The “Standard Snell 1959” refers to the first voluntary helmet safety standard published by the Snell Memorial Foundation. Established for competitive racing helmets, it was created in response to the death of racer William “Pete” Snell to ensure a minimum level of protection for headgear. The standard was adopted by organizations like the Sports Car Club of America (Scca) and spurred a significant increase in helmet performance and safety development.

Origin The standard was established three years after racer William Snell’s death in 1956.

Purpose To eliminate inadequate helmets by providing a measurable and known standard of protection for competitive racing.

Impact The standard spurred a rapid improvement in helmet performance as manufacturers developed helmets to meet the new requirements. The Sports Car Club of America (Scca) made it mandatory for their events, creating market demand for certified helmets.

Scope The initial standard was for automotive racing helmets, but the Snell Memorial Foundation has since developed standards for many other types of headgear.

Evolution The original 1959 standard has been revised and updated many times since, with the most current standards being more rigorous than the original. The Snell Foundation continues to release new standards approximately every five years to keep pace with improving technology.