56 replies to this topic

[Nanni Dietrich]

In 2007 also Alonso has changed his helmet's color.
Jarno had already changed, Kimi changes every year. Also Schumacher moved from white to red several years ago.

The "classic" helmet colors just for Coulthard and Ralf, and Sato. Fisichella has the same colors but different design, Massa too.

Times are changin'

I've ever though this was a motorcycle riders mania (probably to sell helmets-replica to fans, Valentino changes every season), now also in F.1 it is difficult to recognize a driver.

[Hieronymus]

The designs and colors of helmet designs in recent years anyway look like a LSD dream on steroids. Where are the days of simple, but memorable designs? Don’t ask me to draw a picture of Kimi’s or Alonso’s helmets…but I recall those of chaps like Amon, Jody, Reutemann, Depa, Jones, Jarier, Laffite, et al.

[MPea3]

It seems that helmets (and race cars for that matter) these days are designed to look good and be interesting sitting still at close range. My favorite helmet designs are those which identify the driver immediately without having to think about it. Maybe that's just laziness and the onset of old age, but with F1 cars flying by at the rate they do, and with the drivers sitting down in teh car and protected as they are, simple and different color schemes work for me. I liked Damon Hill's, there was never any doubt it was him. These days Ralf Schumcher and Lewis Hamilton are easy to ID (and their teammates as a result) because they're yellow. Most everything else begins to look the same after a while.

Bring back the damn numbers on cars too I say!

[David M. Kane]

Art reflects life...

[macoran]

Originally posted by Nanni Dietrich
In 2007 also Alonso has changed his helmet's color.
Jarno had already changed, Kimi changes every year. Also Schumacher moved from white to red several years ago.

The "classic" helmet colors just for Coulthard and Ralf, and Sato. Fisichella has the same colors but different design, Massa too.

Times are changin'

I've ever though this was a motorcycle riders mania (probably to sell helmets-replica to fans, Valentino changes every season), now also in F.1 it is difficult to recognize a driver.

Trulli has had at least 16 helmet designs in the past few years.

Ivan Capelli(journalist) shows nearly all of them on his blog.

scroll down a bit

http://blogdocapelli.blogspot.com/

[petefenelon]

Trulli drives so slowly in races that he probably has time to think of new designs... if you could merge his qualifying skills and Olivier Panis' racecraft you'd have a multiple world champion; if you merged Panis' qualifying skills and Trulli's racecraft you'd get Otto Stuppacher.

As a PE teacher once said of me - "you're going so slow you couldn't pass water!"

[macoran]

Originally posted by petefenelon
Trulli drives so slowly in races that he probably has time to think of new designs... if you could merge his qualifying skills and Olivier Panis' racecraft you'd have a multiple world champion; if you merged Panis' qualifying skills and Trulli's racecraft you'd get Otto Stuppacher .

Amazing memory you have !!!

what made you think of Otto ?

[Vicuna]

I don't know about a world champion but...

I always thought if you could combine Teo Fabi's qualifying with Stefan Johansson's racecraft you might have a got a multiple race winner.

Both had nice helmets by the way - both with a reference to flag colours of their nations which I always like.

I know it's been discussed before but remind me why Jack Brabham never had 'a single helmet colour/design'.

And if you combined Fabi's racing with Johansson's qualifying, I guess you'd have got Derek Daly.

[David M. Kane]

Peterfenelon:

Abe Lemon, the salty ex-University of Texas Basketball coach once said one of his stars, "you scored one more point than a dead man!" Apparently he wasn't too impressed with his play.

Funny you should mention Derek Daly, he is pretty good friends with Stefan.

[ensign14]

Originally posted by MPea3
It seems that helmets (and race cars for that matter) these days are designed to look good...

Huh? Even Stevie Wonder would gag at most of the designs.

[MPea3]

Originally posted by ensign14

Huh? Even Stevie Wonder would gag at most of the designs.

I agree, but they certainly aren't designed to look good from a distance at speed.

[Rob G]

For years the argument against people complaining about tiny race numbers was "just look at the helmet." Now you can't even do that. If it weren't for colored camera pods almost nobody would know who is who.

[Barry Boor]

As an aside, I got the impression watching Albert Park last weekend that some of the numbers on the cars have actually got BIGGER this year.

Or is it just my new glasses...

[Ross Stonefeld]

When I do gallery captions I go by the camera pod color for F1 (because I can't often see the helmet well enough in thumbnails), helmet for series I know like MotoGP, CART, etc; and vehicle number compared against the entry list for series I don't know inside out. Ie 125cc motorcycles.

Who? Which team? On a Derbi?

[MonzaDriver]

Originally posted by David M. Kane
Art reflects life...

Yes David,
not only that. Today helmets and colors reflects what they are.
Spoilt rich child that play and nothing more.

MonzaDriver.

[Ross Stonefeld]

Whereas in the era before sponsorship it was paid for how?

[ensign14]

Originally posted by Barry Boor
As an aside, I got the impression watching Albert Park last weekend that some of the numbers on the cars have actually got BIGGER this year.

Or is it just my new glasses...

I think they have (a) got bigger and (b) been placed where they are visible on telly - on the sloping down bit on the nose, rather than on the flat bit or underneath the wing where you couldn't see them without an x ray microscope.

[MonzaDriver]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld
Whereas in the era before sponsorship it was paid for how?

I am not sure if I understood well, you know some kind of phrase are not easy to grasp.
Anyway also before sponsorship era drivers were from rich families in almost cases.
But they were not spoilt or immature, because in those car you have to drive.
And for example Regazzoni during his Tecno years in F3 he received a salary.
Ciao.

MonzaDriver.

[Ross Stonefeld]

I absolutely fail to believe that spoiled rich kids are invention of only my generation.

[doc knutsen]

I, too, appreciate the simple, distinctive helmet colours before Kodacolour Yawn became universal. In fact, one of the very few things I would like to change about the Goodwood Revival meeting, is to ban those horrid dayglo red/yellow/green/blue lids, to me they are complete misfits in that environment. Much as I admire, for example, Peter Hardman throwing the DBR1 Aston around in the style of Moss, the effect is marred by that awful helmet....persnickety, moi?
Frank Sytner wore a simple old-style helmet in Jack Brabham colours a couple of years back, complete with Nomex face mask. It looked *so* right.

[MonzaDriver]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld
I absolutely fail to believe that spoiled rich kids are invention of only my generation.

In my opinion in those days even if a spoilt child have to learn to drive.
Because of the car. They have to learn the art, and stop being spoilt.
Today they really play, because the car it's always balanced, the dont brake, the stamp on the brake, and accelerate without care, because electronics and engineers take care of everything.
And they have only to play.
MonzaDriver

[stuartbrs]

The Tasmanian Government paid $400,000 to have "Visit Tasmania" on Mark Webbers helmet at this years Australian Grand Prix... not once over the 3 day telecast was it shown on or visible on TV....

[Ross Stonefeld]

I saw it. In fact it had me checking where Webber was from because I was sure it wasn't Tasmania.

[MonzaDriver]

Originally posted by stuartbrs
The Tasmanian Government paid $400,000 to have "Visit Tasmania" on Mark Webbers helmet at this years Australian Grand Prix... not once over the 3 day telecast was it shown on or visible on TV....

In fact we have to stop to believe this kind of things. And try to understand what is the game behind this sums. Maybe someone can have any idea?

MonzaDriver.

[sterling49]

On the Australian Racing Picture Thread, '50's-'70's, there is a great picture of Jim Clark with his black, peaked Bell, brilliant! The other standards for me, were, Graham and Damon's London Rowing Club, and JYS with the tartan band and Seppi's Swiss Flag emblem, perfection in simplicity

[ensign14]

Originally posted by sterling49
On the Australian Racing Picture Thread, '50's-'70's, there is a great picture of Jim Clark with his black, peaked Bell, brilliant!

[FLB]

Originally posted by Barry Boor
As an aside, I got the impression watching Albert Park last weekend that some of the numbers on the cars have actually got BIGGER this year.

Or is it just my new glasses...

No, I think your glasses are fine. I've noticed the same. The numbers on the Ferraris are quite legible

[David Beard]

Originally posted by doc knutsen
I, too, appreciate the simple, distinctive helmet colours before Kodacolour Yawn became universal. In fact, one of the very few things I would like to change about the Goodwood Revival meeting, is to ban those horrid dayglo red/yellow/green/blue lids, to me they are complete misfits in that environment. Much as I admire, for example, Peter Hardman throwing the DBR1 Aston around in the style of Moss, the effect is marred by that awful helmet....persnickety, moi?
Frank Sytner wore a simple old-style helmet in Jack Brabham colours a couple of years back, complete with Nomex face mask. It looked *so* right.

Completely agree.

It was great to see Duncan Dayton change to a plain silver open face helmet to drive his Lotus 16 at Monaco last year. Correct early Innes Ireland style..

[Rob G]

Originally posted by Barry Boor
As an aside, I got the impression watching Albert Park last weekend that some of the numbers on the cars have actually got BIGGER this year.

Williams' and Honda's in particular are much more visible. Honda was even kind enough to put them on the rear wing endplates too. What a concept!

[Jack-the-Lad]

Originally posted by doc knutsen
I, too, appreciate the simple, distinctive helmet colours before Kodacolour Yawn became universal. In fact, one of the very few things I would like to change about the Goodwood Revival meeting, is to ban those horrid dayglo red/yellow/green/blue lids, to me they are complete misfits in that environment. Much as I admire, for example, Peter Hardman throwing the DBR1 Aston around in the style of Moss, the effect is marred by that awful helmet....persnickety, moi?
Frank Sytner wore a simple old-style helmet in Jack Brabham colours a couple of years back, complete with Nomex face mask. It looked *so* right.

"Unless I'm very much mistaken" (which I may well be) isn't Hardman's helmet painted trompe l'oi to resemble an earlier type helmet? I looked for a picture of it on the web but couldn't find one.

Jack

[Vicuna]

Originally posted by doc knutsen
Much as I admire, for example, Peter Hardman throwing the DBR1 Aston around in the style of Moss, the effect is marred by that awful helmet....persnickety, moi?

No

I agree 100%

[Vicuna]

Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld
I absolutely fail to believe that spoiled rich kids are invention of only my generation.

A Scarab constructor was a few generations ago - so you're right!

[Vicuna]

Originally posted by sterling49
On the Australian Racing Picture Thread, '50's-'70's, there is a great picture of Jim Clark with his black, peaked Bell, brilliant!

A dark blue - even I can tell that ain't black.

Now Norman Graham Hill's hat looked black but that was a blue even darker than Jimmy's.

[RA Historian]

Originally posted by Vicuna
A Scarab constructor was a few generations ago - so you're right!

I hope that you are not implying that Lance Reventlow was a "spoiled rich kid." Rich, yes, through his mother's Woolworth's fortune. But spoiled, I disagree. I will forever revere Lance for having the desire and ability to construct world beater sports racing cars and, while a failure, a gallant stab at F-1. While a young schoolboy I was electified by his cars and was so disappointed when the F-1 effort failed. To this day I thrill to the sight of a Scarab at historic events. My all time favorite car.

[ovfi]

Carroll Shelby, speaking at the Fabulous Fifties banquet in 2006 December, talks about the Scarab:

"...When you get to talking about mistakes that you've made in life, I've made a million of 'em. But one of the greatest ones that I ever made was when we went over and took over the Reventlow facility...there was a car available there as a sport car. And I thought about it a little while and suddenly, while I was trying to make my mind up, I think John Mecom bought it. And I wanted to go sport car racing so I bought a couple or three Coopers and we went racing for a little while. Phil (Remington) had a lot to do with that. But the greatest mistake was not taking that Scarab that Phil and Chuck and everybody built because it was probably the best sport car, better than the Lotus, better than the Coopers, and I just wish that...Augie has that car now, if anybody wants to buy it, he said he only wanted three and half million dollars for it..."

[M Needforspeed]

Originally posted by RA Historian
... was electified by his cars and was so disappointed when the F-1 effort failed. To this day I thrill to the sight of a Scarab at historic events. My all time favorite car.

in French scarabés = Bee(A)tles

I can understand you put the Scarab as your all time favorite !

[mfd]

Originally posted by Jack-the-Lad
helmet painted trompe l'oi to resemble an earlier type helmet?

Do you mean this one, painted by my friend Jason?

As for all these comments
Don’t ask me to draw a picture of Kimi’s or Alonso’s helmets-Hieronymus

It seems that helmets these days are designed to look good and be interesting sitting still at close range-MPea3

Even Stevie Wonder would gag at most of the designs-ensign14

They certainly aren't designed to look good from a distance at speed-MPea3

Spoilt rich child that play and nothing more-MonzaDriver

Whereas in the era before sponsorship it was paid for how? -Ross Stonefeld

Everyone is right on the button, it would take me a day to pick them all off with words & to what end ? We do unfortunately live in a world where F1 and everything associated with it has disappeared up it's own ......

Anyone wishing to see helmets in a purer form ( with sponsors ) could look at my "coming soon" page www.fairholmedesigns.co.uk

[Jack-the-Lad]

Originally posted by mfd

Do you mean this one, painted by my friend Jason?

As for all these comments
Don’t ask me to draw a picture of Kimi’s or Alonso’s helmets-Hieronymus

It seems that helmets these days are designed to look good and be interesting sitting still at close range-MPea3

Even Stevie Wonder would gag at most of the designs-ensign14

They certainly aren't designed to look good from a distance at speed-MPea3

Spoilt rich child that play and nothing more-MonzaDriver

Whereas in the era before sponsorship it was paid for how? -Ross Stonefeld

Everyone is right on the button, it would take me a day to pick them all off with words & to what end ? We do unfortunately live in a world where F1 and everything associated with it has disappeared up it's own ......

Anyone wishing to see helmets in a purer form ( with sponsors ) could look at my "coming soon" page www.fairholmedesigns.co.uk

That's the one! I love that helmet. Your friend Jason is very talented, and I applaude whoever conceived it.

Jack

[ensign14]

Does Peter Hardman use that one now? I remember him in a yellow one with blue and red stripes around it.

[Nanni Dietrich]

The new scheme of Alonso, Raikkonen and Kovalainen helmets are the same. Black, red and white, the same color, similar design.

May I say? I DO NOT like the Honda "earth-designed" too.



Perhaps we are getting older.

[mfd]

Originally posted by ensign14
Does Peter Hardman use that one now? I remember him in a yellow one with blue and red stripes around it.

If this retro design is indeed the Hardman helmet, I think it was only a temporary departure for the revival. You are correct the regular design is a hotch potch of multiple yellow red blue stripes. I think he only races now for the guy who owns that Aston...follow the money

[mfd]

Originally posted by Nanni Dietrich
The new scheme of Alonso, Raikkonen and Kovalainen helmets are the same. Black, red and white, the same color, similar design.

Raikkonen and Kovalainen helmets, are both products of the same Finnish painter. I could find you at least six other guys with the same variations on a theme.

[Jack-the-Lad]

Originally posted by mfd

If this retro design is indeed the Hardman helmet, I think it was only a temporary departure for the revival. You are correct the regular design is a hotch potch of multiple yellow red blue stripes. I think he only races now for the guy who owns that Aston...follow the money

Mike,

Can you show us more of Jason's work?

Jack

[ensign14]

Originally posted by mfd

Raikkonen and Kovalainen helmets, are both products of the same Finnish painter. I could find you at least six other guys with the same variations on a theme.

And Kovalainen's looks to me very like Lehto's, same black and white stripe motif. Albeit without the varying dayglo feathers which somewhat resembled the rear end of a nuclear-fed chicken.

Maybe there will be a movement towards simplicity at some point. The current designs are so over-complicated that instead of being distinctive they merge into an amorphous load of Jackson Pollocks. Someone turning up with a black helmet with a single white mohican stripe would instantly be far more memorable than, say, Heidfeld's.

[FLB]

Originally posted by ensign14

And Kovalainen's looks to me very like Lehto's, same black and white stripe motif. Albeit without the varying dayglo feathers which somewhat resembled the rear end of a nuclear-fed chicken.

Didn't Lehto only begin that in 1993? Before he drove for Sauber, his helmet was pretty straightforward, IIRC.

Oh, for Tom Pryce no-nonsense approach...

[RA Historian]

Originally posted by ensign14

varying dayglo feathers which somewhat resembled the rear end of a nuclear-fed chicken..

[RA Historian]

Originally posted by mfd
. I think he only races now for the guy who owns that Aston...follow the money

This is the Aston that won Le Mans in 1959, isn't it? Who owns it now?

[Jack-the-Lad]

Originally posted by RA Historian
This is the Aston that won Le Mans in 1959, isn't it? Who owns it now?

I believe the current owner is Harry Leventis. Can anyone tell us something about him?

Jack

[MonzaDriver]

Just few mounts ago,
an helmet industry made an helmet version painted just like the Giacomo Agostini ones.
Very suddenly that version became the best-seller of this industry.
Even if this is about bike racing, I mean, we are not alone on the dislike of modern helmets's design.

MonzaDriver.

[Ross Stonefeld]

I can barely tell anyone's designs in MotoGP, and that is with following the series regularly. I actually think bike needs more simplistic design, given how vibrant the machines and leather designs are.