Is my helmet unsafe?!
Discussion
I bought a Bell Sport II helmet about ten years ago not long before I packed up racing karts (not the wisest purchase I've ever made).
Anyway, ten years on, and with a little disposable income for hobbies, I'd like to give Club100 a go next year.
Club100 doesn't seem to have requirements for helmet standards, but obviously I'd prefer not to take unnecessary risks with the few grey cells I have.
I checked on the Snell website and the Sport II doesn't have Snell 05 status (was probably discontinued long before then). However, I'm less worried by that as by the recommendation from Snell that drivers should change their helmet once every 5 years.
Any thoughts? This particular lid was only used for a few races, never suffered impact, and has since been in a cupboard indoors, making a few appearances at indoor karting with friends...has it really deteriorated beyond safe use?
http://www.smf.org/faqs.html#10
Anyway, ten years on, and with a little disposable income for hobbies, I'd like to give Club100 a go next year.
Club100 doesn't seem to have requirements for helmet standards, but obviously I'd prefer not to take unnecessary risks with the few grey cells I have.
I checked on the Snell website and the Sport II doesn't have Snell 05 status (was probably discontinued long before then). However, I'm less worried by that as by the recommendation from Snell that drivers should change their helmet once every 5 years.
Any thoughts? This particular lid was only used for a few races, never suffered impact, and has since been in a cupboard indoors, making a few appearances at indoor karting with friends...has it really deteriorated beyond safe use?
http://www.smf.org/faqs.html#10
Galileo said:
When buying a new helmet I was advised..
"If you've got a cheap head, get a cheap helmet"
I think helmet design and manufacture might have advanced far enough in ten years to warrant a new one.
To answer your question. I don't think it will be unsafe, just not as safe as it could be.
That didn't come from the salesman did it?"If you've got a cheap head, get a cheap helmet"
I think helmet design and manufacture might have advanced far enough in ten years to warrant a new one.
To answer your question. I don't think it will be unsafe, just not as safe as it could be.
Expensive ≠ good!
Look at the amount of overpriced 'designer' tat for sale everywhere. They all use the same marketing & sales techniques. Some people actually believe it as well.
I'm not saying you should buy a £10 helmet, but I've never seen a helmet at the price I'd value my head at either! As long as the helmet meets (or even exceeds) the spec you require for your event then don't worry about a 'cheap' price.
Edited by mmm-five on Wednesday 17th October 13:24
Galileo said:
I think helmet design and manufacture might have advanced far enough in ten years to warrant a new one.
To answer your question. I don't think it will be unsafe, just not as safe as it could be.
Yes, I think that's pretty much what I'd gotten round to thinking. I might use the old one for the first race / practise, just to establish whether I'm still capable of being competitive, and then buy a new one (unless I'm really shit To answer your question. I don't think it will be unsafe, just not as safe as it could be.
)Peter 1980 said:
While i can offer no help here my first thought is, 'is it really worth the risk of not getting a new one?'
You are very right. But, even buying a new one carries certain risks - it's a question of minimising them to a level you're prepared to accept. Hmm, I'd go for a new one. The material (both internal and external) would gradually harden and become that bit more brittle with time.
Buy something Snell 2005 approved, then you can use it for other karting/racing too.
It was Carrol Smith (ace engineer and writer of the '...to win' books) who said: "If you've got a $10 head, wear a $10 helmet".
You can still have a heck of a crash in a Club100 kart and, personally, I wouldn't want to risk using anything that was beyond its use by date.
Buy something Snell 2005 approved, then you can use it for other karting/racing too.
It was Carrol Smith (ace engineer and writer of the '...to win' books) who said: "If you've got a $10 head, wear a $10 helmet".
You can still have a heck of a crash in a Club100 kart and, personally, I wouldn't want to risk using anything that was beyond its use by date.
Stuismyname said:
Galileo said:
I think helmet design and manufacture might have advanced far enough in ten years to warrant a new one.
To answer your question. I don't think it will be unsafe, just not as safe as it could be.
Yes, I think that's pretty much what I'd gotten round to thinking. I might use the old one for the first race / practise, just to establish whether I'm still capable of being competitive, and then buy a new one (unless I'm really shit To answer your question. I don't think it will be unsafe, just not as safe as it could be.
)Peter 1980 said:
While i can offer no help here my first thought is, 'is it really worth the risk of not getting a new one?'
You are very right. But, even buying a new one carries certain risks - it's a question of minimising them to a level you're prepared to accept. 
Galileo said:
A word from the wise. Don't do that. I very nearly did that for my first race in Formula Vee in march earlier in the year. All was well up until my head hit the tarmac. I was still in the car. Helmet and car both written off. I walked away unhurt, except whiplash and bruised knees.
Damn you and your poignant examples. But yes, I realised how stupid my earlier comment was not long after I posted - about as sensible as wearing a baseball cap until you plan on having an accident 
And I don't fancy renting one of theirs either, so I guess it's a new helmet then.
Mr_Thyroid said:
The article you attached suggest that most degredation comes from sweat, and hair grease oils etc. Therefore I would say if the helmet is genuinely 100% as new condition inside and out, why not use it.
You can get helmets these days that are fully approved made from kevlar/composite and if you shop around for less than £100.BS Type A blue label are still acceptable for karting I believe so you should be able to find some of these at motorcycle shops.
Don't get the new Eu standard though they are illegal for karting.
For club racing or speed events, you need a helmet which meets one or more of the following: FIA8860-2004, SA2005 or 2000, SFI 31.1A or 31.2A, BS 6658-85 Type A/FR or Type A (but not Type B). Helmets used in competition must be scrutineered before use to check their suitability. The scrutineer will attach a blue MSA approval sticker.
Your Bell Helmet should be fine as long as its been kept in the dark.
Its the ultraviolet light that breaks down the strength.
However it wont meet the BS type A standard because it is too old.
plastic clothes pegs on the washing line?
A year in the sun and they get brittle and snap.
see here for good advice . .
[url]
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=23&...
[/url]
Edited by mark69sheer on Wednesday 17th October 23:59
Edited by mark69sheer on Thursday 18th October 00:02
mark69sheer said:
Mr_Thyroid said:
The article you attached suggest that most degredation comes from sweat, and hair grease oils etc. Therefore I would say if the helmet is genuinely 100% as new condition inside and out, why not use it.
Your Bell Helmet should be fine as long as its been kept in the dark.Its the ultraviolet light that breaks down the strength.
However it wont meet the BS type A standard because it is too old.
...
see here for good advice . .
[url]
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=23&...
[/url]
I guess, as I said above, it all comes down to what one considers an acceptable level of risk. And, as someone mentioned above, whatever advancement in materials and composition has been achieved over the last decade is also something I need to bear in mind.
I've got a few months to mull it over anyhow.
Stuismyname said:
I bought a Bell Sport II helmet about ten years ago not long before I packed up racing karts (not the wisest purchase I've ever made).
Anyway, ten years on, and with a little disposable income for hobbies, I'd like to give Club100 a go next year.
Club100 doesn't seem to have requirements for helmet standards, but obviously I'd prefer not to take unnecessary risks with the few grey cells I have.
I checked on the Snell website and the Sport II doesn't have Snell 05 status (was probably discontinued long before then). However, I'm less worried by that as by the recommendation from Snell that drivers should change their helmet once every 5 years.
Any thoughts? This particular lid was only used for a few races, never suffered impact, and has since been in a cupboard indoors, making a few appearances at indoor karting with friends...has it really deteriorated beyond safe use?
http://www.smf.org/faqs.html#10
Get a new one, is your life worth £300 ?Anyway, ten years on, and with a little disposable income for hobbies, I'd like to give Club100 a go next year.
Club100 doesn't seem to have requirements for helmet standards, but obviously I'd prefer not to take unnecessary risks with the few grey cells I have.
I checked on the Snell website and the Sport II doesn't have Snell 05 status (was probably discontinued long before then). However, I'm less worried by that as by the recommendation from Snell that drivers should change their helmet once every 5 years.
Any thoughts? This particular lid was only used for a few races, never suffered impact, and has since been in a cupboard indoors, making a few appearances at indoor karting with friends...has it really deteriorated beyond safe use?
http://www.smf.org/faqs.html#10
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