The PIAFEIRA Touring Cap started with a simple problem: how to keep a cap on while driving a classic convertible. The solution was a purpose-built chinstrap system, drawn from early racing helmets.
The Touring Cap is a sporting cap with a detachable chinstrap. The Chinstrap was designed with two positions. Down, under the chin, when driving at speed. Up, resting above the cap’s peak, when the chinstrap is not needed — at car shows, or slowly driving through town.
Chinstrap down is the reason the Touring Cap exists.
Chinstrap up is turning out to be more interesting than we ever expected.
In July we began a trial programme. We call it Run Trial. It works on nominations — we ask for suggestions of people to take part, and we could not be happier with the nominated drivers. We are not looking for photographs or content. Only honest feedback.
Run Trial 001 was done by Ollie Leston (Les Leston) and his girlfriend on a road trip to France.
Run Trial 002 was done by John Nash (Kent Kit Car Club), who attended several car shows throughout August.
Both Run Trials have been very useful. Two findings are still with us.
The aesthetics. Ollie Leston and his girlfriend agreed that the Touring Cap looked very stylish with the Chinstrap up, above the peak, and said it would stand on its own as a fashion object. John Nash, independently, said the Chinstrap up added interest to the cap. He liked the brass fittings and said it looked attractive above the peak.
How it’s used. John drives an open Grand Prix-style single-seater he built himself. He told us the cap was always very secure at high speed, and that even in crosswinds it did not feel as if it was lifting off his head. The Touring Cap is doing what it is supposed to do. But John also told us that he adjusted the strap once, then slipped it over his chin each time after that. Finding that someone used the Chinstrap differently from how we expected is important at this stage, and will influence how PIAFEIRA communicates the Touring Cap.
Down is the function. Up is the look.
