Open Face Helmet Questions??

[jmcarter]

Ken Etter would know based on his terrible Fontana accident. On the issue of using stock braking system components I’m surprised that nobody has posted about Rizzoli’s Pomona accident (or maybe I missed it). In any case a 1st Generation Camaro owner should post a PSA thread about it.

[Jim Wahl]

A wise man once told me when I was very young, "If you have a $50 head, buy a $50 helmet". Jim.



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[Philip Saran]

Thank you for all your responses.

I guess I should have added more information about my question.

I am in the process of buying a Plymouth Barracuda Convertible for
my wife and I to enjoy taking to car shows/car and coffee nights.

But I'm going to want to take it to Muscle Cars at the Strip in Vegas
and make a few pass's down the strip.

Or Julesburg CO to make some pass's.

[Bobby DiDomenico]

Originally Posted by Philip Saran

Thank you for all your responses.

I guess I should have added more information about my question.

I am in the process of buying a Plymouth Barracuda Convertible for
my wife and I to enjoy taking to car shows/car and coffee nights.

But I'm going to want to take it to Muscle Cars at the Strip in Vegas
and make a few pass's down the strip.

Or Julesburg CO to make some pass's.

You need to get the best full face helmet you can afford, and make sure it fits correctly.

[Doug Domm]

Originally Posted by Bobby DiDomenico

You need to get the best full face helmet you can afford, and make sure it fits correctly.

I agree, however where do you get the opportunity to test fit multiple brands and models. I can’t think of a shop within 500 miles of me that has inventory. Many of us are reliant on mail order for such items. I’m not trying to be negative as I truly would prefer to test fit and yes spend the money on the best I can reasonably afford.

[JP1738]

Originally Posted by Keith 944

Can’t believe no one has even mentioned what about a fire?
an open face helmet is not gonna protect you at all.

Very true. I use a really nice Simpson full face helmet anytime I'm going <8.00 in my SST car. Stock firewall and a stock 305 going 82 mph does not have me terribly worried about a fire while wearing my open face helmet running stock, NHRA doesn't even require me to wear a suit at those speeds, just long pants and close toed shoes. I'm sure others would agree. If it's hard for me to get a speeding ticket on the interstate, I honestly don't feel the need to have a $500 helmet. I suppose anything could happen though.

[1347]

Originally Posted by JP1738

Very true. I use a really nice Simpson full face helmet anytime I'm going <8.00 in my SST car. Stock firewall and a stock 305 going 82 mph does not have me terribly worried about a fire while wearing my open face helmet running stock, NHRA doesn't even require me to wear a suit at those speeds, just long pants and close toed shoes. I'm sure others would agree. If it's hard for me to get a speeding ticket on the interstate, I honestly don't feel the need to have a $500 helmet. I suppose anything could happen though.

How about God forbid a150+ mph stocker piles into you for some reason.
You don't have to worry about safety until it happens.

[JP1738]

Originally Posted by 1347

How about God forbid a150+ mph stocker piles into you for some reason.
You don't have to worry about safety until it happens.

I've thought about that too, that's why I added the caveat "anything can happen". With all this talk, y'all've bout scared me into wearing my nice helmet all the time. Nothing wrong with it, I like wearing it, just can't smoke my stogies while I stage with a closed face helmet.

[Adger Smith]

Ken Etter is correct.
I had a WOO customer crash without his neck collar and he is paralized from the neck down.
I crashed in 1999 at Cordova wearing a Simpson closed face Helmet. The one with the small eye opening. A piece of guard rail post got inside the opening and broke my eye orbit and damaged the eye socket.
I'm lucky that University of Iowa was able to do a good repair on it.
I would advise against racing with an open face helmet.
I was torn up pretty bad, but I feel the safety equipment kept it from being worse. Buy good safety equipment and use it.