CodeBlack

is there a preference for helmets for PDA or HPDE events meaning open or closed face styles

heavychevy

Open faced is prefered if you have air bags, Closed face if you are full cage race car. But most people still end up with the closed face because they look better. The open face masks look like you are flying planes or playing football in 1950

CodeBlack

why go open face with air bags?

petefias

there we go again.

CodeBlack

sorry didn't mean to start anything I'm just a stupid rookie

heavychevy

air bag hits shield which breaks and hits face ot just gets pushed into face.

CodeBlack

thanks, I just searched the posts and got the info, to all of you racers I really didn't mean to start anything I should have searched first

John Shiels

yea sure you live for trouble

AU N EGL

Closed face. Air bags have nothing to do with it. When your helmet is fitted and chin strap is fasten properly the helmet will not move.

Close face with eye shield down. Too many thing bounce in though the side windows, track turds, sand, bugs, BIG bugs.

I slide into a tire wall on a wet day few years ago. My drivers side door mirror hit the tire wall, folded and popped the mirror glass out. That mirror glass hit my chin gaurd then landed over on the right side of the dash.

If I had an open face helmet, I bet my chin would have been broken.

Closed face with eye shield down is the preferred choice.

I ware glasses too.


Try on differnt helmets. Some fit your head better then others.

Z06Fix

At this point I use my bike helmet for both autox and HPDE's. I guess I will continue to use it untill NASA starts making everyone use a SA helmet.

John Shiels

Steve five dollar head five dollar helmets! I have 4 bucks you can borrow!

Lancer033

The SCCA released 1 report several years ago that said it might possibly be dangerous to use full face helmets w/ airbags. Then after looking at the data, they came back and said it was not a problem.

Zee916

Full face 100% all the time, but I kart in mine too.

John Shiels

air bag won't break a shield and what else can hit you in the face in an accident? I think tons of crap can hit you and then you have fire issue.

heavychevy

I didnt think it would either, I've been told this by instructors, so I assumed they knew more about the issue than I did. Apologies for relaying false info.


But it does seem feasible that the sheild could break if left in the up position, and the airbag comes out,which many people do. I've been hit in the face with airbags before, it's pretty violent and happens in the blink of an eye

Bill Hetzel

Anyone who drives on the track with their shield up is an idiot.

I've been hit, dead center, by a bird and either a piece of engine block or piston at over 100. Neither broke the shield. But, it wasn't a cheap helmit/shield like some guys use.

heavychevy

You wont get hit by a bird in a closed cockpit car, nor a piece of engine block. What you are talking about is applicable in open wheel racing, but not so much DE's and closed wheel .

AU N EGL

I had a bird fly though the cockpit on a cool down lap.

C66 Racing

I'm a fan of the full face, shield down helmet as well. Though I have a full cage now, I've always used a full face helmet, even in the 30 or so DEs I did before jumping into SCCA T1.

CodeBlack

This is a job for MYTHBUSTERS