Helmet for limited track use - open face or closed-face?

[LeRoux Strydom]

I need to buy a helmet for my first excursion onto a race track. Should I buy an open-face or closed face helmet? My preference for safety would be closed-face, but what about weight & air access issues? What do the experts here recommend, bearing in mind I will only use it a few times per year.

LeRoux

[Jeff Higgins]

Try a few of each on and then decide. Bring your car so you can sit in it with the helmet on and see how well it fits when you are in the car. That sounds kind of weird, I know. Let me explain. I am only six feet tall, and I have head clearance problems in my '72 911. The additional height of certain helmets makes it so I cannot sit upright comfortably when wearing them. Wear it around the shop for awhile, like while you are shopping for other goodies. Decide what is comfortable for you; that is more important for casual use than full vs. open face. You will be wearing it for long periods of time. Full face provides much better protection, especially if you do not have a full racing harness. I assume you do not, from the level of use you indicate. If something bad happens, it's a lot more comfortable to bang your jaw on the wheel if a helmet intercedes for you. That said, I am also a very casual budding track day enthusiast. I bought an open face. I find it more comfortable, less intrusive for some one that does not wear one often, and I can b.s. with a passenger easier on auto cross days. If I were more serious, I would probably get a full face for the added protection.

[kach22i]

How about this one?

[ChrisBennet]

Frankly I think not using a full face helmet on the track is a bit like not wearing your seatbelts because you're "just driving to the store".
-Chris

[naparsei]

If you drive with your window down, get a full face
If you like chewing your food, and not eating through a straw, get a full face

[Rot 911]

Jeff has some good tips. Like the others said, it's your face, what do you want it to look like after a crash?

[norustscott]

Full face hands down...sure it will take time to get used to it...like 1/2 a lap!!! really...

[kfosburg]

Closed face is the way to go. There are quite a few that have larger size openings for closed cars (as opposed to open wheel). A good example is the Bell SR Pro.

It's pretty darn hard to eat a steak through a straw, so protect your jaw.


Karl
1971 911E

[ted]

Agree with all the reasons, full face.
I like to use the visor, it keeps anything from flying into your eyes.
The worst is if they have speedy dry in a turn and you are behind a car going through it.

Try to find a new helmet with the SA2005 date, then it will not expire till 2015. If you buy a SA2000 it will expire in only 5 years.
Expire in the sense that tech will only allow helmets to be used at the track for 10 years after the SA date regardless of when you bought it.
Link to a related thread..

[rattlsnak]

Full face for sure. Oh and buy the dark tinted visor. I put it down @50% so i can see the track when the sun is on the horizon and Im going through turn 5 at R/A.