Cheapest place to buy a Snell M2005 helmet?

Well my local dragstrip has begun this year's "crackdown" on using old helmets so..........I'm in the market for a new one. :(

Two quick questions:

1) Is the Snell M2005 certification the newest Snell rating for helmets, or is there a Snell M2006 or M2007 rating??? :confused:

2) I only visit the dragstrip between two(2) and three(3) times a year, and probably make a total of only ten(10) to twelve(12) 1/4 mile passes a year. Soooooooooo.....................where is the cheapest place to buy a new Snell M2005, (or newer rated?), helmet.

TIA for all replies! :D

A G-force from jegs or something....

some motorcycles helmets are S05 but just get what you like.....It will last you a long time. And if you do roll or have some type of accident at the track....the couple dollars you may save may not be worth it

Okay, I think I've found a pretty good internet deal on a Snell M2005 certified helmet, again, is a Snell 2005 rating the newest (i.e. most current) Snell rating for helmets(?), and, I assume an M2005 rated (i.e. M as in motorcycle) Snell helmet is both IHRA and NHRA approved for cars running slower than 11.50 in the quarter?

Again, TIA for all replies! :D

I purchased my helmet at motorcyclesuperstore.com

ebay, moto-directusa.com snell 2005 with face shield brand new, any color for $70 shipped.

Okay, I think I've found a pretty good internet deal on a Snell M2005 certified helmet, again, is a Snell 2005 rating the newest (i.e. most current) Snell rating for helmets(?), and, I assume an M2005 rated (i.e. M as in motorcycle) Snell helmet is both IHRA and NHRA approved for cars running slower than 11.50 in the quarter?

Again, TIA for all replies! :D

Helmet ratings go in 5 year intervals so yes a 2005 is the latest and greatest.
And even M rated helmets are good down to 9 flat I believe. Many years ago if you had rollbars/cage in the car you needed SFI instead of "M". That has changed and SFI & "M" are pretty much interchangeable.

It doesn't matter how often you go or how casual you are. Your helmet is the only thing that will protect your head when crap happens. Just because you are racing in a safe manner does not mean that a dragster in the other lane might not lose it, skid uput of control, and come flying up your tailpipe.

The helmet only has to work once.

"Cheap" and inexpensive are two different things. Buy one that meets the requirments, looks good, and is comfortable to wear.

I am buying a new helmet very soon myself. There are a great many decent choices for less than a couple of hundred bucks.

i justgot mine at a local bike shop... $150 SNELLM2005

First off, again, Thanks! to all who replied! :D

As usual this board "comes up big" in sharing the collective wisdom of it's many members. :bow:

Just FYI I did "pull the trigger" on purchasing a brand new THH Model TS-40 Snell M2005 certified helmet, which, with your input, I found on Ebay for a very affordable price of $77.95 shipped to my front door. :D :D :D

Hopefully this will keep the tech guys at my local dragstrip happy for many more years to come. :cool:

http://www.66signsandshirts.com/corsa-r-mat-dark-silver.html

I got mine a little over a week ago from here. I used it last Friday night, and it seems to be a nice helmet. It's Snell 2005 approved. Can't beat it for $100

Frank
CPT

damn i shoulda checked ebay huh? lol w/e

Damn, that is a cheap helmet. Hope you have a cheap head! When a price is that low compared to the competition, you really have to wonder about the quality. The cheapest decent full face helmets I have seen are in the ~$200 range.

Caveat emptor.

Rich

Damn, that is a cheap helmet. Hope you have a cheap head! When a price is that low compared to the competition, you really have to wonder about the quality. The cheapest decent full face helmets I have seen are in the ~$200 range.

But to get the Snell stamp of approval they have to pass the testing. If a cheap helmet passed all the tests and an expensive helmet passes all the same tests how can you or anyone else assume that because one costs more it affords better protection.:confused:

Wow, :eek: with no less than three(3) moderators already replying to this thread I'm going to be real careful about but I say here, :bow: but..........Rich with all your concern for my safety.......I'm gonna side with Frank and Al's thinking on this one, sorry. :(

The Snell Memorial Foundation (please see their web site at www.smf.org/ to confirm that any helmet you buy is indeed Snell approved!), is an independant testing agency much like ASTM or SAE, or SFI, etc., and, as such, has NO vested interest in which helmet manufacturers can or cannot meet their standards, and what inevitably those manufactures chose to sell their helmets for :) Basically, Snell does the testing, and, if the helmet passes.........it's certified! (Stop, period, end of story:D) Furthermore if both the NHRA and IHRA accept the appropriate Snell helmet certifications for their various classes/speeds of racing................then it's okay with me too! :D

Rich, as a very simple analogy to this principle I have a Tractor Supply store near me that sells SAE Grade 8 certified bolts, mix or match any size, by bulk at $3.29 per pound. Across the strip mall from this very store is an "upscale" hardware store that also sells SAE Grade 8 bolts individually, which if you bought identical size bolts would cost you at least four(4) times, (i.e. somewhere around $15/lb), what you would have paid at Tractor Supply. Simply put......there can be a HUGH difference in price with virtually NO difference in QUALITY for many items. :eek:

The Snell tests do not address issues of quality control. They test a small number of helmets, though they do some random testing. The standards are a minimum. People here install 4-bolt mains when they don't need them, use synthetic oil when it is isn't needed, etc. and then buy a cheap helmet. Makes no sense to me.

Rich

fyi on HELMET RATINGS

Snell SA Rated Helmets:
Snell "SA" (Sports Application) rated professional helmets are designed for auto racing and provide extreme impact resistance and higher fire protection.

Snell M Rated Helmets:
Snell "M" (Motorcycle) rated helmets are designed for motorcycling and other motorsports. They offer slightly less protection than SA rated helmets.

What are the key differences between SA and M Rated Helmets:
SA standard requires flammability test while the M standard does not.
SA standard has rollbar impact test while M standard does not.
SA standard allows narrower visual field than M standard (Some SA helmets aren't street legal).

How do I know if my helmet meets the necessary Snell specifications?
Always check your club rulebook to determine what helmet specifications they require. SCCA Solo rules, for example, will allow you to use the current Snell specification, as well as the previous two Snell specifications. So, for the 2006 season, you could use Snell Snell M95/SA95, Snell M00/SA00, or Snell M05/SA05 helmets. Snell M90/SA90 helmets would not meet requirements after October 1, 2005.

Some other racing organizations will allow you to use the current Snell specification and only the previous Snell specification, so read your rulebook carefully. Also, be sure that your club will allow the use of Snell "M" rated helmets. SCCA Solo does allow these helmets, although some organizations that run high speed events will require Snell "SA" rated helmets.