Hi GRM crew, my name is Kevin Albino. Longtime listener, first time caller. I've been reading this magazine for more than half of my life, from stealing my Dad's subscriptions to getting my own in the present day. But that's not why I'm here now. At the beginning of this year was able to realize a personal dream of mine and enter the automotive aftermarket industry when I was hired by Holley to serve as Product Director for all of their automotive safety brands. You may be familiar with a few of them (Stilo, Simpson, RaceQuip, and HANS). My personal racing experience includes a few decades of autocross, Formula SAE, a handful of Champcar teams and builds (back when it was called Chumpcar), and HSR historic wheel-to-wheel racing.
Today is a big day for the industry because the Snell SA2025 helmets are officially on sale, and I know we have a ton of exciting new products coming (as do all of our competitors, I am sure). This site published a great primer on the Snell change and a snippet of what you can expect as consumers, but I wanted to go a step further and put myself out there for a true AMA just in case anyone had specific (or non-specific) questions they wanted to ask. It can also be about general racing safety topics too if you want! Truly, AMA!
Welcome to the forum and, yes, today is the big day.
For everyone else, here’s last week’s item on the new Snell ratings: Coming October 1: slightly revised Snell Foundation helmet standards
We had some chatter last week about the peak-g impact number. Can you explain what that’s measuring and tell us a little more about that test?
Thanks.
Heyo Albino! Great lineup of products, I'm a long-time user of many of 'em myself.
My biggest question about it is how they ended up with the mess of naming that is the Simpson Hybrid-S? Why was there ever a Hybrid or Hybrid-Pro released? I've seen people who bought the cheaper ones thinking they were protected in a 3 point seat belt, but of course only the Hybrid-S is rated for that. Are there any plans to address the naming confusion?
How do you feel about the updated Snell standards versus ECE standards? In motorcycling the Snell Foundation has a big advertising budget but there has long been controversy about their practices: Snell has long focused on reducing peak-G figures. That has the effect of making shells more rigid, but those rigid shells have allowed for more subsequent impact transmission (e.g. a head skipping along the roadway after an off, or a head banging off a roll cage or hard parts in a multi-impact collision). Do you feel that the updated Snell standards address this, or is it more of the same?
In reply to David S. Wallens :
Absolutely. The Peak G figure is measuring the impact forces experienced on the test dummy headform at multiple locations during what's known as a drop test. The helmet is configured on a drop test jig oriented to strike an anvil at the specified coordinates on the helmet. Snell specifies multiple impact locations throughout the shell to ensure that inside, the expanded polystyrene (EPS) liner fulfills its protective function.
I have a chart below which shows the range of headforms, the impact velocities they are tested at, and the Peak G limit which cannot be exceeded in order to receive SA2025 homologation (as well as what those velocities and Peak G limits were for 2020). For reference, "A" headform is the smallest (think X-Small, Small sizes) and "O" is the largest (X-Large and 2X-Large). One of the main changes in SA2025 was to better align Snell's Peak G limit to FIA 8859-2024, and both standards require a maximum limit of 275g.
In reply to WonkoTheSane :
You know, that's a great question that I'll try and dig up for you. The current lineup of Hybrids are (in order of price/feature from low-to-high): Hybrid Sport, Hybrid Pro Lite, and Hybrid S. You are correct that Hybrid S is the only model that is designed and tested for use with 3-point belts as of today. While I can't comment on future naming conventions or changes I can tell you that we have a great team who is working hard to keep the Hybrid product line a leader in the segment and feedback like this is invaluable to us.
In reply to brandonsmash :
Honestly, I can't comment on ECE standards because for automotive motorsport the global standards we target are Snell SA2025 or the FIA 8859-2024. I have not been privy to any sanctioning body requiring ECE for motorsport but if there was enough demand we'd happily put out a product that met that standard. From the industry standpoint we certify helmets to the standards that are necessary for consumers to compete. In a similar example, Snell has a karting standard as well but we don't make any product for it because it is not widely used. Most people use SA-rated helmets at the grassroots level, or pay for the FIA CMR or KRT karting helmets.
While I do not represent the Simpson Motorcycle brand specifically, I can tell you we have Moto helmets that comply with both US DOT as well as ECE certification.
albino09 said:
In reply to David S. Wallens :
Absolutely. The Peak G figure is measuring the impact forces experienced on the test dummy headform at multiple locations during what's known as a drop test. The helmet is configured on a drop test jig oriented to strike an anvil at the specified coordinates on the helmet. Snell specifies multiple impact locations throughout the shell to ensure that inside, the expanded polystyrene (EPS) liner fulfills its protective function.
I have a chart below which shows the range of headforms, the impact velocities they are tested at, and the Peak G limit which cannot be exceeded in order to receive SA2025 homologation (as well as what those velocities and Peak G limits were for 2020). For reference, "A" headform is the smallest (think X-Small, Small sizes) and "O" is the largest (X-Large and 2X-Large). One of the main changes in SA2025 was to better align Snell's Peak G limit to FIA 8859-2024, and both standards require a maximum limit of 275g.
I think the specific question was how these G number translate to G transferred to the brain in an accident. They numbers in the chart look non-survivable.
Along the same line- Does the price of the helmet really affect survivability, or is a SA2025 helmet mostly a sa2025 helmet?
JG Pasterjak
Tech Editor & Production Manager
10/1/25 1:42 p.m.
Somewhat off the subject, but relevant to my interests as a guy who just bought a race kart: Since it doesn't rely on belts for head support,is my Simpson Hybrid a suitable neck safety device for karting, or do I need to get a donut?
JG Pasterjak said:
Somewhat off the subject, but relevant to my interests as a guy who just bought a race kart: Since it doesn't rely on belts for head support,is my Simpson Hybrid a suitable neck safety device for karting, or do I need to get a donut?
I have an OMP Donut you can have for $5, never used (other than on a flight once for a travel pillow), located just north of UCF.
To the OP. I didn't realize all of those brands fell under the Holley umbrella. Thanks for the informative. I currently rock a Roux R1-F for use in crapcan racing (champcar is not so much that anymore) and love the built in speakers, drinktube, preinstalled HANS anchors, and the fact their XL fits my giant cranium without feeling too loose (other brands have felt like the L is too small and XL is too big). It's a great bang for the buck with all the features included. In my limited research on what's coming out for the 2025 regulations, I haven't seen anything similar from those brands you listed. Any plans to offer up a competitive alternative OR do you have one that I may have just missed in my research?
The built in speakers are great because most crapcan racing aren't running straight cut gears and the series have sound limits, so you can actually hear without having plugs in.
JG Pasterjak said:
Somewhat off the subject, but relevant to my interests as a guy who just bought a race kart: Since it doesn't rely on belts for head support,is my Simpson Hybrid a suitable neck safety device for karting, or do I need to get a donut?
Unfortunately, due to the lack of harness/restraint on a race kart there are no FHRs related to HANS or Simpson Hybrid which would be suitable.
albino09 said:
In reply to WonkoTheSane :
You know, that's a great question that I'll try and dig up for you. The current lineup of Hybrids are (in order of price/feature from low-to-high): Hybrid Sport, Hybrid Pro Lite, and Hybrid S. You are correct that Hybrid S is the only model that is designed and tested for use with 3-point belts as of today. While I can't comment on future naming conventions or changes I can tell you that we have a great team who is working hard to keep the Hybrid product line a leader in the segment and feedback like this is invaluable to us.
Thanks! I use the Hybrid-S, and I have since I started instructing with Xtreme Xperience. Previously I used an original HANS for many moons, and honestly the name of the Hybrids is literally the only complaint I have with the product :) I (and many others that I've talked to) feel that it's a major safety risk.
I'm not sure why the other ones are named "Hybrid" at all, really. I don't see what features they combine that would qualify for that name.
In reply to DirtyBird222 :
First I have to acknowledge and agree with you that Champcar lost it's charm when the barrier to entry exceeded "hot E30s". I once finished 5th (aka made it to podium impound) at NCMMP in a stock-motor B13 SE-R due to a significant rain period and that is still one of the greatest highs of my life. The following race at VIR we got walked by a same-class Civic Si and I realized we needed a new car or a lot more money if we wanted to continue being competitive.
With respect to the Roux, I do agree that is a lot of great feature set for the price. One of the great things I love about Simpson is we still operate primarily out of our New Braunfels, TX location for helmet assembly and/or accessory upfit. What that means is you can order a Bandit, the comms, HANS anchors, etc and we can install it for you before shipping it out. We can also make recommendations for fit, and one of my initiatives for the new 2025 helmets is to make clear on the website which removable top and cheek pads come preinstalled with each size helmet. This way if you're like me and fall in between sizes you can swap out pads (or we can do it for you) and get the custom fit you're looking for. I highly recommend calling our sales team (also based in the same building in Texas) because if they don't have an answer for you they are steps away from the engineers or production staff who can answer.
On future products, all I can say is that what we launch today is by no means the end of what we're planning to introduce during this Snell cycle, nothing is off the table.
WonkoTheSane said:
albino09 said:
In reply to WonkoTheSane :
You know, that's a great question that I'll try and dig up for you. The current lineup of Hybrids are (in order of price/feature from low-to-high): Hybrid Sport, Hybrid Pro Lite, and Hybrid S. You are correct that Hybrid S is the only model that is designed and tested for use with 3-point belts as of today. While I can't comment on future naming conventions or changes I can tell you that we have a great team who is working hard to keep the Hybrid product line a leader in the segment and feedback like this is invaluable to us.
Thanks! I use the Hybrid-S, and I have since I started instructing with Xtreme Xperience. Previously I used an original HANS for many moons, and honestly the name of the Hybrids is literally the only complaint I have with the product :) I (and many others that I've talked to) feel that it's a major safety risk.
I'm not sure why the other ones are named "Hybrid" at all, really. I don't see what features they combine that would qualify for that name.
For many people Hybrids mean a more comfortable style of FHR which is easier to get buckled into a 5, 6, or 7 pt harness than a traditional HANS-style device. Rally drivers in particular (and their co-drivers in the WRC are huge proponents of Hybrids because of the nature of their driving conditions in the event they need to make a roadside repair.
Edit: I consulted with folks that would have historical knowledge on the subject of naming and got an answer for you. The term "Hybrid" is referring to the fact that this device combined 2 load paths in its design:
1. Harnesses: like a HANS, a Hybrid uses harnesses to restrain the device.
2. Torso: As its mounted behind you, the Hybrid also uses your body to stay in place.
Additionally, the Hybrid model was developed in-house at Simpson before the HANS acquisition in 2012, so the naming convention is not meant to be in reference to a HANS device.
You know one thing that would be awesome for all racers? including the degree of ovalness in your sizing charts. That has to be the single most frustrating thing about trying to find a helmet. Most of the time there is no way to tell if you don't have a local shop with the helmet in stock.
In reply to theruleslawyer :
I couldn't agree more, and this is something we are working on adding to the product data piece so there are no doubts or questions to the fit when you buy it.
In reply to theruleslawyer :
The job of a helmet is to dissipate the loads of an impact. While Snell hasn't published specific studies related to impacts on the brain during an accident, a study found that in simulated football impacts, the head's acceleration is less than 10% of the helmet's peak acceleration because the helmet is absorbing and dissipating the initial, high g-loading. You can read more about it here: HEAD ACCELERATION IS LESS THAN 10 PERCENT OF HELMET ACCELERATION DURING A FOOTBALLIMPACT
To your comment about the price of the helmet as it pertains to Snell SA2025 rated helmets, all helmets are designed to meet the same standard and pricing does not reflect the level of safety.
albino09 said:
In reply to theruleslawyer :
I couldn't agree more, and this is something we are working on adding to the product data piece so there are no doubts or questions to the fit when you buy it.
You know what would be really cool? If there was a STL for a 3d printer or PDF with interior shape of the helmet for each size as just a hat band type fit. I've seen a few companies do that with gloves and it was awesome. Print it out, slap your hand on top to check. Or in the helmet case, print it and cut out the hole.
JG Pasterjak
Tech Editor & Production Manager
10/1/25 4:47 p.m.
albino09 said:
one of my initiatives for the new 2025 helmets is to make clear on the website which removable top and cheek pads come preinstalled with each size helmet.
OMG THANK YOU.
The ability to order a helmet with alternate cheek pads is also a huge plus. I know going in to any new helmet purchase that I'll need to drop another $50-100 on alternate pads since the stock pads never work for me.
JG Pasterjak said:
OMG THANK YOU.
The ability to order a helmet with alternate cheek pads is also a huge plus. I know going in to any new helmet purchase that I'll need to drop another $50-100 on alternate pads since the stock pads never work for me.
One of the key selling points for me purchasing a Stilo ST5 in-store was the ability to mix and match pads for a perfect fit -- at no additional cost.
albino09 said:One of the great things I love about Simpson is we still operate primarily out of our New Braunfels, TX location for helmet assembly and/or accessory upfit.
Right down I35 from Harris Hill Raceway, where the bulk of our tire testing happens (just did one today). LMK if you ever want to stop by and watch the sausage get made.
In reply to Andy Hollis :
I will be there. I've always wanted to see how you work in those tire tests. Lord knows I've read through every one of them trying to absorb knowledge. You're of course always welcome to the store for an ST6 when your ST5 needs replacement (or whatever else you might like).
In reply to JG Pasterjak :
Here is the product page for our new Vudo SA2025 in size small, which not to brag weighs an impressive 3.0lbs in a composite shell.
JG Pasterjak
Tech Editor & Production Manager
10/1/25 8:07 p.m.
Andy Hollis said:
albino09 said:One of the great things I love about Simpson is we still operate primarily out of our New Braunfels, TX location for helmet assembly and/or accessory upfit.
Right down I35 from Harris Hill Raceway, where the bulk of our tire testing happens (just did one today). LMK if you ever want to stop by and watch the sausage get made.
WHY HAVE YOU NEVER BROUGHT US ANY OF THIS SAUSAGE?
