Crash Helmet Damage

[Tim Falce]

At brands today a car in front of me took an excursion over the rumble strips at Graham Hill (Bottom Bend to you wrinklies) and chucked a large stone up. Stone was heading straight toward my face visor so I ducked my head and it hit just above the visor hard enough that it hurt my head slightly.

The problem is that it's broken through the outer protective layer, through what looks like a primer coat and there is glass fibre slightly exposed and possibly damaged.
So do I throw it away or take a chance with it, one problem being scrutineering and the fact that I am at Spa on Thursday, maybe the one or two of the scrutineers on here could offer an opinion.

[andy robinson]

100% buy a new one, thats one is buggerd
the old saying 'how much is your head worth' & you car dont have a roof on it.
You would'nt want to travel to spa then fail scruit ??

[midgetman]

Look at it this way Tim, that's done its job and saved your bonce from further damage. Time for a new one and thank goodness it didn't hit the visor which may not have been so strong.

[mountainstar]

Who knows what kind of damage may have been done that you cannot see, so looks like you have a new paperweight. Sucks, but it did it's job.

[1200Datto27]

As a former scrutineer in Australia, if anyone presented a helmet like that the standards sticker and straps would be removed so that the helmet could not be used again.

[GORDON STREETER]

Nah Tim, a bit of P38 will fix that, surely your head ain't worth a new helmet

[Tim Falce]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

Nah Tim, a bit of P38 will fix that, surely your head ain't worth a new helmet

That was new last year and I bought a new open face one last week but can't use that at Spa.

[grantp]

Originally Posted by Tim Falce

That was new last year and I bought a new open face one last week but can't use that at Spa.

Probably just as well ...

Can you send it back under warranty?

Gordon's P38 suggestion might be a bit obvious. Probably need a sticker or a paint job for disguise.

Or just make the hole bigger and more 'engineered' and claim that it's for ventilation.

You could aways give Felipe Massa a call to see what he would advise.

[JimW]

You're having a laugh Tim. (Aren't you? )

Regards

Jim

[Tim Falce]

At least it missed the visor so I can salvage that.

Warning, what follows is a rant and does not necessarily represent the opinions of Ten-Tenths. (To be honest, it probably doesn't even represent the opinions of the poster when they aren't ranting.) Just a thought, there's the whole of Brands Hatch for the stones to land, why do they constantly aim for my ****ing head. We now return you to our normal ramblings.

Originally Posted by JimW

You're having a laugh Tim. (Aren't you? )

Regards

Jim

The fact I have to ask gives me the answer, I just wanted to vent I suppose.

[GORDON STREETER]

Easy answer really, flog the plastic pig and get a decent "histeric" tin top
BTW did you get that welded diff to work ?

[grantp]

Originally Posted by Tim Falce

Ah! well, you want to be in a part of Brands were there is less risk of flying stones. So the first rule is never follow anyone, ever.

The second rule would be of keep off the track(s).

The paddock is probably safe, or maybe the control room.

FWIW my interest in open topped motoring has been somewhat tempered for many years after a half brick detached itself from between the twin rear wheels of a large truck I had had just arrived behind and smashed into the top right corner of the windscreen of the Sierra I was driving. Laminated screen of course so it could have been worse. Had I been closer I suppose it would have gone over me. Had I been in a roofless car and positioned six inches to the right pulling out to pass (it was a dual carriageway with no other traffic ...) well, there would be a good chance the event would not have given me any further thoughts at all.

[Tim Falce]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

BTW did you get that welded diff to work ?

No, I had to grind the weld off and put it back together as it is, it's not too bad apart from the clunk now and again where one of the teeth is ground slightly smaller than the others.

[midgetman]

Tim, you're not seriously thinking of using an o/f helmet are you? If that stone had been 2 inches lower in an o/f you'd have no face left.....I was going to ask if I could use this thread to show why you should never consider an o/f helmet in an open car.

[Tim Falce]

Originally Posted by midgetman

Tim, you're not seriously thinking of using an o/f helmet are you? If that stone had been 2 inches lower in an o/f you'd have no face left.....I was going to ask if I could use this thread to show why you should never consider an o/f helmet in an open car.

No not really, I bought the O/F one for some saloon cars I'll be driving although plenty of people do use open face in open cars but I think they're safe because all the stones aim for me. I generally get one stone (usually a lot smaller than yesterday's) or lump of hard rubber strike on my head per race.

[R59]

Get yourself an Impact hat.
With a nice iridium visor!!!

[ensign14]

Or race into the lead from pole.

[GORDON STREETER]

All repaired Tim I'll post the bill.

[terence]

I can imagine you being inundated with mail now Gordon,lots of people wanting you to perform your magic on their helmet's.

[GORDON STREETER]

Yes and I can do it without actually having the helmets, just send the cheques to my Lagos address

[Lola]

I was once hit on the head at that very same corner by a spanner falling out of the car in front!
It hit the visor in the top right hand corner and smashed off the pivot kit and took a large chunk out of the visor. Had to drive the race, when i could, one handed holding what was left of the visor with my hand!

[Richy_Rich]

Nothing to worry about, just whack a ten-tenths sticker over the damage

[warning - this was a joke, putting stickers over damaged helmets may void your life.]

[ensign14]

Especially if you stick them over the visor.