helmets
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Road Atlanta You do the MATH!
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
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: East Northport NY
why go open face with air bags?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,355
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From: East Northport NY
Team Owner
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From: Buy USA products! Check the label! Employ Americans
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Michael S. Palmer
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
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.
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.
Last edited by AU N EGL; Jan 5, 2008 at 08:04 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Norfolk VA
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.
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From: Buy USA products! Check the label! Employ Americans
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Road Atlanta You do the MATH!
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
Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Reno Nv
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.
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.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Road Atlanta You do the MATH!
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 .
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: King George VA
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. 
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