Discussion
This one comes up from time to time and you usually only get the simple answers... IMHO it depends upon what you are driving and how. If you are in a modern car surrounded by airbags then all you are risking with an open face vs closed is the same potential injuries as if you crashed on a road (cut lip and in some cases, the airbag could break your nose).
If just for the occasional trackday where you may be receiving tuition or coaching from someone else (people you meet of trackdays can be very informative and helpful and not all instructors will bring their own intercom) then communication is discernibly easier with open face, and it (like for like) will also be slightly lighter for less fatigue on your neck and you will be slightly cooler with more of your face exposed to your air conditioning.
Open top, airbagless, stripped and fully (rather than half) caged or earn a living from your looks and not sure an A&E department can adequately reset your beak if broken - you will be wanting full face...
I currently wear an open face helmet, and when/if I reach the point where I find myself investing in upgrades to make the car go faster and can go to a trackday without a compulsion to book tuition - I will be getting something full face and rather more serious. But until then I consider it more than adequate.
If just for the occasional trackday where you may be receiving tuition or coaching from someone else (people you meet of trackdays can be very informative and helpful and not all instructors will bring their own intercom) then communication is discernibly easier with open face, and it (like for like) will also be slightly lighter for less fatigue on your neck and you will be slightly cooler with more of your face exposed to your air conditioning.
Open top, airbagless, stripped and fully (rather than half) caged or earn a living from your looks and not sure an A&E department can adequately reset your beak if broken - you will be wanting full face...
I currently wear an open face helmet, and when/if I reach the point where I find myself investing in upgrades to make the car go faster and can go to a trackday without a compulsion to book tuition - I will be getting something full face and rather more serious. But until then I consider it more than adequate.
When I did my ARDS I was told open-faced helmets were going to be outlawed by the MSA, 7 years and still nothing, I prefer an open-faced due to problems I have regulating body temperature and I have a nice expensive Arai full-face that I use while racing.
The reason why they were going to be outlawed was because if you had a water pipe or battery rupture during a race you may get blinded by the fluid.
The reason why they were going to be outlawed was because if you had a water pipe or battery rupture during a race you may get blinded by the fluid.
absolutely said:
The reason why they were going to be outlawed was because if you had a water pipe or battery rupture during a race you may get blinded by the fluid.
But how many people with a full face helmet in a closed car are going to have the visor closed, so surely you're in just the same situation with a full face?DiscoColin said:
...a load of sensible stuff...
What he said.Also, if you run harnesses and buckets in a closed car (as I do), then I think an open face is also fine.
Although at the end of all this, the main thing that affects my decision is that I find the closed face ones harder to forget I'm wearing, and I get rather hot in a non-ac car, and open face is obviously a little cooler.
Cost is largely irrelevent, see this thread
http://pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
However, a properly fitting, comfortable helmet with the right BS kite mark (plus a similar sticker for racing if need be) is important so you know it meets standards.
For driver/motorbike riding a full face is probably the best way to go to protect the face/jaw. Pax in a car you could probably get away with open face. Me I have both but only use the full face and carry the open face for pax.
HTH
http://pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
However, a properly fitting, comfortable helmet with the right BS kite mark (plus a similar sticker for racing if need be) is important so you know it meets standards.
For driver/motorbike riding a full face is probably the best way to go to protect the face/jaw. Pax in a car you could probably get away with open face. Me I have both but only use the full face and carry the open face for pax.
HTH
DiscoColin said:
This one comes up from time to time and you usually only get the simple answers... IMHO it depends upon what you are driving and how. If you are in a modern car surrounded by airbags then all you are risking with an open face vs closed is the same potential injuries as if you crashed on a road (cut lip and in some cases, the airbag could break your nose).
If just for the occasional trackday where you may be receiving tuition or coaching from someone else (people you meet of trackdays can be very informative and helpful and not all instructors will bring their own intercom) then communication is discernibly easier with open face, and it (like for like) will also be slightly lighter for less fatigue on your neck and you will be slightly cooler with more of your face exposed to your air conditioning.
Open top, airbagless, stripped and fully (rather than half) caged or earn a living from your looks and not sure an A&E department can adequately reset your beak if broken - you will be wanting full face...
I currently wear an open face helmet, and when/if I reach the point where I find myself investing in upgrades to make the car go faster and can go to a trackday without a compulsion to book tuition - I will be getting something full face and rather more serious. But until then I consider it more than adequate.
Well wouldnt quite agree with the opening paragraph here as on a trackday you will nine times out of ten be going a lot faster than you would on the road. Crashing at 155mph will be a lot worse than 70mph( 155 is the top speed of my car)If just for the occasional trackday where you may be receiving tuition or coaching from someone else (people you meet of trackdays can be very informative and helpful and not all instructors will bring their own intercom) then communication is discernibly easier with open face, and it (like for like) will also be slightly lighter for less fatigue on your neck and you will be slightly cooler with more of your face exposed to your air conditioning.
Open top, airbagless, stripped and fully (rather than half) caged or earn a living from your looks and not sure an A&E department can adequately reset your beak if broken - you will be wanting full face...
I currently wear an open face helmet, and when/if I reach the point where I find myself investing in upgrades to make the car go faster and can go to a trackday without a compulsion to book tuition - I will be getting something full face and rather more serious. But until then I consider it more than adequate.
Edited by KieronSRi on Monday 9th June 02:28
KieronSRi said:
DiscoColin said:
This one comes up from time to time and you usually only get the simple answers... IMHO it depends upon what you are driving and how. If you are in a modern car surrounded by airbags then all you are risking with an open face vs closed is the same potential injuries as if you crashed on a road (cut lip and in some cases, the airbag could break your nose).
If just for the occasional trackday where you may be receiving tuition or coaching from someone else (people you meet of trackdays can be very informative and helpful and not all instructors will bring their own intercom) then communication is discernibly easier with open face, and it (like for like) will also be slightly lighter for less fatigue on your neck and you will be slightly cooler with more of your face exposed to your air conditioning.
Open top, airbagless, stripped and fully (rather than half) caged or earn a living from your looks and not sure an A&E department can adequately reset your beak if broken - you will be wanting full face...
I currently wear an open face helmet, and when/if I reach the point where I find myself investing in upgrades to make the car go faster and can go to a trackday without a compulsion to book tuition - I will be getting something full face and rather more serious. But until then I consider it more than adequate.
Well wouldnt quite agree with the opening paragraph here as on a trackday you will nine times out of ten be going a lot faster than you would on the road. Crashing at 155mph will be a lot worse than 70mph( 155 is the top speed of my car)If just for the occasional trackday where you may be receiving tuition or coaching from someone else (people you meet of trackdays can be very informative and helpful and not all instructors will bring their own intercom) then communication is discernibly easier with open face, and it (like for like) will also be slightly lighter for less fatigue on your neck and you will be slightly cooler with more of your face exposed to your air conditioning.
Open top, airbagless, stripped and fully (rather than half) caged or earn a living from your looks and not sure an A&E department can adequately reset your beak if broken - you will be wanting full face...
I currently wear an open face helmet, and when/if I reach the point where I find myself investing in upgrades to make the car go faster and can go to a trackday without a compulsion to book tuition - I will be getting something full face and rather more serious. But until then I consider it more than adequate.
Edited by KieronSRi on Monday 9th June 02:28
Thanks for the replies.
On my previous trackday (in January) I used a half face and found that I got quite hot with it on (I wasnt using the aircon as it would have made the car slower) - I have always operated at higher temperatures than other people! + my adrenal gland wasnt helping matters!
Id prefer a half face, but im happy to use a full face if it is safer.
Will I need a full face in a mk1 mr2 fully stripped out with buckets and a full cage?
On my previous trackday (in January) I used a half face and found that I got quite hot with it on (I wasnt using the aircon as it would have made the car slower) - I have always operated at higher temperatures than other people! + my adrenal gland wasnt helping matters!
Id prefer a half face, but im happy to use a full face if it is safer.
Will I need a full face in a mk1 mr2 fully stripped out with buckets and a full cage?
Varn said:
Will I need a full face in a mk1 mr2 fully stripped out with buckets and a full cage?
For whatever my opinion is worth, if you are tightly strapped into a harness in such a car then it should be pretty much impossible for you to be at any greater level of realistic risk if in an open face. If not harnessed I would want full face in that though as there are no airbags if fully stripped and many things (including the cage and steering wheel) to hit.Case in point for motorsport fans though. Dale Earnhart only ever wore an open face helmet throughout his career. He was tragically killed in a 200mph NASCAR argument with a wall, but a closed face helmet would not have affected his injuries (his neck was broken by force of the impact - a Hans device probably would have made the difference though). Further to this consider the many rally drivers who opted for open face helmets in their closed and caged cars (McRae, Burns, Sainz et al). Between them - they seemed not to have significant facial injuries from a laundry list of impacts hugely more serious than anything that you could reasonably expect to suffer on a track day.
LexSport said:
absolutely said:
The reason why they were going to be outlawed was because if you had a water pipe or battery rupture during a race you may get blinded by the fluid.
But how many people with a full face helmet in a closed car are going to have the visor closed, so surely you're in just the same situation with a full face?Ok thanks - I think Im just going to try a full face at my next TD and see how it feels!
I have thought of another question - Its mandatory to use a helmet a TD, but nothing is mentioned about clothing...
Should I look at investing some moula in fire proof race suits, racing shoes, etc?
or just a waste of money for just TD driving? (thinking if there is a fire and i cant get out of my harnesses quickly enough).
I have thought of another question - Its mandatory to use a helmet a TD, but nothing is mentioned about clothing...
Should I look at investing some moula in fire proof race suits, racing shoes, etc?
or just a waste of money for just TD driving? (thinking if there is a fire and i cant get out of my harnesses quickly enough).
Varn said:
Ok thanks - I think Im just going to try a full face at my next TD and see how it feels!
I have thought of another question - Its mandatory to use a helmet a TD, but nothing is mentioned about clothing...
Should I look at investing some moula in fire proof race suits, racing shoes, etc?
or just a waste of money for just TD driving? (thinking if there is a fire and i cant get out of my harnesses quickly enough).
The only requirement is usually long sleeves and trousers. There are usually a couple of people in race suits, but they are generally also in racing cars...I have thought of another question - Its mandatory to use a helmet a TD, but nothing is mentioned about clothing...
Should I look at investing some moula in fire proof race suits, racing shoes, etc?
or just a waste of money for just TD driving? (thinking if there is a fire and i cant get out of my harnesses quickly enough).
So in short - it would not be at all necessary. You might however want to consider investing 20 quid of so in some (not fireproof) kart racing gloves - strongly recommended. For footwear go with whatever you are happiest driving in.
Get one that fits properly and buy the best you can afford, at the end of the day, can you put a price on your head if something went wrong?
I use an Arai GP5 full face.
My instructor Sean Edwards uses that one for racing, but a Stilo open face for track days, because of the good intercom.
I use an Arai GP5 full face.
My instructor Sean Edwards uses that one for racing, but a Stilo open face for track days, because of the good intercom.
Varn said:
Ok thanks - I think Im just going to try a full face at my next TD and see how it feels!
I have thought of another question - Its mandatory to use a helmet a TD, but nothing is mentioned about clothing...
Should I look at investing some moula in fire proof race suits, racing shoes, etc?
or just a waste of money for just TD driving? (thinking if there is a fire and i cant get out of my harnesses quickly enough).
I'd hate it if TD organisers made race suits a requirement. I have thought of another question - Its mandatory to use a helmet a TD, but nothing is mentioned about clothing...
Should I look at investing some moula in fire proof race suits, racing shoes, etc?
or just a waste of money for just TD driving? (thinking if there is a fire and i cant get out of my harnesses quickly enough).
I'm more than happy to wear a lid though. 
Varn said:
....I have thought of another question - Its mandatory to use a helmet a TD, but nothing is mentioned about clothing...
Should I look at investing some moula in fire proof race suits, racing shoes, etc?....
Along with a lid, like the guys have said as pair of gloves for sure.Should I look at investing some moula in fire proof race suits, racing shoes, etc?....
I'd say steer clear of man-made fibres for your socks, trousers, top and go for a comfy pair of jeans (not the floor draggers as these could cause your heel to slip). I think a a fireproof longsleeved top gives good insurance and will soak a bit of that back sweat up in the process.
Pete
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