Ear protection!

[Tman]

Do you guys wear ear protection when racing?.

I have not since the helmet drowns out a lot.

[Peter Jack]

Those of us who have been around race cars for a long time will tell you that if you're smarter than we were you'll use it whenever possible. Some of us still aren't as smart as we could be! 

Pete
Slow learner. Hearing isn't as sharp as it should be.

[tauruck]

I had a Mazda Rotary with open pipes behind my head for a few years.

There's a big fight here over the remote control as far as volume is concerned.

It's funny because I can hear stuff outside that she doesn't.

Ear plugs inside a helmet bug me.

[wobblywalrus]

Generally, your driving or riding ability will increase when the noise level is reasonable.  It is less tiring and it is easier to think and to concentrate on important things like shift points. 

[Seldom Seen Slim]

Sidebar comment:  I've raced with Scott Guthrie bunches of times -- and I've never seen him, at the end of a run, NOT take out earplugs.  That is -- he ALWAYS wears them.  I don't know if that's a career-long choice, but - well, he has held a few records in his time , so maybe there's something to the ability to think and react and concentrate when the noise level is under control.

[runt13]

always, I can hear better with them in, sounds odd but it seems to me that I can connect a sound to something I may feel easier.