Time to buy a helmet so i can stop borrowing from other people. Cheapest helmet I can find is $149.99 over at Jegs for a G-Force open face SA00. I know, I know, if your brain is only worth $150...blah blah. But I make it to the track maybe 4 times a year and at the local track get maybe 2 or 3 passes per night. So spending $450 to use the helmet 12 times a year isn't gonna happen. Anyone have a better source for a legal brain bucket?

 

Try a local cycle shop. A helmet with a snell 2000 or 95 rating will be fine. It isn't just you, its for the guy in the other lane too that can cause all kinds of trouble at the big end of the track. Nothing like hearing chutes pop on a dragster as you cross the lights.

 

I got a nice new open face black motorcycle helmet with the snell 2000 rating at a local cycle shop for $89. I've used it at several tracks and it passes fine.

 

Now is that the Snell SA2000 (SA00) or the Snell M2000 (M00)? Tracks I'll be at require SA2000 (though many pass with SA95).

 

I'd have to 2x check it but I know it passes at three tracks I've run at around here including Maple Grove raceway which is a big NHRA track and their tech inspectors are pretty **** about such things

 

Summit has them for $99. Check their website they should be on there. They're in the catalog for sure

 

If your track says you need an SA rated helmet, ask them where in the rule book does it say that. Even ProStock cars only require an M rated helmet but they all use SA ones.

There's no reason a car running slower than 9.99 requires the extra expense of buying an SA rated helmet when the rulebook says an M rated one is all you need. There are a couple of exceptions but they don't affect your typical street car or bracket racer.

Check you local motorcycle shops for an open face M2000. The M95's should be a lot cheaper but are already getting old. If you buy one, you'll need to buy another helmet in less than 10 years. M90 is the minimun but they'll expire in a couple of years.

Some tracks require you to have a helmet at all speed. That's a track policy but having to be SA rated shouldn't be.

I don't have a 2003 rulebook handy but in the 2002 NHRA rulebook:

Helmet: Drivers in 13.99 or quicker cars must wear a helmet meeting Snell 90, 95, K98, 2000 or SFI 31.1, 31.2, 41.1, 41.2. Drivers in supercharged, front engine, open body cars and funny cars need the SA rated helmet.

SFI 31.1 = Snell SA open face
SFI 31.2 = Snell SA full face
SFI 41.1 = Snell M open face
SFI 41.2 = Snell M full face

A Snell K98 (Karting) helmet is acceptable in place of any Snell M rated helmet.

For more information on Snell ratings you can check out www.smf.org

 

This is what it says on their website: "13.99 or quicker must have Snell 90, 95 or 2000 helmet." SA and M are both Snell ratings...so would one assume they're both legit for 12s and 13s in a street car?

 

Yes.

All tracks go by the rules and state you need a Snell rated helmet. That means an SA or M rated helmet is accepted plus a K98 rating. Just make sure there's a Snell label on the inside of the helmet. Only a decal on the outside isn't accepted.

If it's not Snell rated, then it's not acceptable, at least below 13.99. Other helmets might have an ANSI, DOT or CSA rating among others. If they don't have a Snell rating, you won't be able to use them.

So go price out a M2000 open face helmet from a local motorcycle shop. They're a lot cheaper than having to buy an SA rated helmet. Even try asking local racers if there's a place that sells helmets at a discount to racers. We have a local bike shop, the owner races a bike, who will sell racers a new helmet at cost plus 10%.

 

great info thanks Stephen

 

The main differences between a SA and M rated helmet

Inner lining:
SA: Cotton (doesn't burn as easily)
M: Usually nylon

Impact testing:
SA: Tested against round objects such as roll bars.
M: Tested against flat objects such as pavement

Face opening size:
SA: Smaller opening to better protect the face
M: Larger opening so you have a wider field of view. ie. riding on a motorcycle.