Helmet Certs

[blueskyracer]

Come on Mike, quit assuming stuff all the time.......the entry fees are not going to double.....if fact, in SOA, the fee has only gone up $5!!!! That is not going to kill a racers budget.....true racers will still be there......and the extra $25 membership fee ain't going to break you either......

If Sid was to raise the price of his lower unit another $30, would that stop you from buying one.......I highly doubt it......

Now Daren not everyone is single or in better shape than some of the other racers like us. All the increases hurt a lot of the other racers and maybe it does not include us but a large group than you think.. Just saying.

[RKO]

That brings up another question. What exactly is a 3/4 helmet. Is this the old 70s style motorcycle helmets. The military flight helmets and the ones a lot of people are using with the air mask look about the same in regards to the area of coverage. I've got a NASCAR style, open face but has the little cheek protrousions and visor and Snell. Is that a 3/4?

[Bill Huson]

probably a 3/4 + . . .

Considering it could be necessary for a EMT rescue crew to hook a battered driver up to air, the 3/4 or 3/4 + with cheek pads might be easier to work with without helmet removal, and helmet removal with a possible neck injury is not a great idea. I wore a full face Shoei and figured it would be toast after a serious crash since rescue crews, if well equipped, have shears to cut the chin piece off to make room for air.

[john527]

I guess all the custom painted NASCAR helmets are not safe!!!
I printing up some 2012 SNELL stickers to stick inside my old BELL...New helmet $300. ... SNELL STICKER .10 cents

[RKO]

Face screen and hearing protection priceless.

[Mrs blueskyracer]

Considering it could be necessary for a EMT rescue crew to hook a battered driver up to air, the 3/4 or 3/4 + with cheek pads might be easier to work with without helmet removal, and helmet removal with a possible neck injury is not a great idea. I wore a full face Shoei and figured it would be toast after a serious crash since rescue crews, if well equipped, have shears to cut the chin piece off to make room for air.

Bill, as an emt I would have to say that we on our service are trained with how to treat a patient wearing a helmet and under what circumstances we should or should not remove it. I would think that all emt's have similar training as the cirriculum is based on the DOT standards. I wouldn't let thinking of the emt's make be not choose a full face helmet. Yes we could cut it if necessary but spend several hours each year training on how to remove them. In our area we have a lot of motorcycle vs deer accidents and use these 'helmet' skills on a regular basis. (Being a non helmet state however we frequently need the services of the coroner for those who choose no helmet or "brain bucket" style helmets.)

I say full face, the best that you can buy. You only have one brain!

As to the color, it is so that it stands out in the water. That is why NASCAR racers can do whatever they want to their helmets, they aren't coming out of those cars and bobbing like a cork in the water where only a small area of their person can be seen. As an EMT on a rescue boat I want to know that what I am heading for is the driver and not a piece of debris. International Orange and Bright Yellow show up the best in water conditions.

[Bill Huson]

Aha!

Just blew dust bunnies outta my brain, Mrs, blueskyracer. When I did my biannual reup CPR/AED class while teaching motorcycle riding skills we scored a few cool mouthpieces from the instructor. They were "dog-legged" to slide under the chin bar so one could ventilate the fallen rider without diddling with the helmet. Those gizmos would be nice to have on the rescue boat.

[RKO]

I wouldnt wear anything but a full face in outboard. But, inboard being strapped in, upside down, the full face is just another variable to deal with.

And another thing as I preached before, Just because someone is an emt doesent mean they know what they are doing. Not putting anyone down, just life or death reality. I've been on a rescue boat with an emt that had never been on a call before. It takes several years, with a good call volume to start getting a good handle on things. I've also seen an experienced emt get on a boat with no equipment and not willing to mouth-to-mouth. Under with holding care, thats a easy law suit.

[Dave M]

Suggestion

Let Bob W ponder this one for safety. Mandate Orange Kevlar sleeves. While the helmet is nice to look at in the water when it is of orange in color, I am a lot more apt to see some flailing arms signalling I am here don't run over me than I am a motionless helmet.

Why stop at helmets, just do it up all the way and see how the membership reacts, instead of this pissy baby steps to make it seem like nothing is changing.

As far as entry fees, lets say a driver enters in two or three classes. $5.00 per entry increase. For three classes, that is $15.00 per day, and if you only race twice in a weekend that is $30.00. So add another $30 onto the tossed out the window without the possibility of any return at an APBA event. It seems the list is forever growing for additional "safety" items that increase the cost to the racer. Americans are inherently cheap, perhaps you should listen. Or at the very least communicate in EVERY possible way why the change is so important. It certainly would make the sting a little easier on those that are already strained on resources. Not everyone is a trust fund baby.

[B1PRORACER]

Now that you brought it up......

In the decades past- we used to have our helmets painted orange. It was so rare that ANYONE would have an orange boat (or gas tank) that I thought it was illegal to have an orange boat!

I remember in the 70s- when the new boat number rules were very unpopular and were forced on us as a “safety rule”. Safety rules don’t need to be voted on!

It surprises me that the “safety experts” in APBA have changed the rules to allow a yellow or red helmet color along with orange? It isn’t safe to have your helmet color match your boat color…. For real safety reasons- why did we go away from ORANGE ONLY? We have been mandated to have more expensive safety equipment, and I agree with Dave- the safest thing is to be SEEN by all of the other drivers! It used to be: don’t run over anything orange! Now it takes more time to decide what to “run over” because you don’t have any color coding to make your selection easier.
Peter Crowley

[RKO]

In the decades past- we used to have our helmets painted orange. It was so rare that ANYONE would have an orange boat (or gas tank) that I thought it was illegal to have an orange boat!

I remember in the 70s- when the new boat number rules were very unpopular and were forced on us as a “safety rule”. Safety rules don’t need to be voted on!

It surprises me that the “safety experts” in APBA have changed the rules to allow a yellow or red helmet color along with orange? It isn’t safe to have your helmet color match your boat color…. For real safety reasons- why did we go away from ORANGE ONLY? We have been mandated to have more expensive safety equipment, and I agree with Dave- the safest thing is to be SEEN by all of the other drivers! It used to be: don’t run over anything orange! Now it takes more time to decide what to “run over” because you don’t have any color coding to make your selection easier.
Peter Crowley

Good point

[HydroKyle93R]

Touche, Pete! I recall when I was a kid getting my first cut-suit from SRP in Issaquah (Redmond, or wherever) both my dad and Al (from SRP) both told me that it HAD to be orange simply because orange was the most contrasting color to the water.

Also, John 527: since you blatantly and publicly intend on "cheating the system" with your Snell print-out sticker, I'll publicly take a stab at that. I wonder how you even think this is a good idea? Not only that, how are you planning on re-creating a Snell stamp that is located under the foam of your helmet?

Mike Pavlick just posted a reply on this thread about the availability of Snell-approved helmets for well under $200, when you claim they are $300. Why dont ya just get one, I have to as well.

[sponsonhead]

Colors and Availability

why did we go away from ORANGE ONLY?

(Wearing my Manufacturer's Rep hat here)

Helmet colors were opened up by APBA because many manufacturers simply stopped making Orange Helmets. At one point a few years ago, even Shoei stopped making solid orange helmets. Yellow helmets were available in some brands (HJC as an example) that do not do an orange helmet.

Bell has made orange helmets all these years, however they limit their sales exclusively to a single reseller as an "Exclusive Marine Distributor". This is why you cannot go into a motorcycle shop and get an orange Bell helmet.

If you want an orange Bell Helmet, there is only one place you can purchase them, and you pay their price.

Now, APBA has approved the use of "Flourescent light green", Chartreuse, Hi-Liter Yellow/green, or whatever you want to call it as a helmet color. My own personal opinion is that these are the most visible helmets around, and are the probably the best color for visibility. Unfortunately, the most popular helmet brands that SRP carries (Pyrotect, Shoei) do not come in this color. Simpson has a new "Sun Kissed Yellow" available as an option on its helmets that is super visible. But, it is an extra option color, which means it costs more, so I don't expect to see too many boat racers willing to shell out the cost for that, given the tone of this thread.

R-19

[Matt Dagostino]

Social Pressure.........

For real safety reasons- why did we go away from ORANGE ONLY? We have been mandated to have more expensive safety equipment, and I agree with Dave- the safest thing is to be SEEN by all of the other drivers! It used to be: don’t run over anything orange! Now it takes more time to decide what to “run over” because you don’t have any color coding to make your selection easier.
Peter Crowley

Peter...........

After you left us years ago APBA due to pressure from the premier divisions of APBA gave in...........it was decided that in order to look cool and modern that helmets, could be a variety of colors outside of 'international orange'. It was more important to have sponsor names and fancy paint jobs than having solid 'international orange' helmets anymore. The fact that some manufactures 'back then' were not offering International Orange helped open the door to multi color helmets allowed by APBA. Guess spray paint was hard to find back then???

I fully agree with you that if drivers are trained to avoid anything orange in a panic situation then the race course would be a safer place........all helmets, jackets, buoy's, cut suits etc etc. should have been left orange!


Guess we are stuck in the 70's somewhere.............

See ya.

Matt

[Affholter66]

I have a Bell Race Star 5 Full Face...The Racestar 5 helmets are a great deal for drivers who don't need a ... They give you Snell M2000 protection

I going to hope its legal????