Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Driving the M3W with a Helmet?

I think it depends on what the helmet is made of Mol. The cheaper polycarbonate helmets can be damaged due to the solvents in some paints and stickers, the composite helmets don't have the same problem.

Mol the glue on stickers or the paint can adversely affect the shell. Perhaps race drivers use an approved paint. Working offshore years ago guys used to compete to see who could get most service company stickers on their safety helmet. These days that is not allowed, you may see a name marker nothing more & companys don't give out stickers.

Tim

Right about the paint Tim, you can not use acrilic paint for example, it penetrates the Helmet and abuses the Fiberglas shell. The trick is to use Lexan paint which is used for RC-cars...that paint is not penetrating the underneat laquer either Fiberglas. it just stick on and admits to do some vintage scratchings in the painted object

Out of the blue the other day austrian police invited me to several checks (in a quiet suburban street):
- a "sound check" of the M3W: passed (3dB too much)
- a check of registration type, all that threewheeler stuff: passed
- check of wearing a motorcycle helmet: passed
- check of all lights etc.: passed
- check for no alcohol (the always do this): passed

Today a stone sized like a cherry hit my head at 90kmh, tarmac street, must have been from another car coming the other way - I was very grateful to wear a helmet.

That's why I prefer to wear a helmet, no matter how I look.

Wow ... at 90 kmh that's a nasty hit.

I have been stopped once by the police here, but they don't seem to really know what rules apply. They had their discussions about helmets and seatbelts and front license plates and drivers license requirements but they soon realized I was ahead of them in the knowledge of the rarely needed to know rules and regulations about ... tricycles! So I was off on my way with them still scratching their heads.

One thing worries me though, with my particular car. I remember as if it was today, my heart fell for the Brooklands in the same exact second Nick Baker (MMC) started one up. That exhaust noise was wonderful.

And this short conversation took place:

Me - Is that (noise) even legal????
NB - Well, the homologation was with the regular exhausts ...
Me - I see ...

May is here and warming up. Will be donning the helmet soon in anticipation of June bug strikes. One of those at 60 mph will make your day.

On the legal side, it is registered as a motorcycle, inspected as a motorcycle (lightly as in wheels are attached lights and blinkers work) but treated like a car. Helmet not required but wear the seatbelt. Emissions are not tested. VIN # checked.

On the practical side, it is ignored. Most of the time I don't bother with the belt as, in all truthiness, if I hit something hard or something hits me hard, it is probably all over. Modifications to the engine and drivetrain can be all over the place and no one cares. That is a big business in the states.

Discussions with police e.g. at half an hour past midnight in one of our wine-growing regions in the +4 normally ended in long discussions about how old the car is and how it drives, how it compares to new cars etc., nothing else.

But last time the two policemen were really fit, they seemed to know quite a lot about vehicles registered as motorcycles and everything that seems mandatory. I was very surprised they had a noise-meter on board (what is the real name of these things?) and knew that the result of the measurement is very much dependent on the way the measurement is done (e.g. absorbing/reflecting walls in the vicinity).

They are often known as decibel meters, which can be abreviated to db meter.

I hope I never encounter one

Why Pete ...?

he'd be shouting and swearing too loudly