24 Hours of Lemons

[robg]

I'm doing my first lemons race in Monticello in a few weeks. Ended up buying the "el cheapo" starter package from the lemons site with a helmet, gloves, suit, shoes for $500. Kind of nervous and excited about it.

[FC]

Originally Posted by Rob

Helmets on bicycles make sense. Helmets on motorcycles make sense. Helmets inside a car with crumple zones, air bags, and a passenger cage (I mean the one built into the frame, not the one you add on for racing)? I am not sure what impact it is supposed to be protecting you from. What is your head going to hit? I never really understood that.

Flying debris, foreign objects from outside your own car, protection against fire, hot fluids, etc.



Just tried the helmet. It arrived today. Snug, but that's how they are supposed to be. Maybe a tad too snug but it is brand new. I see the point about the visibility, but frankly it's not that bad at all. Looks awesome.

[FC]

Just pulled the trigger on a suit, gloves, and shoes.

Apparently I was looking at nomex only, but I found non-nomex suits for $600, and last year's model was $480, so I was all over that.

[bren]

Originally Posted by FC

Just tried the helmet. It arrived today. Snug, but that's how they are supposed to be. Maybe a tad too snug but it is brand new. I see the point about the visibility, but frankly it's not that bad at all. Looks awesome.

At least you got the important part covered.

Snug is okay, tight is going to get uncomfortable.

Keep in mind that not all heads fit all helmets. I have a Bell that kills me after a short time, but I can wear the Simpson all day.

[clyde]

Originally Posted by bren

At least you got the important part covered.

Snug is okay, tight is going to get uncomfortable.

Keep in mind that not all heads fit all helmets. I have a Bell that kills me after a short time, but I can wear the Simpson all day.

And my huge ass head is perfectly sized and shaped for a medium Bell where an extra large Simpson (I think, could have been something else) was way, way too small.

[FC]

Originally Posted by bren

At least you got the important part covered.

Snug is okay, tight is going to get uncomfortable.

Keep in mind that not all heads fit all helmets. I have a Bell that kills me after a short time, but I can wear the Simpson all day.

Maybe I should walk around the house like an idiot for a couple of hours with the helmet on. Just to be safe.

What I like about it vs. my cheap-ass autox helmet is that it makes contact in a bunch of places at once. The crappy one was snug here and there but uncomfortably loose elsewhere.

[bren]

Originally Posted by FC

Maybe I should walk around the house like an idiot for a couple of hours with the helmet on.

You wouldn't be the first.

[John V]

Originally Posted by Rob

Helmets on bicycles make sense. Helmets on motorcycles make sense. Helmets inside a car with crumple zones, air bags, and a passenger cage (I mean the one built into the frame, not the one you add on for racing)? I am not sure what impact it is supposed to be protecting you from. What is your head going to hit? I never really understood that.

Uh, the roll cage?

[Nick M3]

Originally Posted by John V

Uh, the roll cage?

In a race car, the helmet protects you from the roll cage. In a street car, rob is referring to the shell cage, which you have airbags to protect you from.

[John V]

Cages are mandatory in lemons.