Bill Simpson was interviewed on TV (6 News), The Indy Channel talking about his helmet, video here. This marks the first time he has publicly spoke about the helmet and there are some interesting things we have learned because of it.
1. As reported in the comment section of the last post about the helmet, Simpson has sold Impact Racing to focus on football helmet making.
2. The shell is very thin
3. Made of carbon kevlar, making it half the weight of weigh less than traditional helmets
4. NOCASE approved
5. Unique energy dispersing material
6. The profile and “sit” of the helmet is also different from the traditional helmets
Regardless of where the process is at, I feel that Simpson brings a unique and important product to the field this year. Only time will tell if the helmet will provide further protection for the football player but having more “tools” in the tool box certainly is not a bad thing.
All images are screen grabs from the above video interview.
UPDATE 14:00: From the c0mments below the face mask shown on the Simpson/Ganassi Helmet was ID’ed as a youth face mask. Also traditional helmets are weighing nearer the 4 lb. mark versus the 6 lb. mark. The final cost point will be interesting to see. (I emailed the commenter and have verified his credentials).
Tags: Bill Simpson, Mystery Helmet
Just to point out a few pieces of Simpson’s hyperbole… the helmet is not half the weight of regular helmets. There are no six pound helmets on the field anymore. Most helmets are 4 lb and change. Plus, the Simpson helmet they weighed in the story had an OPO type of faceguard – noone except Pop Warner players wear those. A “real” faceguard will increase the weight to close to 4 lb. Which is lighter than most helmets but not by half.
It’s going to follow in the steps of his gear at Impact Racing: very expensive. Worth it? Who knows? But the carbon kevlar material will likely put this helmet in the $500-$600 range.
Will be interesting to see how this unfolds.
Those are some very important details, thank you for submitting that Glenn…
Glen, be careful what you say unless you have all the facts or have talked to BIll or Chip or anyone involved, The Heltmet Polamalu has is way under half the weight of his standard helmet including face guard. I think you are wrong on the price, but if you not, whats a Concussion worth?
Doesn’t Kevlar shatter when it fails, rather than crack?
I was wondering something similar. Essentially, how durable is the helmet. Race helmets are only considered to be “good” until they’ve been in a wreck, similar to childs car seats. Football helmets are in constant collision. I would think this type of helmet would need to be replaced after any hit to the ground/other helmet.
@Kenny: You’re absolutely right about knowing everything and I’d love to get the chance to talk to Simpson about his helmet and find out more details. But Polamalu was wearing a Riddell Speed last year, which weighs 3 lb. 15 oz with a typical facemask. The Simpson helmet weighs 3+ lb with a small faceguard on it. It appeared to me to be 3 lb 10 oz but I can’t say that with certainty. The math isn’t there.
There simply are no more 6 lb helmets on the field any longer, unless the player is wearing a large, custom facemask.
It’s hyperbole that he’s making a 2 lb helmet. Simpson is correct about the physics but he’s making claims that the media isn’t checking out – which is good for him. Actually Riddell, Rawlings, Xenith and Schutt are making 2 lb helmets, too, if you take off the facemask.
In terms of cost, you’re engaging in a disingenuous argument. Of course, no parent or player in the world would say $600 is too much to pay for their safety. But a very large percentage of them are precluded from buying such a helmet because of financial restraints. Not to say that such a helmet is bad, but isn’t it better to try to deploy technology in such a way that it’s affordable by the most people, especially the players (youth) who need it the most?
Simpson is following the same product/pricing model he did with Impact Racing – making very expensive equipment for a very small percentage of his potential audience. I am not saying his ideas/technology/helmet are bad. I agree with Dustin in that it’s another tool in the battle against head injuries and that’s a good thing. But the hyperbole needs to be reigned in.
@Glenn ..You know your stuff.. Did you work/compete against Impact.. simpson had to do something for the name. I would not trust anything simpson is in involved in!
@jonny: Actually, I work in the sporting goods industry – specifically within football. So, no, my company does not work or compete against Impact.
As I said, I know very little of the history of Simpson with NASCAR. I do know that Impact seems to focus its product development on very expensive gear for a small portion of the market. And they appear to be very successful at it. They seem to be following that same MO with this football helmet.