Helmet For Convertible

Helmet For Convertible

Author
Discussion

Wollemi

Original Poster:

326 posts

131 months

Monday 29th June 2015
quotequote all
I have a Boxster S and have done a couple of track days with PCGB which were great and now I want to do more. So far I've hired a helmet but maybe now now I should be thinking of buying my own.

What are the rules about open face helmets in soft top cars (I always prefer to drive with the roof down anyway if that makes a difference)

At the two days I've done it was fine to wear an open face in my car but I've heard that some organisers / circuits insist on full face helmets.

Any advice as to what to buy?

Trev450

6,314 posts

171 months

Monday 29th June 2015
quotequote all
If you are not adverse to wearing a full face then I would go for one of them. Not only does it offer more protection but will be invaluable if you blag a ride in something with no windscreen.

g40steve

922 posts

161 months

Monday 29th June 2015
quotequote all
Never had a problem with open faced helmet & done six days so far this year.
Prefer open vision is better, cooler to wear etc.
Think the full face only applies to cars like atoms etc that have no structural front screen.

tsinc

397 posts

151 months

Monday 29th June 2015
quotequote all
I wanted an open face helmet for car track days and full face for riding my bike, so I bought a Nolan N44. The chin and visor are detachable so the best of both worlds.

http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/c...

GreigM

6,726 posts

248 months

Monday 29th June 2015
quotequote all
MSV now require full-face in soft tops, so to me that would be decision made.

g40steve

922 posts

161 months

Tuesday 30th June 2015
quotequote all
^^^ Done Cadwell & Croft in the past months so that's false?
One guy was wearing a t shirt in a soft top, go figure that one!

Silver Smudger

3,292 posts

166 months

Tuesday 30th June 2015
quotequote all
GreigM said:
MSV now require full-face in soft tops, so to me that would be decision made.
g40steve said:
^^^ Done Cadwell & Croft in the past months so that's false?
MSV don't run those tracks - Were you thinking of the MSA?

Edited by Silver Smudger on Tuesday 30th June 18:00

GreigM

6,726 posts

248 months

Tuesday 30th June 2015
quotequote all
g40steve said:
^^^ Done Cadwell & Croft in the past months so that's false?
One guy was wearing a t shirt in a soft top, go figure that one!
From: http://www.msvtrackdays.com/car/i-have-booked-a-tr...
MSV said:
Participants will require a full face helmet and have arms and legs covered if you are in an open top/convertible vehicle

Stephanie Plum

2,776 posts

210 months

Tuesday 30th June 2015
quotequote all
MSV do run Cadwell, and I believe there has been a recent rule change that means full face for soft tops whether roof on or not. Maybe one of the current TDOs can confirm?

mad4amanda

2,410 posts

163 months

Wednesday 1st July 2015
quotequote all
Yes open face helmets in soft top cars were banned completely at MSV tracks last week , even if the hood is kept closed. Full face only from now on in convertibles all TDOs have been informed.

upsidedownmark

2,120 posts

134 months

Wednesday 1st July 2015
quotequote all
g40steve said:
^^^ Done Cadwell & Croft in the past months so that's false?
One guy was wearing a t shirt in a soft top, go figure that one!
I'm having trouble figuring what your point is!

From the helmet POV, there's more chance your helmet is going to come into contact with the tarmac, whereas in a tin top it's mainly there to protect you from whacking the box you sit in. A full face has much more strength - go squeeze the sides of a full face vs an open face. Never felt vision was a problem, but then I ride bikes too, and probably turn my head.

T-shirt vs long sleeves - WTF (honest question). Can't see a bit of clothing making any difference in anything significant, the average streetwear isn't terribly protective! What's going to happen in a convertible that isn't in a tin top - other than having your arms thrown out above you, but again long sleeves aren't going to help; (racing) caterham style tethers would be the only real option there..

GreigM

6,726 posts

248 months

Wednesday 1st July 2015
quotequote all
upsidedownmark said:
T-shirt vs long sleeves - WTF (honest question). Can't see a bit of clothing making any difference in anything significant, the average streetwear isn't terribly protective! What's going to happen in a convertible that isn't in a tin top - other than having your arms thrown out above you, but again long sleeves aren't going to help; (racing) caterham style tethers would be the only real option there..
I'm 100% with you on that, never understood the logic. If they are going to enforce any clothing it should be nomex and race suits, any other rule is just pointless. They are unhappy with bare arms but I can rock up in the most highly flammable synthetics I can find and thats ok - why?

Lorientfo

47 posts

139 months

Wednesday 1st July 2015
quotequote all
upsidedownmark said:
T-shirt vs long sleeves - WTF (honest question). Can't see a bit of clothing making any difference in anything significant, the average streetwear isn't terribly protective! What's going to happen in a convertible that isn't in a tin top - other than having your arms thrown out above you, but again long sleeves aren't going to help; (racing) caterham style tethers would be the only real option there..
Well of course it's not going to make much difference in the event of a major injury, not unless you're going out dressed in full chainmail. What it does do is cut down on a lot of the minor injuries in the event of a crash i.e. small cuts from shattered glass, etc. If you were to try and cut your arms with a razor blade you'd find it much harder if you had to get through your shirt first, even a thin layer over the skin can make a big difference for that type of injury. That's also why you're not permitted to wear shorts as it's better to end up with a bit of bruising rather than a cut on your legs when they get flung about near the pedals.

upsidedownmark

2,120 posts

134 months

Wednesday 1st July 2015
quotequote all
OK, makes sense/I see your point. Why differentiate between convertibles and tin tops in that respect?

TBH I'm very much of the opinion that it's up to you to decide on your own risk, but I find the (not uncommon) pairing of the sentiments that open helmets are perfectly adequate, but wearing a t-shirt in a convertible OMG!! rather bewildering..

Lorientfo

47 posts

139 months

Wednesday 1st July 2015
quotequote all
upsidedownmark said:
OK, makes sense/I see your point. Why differentiate between convertibles and tin tops in that respect?

TBH I'm very much of the opinion that it's up to you to decide on your own risk, but I find the (not uncommon) pairing of the sentiments that open helmets are perfectly adequate, but wearing a t-shirt in a convertible OMG!! rather bewildering..
I'm not sure if it's actually true or not but my understanding of the original open face restriction was after an incident of a convertible driver getting hot fluids in the face from the car infront. I've no idea what if anything has prompted the tightening of this rule at some circuits recently though I just know that a directive was issued by their management about it. If that rule gets adopted by a group of circuits then it's usually only a matter of time until it filters out to the others as well.

QBee

20,905 posts

143 months

Wednesday 1st July 2015
quotequote all
I have the answer to the OP's question:

Buy one open face and one full face helmet, and wear the open face one unless required to wear the full face.
The other helmet, I have found, is often useful for spontaneous passenger rides.....

I bought both and have never regretted it. About £150-180 each for Snell 2005/2010 rated helmets from V2

mgv8dave

826 posts

212 months

Wednesday 1st July 2015
quotequote all

As from the week before last all MSV circuits require you to wear a full face helmet in a "Soft or Open top Car"
For example.

MX5 with a soft top = Full Face
MX5 with a hard top = Open Face

We had a few people turn up on Tuesday to Brands Hatch who were unaware of the rule change.

Dave
Opentrack

  • MSV tracks **
Brands Hatch
Bedford
Snetterton
Oulton Park
Cadwell Park