Impact Racing products to be decertified by the SFI

[XcYZ]

FYI in case anyone is using Impact Racing products.

http://www.sfifoundation.com

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 [owned by safety pioneer Bill Simpson]. 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 and 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

[6spdcamaro]

From Impact's website

http://www.impactraceproducts.com/

[buickfunnycar.com]

Hmmm...another controversy involving Bill Simpson.

[69MyWay]

Do you guys remember when somebody hacked the GM delco lables, boxing, and numbers and started producing and selling Chinese knock of Delco parts (oil filter, etc) that even the GM parts people didn't know were fake.

[70rs]

Originally Posted by 69MyWay

Do you guys remember when somebody hacked the GM delco lables, boxing, and numbers and started producing and selling Chinese knock of Delco parts (oil filter, etc) that even the GM parts people didn't know were fake.

I had never heard of this. What products were knock offs aside from filters?


And as mentioned above about this being ANOTHER issue with Simpson. What happened in the past? I would like to know anything there is to know so I can make a good decision when it comes time to buy my harnesses and gear.

[WSSix]

NASCAR said the Simpson harness in Enhardt's car failed which led to his death. Simpson supposedly files suit against NASCAR ever year on the anniversary of his death for damage to reprutation etc etc. I have no idea of anything else.

[James OLC]

Originally Posted by 70rs

What happened in the past? I would like to know anything there is to know so I can make a good decision when it comes time to buy my harnesses and gear.

From the SFI Website

July, 2009

July 19, 2009 - NOTICE OF TEMPORARY PRODUCT DECERTIFICATION. Effective July 9, 2009: Pursuant to SFI Test Laboratory reports, SFI Foundation, Inc. has reason to believe that certain Impact Racing products manufactured in the year 2007 do not fully comply with the minimum standards set forth in the SFI Specification 3.2A Program. Therefore, pursuant to Section 12.0 of the program, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, and UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, any and all driver suits, pants, and jackets manufactured by Impact Racing pursuant to SFI Spec 3.2A/15 and 3.2A/20 at any time during the year 2007 are hereby TEMPORARILY DECERTIFIED by SFI Foundation, Inc. This temporary decertification applies to all such products whether or not they have been updated, upgraded, rebadged, or recertified by Impact Racing. This temporary decertification applies even if the product now has a 2009 SFI label affixed to the product. The date of manufacture of the product is determinative.

This decertification is temporary and will remain in effect until further notice from SFI. The manufacturer has challenged SFI’s findings in this matter and is conducting its own review of the findings and the full compliance of the products in question. SFI’s investigation continues. This decertification may be modified, withdrawn, or made permanent

March, 2009

March 20, 2009 - IMPACT RACING PRODUCT RECALL. Any and all driver suits, pants, jackets, shoes and boots manufactured by Impact Racing pursuant to SFI Specifications 3.2A/15, 3.2A/20, 3.3/15 and 3.3/20 at any time during the year 2008 have been decertified by SFI Foundation, Inc. and must be immediately returned to Impact Racing offices or an Impact representative. Impact Racing has reason to believe that these products do not fully comply with the stated SFI Specifications and therefore do not meet SFI manufacturer certification requirements. This recall applies to all such products whether or not they have been updated, rebadged, or recertified by Impact Racing. This recall applies even if the product now has a 2009 SFI patch or label affixed to the product. All applicable sanctioning bodies have been notified by Impact of this noncompliance. Please contact www.impactraceproducts.com for information or contact Impact Racing directly.

and the ongoing counterfit HANS supports:

MARTINSVILLE, Va. – The SFI Foundation, which sets safety standards and certifies equipment such as uniforms and helmets, announced Friday that it has terminated contracts with Impact Racing and all of its driver suits, arm restraints, shoes, gloves, socks, underclothing, helmet supports, and driver restraint systems will be decertified effective April 27.

The announcement comes while SFI and HANS Device creator Hubbard/Downing Inc. are suing Impact, owned by renowned safety pioneer Bill Simpson, over the use of counterfeit HANS helmet clips put on Impact helmets. The counterfeit clips had both HANS and SFI logos.

“Under the Contracts of Participation between SFI and Impact, SFI conformance labels and patches may only be obtained from SFI and no other source,” the SFI news release said. “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.”

NASCAR requires certain safety equipment to have SFI certification. Any drivers using Impact gear will have to change providers following April 27.

According to documents as part of the lawsuit, which deals only with clips and not uniforms, HANS alleges that Impact Racing bought counterfeit clips from China-based Richard Hung Enterprises for $8.90 a set – compared to $41.25 for the real clips – and were sold at a price of $52 a set ($13 below the HANS retail price).

In a deposition filed with the case, Simpson said while he did not dispute the clips were counterfeit, he never authorized anyone to engrave SFI or HANS markings on the clips.

Also in his deposition, Simpson said Impact made $52,000 in profit in 2008.

The bolding is mine and tells me everything that I need to know to make a decision.

[70rs]

Thanks James. I appreciate the info very much.

Now I can make my decisions.

[IndyNova]

one of his factories in Indy got nailed years ago by d.e.a because supposedly they were selling drugs and shipping them inside helmets. I used to work for simpson, he is a genuine A-HOLE!! treats his people like ****, he gets whatever he deserves

[rogue]

I wore this at my last track event. Its SA1969. Its my noggin'



Even has my racing/lucky number.


yes I have a screw loose.