Wood Brothers Limited Edition Helmet
70th Anniversary
It was sometime in late 2019 or early 2020 that I got a notice that the Wood Brothers would be doing a limited edition racing helmet to celebrate 70 years of racing. The supply would be very limited and it would be a full size replica helmet. Being a loyal Wood Brothers fan it seemed like a natural for the “Man Cave”. I placed my order immediately hoping to be one of the lucky ones to actually get one of the helmets.
I did receive notice that I had made the list and the helmets would be produced but not available until later in 2020. Of course we all are well aware of the mess that befell 2020! I subsequently forgot all about ever ordering the helmet. Then one day in late November, just in time for Christmas, I received an email that the helmet was on its way. Suddenly, it all came back to me. I felt like the father in Christmas Story who received the letter that he had won a major prize. However, I knew what I was getting and it wasn’t going to be a stocking clad woman’s leg lamp!
There were only 321 Limited Edition helmets made. What number would mine be? Would it be the prized #21, of course not. Someone far more important than me would get that one. What about Dan Gurney’s Number 121? That would be next to impossible. What numbers are left? 221 and 321 would be good. What about 210 or 211 or 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, or 219? Those are ok but not really the same. 210 or 211 would be my choice.
The helmet arrived just before Thanksgiving. I hastily but carefully cut the tape off the box and opened it up. There it was, adorned with the signatures of Glen and Leonard Wood, Eddie and Jon Wood as well as Matt DiBenedetto. The helmet is a replica of Matt’s helmet he wore during the 2020 season. What number is it? 211! I got one of the semi-cool numbers. It is one of my prize possessions.
It has yet to make it to the Man Cave. I relocated my Joey Logano autographed helmet out there and Wood Brothers stay in the family room! I have one more helmet I prize as much as the Wood Brothers one but more on that another day.
Hey Richards, Congrats on scoring a helmet!
I tried when they first came out and missed out on getting one by a few hours on the 1st day of sale.
I really wanted/needed one to go with my 1969 CYS Cyclone Spoiler. But no luck.
Then be pure luck, when talking to Kim Wood Hall, she mentioned that they still had had some of the PPS helmets available.
I asked, what is a PPS helmet? They were the 30 Pre-Production Sample helmets, that are exactly the same, just not numbered.
So, if you ever see one of these “un-numbered” WBR helmets, it is the real deal.
And oh yeah, mine is proudly displayed in the man cave also!