Can anyone say with certainty that SA2010 helmets will (or will not) be allowed by PCA in 2020? I'm trying to figure out if I need a new helmet for next year. Snell's website states that the SA2020 standard helmets cannot be sold prior to 10/1/2020, so I'm thinking that my 2010 will still be allowed. Or at least that's my hope as my offseason is shaping up to be expensive enough as is!

 

Excellent question. Anyone know for sure?

 

They generally allow a grace period until 2020s are readily available

 

Based on this extract from the 2015 PCA Club Racing Rules I suspect 2010 will expire June 1, 2021.

"Helmets must be certified in accordance with one of the following standards: Snell SA2005, Snell SA2010 or SAH2010, FIA8860‐2004 or 2010, SFI 31.1, or BS6658‐85 type A/FR. Helmets certified to specifications other than Snell must be within 10 years of the date of manufacture. (Snell SA2005 will expire June 1, 2016.) Helmets must have the driver’s name on the rear and have the approved PCA Club Racing Inspection sticker displayed on the left side. It is recommended that helmets be replaced or relined after 5 years of actual use."

 

^^^ this. I bet it will purely a function of 2020 helmet availability.

 

OK thanks guys - sounds like I'm OK for 2020. Too bad I spent all that time looking at helmet designs!

 

you're good for a while. the timing on new helmets is usually delayed. the last three rounds of sa helmets (2005, 2010, 2015) were all delayed and most organizations extended the use of expired helmets until at least June of the following year.

once manufacturers introduce their new sa20 models, I highly recommend getting one on order. they go quick and back orders are filled first.

 

I was reading an article somewhere recently about football helmets and the new design that allows the outer shell to deform on impact to allow for energy absorption versus the traditional hard outer shell . Is this something we might see find its way into motorsports? I'm not an engineer so asking out of ignorance.

 

Here's the link for SA2020 auto helmet specs

https://www.smf.org/standards/sa/2020/SA2020_final.pdf

 

How are the 2020 specs different from 2015?

 

It looks like this describes it: https://www.smf.org/standards/sa/2020/SA2020_cover.pdf