(05 Apr 2007)

New Helmets Required by Most Sanctioning Bodies Beginning in 2006

Beginning in January 2006 most sanctioning bodies updated their helmet requirements to the SNELL SA2000 rating. The message is: If you’re still racing with a SNELL SA 1995 or older helmet, it’s time for a new helmet. The SNELL SA2005 helmets have been fully available since January 2006. In most cases these new helmets contain significant safety advances over their predecessors. Bell’s E-Max Plus full coverage liner system protects your entire head with protection.

All auto racing sanctioning bodies require the SNELL SA (Special Application) rating rather than the SNELL M (Motorcycle) rating. There are good reasons for this, so make sure your new helmet is an “SA” rated one. An SA helmet has a fire retardant (Nomex, Carbon-X or similar material) interior and the chin strap is usually Kevlar and/or Nomex. An SA rated helmet is constructed to take both primary and secondary (rebound) type impacts like hitting your head on a roll-cage. Many SA rated helmets are available in carbon/Kevlar composites as well as fiberglass. These semi-exotic materials are not only stronger but they can be as much as 30% lighter than the same helmet in fiberglass. If your motorsports activity involves high G situations or if you do endurance racing you may want to consider one of these ultra-lightweight helmets.

“M” rated helmets usually have Nylon interiors since fire is not a threat and the chin strap is generally a woven Nylon material. The shell and liner of a Motorcycle helmet are designed to take a single sliding type of impact that is most common in motorcycle accidents.

Northstar Motorsports is proud to be a warehouse distributor for Arai, Bell, OMP, Pyrotect and Sparco helmets. Northstar currently carries SNELL SA 2005 rated helmets. The following models are available:

 

Model	Material
Bell T-6 Interceptor	Tri-Weave*
Bell Dominator	Tri-Weave*
Bell Vortex	Tri-Weave*
Bell M-3 & M-3 Xtra	Tri-Weave*
Bell M-4 Pro & M-4 Pro Xtra	Tri-Weave*
Bell GTX	Tri-Weave*
Bell MAG-5 (Open Face)	Tri-Weave*
Bell MAG-4 (Open Face)	Fiberglass
Bell BR-1	Fiberglass
Bell BR-1 Side Air	Fiberglass
Bell K1 Sport	Fiberglass
Bell M-4	Fiberglass
Bell M-4 Top Air	Fiberglass
Bell Sport III	Fiberglass
Bell Bell S2R	Fiberglass

*Tri-Weave combines three laminated composite fabrics to form a strong, ultra-weight outer shell.

Model	Material
Arai GP5	Kevlar Composite
Arai GP5K	Kevlar Composite
Arai GP5W	Kevlar Composite
Arai GP Jet F	Kevlar Composite
Arai SK5 (Karting Only rated K-05)	Kevlar Composite
OMP Grand Prix	Kevlar Composite
OMP Speed	Kevlar Composite
Sparco F1-ADV	Carbon Fiber
Sparco Titan-ADV	Kevlar Composite
Sparco Spy-05	Fiberglass
Sparco WTT Jet (Open Face)	Fiberglass
Pyrotect Pro Airflow Full Face	Fiberglass
Pyrotect Pro Airflow Open Face	Fiberglass

 

Tech Tips Archive

Driver Cooling and Hydration (10 Apr 2007)
HANS Devices and Proper Fitting of Helmet Anchors (8 Apr 2007)
New Helmets Required by Most Sanctioning Bodies (5 Apr 2007)
All Driver's Suits Are Not Created Equal (04 Apr 2007)
Toe in or Toe out (4 Apr 1998)
Understanding Tire Temperatures (11 Nov 1997)
Create your own unfair advantage, develop and use a Log Book! (26 Jun 2004)

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