[1]
Carbon fiber continues to make it’s way further into motorsports and into our daily lives. At SEMA, Simpson Performance Products [2], was showing off their latest carbon fiber helmet, the Venator.
[3]The Venator is extremely lightweight, tipping the scales at just three pounds according to Simpson’s Vice President of Marketing Debbie Bishop. It uses a carbon fiber titanium weave to achieve not only this light weight but incredible strength as well. This helmet has received both the SNELL certification that we typically look for in the USA as well as FIA certification, making it useable in a variety of motorsports. Bishop tells us, “This helmet is designed for any type of motorsports from rally to a drag racing helmet.”
The Venator is also ready to receive a fresh air, or top air system with a removable panel at the top of the helmet for connecting an air system. Inside the helmet racers will find a set of noise canceling ear-cups, making this helmet a nice choice for louder race environments, especially if the driver is spending a lot of time in the car such as a circle track race or other long racing format.
[4]
[5]
[6]
The cheek pads are removable and can be swapped out for a better fit or replaced with a variety of racing radio systems as well. Outside the helmet is ready to accept a HANS device. Size ranges available will be extra-small through extra large, with a medium-large helmet also in the mix, bridging the gap between the two.
The Venator should be priced right in the middle of Simpson’s line of carbon helmets with a starting MSRP of around $1,000 according to Bishop. The Venator will be available for orders sometime in December with shipping from distributors beginning by mid-January.