Finally got my helmet today!!!! Its the Fulmer FMA1.







Its a little overkill for a beginner I suppose, but long story short Fulmer basically gave the helmet to me so I'm STOKED!! It even matches my car lol!

Initial impression is great. I don't think I could be any happier with the fit and quality of this helmet!! Its Snell SA approved so I should be able to enter any events I could want. I'm entering two events this weekend so Ill post up my experience afterwards.

(taken from the Fulmer website)

· Snell SA (special application) approved
· Designed and approved for auto racing use
· Fiberglass shell
· Snell approved fire retardant interior
· Snell approved Kevlar chin strap
· Snell approved closed cell foam interior
· Removable/washable cheek pads
· Fully vented
· Optically correct shield
· Shield uses aluminum attachment hardware
· Lock down tab for shield
· Shield includes tear off posts
· Clear coated, UV protected, paint & graphics

 

Nice helmet, so put it on and watch TV for 45 minutes and get back to us on if it fits.

 

Looks nice...

 

I did this that night and actually fell asleep with it on lol, fits perfect thank goodness.

 

Just to be sure... pull back the interior lining and make sure it's got the Orange & Chrome SA2005 or SA2010 sticker affixed to the inside of the shell.

It worries me when they say stuff like SA approved, but don't list a date

Looks nice though!

 

Looks nice!

 

Looks real science fiction like space invaders. Check the Snell date.

 

Yup... SA-rated... just check with whatever group you're planning on running with to make sure they will still be accepting SA2000 after the SA2010 helmets come out (some are already out.)

 

I had that same question when I bought my Arai and I get updates from Bob Secca at Teamdi.com here's a qoute from a newsletter in regards to the new SA ratings as well as the previous ones.

"I would like to point out one fact about SA2005 models. History has showed us that helmets are usually good for 11 full years of their Snell date. That means that a SA2000 is good thru the end of this year giving it 11 years of life. A SA2005 should be good thru 2015 so you still have over 5 years of life and you should only keep a helmet 5-7 years anyway. Helmets get worn out and slowly break down internally.

This is a great time to buy and save so please give me a call today and let me get you into your next helmet. As always I appreciate it and thank you for your business."

Sincerely,
Bob Zecca
www.teamdi.com

 

Yeah, Teamdi usually has some great deals... if anyone's not on that mailing list, it's one of the few emails/product sales updates that I get where I'm genuinely upset that I can't buy stuff from them. He's always got great info and good products.

While we're on the subject of helmets, it's always a good idea to remind everyone to educate yourself on the Snell standards and the differences between the SA ratings, and more importantly, the differences between the SA and M ratings... and why it's important to keep an up-to-date helmet: www.snellfoundation.org Lots of good info on that site that I urge everyone to read.

 

^I feel kinda guilty saying this but I ended up buying my Arai GP-5W from Winecountrymotorsports.com for really really cheap(compared to the MSRP).. BTW OP Arai is over kill for a beginners helmet. I have a HJC AR-10 that I used for one event but for some reason it would ride up on the forehead area pushing the balaclava up which was retarded annoying. I tried on my buddies Arai 6p and I didnt like the opening being so small but it fit snug(so did the HJC) which was amazing. The Fulmer is a solid choice after looking at what it came with... I wish I would've looked at it instead of the big 3.. Arai, Simpson, and Bell.

 

While we're plugging (LOL) I'll go ahead and plug TZC/THSCC's sponsor... www.apexperformance.net

They were set up at our HPDE weekend before last and had great deals on SA2005 Zamps & G-Force (under $200)... but the best deal was the Bell Sport SA2010 MSRP for $279.

I picked up the orange model and I absolutely love it... well worth every penny extra over the less expensive brands. Mainly in terms of comfort... which is extremely important in a helmet. And, providing I take care if it, will be good for me through 2020!

Oh yeah... it's also pre-drilled for a head & neck restraint!

Like this one, but orange, and without the chin vents (no one yet knows why it doesn't have them, but I kinda like it.)

 

^Looks good... I wasn't sure about the sizing so I didn't get a Bell.

 

FWIW... I took one size SMALLER in the Bell than I did in the Zamp or G-Force

 

Is that so... The Arai and HJC's run smaller than usual too. I have a 7inch head so I had to get the medium(its more like a Smedium).

 

I think what it is, the more expensive brands tend to have a two-stage padding/liner... a softer lining that provides the comfort and fit (at least around the cheeks and eyes), then the more dense lining that provides the protection. The ZAMP I tried on (and even my Simpson that this Bell replaced) had very stiff lining that was quite uncomfortable... kinda like an old football helmet where you can feel every padding seam and hole.

 

Heres the sticker inside my FMA1,



Ill be reading the post about SA ratings shortly, thanks for linking that Stack!

And heres my review,

So I had my FIRST track time today at Thunderhill. I have never driven a car with a helmet on before and I was not sure how I would get along especially since for me the Z has bad visibility (maybe I'm too short? lol). It was 100% better than I could have dreamed! Ive wore quite a few helmets in my day albeit mostly rentals at kart places and motorcycles etc, but nonetheless this helmet feels like a million dollars in comparison! It literally fits my face and head perfectly! I didn't want to take it off between runs lol! My pit chief told me 3 times, "dude, your not running for like 15 min take that thing off you look retarded". I also ran it with the visor down most of the day which wasn't even required, it really truely is optically correct, theres no visible distortion anywhere in my field of vision. It also seems to be vented very well and didn't fog or get stuffy at all. I literally cannot think of a single thing that could be improved, It didn't even irritate my beard hair all day squeezing in and out of that thing for christ sake. I don't even care to consider even trying a different helmet out, it is the most complete problem free item I have ever bought for my Z and it matches my Z and looks badass! 'Nuff said.

And I have never posted a review that didn't have a "now for the bad" part.

 

The helmet is good for 10 years plus.

 

Right... The SA2000 sticker indicates that the helmet was manufactured sometime between 1999 and 2004. So yes, while physically the helmet may be "good", especially if it's been kept in a climate controlled warehouse until you took delivery of it... you've still got to follow the rules of the organization you're running with. And some have a 10 year limit, based on the SA sticker date (not necessarily the date of manufacture.) Other organizations don't, I guess they're relying on the liability waivers if something were to happen?

Regardless of the purpose or spec of a helmet, what you have to realize, and the REASON most helmets have a date of some sort, is that even if a helmet is never used, the materials used to make the helmet (especially the resins in the shell) start breaking down, so the effectiveness of the structure of the shell starts diminishing.