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Evan Smith · 11-21-2009, 04:08 PM

I too switched from an open-face to a closed-face years ago and would never go back. Anyone can say it will "never happen to me," but I'd rather have the extra protection becaue you never know. Having worked at race tracks and photographed cars for over 20 years, I've seen lots of wrecks. From what I've seen I can tell you I'm more afraid of fire and debris hitting me in the face than anything else. In a wreck all hell breaks loose and you can get jacked up bad by something as simple as the tach coming loose and smashing your face.

True story: Years ago I was at a road racing event driving a 1995 Cobra R. After my stint, the car owner took out an instructor for a lapping session. A few laps in, while on the back straight away at speed (about 120 mph), a deer ran across the track, right in the path of the car. The deer went through the windshield, literally cutting the deer in half, with the hind section of the deer ending up in the car! Driver was wearing a closed-face Bandit helmet and aside from puking in his helmet, and some bruses, he walked away. Passneger had an open-face and he went away in the ambulance with a mashed face.

Evan

11-21-2009, 04:08 PM	#3
Evan Smith Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Tampa Posts: 400 Likes: 7 Liked 115 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Full Face Helmets I too switched from an open-face to a closed-face years ago and would never go back. Anyone can say it will "never happen to me," but I'd rather have the extra protection becaue you never know. Having worked at race tracks and photographed cars for over 20 years, I've seen lots of wrecks. From what I've seen I can tell you I'm more afraid of fire and debris hitting me in the face than anything else. In a wreck all hell breaks loose and you can get jacked up bad by something as simple as the tach coming loose and smashing your face. True story: Years ago I was at a road racing event driving a 1995 Cobra R. After my stint, the car owner took out an instructor for a lapping session. A few laps in, while on the back straight away at speed (about 120 mph), a deer ran across the track, right in the path of the car. The deer went through the windshield, literally cutting the deer in half, with the hind section of the deer ending up in the car! Driver was wearing a closed-face Bandit helmet and aside from puking in his helmet, and some bruses, he walked away. Passneger had an open-face and he went away in the ambulance with a mashed face. Evan __________________ Evan Smith 1798 STK Last edited by Evan Smith; 11-21-2009 at 04:11 PM.