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Let me start this off by saying I am not a driver. I've never been behind the wheel of an open wheel car in competition. However, I am a crew chief. I have been for 20+ years. I am also an avid motorcyclist. I have never had or even tried on, any helmet other than a Bell Helmet. Is it because I am from Rantoul, Illinois, the home of Bell Helmets? Possibly. Is it because I've known Steve for 20+ years? Getting warmer. Is it because I've known Steve for 20+ years and know his commitment to safety and advancements in the field of driver safety? ABSOLUTELY! I personally wear a Bell BR-1 helmet because I know that it is among the safest, lightest, most comfortable piece of safety equipment I own. My leathers are bulky and constricting. But not my helmet. I have every confidence that, in case of an accident, I have the best chance of walking away because of the research and innovation that goes into my Bell Helmet. This is not an ad for Bell Helmets. These are facts as I know them. Also, I have never received a "comp" helmet from Steve. I have paid for every helmet I have owned over the past 20-odd years.
When Bill Simpson owned Simpson, he produced quality equipment. After his departure from Simpson and the opening of Impact (I always thought that an ironic and inappropriate name for a helmet manufacturer!), he has struggled to gain market share. With that struggle comes the cost factor. If you're not selling helmets and other equipment, you're losing money. Corners were cut in cost saving measures. I believe that this is one of the most despicable things that can be done when producing equipment when peoples lives are on the line when using the equipment. I hope that the SFI lawsuit and decertification will open the eyes of the drivers and crews to learn about their equipment, and not just blindly accept equipment because it's free. Producing equipment with inherent flaws 1 time is, possibly, a mistake. 2 times is a trend. 3 times should be ********!
Just my .02. I'll get off my soap box now. Flame away!
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