important to you.
The K certification is now a little offbeat, although they are still around. Most Ks
you find will be built like SAs, cost as much as SAs, and lack the fire resistant
lining. There is really no reason to buy a K unless your karting association
accepts only that.
For all the facts about the Snell Certifications, go here.
Open vs. Closed Face Helmets
Racers of “tin tops” were once adamant about an open face helmet offering
adequate protection. The spate of very nasty incidents in NASCAR in the early
2000s pretty much ended that debate, however, and closed face helmets rule in
most motorsports applications.
The closed face helmet offers better protection for head impacts within the car,
and can shield your face from fire. Improvements in ventilation and shield coating
have helped reduce fogging problems. You can always remove the shield for more
ventilation and retain lower face protection, although you obviously compromise
fire protection by doing so.
Nonetheless, we still stock open face helmets because there is demand for them in
the autocross and rally markets. For autocross, the SCCA has voiced concerns
about the use of closed face helmets in airbag equipped cars. Their concern is
the possibility of the airbag catching under the chin guard and ripping the helmet
back and up as it deploys. With the risk of fire and high speed impacts low, an
open face helmet is probably fine for autocross. Rally competitors require clear in-
car communication, and intercoms can still be expensive. Others who need to
communicate in the car, such as driving instructors, also appreciate the lack of
muffling that an open face helmet provides.
Ventilation
We find that being able to a) breathe, and b) see are definitely good things when
racing or driving fast on track.
If you are using a closed face helmet, you need to consider the features of the
helmet which will aid air flow within the helmet and keep the drivers head cool and
the inside of the visor clear.
First and most obvious is venting. You'll see venting on the chin bar, to the side of
the chin bar, or on the top of the helmet. We are starting to see other
aerodynamic devices such as venturi's and small scoops as well. Odds are the
more recent the design the better the ventilation.
The sedan or stock car racer faces a particular challenge in this area, as there is
simply not the air flow within the car that there is outside of the car. Further, there
may be a buildup of CO2 or other emissions within the cockpit, which is a bad
thing. To address these concerns, there is a special type of helmet known as the
forced air helmet. These helmets have a port for an air hose, which can be
connected to a filter, a cooler, or just the outside air. These hose ports were once
exclusively on the side of the helmet, but now also are available on the top of the
helmet. We find the top of the helmet ports to be a little goofy looking, but
functionality and safety are the prime considerations.
The lowest tech solution to ventilation is simply keeping the visor open. An open
visor does little to protect the face from debris or fire, so picking a helmet with good
ventilation is a better idea.
Size of Eye Port
The bigger the eyeport, the more the driver can see without moving his or her
head. Also, large eyeports are definitely easier to insert sun or prescription
glasses through.
On the other hand, visor plastic is not as robust as helmet shell, so the bigger the
port the more chance that certain impacts can pierce the helmet.
Finally, driver comfort is a factor to consider. Some people may experience a
touch of claustrophobia in a helmet with a small eye port.
There are a lot of tradeoffs here, and you will have to determine what your own
preferences and sensitivities are.
Shields
Some of the choices here are: clear or tinted or mirrored, anti-fog coating or not,
and method of pivoting.
The opacity of the visor is a matter of driver choice. The best choice may vary with
the time of day- you might definitely want a dark shield if you are having to drive
into the sun. We believe that using a dark shield is often a better choice than
sunglasses, as sunglasses can help trap moisture near the eye and fog up.
Definitely opt for a shield with anti-fog coating if available.
Some helmets like to be either open or closed, and others can be adjusted to stay
anywhere within their range of motion.
Size and Shape
We've saved the most important features for last. A proper fit is essential for a
helmet to do its job.
A proper fitting helmet will be tight, but not so tight as to make your head explode.
The cheeks pads should press in just a bit, and if the helmet is moved the skin on
the top of your head should move with it. You'll see helmets sized by hat size,
inches, and centimeters.
The shape of the your head will greatly affect the fit and comfort of the helmet. In
our world, people either have square heads or triangular heads. There are some
pointed heads out there, but we won't talk about those. Some helmets will fit one
type of head better than the other, so if the helmet you try on is tight in the head
but loose in the cheeks (or vice-versa), try another a different model helmet of the
same size. If the fit is close but could be better, try another helmet of the same
model and size- helmets are hand made items and thus have varying tolerances.
Head/neck Restraint Hardware
The day is coming when every race organization will require its racers to wear a
head and neck restraint. Some helmets come predrilled for the anchoring
hardware, so look for this feature if you are using these restraints. Even if they
aren't a standard feature for the model, we can either send the helmet to the
factory to have the hardware installed or order one that way. We aren't huge
advocates of the racer drilling holes in their own helmet.
Aerodynamics
This is a consideration for the open wheelers among us. The proper aerodynamic
devices can help keep your head steady and provide mesh with your car
aerodynamics.
Weight
Just like with race cars, the weight of a helmet can be a huge consideration.
Lighter is better...lighter is more expensive.
Here are our recommendations for different preferences
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