Open Face or Full Face Helmet for Autocross?

"Use the an open-faced club; the sand wedge!"

"Mmmm... open-face club sandwich..."

Getting ready to buy my first helmet for autocross and can't decide on an Open Face or Full Face. I think an Open Face would be more comfortable, and certainly could be cheaper, and should be easier to wear with glasses and sunglasses (???). But, Closed Face would be more useful if I ever got into anything else, and since I'd be buying a SA2010, it would be nice to be something that would last a long time.

Any thoughts?

I think MOST events (HDPE, PDX) that require SA-rated helmets are ok with open face.

Open face gives me more visibility, but i feel less like The Stig.

I don't find full-face annoying/restrictive (for autocross I've been using my Arai Signet motorcycle helmet). But the fact that I'm used to it from motorcycling may play into that?

If you may end up doing something that requires full-face, besides the advantage of already owning it, perhaps already being accustomed to it would be good?

Hopefully you're getting a chance to try them on. My Arai and Icon full face helmets both work fine with my glasses. You just have to remember to take glasses off/put helmet on/thread glasses in through the eyeport. Putting the helmet on over the glasses doesn't work

I hated going to a full faced for Lemons. I like to be able to drive and not turn my head for things like traffic, I really value peripheral vision. Turning your head requires effort with a helmet on, and it takes time you don't have. I also cannot fathom how a HANS-less helmet is safer in a car with a full face vs an open face.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: I think MOST events (HDPE, PDX) that require SA-rated helmets are ok with open face.

Most still are but as of this season NJMP requires a full faced SA helmet with the eye shield closed and the rumblings are that more are soon to follow because of the insurance.

The BMWCCA is requiring SA now too so no more cheap motorcycle helmets.

The safest bet at a reasonable cost is the cheapest G-Force or HJC SA full-faced helmet.

tuna55 wrote: I hated going to a full faced for Lemons. I like to be able to drive and not turn my head for things like traffic, I really value peripheral vision. Turning your head requires effort with a helmet on, and it takes time you don't have. I also cannot fathom how a HANS-less helmet is safer in a car with a full face vs an open face.

Ask Dale Earnhardt.

Javelin wrote:

tuna55 wrote: I hated going to a full faced for Lemons. I like to be able to drive and not turn my head for things like traffic, I really value peripheral vision. Turning your head requires effort with a helmet on, and it takes time you don't have. I also cannot fathom how a HANS-less helmet is safer in a car with a full face vs an open face.

Ask Dale Earnhardt.

He didn't have HANS. I think the point that tuna was making is that unless you're using a HANS, he doesn't see how the closed face is any safer than the open face.

I autocross a Miata and hope to start HPDE too, so I bought a closed-face SA. However for my daughter who autocrosses her Impreza I willprobably buy her an open face SA because it is a closed car.

I have a full face, because that's what fit.

LainfordExpress wrote:

Javelin wrote:

tuna55 wrote: I hated going to a full faced for Lemons. I like to be able to drive and not turn my head for things like traffic, I really value peripheral vision. Turning your head requires effort with a helmet on, and it takes time you don't have. I also cannot fathom how a HANS-less helmet is safer in a car with a full face vs an open face.

Ask Dale Earnhardt.

He didn't have HANS. I think the point that tuna was making is that unless you're using a HANS, he doesn't see how the closed face is any safer than the open face.

At that was my point. The final report issued by NASCAR was that had Sr. been wearing a full-face he likely would have survived (IIRC), which is why open-facers are now banned in NASCAR and HANS is mandatory.

Javelin wrote: At that was my point. The final report issued by NASCAR was that had Sr. been wearing a full-face he likely would have survived (IIRC), which is why open-facers are now banned in NASCAR and HANS is mandatory.

No, not quite. If he had been wearing a HANS he would have survived. I am not wearing a HANS at Lemons, so it doesn't matter. Of course, you have to have a full face for a HANS, so maybe that's what you meant, but either way I don't like full faced helmets.

When I started doing track days, I had the same debate, but then remembered something I vaguely recall reading as a kid about John Morton's famous accident at Lime Rock. As I understand it, he was wearing an open faced helmet, and he was luckily lightly uninjured except for a cut on his face that "opened his mouth up like an extended smile" or something like that.

Hence, closed face helmets for me, at least on track.

http://datsun510.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=11417&size=big&cat=&sort=1

I suppose the main question is how likely is it that you're going to move on to other forms of racing with more strict helmet requirements? When I got my first helmet for autocross, I got an SA full face, because I was also doing HPDE and might've gotten into wheel-to-wheel racing of some sort. More recently, I've been using an M full face, mostly because this one helmet works for both autocross and motorcycling (and honestly it sees more use on the bike!) When I was doing a lot of novice instruction, I seriously considered buying an M open face. It makes communication easier, and I can put it on and take it off without removing my glasses, which I have to do with a full face.

Cliff's Notes version: Any helmet meeting the requirements will be safe for autocross. What you should get depends on what you intend to do in the future, and if it includes activities besides autocross with more strict requirements.

My reason for having the open face is kind of cheesy. I'm really hot natured and since I run my street car at autocrosses, the open face lets me feel the AC and stay cooler.

Yeah, I usually run with the AC on. But it's GEORGIA for berkeley's sake. And it's not like I need the extra 10 horses or whatever in my Mustang.

If I ran road course much I would probably invest in a full face. And a cage. And...

In reply to ultraclyde:

When you said "hot natured" I thought you were going to say it makes yelling at other driver's easier.

I seem to recall an article in GRM written by a guy who survived a car fire on the track. From what I remember, his closed face helmet was pretty toasty. but he wasn't.

If that is not reason enough to go closed face.. nothing is

White_and_Nerdy wrote: I suppose the main question is how likely is it that you're going to move on to other forms of racing with more strict helmet requirements?

This.

Sort of like the argument about open/closed cars, roll bars, etc. If you plan on doing more than autocrossing, make sure the requirements. Some do require some kind of face protection (a face cover for open faced helmets may be ok) for open cars, some even require it for closed cars.

Basically, buy for what you are going to use it for. And make sure it's as comfortable as possible. If you are an hour into a LeMons shift, and a pressure point hurts, you will slow down.

Javelin wrote:

LainfordExpress wrote:

Javelin wrote:

tuna55 wrote: I hated going to a full faced for Lemons. I like to be able to drive and not turn my head for things like traffic, I really value peripheral vision. Turning your head requires effort with a helmet on, and it takes time you don't have. I also cannot fathom how a HANS-less helmet is safer in a car with a full face vs an open face.

Ask Dale Earnhardt.

He didn't have HANS. I think the point that tuna was making is that unless you're using a HANS, he doesn't see how the closed face is any safer than the open face.

At that was my point. The final report issued by NASCAR was that had Sr. been wearing a full-face he likely would have survived (IIRC), which is why open-facers are now banned in NASCAR and HANS is mandatory.

Dale Jr wore an open face helmet and no HANS device for most of the rest of that season until NASCAR mandated the full face helmets and HANS devices. he did this despite knowing that his father died because of his open face helmet and lack of a HANS device allowed his head to hit the steering wheel.

I use a G Force open face for AX and a G Force full face for LeMons and Solo 1 stuff. I think, putting aside the HANS argument for a moment, a full face offers better protection against crap flying in your face and/or fire. Those are more likely at a high speed event, thus full face.

Hmmm... Yes, I agree, a pleasant erotic adventure does seam more appealing than continuing our fruitful discussion about helmets.

berkeleying Canoe