Track forum general chit chat.

[derbo]

Originally Posted by ThunderMoose

I thought ECU and pump are sold as an integral unit. Have you looked at realoem?

That's what I thought too.

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=34_1695

[tsk94]

The ECU is part of the pump from my understanding.

[StripclubDJ]

Originally Posted by derbo

600/900 hyperco springs installed. German chassis on Chinese Titan7 wheels on Korean Hankook tires. Yup!

Love this
Bmw center caps go great

[rhyary]

Originally Posted by ThunderMoose

I thought ECU and pump are sold as an integral unit. Have you looked at realoem?

I am looking at the option to program the ABS to the GT4 ABS. They want a picture of the electronic part

http://www.mk-motorsportteile.de/epa...e-ABS%20e92%22

[Grip Addict]

Anyone get hands on a 2020 Sparco CF helmet yet?

I need to upgrade as my helmet is 2010 and I would rather not purchase a 2015 even with the steep discounts.

[Ximian]

Originally Posted by Grip Addict

Anyone get hands on a 2020 Sparco CF helmet yet?

I need to upgrade as my helmet is 2010 and I would rather not purchase a 2015 even with the steep discounts.

What's the problem with SA2015 helmets? They're valid through 2025. Whether you buy a SA2020 or SA2015 helmet today, they should both be replaced by 2025.

[derbo]

Originally Posted by StripclubDJ

Love this
Bmw center caps go great

I'm indifferent on the center caps. Wheels definitely look better in person than in pictures. I'm overall happy with these till my other wheels come in. 😈

[Grip Addict]

Originally Posted by Ximian

What's the problem with SA2015 helmets? They're valid through 2025. Whether you buy a SA2020 or SA2015 helmet today, they should both be replaced by 2025.

Mostly because if it is 2020, I would rather spend the green on something that could last until 2030 not 2025

[//steve\\]

Originally Posted by Grip Addict

Mostly because if it is 2020, I would rather spend the green on something that could last until 2030 not 2025

This is exactly how I feel. I know the org I've run with locally is good with current and one gen back on helmets so like said above I'd be good until 2030.

[roastbeef]

Anyone else think the snell rating is bullshit? I get you shouldn't wear a 20 year old helmet, but I also feel like it's a sham to sell more helmets and create false scarcity.

[e92BMW///M3]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

Anyone else think the snell rating is bullshit? I get you shouldn't wear a 20 year old helmet, but I also feel like it's a sham to sell more helmets and create false scarcity.

I did have the same thoughts when I was researching that it might be artificially short (5 years), but that does align with the advice around replacing your helmet every 5 years anyway. If you agree with the latter theory then the former is almost a non issue +/- a few months of when you purchase. To your point though, I think everyone would agree that a helmet from 2020 is likely of better technology/safety than one designed in the early 2000's (or you'd hope).

I follow Arai on Instagram and some of the technology (albeit I think it is mostly for their motorcycle helmets) they post about is cool, but not sure how much it has changed from the past.

Being new to this hobby I opted to save some $ this time around and buy a 2015, assuming that if I were still into the sport in 5 years I might be wanting a different helmet anyway.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

Anyone else think the snell rating is bullshit? I get you shouldn't wear a 20 year old helmet, but I also feel like it's a sham to sell more helmets and create false scarcity.

It is diminishing returns, sure. Most clubs are lenient and let you run the current spec and one previous (10 years total). Many of the changes they make are the direct result of accidents where the previous spec didn't provide sufficient coverage. Some of those are definitely niche cases, but you can always read about the changes in the new spec:

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


20 is fairly incremental over 15 and mostly brings them in line with the stricter FIA 8859 requirements, as I understand it. The biggest thing people will notice is the smaller eyeport opening -- this is considered the most vulnerable place. My SA15 Arai GP-5W helmet was already FIA 8859 so for me an SA20 helmet is a very small upgrade. Something to consider is that the materials in helmets do break down over time, so I will likely replace mine sometime next year due to age...not because of a huge improvement in safety.

[//steve\\]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

Anyone else think the snell rating is bullshit? I get you shouldn't wear a 20 year old helmet, but I also feel like it's a sham to sell more helmets and create false scarcity.

Yes. I get it and I don't. There should be a way to re-certify a helmet too.

For me personally I just don't frequent the track much. I bet my old helmet was used no more than 25 times in 10 years. Given my little bit of use I'm going to be shopping the cheaper options given that I'm just going to have to replace it in 5, maybe 10 years. If I was going a lot it might make more sense. Also if they were good for 15-20 years I'd be far more inclined to buy a nicer helmet knowing it was good for a long time.

The safety aspect isn't lost on me. If there was proof the helmet truly becomes unsafe after 10+ years then I can fully support it. I get that use comes into play here and they are likely making the standard around heavy use.

[Kelse92]

Lets be honest here, are you guys really planning on wearing your sweaty worn out banged up helmets in 5-10 years from when you buy them?? I think it's a moot point however long they are certified.
If you're not using it that often like Steve that's one thing and I get that perspective, but my helmet goes on my head nearly 40-50+ times/year between Autocross/Track time and I doubt it will even make it longer than another year or two. lol

In my background in the horse world you so much as drop your helmet on the ground you're supposed to replace it and most of the people I know riding jumpers got new helmets every year or 2years. I don't see that same mentality shared in the motorsports world and the pricing on the items are in the same ballpark.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by //steve\\

Yes. I get it and I don't. There should be a way to re-certify a helmet too.

For me personally I just don't frequent the track much. I bet my old helmet was used no more than 25 times in 10 years. Given my little bit of use I'm going to be shopping the cheaper options given that I'm just going to have to replace it in 5, maybe 10 years. If I was going a lot it might make more sense. Also if they were good for 15-20 years I'd be far more inclined to buy a nicer helmet knowing it was good for a long time.

The safety aspect isn't lost on me. If there was proof the helmet truly becomes unsafe after 10+ years then I can fully support it. I get that use comes into play here and they are likely making the standard around heavy use.

Arai used to have a service where you could send in a helmet to be X-rayed and inspected. Degraded styrofoam (or cracks) sometimes aren't visible to the naked eye. Not sure if they still do that. Some of the motorcycle helmets use paint on the styrofoam that will expose cracks/damage. The analogy they explained to me once was that it's like an eggshell: one tiny crack and the entire shell is no good. That's why every manufacturer says to replace the helmet if you're in an accident. Same applies if you drop it onto pavement!

I wouldn't use a 10 year old helmet. IIRC Arai says that a helmet is dead after 7 years of simply sitting on the shelf with zero use...nevermind what happens with exposure to UV, heat, sweat, etc.

I think $500 every 5ish years is reasonable. You don't have to buy a $2000 Stand21 carbon helmet. We spend way more than that on parts for the car, so why skimp on what is arguably the most important safety item in this hobby? You can keep the old helmet for your display wall with trophies. :-)

[Ximian]

Originally Posted by dparm

Arai used to have a service where you could send in a helmet to be X-rayed and inspected. Degraded styrofoam (or cracks) sometimes aren't visible to the naked eye. Not sure if they still do that. Some of the motorcycle helmets use paint on the styrofoam that will expose cracks/damage. The analogy they explained to me once was that it's like an eggshell: one tiny crack and the entire shell is no good. That's why every manufacturer says to replace the helmet if you're in an accident. Same applies if you drop it onto pavement!

I wouldn't use a 10 year old helmet. IIRC Arai says that a helmet is dead after 7 years of simply sitting on the shelf with zero use...nevermind what happens with exposure to UV, heat, sweat, etc.

I think $500 every 5ish years is reasonable. You don't have to buy a $2000 Stand21 carbon helmet. We spend way more than that on parts for the car, so why skimp on what is arguably the most important safety item in this hobby? You can keep the old helmet for your display wall with trophies. :-)

Even the X-ray, ultrasound, or whatever else test might not pick up all the materials that may have deteriorated over time to reduce the protection level to out of spec. Inspections like that can be risky from a legal standpoint so I can see why they would have stopped them and switched to "buy a new helmet."

If you're using the helmet a couple of times per year, you probably don't even need to be spending $500. Plenty of good options in the <$300 range.

[rhyary]

Originally Posted by Kelse92

In my background in the horse world you so much as drop your helmet on the ground you're supposed to replace it and most of the people I know riding jumpers got new helmets every year or 2years. I don't see that same mentality shared in the motorsports world and the pricing on the items are in the same ballpark.

Ha, I was into race horses as well

[dparm]

Originally Posted by Ximian

Even the X-ray, ultrasound, or whatever else test might not pick up all the materials that may have deteriorated over time to reduce the protection level to out of spec. Inspections like that can be risky from a legal standpoint so I can see why they would have stopped them and switched to "buy a new helmet."

If you're using the helmet a couple of times per year, you probably don't even need to be spending $500. Plenty of good options in the <$300 range.

Yeah, and that's why I think they discontinued doing it. Too much liability if the "inspection" missed something.

[derbo]

Originally Posted by dparm

Arai used to have a service where you could send in a helmet to be X-rayed and inspected. Degraded styrofoam (or cracks) sometimes aren't visible to the naked eye. Not sure if they still do that. Some of the motorcycle helmets use paint on the styrofoam that will expose cracks/damage. The analogy they explained to me once was that it's like an eggshell: one tiny crack and the entire shell is no good. That's why every manufacturer says to replace the helmet if you're in an accident. Same applies if you drop it onto pavement!

I wouldn't use a 10 year old helmet. IIRC Arai says that a helmet is dead after 7 years of simply sitting on the shelf with zero use...nevermind what happens with exposure to UV, heat, sweat, etc.

I think $500 every 5ish years is reasonable. You don't have to buy a $2000 Stand21 carbon helmet. We spend way more than that on parts for the car, so why skimp on what is arguably the most important safety item in this hobby? You can keep the old helmet for your display wall with trophies. :-)

Also PSA: shelf-life is from manufacturing date not Certification date. If the helmet is SA2015 certification but built in 2020, it is just as good as the 2020 certification manufactured 2020 helmet minus a few months.

[ThunderMoose]

Originally Posted by Kelse92

Lets be honest here, are you guys really planning on wearing your sweaty worn out banged up helmets in 5-10 years from when you buy them?? I think it's a moot point however long they are certified.
If you're not using it that often like Steve that's one thing and I get that perspective, but my helmet goes on my head nearly 40-50+ times/year between Autocross/Track time and I doubt it will even make it longer than another year or two. lol

In my background in the horse world you so much as drop your helmet on the ground you're supposed to replace it and most of the people I know riding jumpers got new helmets every year or 2years. I don't see that same mentality shared in the motorsports world and the pricing on the items are in the same ballpark.

Exactly

[OG Shark]

Originally Posted by rhyary

Ha, I was into race horses as well

I can only imagine the massive number of horseshoe configurations you tried out

[dparm]

You can greatly extend the life of your helmet by wearing a head sock and cleaning the helmet padding/lining out with one of those special cleaners like Helmet Fresh or Molecule. Also, avoid leaving it out in direct sunlight for extended periods, UV will degrade things faster.

Alternatively, replace the pads once a year if you can't remember to clean them.