Cuda911

I'm signed up for Performance Driving School in a couple weeks.

The information that was provided indicates I need a Snell 2005-rated helmet.

I have a full-face motorcycle helmet that is DOT-certified. Will that be acceptable?

I did some internet search, and it seems that some of the testing criteria favor the Snell rating, and some favor the DOT certification.

So, do I need to drop a pile of $$ for a brand new helmet, or will my DOT-certified motorcycle helmet be acceptable for the PDS?

Thanks guys!

zedcat

Best to check with the organizer. The Snell requirement is pretty common in my experience. If you do buy, get SA 2010. Snell rated motorcycle helmets are labeled SM, some groups allow those, some insist on SA. Also some organizations have helmets to rent. Good luck.

Cuda911

OK, thanks, Zed, I check with the organizer.

Matt Romanowski

If it's a PCA event, you need a Snell helmet. The region may have loaner helmets you can borrow so you don't have to buy one.

fhp911

I doubt they will permit a DOT helmet, so be sure to find out in time to buy a Snell 2010 SA-rated helmet if you do need to get one.

FullThrottle64

DOT and Snell are totally different rating systems. As noted above, you really want a Snell SA rating, 2005 or later. DOT is a bare-minimum standard for the cheapest possible motorcycle helment; Snell is a serious safety certification, and SA is a rating designed for high-speed automotive track use.

Cuda911

Thanks for all that great input!

Here's another question....

If Snell is better, I think I'd like to buy a better helmet for use on my motorcycle. Can I use a Snell 2010 SA on my motorcycle? Or does it have limited peripheral vision compared to Snell 2010 SM?

Yes, it's a 3-day PCA event, at Qualcomm (San Diego).

They apparently have some loaners available, so if Snell 2010 SA is no good for my motorcycle, I'll use a loaner. Otherwise, the car-only helmet would see a one-time use (unless I do a couple more DE's).

fhp911

Yes -- you can get a Snell-approved SA helmet for use with your motorcycle. There are models with narrow areas for vision and others with wide areas.

But it isn't a question of 'better'. The differences between SA (car racing) and M (for motorcycles) relate to the desirable qualities you'd want in order to offer the best protection in car racing versus motorcycle accidents -- fire is a bigger concern for cars than for bikes; scraping across the pavement is a bigger concern for bikes than for cars, etc.

my take: if you need the SA for your auto track event(s) then you can certainly happily and safely use it on your bike also. (but do select one with a good eye portal size.)

RickBetterley

Pretty good chance you will (as I head out to my 250th day of DE)

Cuda911

Thanks again, guys!

Re: "Pretty good chance you will (as I head out to my 250th day of DE)"

Yeah, I was wondering if I might get "hooked" on doing these events.

These cars seem to get addictive in a hurry. I just bought a second Porsche this week.

rdstemler

It is a hook very hard to avoid!!!