Glasses versus visor
Race Car
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 4,660
Likes: 1,019
From: Franklin, TN
danielyonker,
One of the first things that happens to your body in a "fight or flight" situation is your eyes dilate to let more light in. This is done so you can see more and react to what is going on faster. So, from a physiological point of view, your assertions are incorrect. See this link:
http://www.colorado.edu/eeb/courses/...%202008/11.htm
Now, look at this photo:
I can't see a driver wearing a clear visor. They all are wearing visors that are akin to sunglasses.
Squinting can cause fatigue and frontal headaches.
When I raced motorcycles, I always wore a clear visor because I thought it allowed me to see fluid (oil or coolant) on the track more clearly. I did this even though I squinted almost all the time. I was getting some instruction from Jason Pridmore (a pro racer that raced with Mat Mladin on the Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Team in AMA) and he said I was crazy to not wear a smoked visor and pointed that almost all of the AMA racers used some type of light muting visor. He said I would have less eye fatigue and would come off the track feeling more relaxed. He also said it would not impair my ability to see fluid on the track. He was right on all counts. I won't go on the track now with a clear visor.
Your waking up at night example is poor on multiple levels and does not apply. First, you are asleep so your body has to come up to speed, so to speak. Second, it pitch black so just what do you think you are going to see?
One of the first things that happens to your body in a "fight or flight" situation is your eyes dilate to let more light in. This is done so you can see more and react to what is going on faster. So, from a physiological point of view, your assertions are incorrect. See this link:
http://www.colorado.edu/eeb/courses/...%202008/11.htm
Now, look at this photo:
I can't see a driver wearing a clear visor. They all are wearing visors that are akin to sunglasses.
Squinting can cause fatigue and frontal headaches.
When I raced motorcycles, I always wore a clear visor because I thought it allowed me to see fluid (oil or coolant) on the track more clearly. I did this even though I squinted almost all the time. I was getting some instruction from Jason Pridmore (a pro racer that raced with Mat Mladin on the Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Team in AMA) and he said I was crazy to not wear a smoked visor and pointed that almost all of the AMA racers used some type of light muting visor. He said I would have less eye fatigue and would come off the track feeling more relaxed. He also said it would not impair my ability to see fluid on the track. He was right on all counts. I won't go on the track now with a clear visor.
Your waking up at night example is poor on multiple levels and does not apply. First, you are asleep so your body has to come up to speed, so to speak. Second, it pitch black so just what do you think you are going to see?
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,127
Likes: 109
From: Metuchen NJ
re sunglasses, a pro recently told me that they should NOT be polarized, since that reduces the likelihood of seeing liquid (water/oil) which might be on the track.
note: my lovely oakleys are polarized. ooops.
note: my lovely oakleys are polarized. ooops.
Thread Starter
WRONGLY ACCUSED!
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 16,179
Likes: 6,378
From: PCA EC's Head
I was pricing out Stilo helmets tonight and then looked back at this thread. I was going to go with a red iridium visor. The Oakleys that I currently wear a tinted slightly red and I am used to them. I also think they make things show up clearer.
Not sure I agree with the whole "no tinting" thing as you need to see. Plenty of times I have been on the track where it would have been dangerous without some sunglasses or tinting of a visor.
Not sure I agree with the whole "no tinting" thing as you need to see. Plenty of times I have been on the track where it would have been dangerous without some sunglasses or tinting of a visor.
Race Car
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 4,660
Likes: 1,019
From: Franklin, TN
I don't wear sun glasses on the track. I use a smoke visor instead. But, on the street, I find that I see pavement "issues" like water and oil better with my polarized Maui Jim sunglasses than I do with my non-polarized Nike sunglasses.
Scott
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,395
Likes: 7
From: Ottawa, ON
I have lots of different visors for my Stand21 and a blower, so I really have no excuse left. Has anyone had issues with dry eyes using a top blower?
Pro
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 649
Likes: 5
Ok......several thing here.
First: if you wear sunglasses, your pupils are more dilated then they would be otherwise, and you may be less apt to react to quick motions. Extreme example, you wake up at night in pitch black and you can't see ****....takes a while to focus and react. I learned this at skip barber in 1991. For this reason I have never worn sunglasses, and I am a blue eyed, fair skinned Norwegian with sensitive eyes. Bottom line, don't wear sunglasses. How many professional drivers do you see with sunglasses on? None. Ever wonder why?
Second: you should always drive with visor down. I have been upside down and can tell you debris will make its way into your helmet.
I have never raced with one of these blower devices. As far as I am concerned they are are band aids, and I have raced in 103 degrees at VIR with ice packs taped to my chest (after this i bought my first cool suit). If your visor is fogging up in non-rain conditions, then you are introducing to much humidity into the helmet, which means you are breathing too hard. Learn to relax, breath slower, Zen driving, etc. The fog is a symptom of a greater
problem.
Rock on
First: if you wear sunglasses, your pupils are more dilated then they would be otherwise, and you may be less apt to react to quick motions. Extreme example, you wake up at night in pitch black and you can't see ****....takes a while to focus and react. I learned this at skip barber in 1991. For this reason I have never worn sunglasses, and I am a blue eyed, fair skinned Norwegian with sensitive eyes. Bottom line, don't wear sunglasses. How many professional drivers do you see with sunglasses on? None. Ever wonder why?
Second: you should always drive with visor down. I have been upside down and can tell you debris will make its way into your helmet.
I have never raced with one of these blower devices. As far as I am concerned they are are band aids, and I have raced in 103 degrees at VIR with ice packs taped to my chest (after this i bought my first cool suit). If your visor is fogging up in non-rain conditions, then you are introducing to much humidity into the helmet, which means you are breathing too hard. Learn to relax, breath slower, Zen driving, etc. The fog is a symptom of a greater
problem.
Rock on
danielyonker,
One of the first things that happens to your body in a "fight or flight" situation is your eyes dilate to let more light in. This is done so you can see more and react to what is going on faster. So, from a physiological point of view, your assertions are incorrect. See this link:
http://www.colorado.edu/eeb/courses/...%202008/11.htm
Now, look at this photo:
I can't see a driver wearing a clear visor. They all are wearing visors that are akin to sunglasses.
Squinting can cause fatigue and frontal headaches.
When I raced motorcycles, I always wore a clear visor because I thought it allowed me to see fluid (oil or coolant) on the track more clearly. I did this even though I squinted almost all the time. I was getting some instruction from Jason Pridmore (a pro racer that raced with Mat Mladin on the Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Team in AMA) and he said I was crazy to not wear a smoked visor and pointed that almost all of the AMA racers used some type of light muting visor. He said I would have less eye fatigue and would come off the track feeling more relaxed. He also said it would not impair my ability to see fluid on the track. He was right on all counts. I won't go on the track now with a clear visor.
Your waking up at night example is poor on multiple levels and does not apply. First, you are asleep so your body has to come up to speed, so to speak. Second, it pitch black so just what do you think you are going to see?
One of the first things that happens to your body in a "fight or flight" situation is your eyes dilate to let more light in. This is done so you can see more and react to what is going on faster. So, from a physiological point of view, your assertions are incorrect. See this link:
http://www.colorado.edu/eeb/courses/...%202008/11.htm
Now, look at this photo:
I can't see a driver wearing a clear visor. They all are wearing visors that are akin to sunglasses.
Squinting can cause fatigue and frontal headaches.
When I raced motorcycles, I always wore a clear visor because I thought it allowed me to see fluid (oil or coolant) on the track more clearly. I did this even though I squinted almost all the time. I was getting some instruction from Jason Pridmore (a pro racer that raced with Mat Mladin on the Yoshimura Suzuki Factory Team in AMA) and he said I was crazy to not wear a smoked visor and pointed that almost all of the AMA racers used some type of light muting visor. He said I would have less eye fatigue and would come off the track feeling more relaxed. He also said it would not impair my ability to see fluid on the track. He was right on all counts. I won't go on the track now with a clear visor.
Your waking up at night example is poor on multiple levels and does not apply. First, you are asleep so your body has to come up to speed, so to speak. Second, it pitch black so just what do you think you are going to see?
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Rennlist Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 341
Likes: 152
From: Wa
The Earnheart crash at Sears Point in the vetted will make you want that visor down. Knocked him out while a fire started. Was bad. Sucks waking up in the middle of flames, but would have sucked more tonnage had your eyes torched while you were out...
