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The first full-face helmets in motorcycle racing?


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#1 Paul Rochdale

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Posted 30 January 2007 - 15:12

This subject is currently under discussion by the four-wheelers but I'm scratching my bonce and trying to recall who started to wear a fullface in motorcycle racing. Could it have been the Merrycans in the TransAtlantic Races of 1971 or would it have been earlier?

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#2 renzo

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Posted 30 January 2007 - 15:23

the yanks wore them in america first,we got them in 1970,i was one of the first to buy one in 1970 from brian kemp,in the 1970 mgp i was the only rider to have one,caused quite a stir,mine cost me £50 i had to pay for it at a fiver a week! :lol:the first ones were realy motor car racing helmets and had a very narrow opening,the visor would not stay up by its self as this was against some american saftey rules,i still had this helmet up to a few years ago.

#3 antony duprat

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Posted 30 January 2007 - 15:45

Originally posted by renzo
the yanks wore them in america first,we got them in 1970,i was one of the first to buy one in 1970 from brian kemp,in the 1970 mgp i was the only rider to have one,caused quite a stir,mine cost me £50 i had to pay for it at a fiver a week! :lol:the first ones were realy motor car racing helmets and had a very narrow opening,the visor would not stay up by its self as this was against some american saftey rules,i still had this helmet up to a few years ago.

I remember Eric Offenstadt, who raced in car too, was one of the firsts to have this helmet in GP

#4 antony duprat

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Posted 30 January 2007 - 15:54

C. Ravel had one at Assen1970
http://www.bike70.co...AVEL70ASSEN.jpg
And C. Bourgeois too, the same year
http://www.bike70.co...RGEOIS70BOL.jpg

#5 Manfred Cubenoggin

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Posted 30 January 2007 - 20:34

Chaps:

Surely the date must be earlier than 1970.

Dan Gurney was known to be wearing a Bell Star in 1968. I can't imagine that it took another two years for it to catch on for the bikeys.

Edit: I beg your pardon, gys. Apparently, another thread along these lines of tracing the first use of a full-facer was started elsewhere today and I didn't notice it.