28 replies to this topic

[sammyandres]

Anyone else noticed that the GP5's of Hamilton and Heiki have new air vents and different screw sets. anyone have any info on this? and where you can get it?

thanks

sammy

[100cc]

I've noticed that at least some drivers have the GP6-RC in use. Is that what you've seen?

edit:looks like all are using the GP6 now.

For the air vents - do you mean on top of the helmet? Some drivers use the smaller ones (standard on GP5), while most seemed to be using the larger ones in Monaco. You can buy these online on certain websites (japanese ones mainly). They are the same type that are standard on some other arai helmets such as the SK5. Lots of drivers used these before as well on their GP5 helmets, usually at hot races.

Edited by 100cc, 03 June 2009 - 15:04.

[potmotr]

They've been running the new helmet since launch.

You can tell it by the big black adjuster to the bottom left of the visor opening.

[Ross Stonefeld]

I've wondered about that. It looks a bit big and complicated to just flip the visor open.

[potmotr]

I've wondered about that. It looks a bit big and complicated to just flip the visor open.

It is certainly an inelegant way to secure the visor.

But it seems the latch is a safety requirement under Snell SA2010. Does this apply to Formula One?

From the Arai website blurb on the GP6...

Visor opening system with lever for easier opening and secure locking (as recommended by Indy Racing League and required by Snell SA2010).

http://www.whyarai.c...et.with.Anchors

Man, one of those helmets costs nearly 2600 quid! No doubt much more once you've chucked in a professional paint job.

The Bell HP3, used by Button, Piquet, the Toro Rosso boys and Trulli is a bit cheaper at 2450 euros.

IMO the Bell is the better looking lid.

Edited by potmotr, 03 June 2009 - 15:57.

[Boing 2]

used to love this one from shoei with the little chin on it, looked like an alien skull.
http://www.stefans-h..._alesi_1995.htm

Edited by Boing 2, 03 June 2009 - 16:04.

[potmotr]

used to love this one from shoei with the little chin on it, looked like an alien skull.
http://www.stefans-h..._alesi_1995.htm

That helmet is called the Shoei X4, or Shoei Quattro.

I reckon that is the best looking helmet ever in Formula One.

For a time in 1992 Alesi, Senna, Berger, Schumacher, Comas, Gugelmin, de Cesaris and Gachot were wearing them.

Senna won his last race wearing one before wearing a Bell in 1994.

According to another thread Shoei was bought by Mitsubishi and decided to stop being involved in car racing.

A real shame, those helmets look awesome.

By the way, apparently having a virgin Shoei X4 is very, very sought after for collectors.

[Ross Stonefeld]

Ah, it's probably to lock it into place so it doesnt pop open in an accident. I can see why the IRL would require that.

[Boing 2]

That helmet is called the Shoei X4, or Shoei Quattro.

I reckon that is the best looking helmet ever in Formula One.

For a time in 1992 Alesi, Senna, Berger, Schumacher, Comas, Gugelmin, de Cesaris and Gachot were wearing them.

Senna won his last race wearing one before wearing a Bell in 1994.

According to another thread Shoei was bought by Mitsubishi and decided to stop being involved in car racing.

A real shame, those helmets look awesome.

By the way, apparently having a virgin Shoei X4 is very, very sought after for collectors.

alesi's colour scheme looked damn good on it, would have loved to see johnny herberts on it.

[potmotr]

Ah, it's probably to lock it into place so it doesnt pop open in an accident. I can see why the IRL would require that.

I think Schuberth made a similar modification after Ralf Schumacher's accident at Indy in 2004.

Remember when he hit the wall backwards the visor flicked up and jammed open.

For this reason all Schuberth helmets in F1 today have a plastic loop attatched to the bottom of the visor in the middle which attaches to a hook on the chinbar.

Another inelegant solution, but keep the visor down is a tricky problem.

I wonder whatever happened to those Bell 'robocop' helmets used by Button, Massa and Trulli in 2004. The ones with the visor which was recessed into the helmet.

They were quite a novel approach.

[Ross Stonefeld]

The Bell F1 helmets are done by Bell Europe, which as far as I know is a license deal. They make a line of helmets completely different from the US models and vice versa. There's no real cross-over anymore. Not like the early years at Ferrari where Schumacher was trying Bell Indycar helmets.

The new Stilos are interesting with their built in radio and drink ports, and a slightly retro 'nose' shape.

[potmotr]

alesi's colour scheme looked damn good on it, would have loved to see johnny herberts on it.

Actually, both Johnny Herbert and Mika Hakkinen wore the X4 for a time.

Here is Johnny in action in early 1992 wearing his.

Later he started wearing a Simpson Shark which was quite an aggressive looking lid as well.

[potmotr]

The Bell F1 helmets are done by Bell Europe, which as far as I know is a license deal. They make a line of helmets completely different from the US models and vice versa. There's no real cross-over anymore. Not like the early years at Ferrari where Schumacher was trying Bell Indycar helmets.

The new Stilos are interesting with their built in radio and drink ports, and a slightly retro 'nose' shape.

Ah, I've often wondering why the U.S. Bell drivers, like Helio, don't have the more modern looking European Bell.

I remember that awesome flat backed (Fuelling I think it was called?) number that Schumacher and Brundle wore for a time.

I agree, that Stilo is a cool looking lid.

Seb Loeb ran one in his RBR test over the winter. Looked really good.

The venting arrangement is quite complicated too, with the visor having small openings in the bottom.

Edited by potmotr, 03 June 2009 - 16:24.

[Kop Alonso]

What ever happened to GPA I remember both Piquet & Arnoux wearing their lids , they looked great ...!

[potmotr]

What ever happened to GPA I remember both Piquet & Arnoux wearing their lids , they looked great ...!

I'm not too sure I'm afraid.

There used to be something called 'The Comprehensive Helmet Thread' over in The Nostalgia Forum which was a great read if lids interest you.

Some of the contributors were F1 helmet painters, so it is good behind the scenes knowledge.

I speak about that thread in past-tense because it seems to have disappeared completely which is a real shame.

[helioseism]

I'm not too sure I'm afraid.

There used to be something called 'The Comprehensive Helmet Thread' over in The Nostalgia Forum which was a great read if lids interest you.

Some of the contributors were F1 helmet painters, so it is good behind the scenes knowledge.

I speak about that thread in past-tense because it seems to have disappeared completely which is a real shame.

It's been renamed. Here's the link

[potmotr]

It's been renamed. Here's the link

Ah, bless! Thanks!

[Hacklerf]

Yea Schumacher used to run the Fuelling I & the later II model, i remember reading through Grand Prix racewear 1000's of times with my mate at school, we used to race karts and tried to save up to by "The Schumacher" , only problem was our paper rounds didnt pay $45m a year. Settled for a Arai GP3-K in the end

[Hacklerf]

Then he bought a stake in Schuberth i think, and wore them?

[Ross Stonefeld]

This is one of the wilder helmets I've seen, a Simpson 'Super Shark' of 95/96 model with the special speedway aero kit.

http://speedcenter.c...cock_advice.jpg

[Rob]

This is one of the wilder helmets I've seen, a Simpson 'Super Shark' of 95/96 model with the special speedway aero kit.

http://speedcenter.c...cock_advice.jpg

That's what Bell were going towards in 96 as well. Schumacher and Brundle wore similar lids in F1.

[mikejaeger]

Anyone else noticed that the GP5's of Hamilton and Heiki have new air vents and different screw sets. anyone have any info on this? and where you can get it?

try here http://www.dubmassdr...ufftheywear.com

[Ross Stonefeld]

Yeah the first version Fueling was smooth at the front and sharply ended with a lip at the back, the Smpson was still a normal round helmet but with a geometric add on wing that encircled the helmet vertically. If you see front shots it flares out like gills on some crazy dinosaur, and from the back you can just see the round bit of the helmet poking out.

Its hard to find good pictures from back then, but the Speedway Simpsons were crazy designs.

[potmotr]

Out of interest, what was the percieved benefit of the flat back on the Fuelling and Simpson Speedway?

Was it aerodynamics at very high speed, or did it have benefits in a high speed rearward impact?

[slideways]

If you look closely it looks like a fairing so it must be aero.

[OfficeLinebacker]

This is one of the wilder helmets I've seen, a Simpson 'Super Shark' of 95/96 model with the special speedway aero kit.

http://speedcenter.c...cock_advice.jpg

Randy Tolsma used to race Indy cars? I only knew him from his NCTS days. I got his autograph at a track day type of thing.

[Sith]

That helmet is called the Shoei X4, or Shoei Quattro.

I reckon that is the best looking helmet ever in Formula One.

For a time in 1992 Alesi, Senna, Berger, Schumacher, Comas, Gugelmin, de Cesaris and Gachot were wearing them.

Senna won his last race wearing one before wearing a Bell in 1994.

According to another thread Shoei was bought by Mitsubishi and decided to stop being involved in car racing.

A real shame, those helmets look awesome.

By the way, apparently having a virgin Shoei X4 is very, very sought after for collectors.

I have a Shoe X4, Senna replica.. (complete with blue lining..)

In 1992, most of the F1 grid had the X4, Mika switched to one in 94'.....

Edited by Sith, 07 June 2009 - 09:51.

[Boing 2]

Actually, both Johnny Herbert and Mika Hakkinen wore the X4 for a time.

Here is Johnny in action in early 1992 wearing his.

Later he started wearing a Simpson Shark which was quite an aggressive looking lid as well.

nice one! didn't realise he ever used a shoei, i'll have to go hunting for a better pic now dammit! i'm hooked.

[potmotr]

I have a Shoe X4, done up as a Senna replica of course.. (complete with blue lining..)

In 1992, most of the F1 grid had the X4, Mika switched to one in 94'.....

Awesome! I'd love one of those. I have one too, but it is 1/8th so the size of a golf ball...

Gehard Berger actually broke out his old X4 when he drove the 1991 McLaren at a demo last year.