A couple of months ago, in need before our Divisional, I bought a Bell
something-or-other-bottom-of-the-line full faced helmet from Bell
Motorsports in Oakland. They know me, and my father much better.
Although on the back of the helmet it says Snell M 95, the tech inspector
almost didn't pass the helmet because of the necessary Snell sticker inside
the helmet, under the lining. There is a possibility that the sticker is
there, but the helmet is such that you can't move the lining to see what's
there. Because of this, I was warned that although he'd pass this helmet for
the Divisionals, despite his suspictions that I fabricated the sticker on
the back of the helmet, I'd probably run into problems with this helmet at
Nationals, to which I boasted, "Well, I'm not going to Nationals, so neener
neener neener."
So, I'm flying to Nationals this Friday, and I've found a back up helmet
just in case. On the back, it again says Snell M 95, and when you lift up
the lining, there is indeed a Snell sticker. Are the odds are that this
second helmet is legal?
I'd never run into this type of problem with a helmet before. I told the
guys at Bell Motorsports that this was an autocross specific helmet, and I
just assumed that they'd be selling me the right product. Looks like not,
and now I've got a worthless helmet with a big ol' daisy on the back.
Bummer.
Katie Kelly
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