I can see not wearing a helmet being more "airy" or "free", though the concept of riding a motorcycle is not my idea of fun, and if I do ride I'd probably be wearing all the gear I can to not kill myself in I do crash....
Seat belt though, I can't agree with not wearing it. Not like riding a bike where you straddle the bike with your body. In a car you are pretty much just a passenger and not being belted in place just creates distraction as you being toss about in a tin can....try driving something with more than a G of cornering potential with a loosely belted position, and you can barely hold on in most cases....and this is in a molded, fitted seat.....
University of Toronto Formula SAE Alumni 2003-2007
Formula Student Championship 2003, 2005, 2006
www.fsae.utoronto.ca