The 2012 Daytona 200 AMA Superbike race & the 2012 Daytona 500 NASCAR race will feature one of the largest groups of drivers and riders "sport'n" Arai helmets. Arai will also have a number of dirt competitors wearing its helmets in 2012, too.
Arai is regarded by many in the automotive, motorcycle and motorsports industries as the best helmet manufacturer around. The company was formed 86 years ago in 1926 by Hirotake Arai. Believe it or not, but Hirotake started his business in Japan as a hat maker. All Arai helmets are hand-built and all Arai helmets sold in America meet or exceed the Snell Memorial Foundation safety standards.
Arai Helmets & Car Racing
Arai is best known for its excellent motorcycle helmets, but Arai makes great car racing "lids" as well. In fact the Arai GP-6 RC is one of only a few helmets in the world that meets all the FIA requirements.
Arai helmets are being worn by drivers such as Formula One champions Lewis Hamilton, Sabastian Vettel along with Mark Webber and Rubens Barrichello. World champion Jenson Button made the change to Arai at the 2010 Canadian F1 race.
Starting February 18, to February 24--February 26, 2012, some of the NASCAR drivers wearing Arai helmets will include Jeff Gordon, Jamie McMurray, Jeff Burton, Casey Kane, Geoff Biffle, AJ Almendinger, Juan Pablo Montoya, Marcus Ambrose, Martin Truex Jr. and Max Papis.
Arai Helmets & Motorcycle Racing
Arai helmets are already popular with MotoGP stars -- Nicky Hayden and Dani Pedrosa are two of the most prominent MotoGP riders using them today. During the 2012 Daytona Bike week former AMA champions and competitors Josh Hayes, Danny Eslick, Blake Young, Martin Cardenas, Jason DiSalvo, Jake Johnson, Michael Martin, Geoff May, Elena Mayers and Chris Ulrich will be sporting Arai helmets as well.
"Between these two powerhouse line-ups, Arai could have an amazing Daytona, even though we know full well that racing's completely unpredictable," Jeff Weil says about the prospects for 2012.
Arai having such an earned reputation for hand manufacturing strong, quality helmets, I can only imagine what kind of hats Hirotake made. Perhaps lethal Bowlers like the one wielded by Oddjob, the henchman in the James Bond film Goldfinger?
For more information on Arai products check the Arai Helmet Homepage.
