Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Scotty · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 883

I was sitting in Glasgow city centre yesterday at a set of traffic lights when a brand new convertible Mazda with its top down pulled up beside me. I glanced across to have a wee look and to my surprise the driver was wearing a full-face helmet.

Now I know in the US, particularly on the west coast there are convertible owners there who (in my opinion) are safety conscious to the point of paranoia opting for roll bars / cages and full face helmets when they drive these cars. However, speaking as a motorcycle rider for over 40 years now I still find wearing my helmet takes away a lot of the "freedom" I enjoyed when we didn't have to wear one.

So my question is ...... what's the point of buying a convertible if you're only going to wrap your head up in a protective cocoon when driving it, why not just buy the "saloon" version and save yourself a lot of money? Doesn't wearing a helmet defeat the principal purpose of owning a convertible - or is it me that's out of sync with the world? Confused

P3steve · Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 10:14 am Post subject:

Maybe it was the Stig!

Uncle Alec · Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 734 Location: Manchester

Glasgow you say? Probably just a robber.

Jim.Walker · Joined: 27 Dec 2008 Posts: 1229 Location: Chesterfield

I long to ride my motorbike, to feel the wind in my hair and the freedom once more, if only for a few miles.
While I accept that safety is an issue, there are many activities much more dangerous and deaths from those are probably less noticed just because less people indulge in them. No statistics seem available.
You can "bomb" from a cliff-top into the sea in only swimming gear. Jump out of an aeroplane with a parachute packed by goodness knows who. Chase foxes (or the modern equivalent) on a horse with no safety belt. Or even cross a busy road without protective gear. And on and on.
I remember a glorious June around 1958 where, at the IOM in TT week, we were riding around in no more than shorts and soft shoes trying to keep cool. GLORIOUS is the word!
Jim.
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Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22837 Location: UK

Some people are just wusses / jessies and need to get a grip Smile

Convertibles are for the open air! not being wedged in a helmet like a pizza delivery boy.

RJ

(still pondering about another old MX5 one day)
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BigJohn · Joined: 01 Jan 2011 Posts: 954 Location: Wem, Shropshire

Bad hair day? Wink

Nic Jarman · Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 3:24 pm Post subject:

Can you just imagine how stupid I would look in the Talbot with a fullface helmet on. Yes, I hear you say "more than usual".
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peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7219 Location: Edinburgh

It could be as potential protection in case a motorcyclist collides with him or something nearby and comes flying head first at him.

When I was 16 I only used to wear a helmet if it was cold or wet. One day an old guy, having failed to see me, did a U turn in front of me. I hit his car just behind the front wheel and wrote it off. I went flying over his bonnet and made a three point landing on the road on the other side of his car. The three points were my finger tips (which got bruised) and my head.
Fortunately for me it was a wet day.

Peter Rolling Eyes

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Riley Blue · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 1751 Location: Derbyshire