highway safety school

A

aml

New member
this is going to be my first event and i'm excited couple question comes to mind:

1.where can i find some helmet locally? can i rent one?
2. i lived in gaithersburg where do you recomend i take my car for inspection
 
aml said:
2. i lived in gaithersburg where do you recomend i take my car for inspection
Click to expand...
Quality in Rockville or Dan Martin (301-926-8977) in Gaithersburg near the airpark.
 
I just want to confirm that the registration open date is "postmarked" by March 4th for the highway school, or can it be "received" by March 4th? This way, I can mail it out on march 3rd, or do I wait until march 4th to submit?

Thank you
 
Postmarked March 4. Anything earlier goes to the bottom of the pile.
All registrations received on the same day will be given a random number and sorted that way. Typically our schools do not fill the first day.
 
Once your car get inspected thus it have an expiration date on it? What advice you guys recomend about the classes i take after this Highway School, I have decided to do it this way.
1. highway school
2.driver school
3. mybe autocross in the future

And how long this class last, is it all day? I planning on buying my own helmet any recomendation, thank you.

Andrew
 
What kind should i get Open or closed type, and i'm planning to take classes in the future.
 
aml said:
What kind should i get Open or closed type, and i'm planning to take classes in the future.
Click to expand...

You should get a closed face SA rated helmet. I don't know if the SA2005 helmets are out yet, however those will be good for another 10 years. The certification on the currrent crop of helmets expires in 5 years.

As far a brands go, you must try before you buy. Not all helmets are shaped the same and some will fit much better than others.
 
AG said:
You should get a closed face SA rated helmet.
Click to expand...
It's debatable whether closed or open helmets are better for closed-car driver school situations. Closed helmets inhibit communication between student and instructor, and the SCCA has released a notice saying that using a closed helmet in a car with an airbag is potentially unsafe.

November 16, 2004 - Notification from SCCA National Staff
It has been brought to the attention of SCCA Technical Services that the use of full-face or closed face helmets while driving vehicles with active airbag restraint systems may result in injuries in the event of a crash that deploys the airbag. Because of the location of the steering wheel relative to the driver's position, the airbag axis is on a level with the driver's chin. In a crash with airbag deployment, contact with the chin area of a full-face helmet can be so powerful "that fractures to the jaw cannot be ruled out". (Hubert Gramling, FIA Institute, FT3/AF, 18.5 1999)
Click to expand...

aml, go to the newstand and pick up the latest issue of Grassroots Motorsports Magazine. There is a great article on buying helmets.
 
aml said:
Once your car get inspected thus it have an expiration date on it? What advice you guys recomend about the classes i take after this Highway School, I have decided to do it this way.
1. highway school
2.driver school
3. mybe autocross in the future

And how long this class last, is it all day? I planning on buying my own helmet any recomendation, thank you.

Andrew
Click to expand...
I think the HSS is good to do before a HP Driving School.
Use good judgement with your tech inspection form. It is your final responsibility that the car in sound working order. For instance, if your car is teched and something happens between the time the car was inspected and the event, take that into consideration.

Autocross is always good. It is a different skill set than HPDEs.
And get a full face helmet.
 
David Hicks said:
It's debatable whether closed or open helmets are better for closed-car driver school situations. Closed helmets inhibit communication between student and instructor, and the SCCA has released a notice saying that using a closed helmet in a car with an airbag is potentially unsafe.
.
Click to expand...
Every school I have every been to there has been two-way intercom communication.
 
Does it make sense to sign up for both days? Highway school on satruday followed by drivers school on sunday? I am also a complete noob to this :)
 
ChosenGSR said:
Does it make sense to sign up for both days? Highway school on satruday followed by drivers school on sunday? I am also a complete noob to this :)
Click to expand...
I think so.
David Hicks said:
FWIW, many FIA Rally drivers where open helmets.
Click to expand...
What's your point? They are also wearing harnesses, full cage and racing buckets.
 
My point is that a full face helmet is not always the best choice. Many pro's choose not to use them when they can. The SCCA might possibly restrict their use in cars with airbags as early as this season or next. If the person asking for advice were to buy a full face helmet and tries to do SCCA autox or driver's schools next season, and the full helmets are disallowed, he'd have to buy another helmet.
 
ChosenGSR said:
Does it make sense to sign up for both days? Highway school on satruday followed by drivers school on sunday? I am also a complete noob to this :)
Click to expand...

The answer is "absolutely". This is not a requirement, but we strongly encourage people to attend both days of this weekend. If (as you say) you're a complete noob, there is no way you'll be able to retain (and put to use) all the things you learn on Saturday. Having the opportunity to "practice" some more on Sunday is of tremendous benefit.

If your schedule permits, definitely sign-up for both days.
 
David Hicks said:
My point is that a full face helmet is not always the best choice. Many pro's choose not to use them when they can. The SCCA might possibly restrict their use in cars with airbags as early as this season or next. If the person asking for advice were to buy a full face helmet and tries to do SCCA autox or driver's schools next season, and the full helmets are disallowed, he'd have to buy another helmet.
Click to expand...

David,

First, thanks for posting the quote from the SCCA. This is so completely contrary to what I would expect that I'm glad to read the source document. I'd still like to see more about what the SCCA is doing about this issue.

What surprised me the most was that I thought having a full face helmet would actually protect your jaw better than an open helmet? Isn't that the point of having the full-face? Wierd, that it would be the opposite.

I agree with Steven, that you can't equate what the FIA Rally drivers are wearing to what a driving school student in a non-race prepared car should wear.
 
I will definitely attend both days... What do you guys usually do for overnight stay? Is it common for people to find nearby hotels or campout at the track? If camping out, what do you suggest one bring along? Also, what do you guys think about bringing a friend or a family member for the weekend? Will they be completely bored out of their minds?

Thanks!
 
Rafgar said:
David,

First, thanks for posting the quote from the SCCA. This is so completely contrary to what I would expect that I'm glad to read the source document. I'd still like to see more about what the SCCA is doing about this issue.

What surprised me the most was that I thought having a full face helmet would actually protect your jaw better than an open helmet? Isn't that the point of having the full-face? Wierd, that it would be the opposite.

I agree with Steven, that you can't equate what the FIA Rally drivers are wearing to what a driving school student in a non-race prepared car should wear.
Click to expand...
Rafael,
Here's some more info on the subject. http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78914

---Eric
 
Thank you for all the informative post it will make it easy for me to make a decision.

Andrew
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top