Slipstream - August 2011

On Helmets and Time
By Bob Benson
Many PCA driving events are spirited and require
participants to wear approved helmets. With each
lustrum the definition of “approved” changes.
This recently happened – Snell 2000 helmets are no longer
accepted under PCA national rules and must be replaced.
Maverick Region coordinated with PCA Club Racing and
our surrounding regions to set this past June 1, 2011 as the
effective date.
PCA generally places 2 requirements on a helmet. First, it
must be certified under any of several dated Snell Memorial
Foundation specifications, which are updated each lustrum.
Helmets must qualify under either the currently available
specification (which today is 2010) or the previous (2005).
Second, the helmet must meet a Snell specification for
certain specific uses. For example, we can’t use helmets
certified for bicycles or harness racing. Carrying over into
the 2010 specifications, we may use helmets meeting the
Snell M (motorcycle) and SA (special applications, aka
racing) specs. Now going forward, we may use helmets
meeting the Snell K (karting) and SAH (an addendum to
SA covering the addition of frontal head restraint systems).
Of note, the SA and K specifications are established in the
same Snell document, the only difference being K helmets
do not need to pass the flame tests that SA helmets do.
Club racers know they are only allowed the Snell SA or
SAH specifications, not M or K. They are also allowed to
have helmets meeting FIA 8860-2004, SFI 31.1 or BS6658-
85 type A/FR standards, all within 10 years of manufacture.
Given this, we also allow these non-Snell helmets in our
DE, AX, and TT events.
The actual cutover date when older helmets (such as
year 2000) are no longer accepted is not specified by rule
but rather coordinated based on that term “available”.
The Snell certification process targets having helmets
generally available by about October of the year an updated
specification is issued, but its not unusual for general
availability to slip. Changes in the testing process in 2010,
combined with delays in agreement between Snell and the
FIA on the SAH specification to push availability of many
Safety Chair, Maverick Region, PCA
helmets into early 2011. As a result, many organizations,
including us, set June 1, 2011, as the expiration date on the
older helmets.
What’s gone? Helmets meeting Snell 2000 M or SA specs
are no longer accepted. Note some organizations still permit
helmets meeting the Snell “minus 2” specs.
What to look for now? There may still be a few Snell 2005
M or SA helmets available in the retail chain, probably at a
pretty good discount. Otherwise you’re looking for a Snell
2010 meeting M, K, SA, or SAH specs (or an FIA 8860
like you see on your favorite F1 driver, which I’ve recently
priced at $3600 plus painting). You can verify a helmet by
looking at its Snell foil sticker inside the shell, usually under
the lining. Stickers for SA and SAH are a reddish orange, K
is turquoise, and M is brown.
Where to find a helmet? Snell M’s are available at most
motorcycle dealers (motorcycle helmets that are just DOT
certified are not allowed in PCA). If you want an SA those
motorcycle dealers may be a good place to try on helmets –
if a helmet manufacturer builds a model in both an M and
SA version the dealer can get you the SA version of the M
you tried on. I presume you can find Snell K’s at karting
shops, though I haven’t chased this down. For SA and SAH,
I only know of 4 shops in the Fort Worth / Dallas area that
have helmets in stock, and their selection is usually small.
They are Performance Speed Tech (at Motorsport Ranch in
Cresson), Vick Racing Outfitters (southeast Fort Worth off
820), Motor Sport Sales (behind TI at 75 and 635 in Dallas),
and Smiley’s Racing Products (in Mesquite).
Note the Snell Foundation sets safety standards. They do
not manufacture helmets. You’ll find many brands of
helmets. Just make sure the one you buy has an appropriate
Snell sticker.
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