Helmets - Open Face or not?

[Nick JM]

cracking pictures Grant apart from the helmets it really looks very period

[terence]

Quite right Nick,one of my pet hates.Full face should not be allowed.

[compte deGraves]

Originally Posted by terence bower

Quite right Nick,one of my pet hates.Full face should not be allowed.

That's easy enough for you to say Terence from the comfort of an intergral cockpit. Have a little sympathy for the very good looking blokes out in the open who have to protect their looks at all costs.

[esper]

Originally Posted by terence bower

Quite right Nick,one of my pet hates.Full face should not be allowed.

Terrence with a good head on bang in a raceMGB you could well have a delicious bite in your motolita

[terence]

Originally Posted by compte deGraves

That's easy enough for you to say Terence from the comfort of an intergral cockpit. Have a little sympathy for the very good looking blokes out in the open who have to protect their looks at all costs.

Comte,I cannot for the life of me think who you might be refering to!

I have had the pleasure of Single Seaters in the past though.

[terence]

Originally Posted by esper

Terrence with a good head on bang in a raceMGB you could well have a delicious bite in your motolita

Motolita!!! Try Momo.

[grantp]

Surely the answer, given the popularity of historic racing, is for the helmet manufacturers to come up with a closed helmet design that allows the drivers to apply whatever 'design' they wish, including something that looks like an open face.

[skentellytubby]

I agree Grant

I'm not sure why white has to come as standard? The white full faces look really...obvious. My helmets' black, and it cost extra for some reason.

Black would look at lot less garish, especially with the historic single seaters.

[SAMD]

Garish, GARISH! are you saying I look Garish!

[skentellytubby]

Garish is a bit strong; that would be green with pink polkadots!

Hmm...now there's an idea.

Ok, modern white full face helmets with old cars presents an "interesting aesthetic juxtaposition".

How's that? Phew, I need to sit down...big words like that at this time of the morning?? No idea what it means btw.

[terence]

Originally Posted by skentellytubby

Garish is a bit strong; that would be green with pink polkadots!

Hmm...now there's an idea.

Ok, modern white full face helmets with old cars presents an "interesting aesthetic juxtaposition".

How's that? Phew, I need to sit down...big words like that at this time of the morning?? No idea what it means btw.

And you have a problem with Green with Pink Polkadot's?

[skentellytubby]

Gosh, sorry Terry, are those your racing colours??

Terry, don't take this the wrong way...but I don't think green is your colour if I'm honest.

[SZRacer]

If I drove an open-topped car regularly (which I don't - Spa was my first time racing an open-topped car), and speaking as a <ahem!> designer, my 'top aesthetic period helmet look design' for next season would be:



'Say what you like about that Wiseman bloke's driving, at least he always has a smile on his face when he's racing!'

I'll get my coat.....

James

Originally Posted by skentellytubby

I agree Grant

I'm not sure why white has to come as standard? The white full faces look really...obvious. My helmets' black, and it cost extra for some reason.

Black would look at lot less garish, especially with the historic single seaters.

[skentellytubby]

Now THAT is fantastic.....

[grantp]

Something like this but with a helmet included might do the job, adding some weight to James' design. Click to enlarge.

Apologies for the quality here - I just grabbed the first half visible image I found.

[SZRacer]

Of course, another refinement might be to take inspiration from one's 'heroes of yesteryear'.

For those Lotus-racers amongst you, who fancy a bit of 'good-old-British-smoothie', may I recommend my Arai GP5 'Graham Hill edition'



Right, that's enough stupidity for one evening - I'm off to bed!

James

[grantp]

Excellent James.

Since Sir Stirling Moss still manages to race with a helmet that looks very much like his original style of racing helmet I'm sure there must be scope for mandating a style requirement for helmets used by drivers of all open Historic cars.

[terence]

Originally Posted by skentellytubby

Gosh, sorry Terry, are those your racing colours??

Terry, don't take this the wrong way...but I don't think green is your colour if I'm honest.

[skentellytubby]

Originally Posted by SZRacer

Of course, another refinement might be to take inspiration from one's 'heroes of yesteryear'.

For those Lotus-racers amongst you, who fancy a bit of 'good-old-British-smoothie', may I recommend my Arai GP5 'Graham Hill edition'



Right, that's enough stupidity for one evening - I'm off to bed!

James

So where's the link to your ebay shop James?

I WANT ONE!!

Do you do a Danica Patrick?




Three....two.......one - and into the "Lighter Side"!

[SAMD]

Nah, the moustache just doesn't sit right.

[skentellytubby]

Wow, we have our own thread for our bizarre ramblings!!

[John Turner]

Originally Posted by grantp

Excellent James.

Since Sir Stirling Moss still manages to race with a helmet that looks very much like his original style of racing helmet I'm sure there must be scope for mandating a style requirement for helmets used by drivers of all open Historic cars.

Nope. Sir Stirling was given special dispensation to wear his original type helmet as it is part of the 'Stirling Moss' image and trademark. He has, I'm sure, signed a clause accepting liability for doing so. His is a 'one off' and unsurprisingly a special special case; a living legend and national treasure. Sorry, but I don't think anyone else is likely to qualify!

[John Turner]

Originally Posted by skentellytubby

Wow, we have our own thread for our bizarre ramblings!!

No, that is the 'lighter side' thread. This is for helmets!

[SAMD]

John, you are on a mission this morning

What is it called? operation cleanup?

[John Turner]

Something like that. Now the season is coming to a close, I'll be looking more closely at stuff. I also have one or two ideas for new threads to while away the winter months.

The helmets discussion is actually an interesting one, because with all the safety features and requirements for historic racing cars which have changed both their spec and appearance, we have not really discussed the impact on the appearance of drivers in the cockpit, even though they have been similarly affected. It's one reason (and a good one, I think) why we can never replicate history with these races.

Some of you may have noticed me over recent seasons taking pictures of helmets left lying around the pits, as I do like some of the art involved, and I might get around to putting up a few here.