This weekend Jeff Clay rolled his buggy 6 times. Resulting in lots of damage including a collapsed roof. Willie's roll at Wellsville was very bad. We are starting to see more and more crashes among us. We are building better equipment and that is allowing us to take more chances on steeper hills. I am just wondering when are we gonna start wearing helmets? Is it gonna take one of us getting killed? I am as guilty as anyone. I almost always bring mine along but never put it on.
I know a guy here in town that rolled a buggy at Silver Lake. He hit his head and now sits around and drools on himself all day.
I just thought this needs to be talked about. One of the complaints we have about quads is that those guys are always getting hurt and costing us riding areas. Well we are also taking a chance also when we climb steep hills with out helmets.
What do you guys think?
Dean

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It's amazing what you can accomplish when you don't care who gets the credit.-
Harry S. Truman

I posted a response on D-B.com a while back about wearing a helmet. It takes being scared shiiteless to jog someone into wearing a helmet.
My experience was losing my brakes going down a mountain. By the time I reached the bottom, I was going extremely fast, even though I was in first gear. The trail was steep and narrow with a high drop off. One false turn of the steering wheel would have meant rolling many, many times. I never prayed so much in all my life. I was shaking for a very long time that day. It was not the normal adrenaline rush. It was death depression...convinced that I was about to die.

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a.k.a."PittsburghJim" on www.dune-buggy.com

So do you wear one now? If so do you wear it all the time or just when you feel you may need it?
About the only guy I know of wearing one right now is Firebug. He puts one on when he climbs.

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It's amazing what you can accomplish when you don't care who gets the credit.-
Harry S. Truman

i hear what you are saying dean, its been pretty bad lately and ih ope someone doesnt end up dying or getting hurt bad. I know that i wouldnt of had my aluminum roof i probably wouldnt be here today. The hill i rolled on was very rocky and my roof dented in quite a bit, and my head hit the roof when the bar bent, even wiht my harness synched down TIGHT. I bumped my head pretty damn good but it also kind of pushed down and compressed my neck, which i am scared that with a helmet on it might have pushed down too far? Next frame already has a plus 3" roof. I know that a helmet would be a good thing to wear, but its just going to be a hard adjustment to make.... Maybe when we have hillclimb competitions we can start requiring a helmet being worn and then people may catch on from there? i am by no means saying im going out and putting a helmet on today, so dont hold this against me when u see me riding with out one.

They are already being used in the hillclimbs. You don't really even notice that you are wearing one I don't think. If you have one that fits correctly.

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It's amazing what you can accomplish when you don't care who gets the credit.-
Harry S. Truman

I know several guys down here that carry a helment in the buggy,and they put it on while there climbing and take it off to trail ride.I really think its a good idea to wear one,your right Dean we have had some close calls lately ,its only a matter of time

I'm fairly new to buggies but have rode dirt-bikes for 20 years and am a firm believer in helmets. Having said this have any of you looked at the helmets spotters wear in rock crawling competitions? I believe most of them are carbon fiber to keep weight down and increase strength. From the looks of them they would not obstruct your view in any way. I know it is not a full faced helmet but might be a good compromise in this situation should offer plenty of protection and feel like wearing a ball cap.


Just a thought I'll see if I can find a site so y'all can check em out.

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WHEN IN DOUBT DRINK ANOTHER BEER!!!!!!!!!!

i have always rode dirtbikes and bmx bikes and always wear a helmet on my dirtbike nad when im at the skatepark i wear a helmet on my bicycle. i thinkt hat even a bmx or skateboarding helmet would be a decent idea. it would just be ahalf cut helmet almost looks like a helmet a harley rider would wear.... I've fallen on my head a lot with them and they seem to work and be lightweight and comfortable.

In the events I have been using a skateboard helmet. I do not know how safe it is since it is some sort of plastic and very light weight.

Stylish too.

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It's amazing what you can accomplish when you don't care who gets the credit.-
Harry S. Truman

They do look good but are they safe???

I looked at some rock climbing helmets they seem to be built to withstand some pretty good licks. I found one that was carbon fiber and kevlar seems like it would be strong.

What about nascar pit crew helmets?

If it's good nuf for nascar its good nuf 4 me

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WHEN IN DOUBT DRINK ANOTHER BEER!!!!!!!!!!

Great Post Dean...

For my kids, I have purchased two motorcross helmets and my kids (3 and 5) know that are not allowed in the dunebuggy unless they are wearing ther helmets. Since my rail is street legal, I even have them wear thier helmets when we ride on the street.

As for me, I do not usually wear a helmet when trail riding but I would agree that I (we) should all wear helmets. I have a kayak helmet and I snowboard helmet that I am going to try. They should both be fairly comfortable.

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Yall know that when I rolled last year I did not have a helmet on and got 8 stitches and a concussion. I now carry my helmet with me and use it when I hit something difficult...which is most every hill. I also had to do some serious bracing and redid my belt attach points. My dad survived a near fatal motor cycle accident thanks to his helmet. Any hill that poses some risk warrants a helmet. I agree that we should consider more helmet wearing. Cause like Dean said ,,we are hitting tougher stuff.

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If your clutch ain't slippin,, you probably got it adjusted right!!!!!

I always make my son wear one, but I don't even own a helmet. It is on the list to get but I have never bought one. Guess I better soon before I get the new frame. Glad Jeff and DVS1 are ok from their roles this weekend.

John

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I refuse to grow up therefore I will never grow old, and I will never die.

i rolled not to long ago and i hit my head on the roof when it bent down i dont even remember flipping i have also been looking into a helmet but i dont like how the ones look that dont cover your face and the ones that do it way to hot to have it on

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I DO NOT FREE BASE COCAINE

When I first got into the VW buggy hobby I wore a helment. The problem I had was the roof was to low and I was allways hitting my head so I stopped wearing one. My new Buggy has a higher roof so I really have no excuse not to wear one. Oddly enough I allways wear one when Im in my single seat Pilot mini Buggy, go figure. Maybe if we could just take the brusing of our EGOs and be smart and do the right thing. I certainly dont want to sit in my easy chair stairing out into space and being hand fed. Not to mention the impact on our familys. Food for thought. Good topic Dean.

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Water cooled Dry Sumped Subaru Powered Turbo Charged Fuel Injected 2500CC Tank. Oh Rah! He who dies with the most Toys not only wins, He also wears them out!

I've been trying to make myself wear mine more and more. It definately is hard to get used to, cant hear motor as well . Me and kyjr.buggy1 arque all the time with me making him wear his.
They are hot and can be cumbersome, but it is worth it. I have a full face motocross type. I agree with what someone aleady posted, that a "brain bucket" type half helmet that comes above the ears would be easier to deal with and still give alot more protection than nothing.

I've heard some say they think wearing a helmet looks goofy in a buggy, I think they look SMART.

Larry

This is getting a better response than I thought. I think Odyknuck is right. Bruised egos. I'm sure if a few of us took the lead others would wear them. Also it may be a litle pricey but it would also be nice to have one with the clean air system on it. No more breathing dust.

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It's amazing what you can accomplish when you don't care who gets the credit.-
Harry S. Truman

This is the problem with most buggys. Shorter roofs or laid back roofs look more stylish but are very unsafe. When Chuck built my single seater frame the 1st thing he told me was you need lots of head room so when you put it on its top there is room. (Seat belt stretch, seat movement, frame movement etc.) Everyone told me it looks like I have an upstairs in my buggy but I feel very safe in it. When building a new buggy people should consider this. I have a good 10 inches above my head and love it!!!!

I totally agree with wearing helmets, I wear one when I ride my 4-wheeler, but nothing ever happens to where it comes in handy, but I am not taking my chance in getting hurt while I am still on probation with my new job. I am seriously thinking about bringing mine along on buggy rides to try to protect myself from getting very badly hurt especially head injuries. I am starting to get a little extreme on trying harder and steeper hills and not being afraid to try it. After my new one is done, I will have a spot for 2 helmets to take with me when I go on rides just in case if me and the passenger wants to climb some hills. I hit my head on the corner of my mirror just from hitting an hidden tree stump at the Cold Spot and all wore is my lap belt, and it hurts like hell, after that....I put on the rest of my belts. I vote yes on helmets.....my 2 cents.

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"Loud pipes saves lives"

I agree with Bruce, YOu have to have enough head room to allow some roll over abuse. Even strapped in as tight as you can be, you a re still gonna move when your ass goes above your head. I know probably 80% of the buggys, I have seen from Alabama to Kentucky don't have enough head room. Another dangerous roof malfunction are the ones that cover the middle of the buggy and leave you, and the passengers head hanging out. Helmets are awesome as a secondary head protection in a buggy, but your buggy needs to be the first line of defense.

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If its got boobs or a motor its gonna give you trouble!!

Damn Kyle we need you to run homeland security

i never wore a helmet when i was woods riding, but i had to start when i started racing, and i love it now. When i drive my racecar without it (practiceing or screwing around) i hear all kinds of noises that i dont want to hear, so i put my helmet on and it all goes away After a couple of races it felt so normal to wear it that i cant even tell its there

I like making sure my people are safe Biggin, your buggy gets a seal of approval!

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If its got boobs or a motor its gonna give you trouble!!