I have been studying a colour photo in John Tipler's Lotus 25/33 book of the start of this race.
I had always believed Dan Gurney debuted the full face helmet in 1968 (Holland?) but he sure looks like he's wearing one 5 years earlier in France from the photo in that book.
1963 French GP
Started by
Vicuna
, Aug 19 2005 20:25
4 replies to this topic
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#2
Ray Bell
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Posted 19 August 2005 - 21:11
I don't think they were being made that long ago...
And five years is a long time for it to go through 'prototype testing', isn't it? Especially in public.
In that era, however, Gurney did sometimes wear a leather face mask (photograph published by Road & Track IIRC) and perhaps he thought it might be wise to wear it on a circuit known for slipstreaming duels and melting road surface.
And five years is a long time for it to go through 'prototype testing', isn't it? Especially in public.
In that era, however, Gurney did sometimes wear a leather face mask (photograph published by Road & Track IIRC) and perhaps he thought it might be wise to wear it on a circuit known for slipstreaming duels and melting road surface.
#3
D-Type
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Posted 19 August 2005 - 21:19
Without seeing the photo, it's difficult to say. Is it perhaps a scarf over the lower half of his face which he and others used as protection from flying stones?
#4
AAA-Eagle
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Posted 19 August 2005 - 21:25
Although Bell introduced a full-face race helmet in 1963, at Reims Dan still used his standart helmet:
#5
Ray Bell
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Posted 19 August 2005 - 21:34
Any chance we can see the rest of that picture?
I'm surprised that full face helmets went back that far and weren't used!
I'm surprised that full face helmets went back that far and weren't used!
