Full face vs open face helmet in a hard top coupe | FerrariChat

Full face vs open face helmet in a hard top coupe

Discussion in 'Tracking & Driver Education' started by FerrariCognoscenti, Sep 26, 2021.

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  1. FerrariCognoscenti

    FerrariCognoscenti Formula 3

    Jan 19, 2021
    2,429
    East Coast
    #1 FerrariCognoscenti, Sep 26, 2021
    I am going to be doing some track days in my 458 and need to buy a helmet. I’ve been looking at the bell sport mag open face helmet but have seen a lot of guys wearing a full face helmet. If you’re in a hard top coupe like the 458 Italia, is there any reason to get a full face helmet over a more comfortable open face? For a spider convertible I understand a full face, but for a hard top coupe why do guys choose full face?


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  2. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 20, 2003
    16,614
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Full Name:
    Matt F
    #2 Smiles, Sep 26, 2021
    Does the sanctioning body require a full face helmet?

    Matt
     
  3. Dogdish

    Dogdish Formula Junior

    Dec 27, 2005
    367
    Denver
    #3 Dogdish, Sep 26, 2021
    Another consideration is tire clag and rocks coming in the side window kicked up by the car in front of you. I wear a full face with the visor just cracked for some air. Lots of 'stuff' comes in the side window and hits my helmet. At the end of the day, lots of junk to vacuum out of the cockpit.
     
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  4. MoreGarages413

    MoreGarages413 Karting

    Jan 21, 2019
    75
    Suburban Philadelphia PA
    Full Name:
    Jay B
    #4 MoreGarages413, Sep 26, 2021
    An open face may not be acceptable for events with some groups. You will not run into that problem with a full face.


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  5. davem

    davem F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Jan 21, 2002
    8,238
    Stepford, Connecticut
    Full Name:
    dave m
    #5 davem, Oct 2, 2021
    Full face if you like your face.....
     
  6. FerrariCognoscenti

    FerrariCognoscenti Formula 3

    Jan 19, 2021
    2,429
    East Coast
    #6 FerrariCognoscenti, Oct 2, 2021
    Went with a full face carbon fiber Stilo.


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    Jasonberkeley, Dogdish, MoreGarages413 and 1 other person like this.
  7. Doc V.

    Doc V. Karting

    Aug 29, 2012
    79
    #7 Doc V., Oct 2, 2021
    This.
    And this.
     
  8. Rory J

    Rory J Formula 3

    May 30, 2006
    1,088
    #8 Rory J, Oct 29, 2021
    I'm a big fan of the Bell M8 helmet. Full face, but with an enlarged eye port. It's designed for people who wear glasses, but gives a larger aperture with the added protection of a full-face helmet.
     
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  9. FerrariCognoscenti

    FerrariCognoscenti Formula 3

    Jan 19, 2021
    2,429
    East Coast
    #9 FerrariCognoscenti, Oct 29, 2021
    I bought the Stilo ST5.


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  10. trumpet77

    trumpet77 Formula 3

    Jun 13, 2011
    2,181
    Great Neck, NY
    Full Name:
    Robert Nixon
    #10 trumpet77, Dec 2, 2021
    You only get one head. Also, while rare, there are videos of cars on tracks hitting wildlife like a deer, and that is a scary thought even in a hard top car!
     
    Texas Forever likes this.
  11. Wolfram

    Wolfram Rookie

    Jun 2, 2021
    19
    Full Name:
    David Browne
    #11 Wolfram, Jan 28, 2022
    I went for the Arai GP-6RC carbon full-face helmet for tracking my 488 Spider. My thinking was overall safety coupled with lightness, and I never knew when I might be offered a passenger lap in something interesting with a soft-top or no roof.

    As it happens, after sessions at Snetterton and Silverstone I got a little scared by the potentially huge consumables cost of tracking my 488 regularly... so acquired a wonderful supercharged Lotus Elise as a track toy. Of course, being soft-top, my original choice of helmet came in handy!
     
    jcurry, trumpet77, Dogdish and 4 others like this.
  12. FerrariFinally

    FerrariFinally Formula Junior

    Nov 11, 2018
    554
    Roseville, CA
    Full Name:
    Kevin
    #12 FerrariFinally, Feb 12, 2022
    Very smart choice finding a more dedicated track car, as consumables and any potential damage to the car will put a large dent in the wallet with a Ferrari.
     

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