Impact Racing Products no Longer to be SFI Certified?!?

[gt40]

WTF?!?

I think a whole bunch of safety gear will instantly become illegal for racing...

http://www.sfifoundation.com/

March 26, 2010 - NOTICE OF DECERTIFICATION; NOTICE TO CEASE AND DESIST AND TERMINATION OF ALL CONTRACTS OF PARTICIPATION ISSUED TO IMPACT RACING

SFI Foundation, Inc., has issued a Notice of Decertification; Notice of Cease and Desist, and a notice terminating all Contracts of Participation to Impact Racing. Effective April 27, 2010, all products manufactured and/or distributed by Impact Racing pursuant to SFI Specification Programs 3.2A, 3.3, 16.1, and 16.5 are decertified. Evidence obtained by SFI shows that over a period of years Impact Racing has engaged in the production and use of counterfeit SFI conformance labels and patches, and affixed them to Impact products for use in motorsports. Under the Contracts of Participation between SFI and Impact, SFI conformance labels and patches may only be obtained from SFI and no other source. Evidence shows that Impact had counterfeit SFI labels and patches made in Asia and then affixed them to Impact products it distributed to members of the racing community. To SFI’s knowledge, Impact never advised its customers that its products contained phony SFI labels and patches. Impact never advised SFI of its systematic and longstanding practice of counterfeiting and distributing SFI patches and labeling.

Impact has been directed to cease and desist from this practice. SFI has directed Impact to immediately notify all affected customers to remove the counterfeit labeling and to offer the affected customers a full refund of the purchase price. SFI is requesting that all counterfeit conformance labels removed from Impact products be sent to SFI.

SFI has elected not to decertify these products immediately in order to minimize the potential hardships to members of the racing community that have been brought about by Impact’s counterfeiting activities.

SFI has also elected to terminate all Contracts of Participation with Impact Racing effective 90 days from March 24, 2010. Under the terms of the Contracts, either party may terminate the agreements without penalty upon 90 days notice. This means that Impact will no longer be able to participate in any SFI programs after this 90 day period.

SFI has taken these actions in the best interests of the safety and integrity of the racing community. This is in keeping with SFI’s mission and purpose.

For a downloadable .pdf of this notice, please click on the following link: Decertification Notice 03-26-10.



Looks like Bill Simpson's newest business is sunk.

[AllZWay]

WOW... He kind of went of the deep end years ago.

[jeremiahkellam]

Impact claims they had no idea this was coming. Those of us with SFI rated Impact (like me) have 90 before this decertification goes into effect. Impact says they found out about this just as we have, their attorneys were in house when I called. They say they will have more info next week....?? :?

[kbrewmr2]

$FI is more about the moolah than the safety - if the products weren't up to spec they'd say to stop using them ASAP. $FI is just upset they didn't get their cut...

[mitchntx]

The Hallett blip just became extremely dim. :cry:

[gt40]

$FI is more about the moolah than the safety - if the products weren't up to spec they'd say to stop using them ASAP. $FI is just upset they didn't get their cut...Whatever. The fact is that when the certifications get pulled, you won't be able to race with any Impact gear that has to be SFI certified (window nets, firesuits, etc...) I suppose you could still wear their socks...

[mitchntx]

SFI is a line in the sand. That's all. It's a standard that insurance companies hang their hat on.

I see what JK is saying. Without the SFI cert, does it mean Impact products are unsafe? Maybe ... Maybe not. Right now, all it means is that Impact didn't write the check SFI required.

I saw a news article that it didn't "impact" helmets. I would like to see something from NASA National that said that and not a news agency.

[kbrewmr2]

I've got a couple friends that run with Southeast that have all Impact brand safety equip - helmet, suit, gloves, shoes, socks, belts, nets, and so on... feel bad for them if they're out all that money to buy new stuff over this :(

[donovan]

It's still unclear how this is going to play out for the racers.

When the time comes I will work with anyone that needs new gear.

Send me a email or PM if you need anything!

DD

[BlueFirePony]

Found this on the NHRA site

http://www.nhra.com/story/2009/3/19/tech-alert/



NHRA tech alert: Product recall
Thursday, March 19, 2009

NHRA has received notice from SFI Inc. that a Notice of Decertification was issued today to Impact Racing Products Inc. regarding certain products (listed below) and that Impact will issue a Notice of Recall of such products. Therefore, effective immediately, the products listed below will no longer be accepted for use in NHRA racing. We understand that Impact will issue a recall notice tomorrow, March 20, 2009.

Please log on to www.impactraceproducts.com for information or contact Impact directly. The products are:

• Driver suits, pants, and jackets manufactured in 2008 identified as compliant with SFI Specification 3.2A/15 or 3.2A/20
• Driver shoes and boots manufactured in 2008 identified as compliant with SFI Specification 3.3/15 or 3.3/20

SFI has informed NHRA that products manufactured in 2007 and 2009 are being further evaluated by SFI.

Note that Impact is disputing the decertification and NOT issuing a recall per their website (at the link above).

[gt40]

Found this on the NHRA site

http://www.nhra.com/story/2009/3/19/tech-alert/



NHRA tech alert: Product recall
Thursday, March 19, 2009

NHRA has received notice from SFI Inc. that a Notice of Decertification was issued today to Impact Racing Products Inc. regarding certain products (listed below) and that Impact will issue a Notice of Recall of such products. Therefore, effective immediately, the products listed below will no longer be accepted for use in NHRA racing. We understand that Impact will issue a recall notice tomorrow, March 20, 2009.

Please log on to www.impactraceproducts.com for information or contact Impact directly. The products are:

• Driver suits, pants, and jackets manufactured in 2008 identified as compliant with SFI Specification 3.2A/15 or 3.2A/20
• Driver shoes and boots manufactured in 2008 identified as compliant with SFI Specification 3.3/15 or 3.3/20

SFI has informed NHRA that products manufactured in 2007 and 2009 are being further evaluated by SFI.

Note that Impact is disputing the decertification and NOT issuing a recall per their website (at the link above).That's a different issue. The date for that is back in 2009.

[mitchntx]

Found this on the NHRA site

http://www.nhra.com/story/2009/3/19/tech-alert/



NHRA tech alert: Product recall
Thursday, March 19, 2009

NHRA has received notice from SFI Inc. that a Notice of Decertification was issued today to Impact Racing Products Inc. regarding certain products (listed below) and that Impact will issue a Notice of Recall of such products. Therefore, effective immediately, the products listed below will no longer be accepted for use in NHRA racing. We understand that Impact will issue a recall notice tomorrow, March 20, 2009.

Please log on to www.impactraceproducts.com for information or contact Impact directly. The products are:

• Driver suits, pants, and jackets manufactured in 2008 identified as compliant with SFI Specification 3.2A/15 or 3.2A/20
• Driver shoes and boots manufactured in 2008 identified as compliant with SFI Specification 3.3/15 or 3.3/20

SFI has informed NHRA that products manufactured in 2007 and 2009 are being further evaluated by SFI.

Note that Impact is disputing the decertification and NOT issuing a recall per their website (at the link above).That's a different issue. The date for that is back in 2009.

But probably an indication of how Impact will respond on THIS issue.

[BlueFirePony]

That's a different issue. The date for that is back in 2009.
Correct. I was just noting that this is not the first time Impact and SFI have had a dispute.


But probably an indication of how Impact will respond on THIS issue.
Yep. They are clearly disputing this current issue.

[jeremiahkellam]

http://www.impactraceproducts.com/pdfs/2010/SFI%20Press%20Release_04012010.pdf

[mitchntx]

http://www.impactraceproducts.com/pdfs/2010/SFI%20Press%20Release_04012010.pdf


LOL ... I like Bill Simpson's smiley face signature.

[kbrewmr2]

April, 2010

JOINT PRESS RELEASE

April 1, 2010 - Impact Racing, LLC and SFI Foundation, Inc., in the litigation pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, have agreed that:

1. Impact Racing, LLC has provided sworn testimony that, upon review and investigation, no counterfeit SFI Conformance Labels have been used on Impact Racing products during the production years of 2009 and 2010.

2. Impact Racing, LLC has provided sworn testimony that, upon review and investigation, all Impact Racing products manufactured and sold during the production years 2009 and 2010 meet SFI specifications.

3. Based upon this sworn testimony, the decertification against Impact Racing products for the production years 2009 and 2010 is lifted. The decertification of the production years prior to 2009 and 2010 remains in effect. The parties will continue to work cooperatively in an effort to resolve the issues relating to decertification in these years.

4. Impact Racing stands behind the safety of all products it has manufactured and to which SFI Conformance Labels have been affixed. SFI will continue to monitor compliance with product specifications.

5. Impact Racing, LLC and SFI Foundation, Inc. will cooperate in determining whether any Impact Racing product bears a counterfeit SFI Conformance Label and if any safety issue exists in regard to products manufactured prior to 2009 and 2010.

6. If any Impact Racing product does not bear the date of manufacture the purchaser or user is instructed to immediately contact Impact Racing who will provide verification of the date of manufacture. Impact Racing, LLC will immediately notify SFI Foundation, Inc. of this occurrence. Impact Racing, LLC and SFI Foundation, Inc. will work with the sanctioning bodies to determine the best method for product users to present verification of the date of manufacture.

For a downloadable .pdf of this press release, please click on the following link: Joint Press Release 04-01-10.

[mitchntx]

From the NASA National site ...

April 20, 2010 1:26 PM — Impact Racing has released the following statement on April 20th:

Be advised that SFI has made the decision that as of April 27th, 2010 our products manufactured in 2008 and previous years are decertified. Impact strongly disagrees with this decision. SFI's decision does not apply to products purchased in 2009, 2010 and forward.

In light of the decertification, if any of our customers have to replace their products we can offer firesuits at a discounted price based on date of purchase, restraint systems at the trade-in price and free shipping.





April 22, 2010 12:45 PM — SFI has issued the following press release. Please review this carefully:

Impact Racing has withdrawn its appeal of the decertifications of its products bearing SFI 3.2A, 3.3, 16.1, and 16.5 specifications manufactured in the years 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. The decertifications of these products are now permanent.

The decertifications are based upon a number of the affected products being non- compliant with SFI specifications concerning labeling and construction. In addition to the presence of non-compliant SFI tags and the absence of DOMs on products, 3.2A/5 suits made prior to 2009 have been constructed with non-compliant materials that, in SFI’s judgment, pose a safety risk to users of these suits.

Impact Racing is permitted to maintain the certification for products bearing SFI 3.2A, 3.3, 16.1, and 16.5 specifications manufactured in 2009 and 2010. SFI’s investigation of the labeling and construction of these products is ongoing. Impact’s participation in the SFI specification programs ends June 22, 2010.

Any Impact product with SFI specifications 3.2A, 3.3, 16.1, and 16.5 without a date of manufacture (DOM) is deemed to be a decertified product unless the manufacturer has provided the product user with proof that it was manufactured in 2009 or 2010. This proof must be presented to track officials upon request. Impact believes that its products made in 2009 and 2010 have the DOMs affixed to products to the extent mandated by SFI specifications.

SFI Testing Results
10-SFI-002 Audit Suit.pdf
10-SFI-003 Audit Suit.pdf
10-SFI-002 Audit Thread.pdf
10-SFI-003 Audit Thread.pdf