Helmet type open face or full face?

ERA649 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-08-2005, 06:48 PM

I'm signed up for the open track at Beaver Run, and I will be driving my Mini S (because of roll bar restriction on the cobra with and instructor) which type of helmet would be best. My concern is that it may be hot in a hard top and the closed face helmet will make it hotter.

Mike

BlueRooster · #2 (**permalink**) 02-08-2005, 07:08 PM

Mike I would go with the full face. But thats me, I'm drivin' with the open top.

Dane

mrmustang · #3 (**permalink**) 02-08-2005, 07:18 PM

Mike,

Full face, SA2000, stand in front of a mirror and ask yourself the following question:

How much is my head worth????

Go from there

Bill S.

FUNFER2 · #4 (**permalink**) 02-08-2005, 07:35 PM

Ever hear what happened to Dale Earnhardt's face/head wearing an open face helmet ? He was also in a full protected car, a cobra has little protection. The windshield will not do anything for you. Please......wear a full face my friend.

Chaplin · #5 (**permalink**) 02-08-2005, 09:46 PM

Mike-
Get the full face. Think of it not only as personal safety, but also as a public service to your fellow auto enthusiasts who would otherwise have to look at your mug if you got an open face

Ron61 · #6 (**permalink**) 02-09-2005, 06:59 AM

Mike,

I don't know what your rules back there are but I think out here now you are required to have a full face helmet. I have always had one so never bothered to see if an open face one was legal, but they have changed so many rules the past four years that I would almost bet they are no longer allowed. I just liked that extra protection, and as mentioned above, the windshield is no help at all if you roll over. I want a car with a roof now at my age.

Ron

Excaliber · #7 (**permalink**) 02-09-2005, 09:26 AM

Earnhardt basically broke his neck from hitting the steering wheel hard. I suspect full face or open face helmet would have resulted in the same injury in his case.

rdorman · #8 (**permalink**) 02-09-2005, 10:18 AM

SA2000 full face helmet. A full face helmet also limits the amount your head can bend forward. GForce has a hans (sp) type device that is very inexpensive. I would but that as well. I have not been able to find a better deal on a full face SA2000 helmet than the one offered from GForce.
Rick

Randy Rosenberg · #9 (**permalink**) 02-09-2005, 10:43 AM

Don't forget to get a neck collar - this is a cheap method of restricting side to side, front to back neck movement. A collar should cost less than $50.

And gloves and shoes... If a fire should occur, then you don't want your hands to burn and/or your shoes to melt/bond to the peddles/floor board - you'll need them free to escape. Shoes and gloves are only about $100 together.

Have Fun!

FUNFER2 · #10 (**permalink**) 02-09-2005, 10:55 AM

Long story short, about Earnhardts condition. The safe wall technolgy was first studied here at the University of Nebraska. Tests were done at the old Airforce base. They used several Nascar cars including Rusty Wallace's. Using crash test dummies, computers, ect... with the same helmet, his face was split from his chin all the way up to the top of his forehead. I was there for these tests & can not say anything futher with respect to his family. If, he had been wearing a full face helmet, the damage would have been less severe. Would it have saved his life ? Probably not. There were other saftey issues that were not used.
Like were all saying here.......Please use a full face helmet !

ItBites · #11 (**permalink**) 02-09-2005, 02:09 PM

Do you like to chew your food? If so, get the full face version. If not, get used to a straw.

Big-Foot · #12 (**permalink**) 02-09-2005, 04:40 PM

While open face helmets are still legal in most forms of motorsports, I would still choose the full-face Snell approved helmet - preferrably Snell SA2000 or if not that an SA1995 SFI-3.21a.

ERA649 · #13 (**permalink**) 02-09-2005, 05:57 PM

Boy, you guys think I may get killed, or worse maimed for life. Hey, guys this is only and open track day. Maybe I should do the safe thing,stay home and watch the speed channel and polish the cobra.
I just thought it would be hot in the full face helmet and I don't handle the heat well.

Mike

btsai · #14 (**permalink**) 02-09-2005, 06:10 PM

Any tricks to staying cool in a full face helmut?

Or are there certain makes/models that are better at that? I was kart racing about a month ago and the lack of air flow was a considerable factor...

mrmustang · #15 (**permalink**) 02-09-2005, 07:08 PM

Get one that has air vents, then leave the visor slightly cracked open for further airflow. Oh yes, and buy a helmet that is white in color

.

Bill S.

DAVID GAGNARD · #16 (**permalink**) 02-09-2005, 07:33 PM

My full face helmet is not too bad,it has the air vents and as Bill has said,leave a crack in the visor.........

Only an open track event,do not know what track you are planning to run,but one open track event I ran last year in my street legal,street driven 65 Mustang,with a whopping 350 hp,I hit top speeds of 115 to 120 and was letting off early on the front straight,some corners were pretty fast also,it's not the speed thats gonna kill or maime you,it's the sudden stop!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Any car is nothing more than a bunch of mechaical parts put togehter,any one or any number can fail without notice and off you go into the wall or another car,what if an outer tie rod or ball joint brakes at speed,nothing you did wrong but sometimes $hit happens.............

Before any high speed "event",I spend about an hour on my car checking suspension parts,tie rod ends,wheel bearings,all steering components,driveshaft u-joints,etc.,etc., I do not like suprises,especially on the track at speed.......

Last year at the 40th in Nashville on the second day,when I got in the car,it felt like my Kirkey racing seat was loose a little,got out to check on it and two of the four nuts holding it down were about 1 thread from falling off,the third was finger tight and the forth tight,I had put the seat in two days before and dam sure tightened the nuts myself very very tight,I guess the vibrations from the car loosened them,but in 10 years of normal street driving the very same nuts have never loosened up at all.........check your car carefully....................

David

Bob In Ct · #17 (**permalink**) 02-09-2005, 07:34 PM

Head sock and full face. What would Dale Jr. wear?

Bob

Excaliber · #18 (**permalink**) 02-09-2005, 07:44 PM

Hey Mike, I hear you! Stay home and watch Speed Vision, and don't leave the house if it's raining.

OH, and use arm restraints. I have to wear those when I put the ERA on the drag strip (local rules). There perfect for helping you to miss a shift!

Sheeesshhh,,,,,

rdorman · #19 (**permalink**) 02-10-2005, 09:57 AM

If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen. Where what you want. Many have. Some lived to tell the tale, some didn't. Hell, I don't even have a roll bar! Bottom line, full faced is best, as asked.

Helmet blowers are nice. Don't forget the window net on a closed car. Don't think about an open cockpit without arm restraints.

Rick

HighPlainsDrifter · #20 (**permalink**) 02-10-2005, 10:36 AM

Hi,
I still have a full face helmet on the shelf to remind me of what can happen.
It's gouged 1/16th inch deep and 1" wide , 45* from the forehead to the left chin and the clear faceshield looks like a lawnmower went over it.
I also wear a neck brace with my new full face helmet.
Perry.