I just got this off the NHRA site. Beginning Jan. 1, 2006, where a Snell-rated helmet is required in NHRA competition, the Snell 90-tagged helmets will no longer be allowed. NHRA is making this announcement more than five months prior to the expiration to allow the racing community the chance to update their safety equipment. For the 2006 NHRA Rulebook, in the General Regulations under Helmet and Goggles, the section will list expiration dates for all Snell- and SFI-tagged helmets in an effort to notify the racing community of these expiration dates. At the end of the year, Snell plans to release the 2005 tag for inclusion on helmets constructed after that point. http://nhra.com/APCM/APCMviewer_sp.asp?a=6306 I guess this effect us at NHRA tracks o No:
Snell has a racket in the rating system. Good idea if you can make people but a $700+ product every few years. As long as the new rated helmets are really safer and better. Its fair. But if nothing has changed but the rating and you say only wore your old rating helmet 4 times in 3 years. It should still be good, if said newer rating has nothing to do with safety improvements. And is just an expiration date like milk. As they assume you have worn it enough times that its proper fits is not up to spec's. So they say its expired.
(Milk goes bad :Brow Not always true, take the belts, after years of sweat, high temp heat, grease and being pulled on etc. it has been proven that the strength weakens. Plus there are always guys that abuse the hell out of safety equipment. All it takes is one guy who dropped his helmet way too many times and puts a crack in the inside of the shell, now he crashes and splits open his empty skull. Then the lawyers come in stating that same old story, "We are not responsible for our stupid actions, everyone else is" The bleeding hearts jury agrees and millions are settled out and then our rates go up or tracks get dropped. So to eliminate this, rules are set forth for our own good. After seeing Bobb Makley's crash at Cecil County last fall I will no longer EVER complain about buying or updating safety equipment.
There's always been minimum standards for helmets ...... has anyone here ever been asked by Track Tech to show them their helmet rating? I think most tracks don't care -- unless you're running a sub-10-second bracket car.
I don't know if he's ever been asked, but Casey is not shy about showing his helmet in the pits :eek2:
I'm asked pretty much all the time. I bought my helmet in early 2000, prior to the Snell 2000 - rated helmets being released. So mines a Snell (19)95. The new ratings come out every five years, and a helmet "expires" after 15 years. So I've got another 5 years on mine, yet had I waited another year to purchase it would have been another 10. The smart thing to do, IMO, would be to buy one with the new 05 tag when it comes out in 2006. Then you're good for 15 years. Break that down by $/year, and the cost doesn't seem nearly as bad. You shouldn't have to buy another one until 2021, when the 20's are released. If they're DOT helmets, then they can still be used for motorcycles on the street. Thus they don't have to be thrown away - just not used at an NHRA track.
You will get asked at Island Dragway in NJ thats for sure. I get called on it every time I go there. Some other places though just say "got a helmet" "okay"
What he said. Safety is my number one now especially after seeing Bobs deal. Saw the car and then met him in BG. Walked away KNOWING my plan of attack. I don't wanna orphan my kids just yet, and Kris isn't ready to handle the Buick garage sale that would happen when I go. Safety PERIOD and I will be more than happy to follow the rules.
seat belt question? I don't have a rulebook, and I was wondering at what E.T./MPH a person is required to go from factory belts, to aftermarket belts? At what age does a factory belt go bad? Don't the rules say you must go with aftermarket belts once a rollbar is installed in the car?
I remember the Bobb Makley crash but the big problem was he had an open face helmet. Not an under rated helmet. Even a Snell 2080 helmet from the future wouldn't of helped if it was still open face.
Safety is important. Miller has a good question about stock belts. I've wondered the same thing. I suppose any sign of fatigue they should be replaced. I remember Garlits running Swamp Rat 1 at a Milan nostalgia event. Same old aircraft belts from the fifties. At another of those Milan nostalgia events I watched a Henry J do a hard right, go through the guard rail (pre concrete) the fence, over three cars and end up on its roof in the pits. The driver might have walked away, but the window net was attached to the door. door blew open, arm flew out and the car lopped it nearly off. It doesn't bother me to buy a new helmet. Bobb Makley crash? What happened?
There were pics of the crash posted a while back. I am not sure what happened but he was on a fast run and ended up hitting a tree at speed. He had some damage from hitting the steering wheel I believe. The pics pf the car were scary. The front bumper was literally touching the firewall.
Sometimes, NHRA rules amuse me The reason I asked about the rollbar/aftermarket belt rule is because a few years ago a guy I know bought a rolling drag car that had a 6 point bar in it, and the car was only running high 14's with a junk motor he put in, he was told at the track during tech that he would have to replace the belts before he returned because they had expired uzzled: He asked me what I would do, so I told him to fire up the sawzall, remove the bar and overkill belts, and install some original GM belts, and have fun racing!
At the tracks In Western Canada EVERY driver ( even 20 second street slugs )needs a proper helmet! and if they have not got one the track rents them. The check each and every helmet in tech. Lots of guys buy motorcycle helmets for around $150.00 cdn and they are good for I think 15 years so at $10.00 per year pretty cheap I think. Frankly I was shocked to see how lax the rules are enforced at a LOT of the smaller track's I have seen in the USA maybe they don't care about safety as much. I have been in a few crashes at over 100 MPH due to parts failure or other things non of which were my fault and I thank god I had my safety gear up to date so I can be here to write this. And besides how much is YOUR life and mobilty worth???? Ken just my .02 worth
