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[Gaz]

Full faces came in at the end of the 1960s with Piers Courage adopting a US Air Force style helmet in 1968. Jackie Stewart, a close friend of his was already experimenting with a bubble visor seen on motorbike helmets before also adopting a full face for (I think) 1969.

Thanks for the info gilles27 and for the guess McLaren, I should have guessed that Jackie Stewart would be one of those to experiment with improving helmet safety. The helmets of the 50's and early 60's look remarkably unsafe, I wouldn't feel comfortable driving around with my neck and face completely exposed.

I remeber phill hill (i think) once had a bird hit him the face breaking his nose, but he still went on to win.

The was several drivers killed when this happened though.

Suprising they didn't bring in full face helmets sooner.

[Gilles 27]

Either Alan Stacey or Chris Bristow's accident at Spa was caused by a stone or a bird striking them in the face. I can't remember exactly,,,

[Gaz]

Either Alan Stacey or Chris Bristow's accident at Spa was caused by a stone or a bird striking them in the face. I can't remember exactly,,,

It was Alan Stacey, its so hard to fathom how dangerous it was racing back then.

[Amanda]

Either Alan Stacey or Chris Bristow's accident at Spa was caused by a stone or a bird striking them in the face. I can't remember exactly,,,

It was Alan Stacey, its so hard to fathom how dangerous it was racing back then.

Alan Stacey died in 1960 and it took them 8 years to think of the full face helmet The beauty of heinsight I guess. You only need to look at Massa to see how imperative they are.

[Gaz]

Either Alan Stacey or Chris Bristow's accident at Spa was caused by a stone or a bird striking them in the face. I can't remember exactly,,,

It was Alan Stacey, its so hard to fathom how dangerous it was racing back then.

Alan Stacey died in 1960 and it took them 8 years to think of the full face helmet The beauty of heinsight I guess. You only need to look at Massa to see how imperative they are.

Yeh i gues safty just wasn't a concern back then really.

I mean with this Massa/Surtees incident theres a massive investigation and rumours of mesures like canopys to prevent it from happening again.

Also In 2007 when you had DC's car ride over the cockpit of Wurtz car the 2008 cars have raised sides to prevent this.

[Amanda]

Yeh i gues safty just wasn't a concern back then really.

I mean with this Massa/Surtees incident theres a massive investigation and rumours of mesures like canopys to prevent it from happening again.

Also In 2007 when you had DC's car ride over the cockpit of Wurtz car the 2008 cars have raised sides to prevent this.

A canopy is all that could have saved Surtees really, his helmet didn't stand a chance. Didn't Piers Courage die as a result of a tyre hitting his helmet, gilles27 pointed out that he was the first to wear the full face helmet too (rather ironically), there are some things it can't protect you from but they're definitely a benefit in other situations.

[Denthúl]

Either Alan Stacey or Chris Bristow's accident at Spa was caused by a stone or a bird striking them in the face. I can't remember exactly,,,

It was Alan Stacey, its so hard to fathom how dangerous it was racing back then.

Alan Stacey died in 1960 and it took them 8 years to think of the full face helmet The beauty of heinsight I guess. You only need to look at Massa to see how imperative they are.

Yeh i gues safty just wasn't a concern back then really.

I mean with this Massa/Surtees incident theres a massive investigation and rumours of mesures like canopys to prevent it from happening again.

Also In 2007 when you had DC's car ride over the cockpit of Wurtz car the 2008 cars have raised sides to prevent this.

Even the raised sides aren't perfect - Buemi was nearly struck by Bourdais' car at Catalunya.

[Gaz]

Yeh i gues safty just wasn't a concern back then really.

I mean with this Massa/Surtees incident theres a massive investigation and rumours of mesures like canopys to prevent it from happening again.

Also In 2007 when you had DC's car ride over the cockpit of Wurtz car the 2008 cars have raised sides to prevent this.

A canopy is all that could have saved Surtees really, his helmet didn't stand a chance. Didn't Piers Courage die as a result of a tyre hitting his helmet, gilles27 pointed out was the first to wear the full face helmet too (rather ironically), there are some things it can't protect you from but they're definitely a benefit in other situations.

There's been alot of deaths though the fact the cockpits are open Tom Pryce, for example.

But helment design has certainly come a long way since the 60s

[Jamie]

I think Fangio should win...



When did the modern helmet shape come in? This one doesn't look very protective (nor does the car). In later years the likes of Jim Clark had helmets that came lower down their faces but they still had their chins exposed.

LMAO

Yeah, his talent wins
Not the whole fashion sense thing

Either Alan Stacey or Chris Bristow's accident at Spa was caused by a stone or a bird striking them in the face. I can't remember exactly,,,

It was Alan Stacey, its so hard to fathom how dangerous it was racing back then.

Alan Stacey died in 1960 and it took them 8 years to think of the full face helmet The beauty of heinsight I guess. You only need to look at Massa to see how imperative they are.

Yeh i gues safty just wasn't a concern back then really.

I mean with this Massa/Surtees incident theres a massive investigation and rumours of mesures like canopys to prevent it from happening again.

Also In 2007 when you had DC's car ride over the cockpit of Wurtz car the 2008 cars have raised sides to prevent this.

Well things are more put forward now days. for E.g cancer etc. They were way more relaxed them days, but some of the most horrific crashes are from the old days. But the new crashes that have happened lately have really freaked me out. the Surtees crash sort of scared me because you know to me that was like the Senna crash, the speculation of the Tyre hitting his head? In the case of Massa, the same scenario. Something puncturing his helmet?

Scary really.

[Gilles 27]

Yeh i gues safty just wasn't a concern back then really.

I mean with this Massa/Surtees incident theres a massive investigation and rumours of mesures like canopys to prevent it from happening again.

Also In 2007 when you had DC's car ride over the cockpit of Wurtz car the 2008 cars have raised sides to prevent this.

A canopy is all that could have saved Surtees really, his helmet didn't stand a chance. Didn't Piers Courage die as a result of a tyre hitting his helmet, gilles27 pointed out that he was the first to wear the full face helmet too (rather ironically), there are some things it can't protect you from but they're definitely a benefit in other situations.

I think Piers died of injuries from his crash or asphyxiation in the resulting fire. Not sure he was the first to wear a full face either but i think he was the first to wear one regularly in F1, I know he was famous for using that particular helmet.

[suitcase]

My favorites from your list:
Lewis, Felipe, Jaime Alguersuari.
Disregard the fact that Jaime is my #1
My least favorite:
Badoer, Glock, Barrichello, Sutil.

[CanadianF1Fan]

I've always liked Massa's and Heidfeld's the best.

[suitcase]

I've always liked Massa's and Heidfeld's the best.

Those are good ones, too.

[racechick]

I like Lewis' Well wouldnt I just. I do tho and its on the back of my car, just underneath the word swift, but my very favourite is this one, ok not F1 but an amazing design.

[racechick]

here's a couple more of his