Helmet straps ?

Just wondering how many use helmet straps to keep your head down?
I've never been a fan of a behind the head pad to keep your helmet down, because I've always thought the vibrations would make your eyes roll like in the cartoons.
What reminded me of this, was this picture of this gal looking at the moon or nothing at all, because it looks like the poor gal had the helmet rotate too.

http://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCPhoto.asp?ID=175416#indextop

 

Hey Will;
I lost my signature and can't find it........

You think I might have put it with my glasses, keys, coffee cup and pencil ??

Bob

 

Yikes, yeah she couldn't have been seeing too much..

I have had a helmet strap in my driving gear bag for like 3 years...haven't ever used it though. With the HANS I don't seem to have any trouble keeping my head down.

 

personally i think a helmet/chin strap should be required on 7.50 and quicker cars... and i agree with will they make a huge difference in tire shake situations because the minimize contact with the helmet/cage/padding and help keep some degree of your vision

but dear god i hope they don't make the damn helmet straps sfi too!! cause then a $4 piece of webbing and a snap clip will cost $100!! gee thanks sfi/nhra

fwiw... i use a head/neck device and a helmet strap together

 

Maybe dad will chime in, but about two years ago I think an impact guy gave dad a chin strap. When dad got home he told me he had wished he bought one years ago. He said he could not believe the differance in vibration. That little $4 strap seems to make a world of differance.

Jagger

 

Interesting, hmmmmm. Ive been doing this for YEARS, have seen the straps, bought helmets that have come with them, but never used them! I know where it attaches to the helmet, but wher does the other end fasten too? May have to try this

 

Mine is a Simpson strap, just a loop. It gets looped around one of the waist belts as they get clipped into the puck. They are nice, but can prevent you from looking around sometimes (side to side, fender racing)

 

I had to wear one until I had the ISP pads installed. Don't wear it now. Haven't really had enough experience to say whether I need it or not. But I didn't like another strap attachment holding me in the car. I aready have a 7 point harness, air line and R3. Haven't had the tire shake yet to tell if it would make a difference. I have to wear one in our Bonneville car to keep my helmut down due to being an open cockpit. Kinda hard to hold my helmut down at 285 for 5 miles. I guess each application or preference is different.

 

Driving Blind!!!!!!

This picture of Cherissa Griffis on Feb 1st could be way they were made? Is it just me or are the eyes completely cover by the bottom of the helmet in this picture! Just goes to show you don't have to see to drive one of these cars.

http://www.dragracecentral.com/DRCPhoto.asp?ID=175416#indextop

Andrew

 

I always wear a chin strap with my HANS device. It works wonders. I had one break on me at the launch and I was looking at the sky not wear I was going. It alows me to see the shift light and my head doesn't rattle during tire shake hardly at all.

 

I have used a Simpson strap attached from my chin to my waist strap for years. I would never want to make a pass without it. It works in conjuction with everything else. I run a HANS and have had a 7 point for about 4 years.

Before I started using it, my helmet would lift up on the top end. I didn't realize untill looking at video that I was driving all over the place on the big end. What was happening is I would pull on the steering wheel without knowing to bring my head back down which would cause the car to drift around. We installed a chin/helmet strap and fixed it on the next pass. I suppose that it helps keep the car straight at the hit too.
Johnny

 

Pete Swayne before chin strap whenever it rattled the tires:

"It got to the point where I thought it might start shaking so I lifted."

Pete Swayne after chin strap whenever it rattled the tires:

"It did?"


RG

 

Thanks for the replies...I believe I'll listen to experience and start wearing mine again.
Ro

 

i saw them for sale, they were in the little girls department , , , ,right next to the training bras...

 

She IS wearing a helmet restraint...

If you look closely you can see that Cherissa IS wearing a helmet restraint, it is just not tight enough. Look for the shiney upside down 'T' under the chin of her helmet. This is the metal hook on the end of the helmet restraint that connects to the D-ring on the helmet. A better view of the helmet restraint is here:

http://simpsonraceproducts.com/prod...=product_info&cPath=344&products_id=917&sort=

Cherissa, tighten your helmet restraint!!! Maybe she just forgot to tighten it on that run...

I have used one since '03. It's a big help through low gear whether the car is shaking or not!

Chris

 

Agreed.

I use one in my Hot Rod and our driver on the Top Fuel car uses one too.

EDB

 

I wore one in 05 and 06 in the funny cars. I also had the Butler Pads and a HANS at that time. I was quite comfy in the car too. For what it is worth you could drive way into shake if you so desired....

I really don't think I'll ever drive anything fast without one. Everyone has their own opinions.

JJ