The 1970s are fondly remembered as a time of glamor for motorsport, but also one of great technical experimentation. Bell was no exception, with many innovations introduced after the launch of the first full-face helmet in history, the Star, which we talked about in the previous episode and quickly became a must-have standard. Safety was always the leading factor for development.
In these years, it was widely recognized how the helmet should not only prevent head injuries in case of crash, but also help protect against fire, one of the greatest fears for all drivers in any discipline. The period, unfortunately, was marked by many terrible accidents with drivers trapped in flames, such as those that cost the lives of Lorenzo Bandini and Roger Williamson in Formula 1. A helmet capable of enduring the flames, at least for a certain amount of time, could help protect drivers while they waited for rescue. For this reason, seven years after the Star, 1973 saw the arrival of the Bell Star FX, the first fire-retardant helmet.
To combine materials that could absorb energy in the event of impact, and fire-resistant materials in the manufacturing, Bell engineers determined they had to increase the volume of the helmet shell. This changed the typical proportions of the helmets.
For Bell, the heritage of the Seventies was so made up of aesthetic elements as well. In example, the Star FX was also the first model with tan interior, which then became a trademark of all Bell lids. 1978 also saw the arrival of the Star XF, one of the most appreciated dual eyeport helmets, worn by such great Formula 1 drivers as Jacky Ickx, John Watson, and Nelson Piquet, portrayed with many close-up shots showing them wearing this unmistakable model.
However, the origin of the dual eyeport helmets was dictated not by aesthetic reasons. Beyond a signature appearance, there was a specific element related once again to the driver’s protection. In the event of fire, the central pillar prevented the thin polycarbonate shield from melting into the eyeport. At that time, the shields were stamped and could not be drape formed. Towards the end of the decade, Bell introduced a new shield-forming technology that allowed the polycarbonate to be molded to a thickness of three millimeters, ensuring greater penetration and flame protection for full-face helmets.
Meanwhile, the increasingly widespread use of full-face helmets, and the growth of their size to enhance their strength and safety, provided the impetus for helmet customization through painting. The helmet became a distinctive element of the driver’s identity, each with its own specific color scheme, recognizable even from a distance at first glance, and many of them became part of the motorsport culture.
