Impact Racing products decertified by SFI

[faded92mx5]

I just read a topic on another forum in which a member received this email heads-up from SafeRacer:

"SFI Notice to Decertify Impact Racing Products

SafeRacer has never sold any Impact Racing products, but we know a lot of our customers and friends have some items from Impact. This note is just to make you aware of Notices that SFI posted yesterday concerning items they certify from Impact Racing. Please review the note from SFI, notice the Effective Date and be prepared to act accordingly.

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."

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Hopefully Impact will do the right thing and refund some money, but that is doubtful. I feel bad for those of you sporting Impact safety gear.

[lancer360]

Ouch! First the problem with the drag racing suits being made out of spec, then the counterfeit HANS posts, and now counterfeit SFI labels. Luckily SCCA doesn't mandate SFI approved gloves or my Impact racing gloves would not be usable. I'm just waiting for something to come out regarding my Impact helmet. Needless to say I'm taking my business elsewhere.

[wcox32408]

yes sir, else where is where I will be. HINCHMAN is a good choice.

[stealthgtfour]

why isnt this all over the news like the toyota nonsense.
not enough people getting killed because of it i guess.
what a shame.

[cr89x]

Dang. I like the looks of their products.

[lancer360]

Apparently this is the third issue with SFI and Impact. First was a bunch of drag racing suits that had their certifications revoked due to inferior materials. Next was the counterfeit HANS posts and now counterfeit SFI labels. Apparently it has come out in the court depositions that Bill Simpson himself knew they were buying counterfeit HANS posts from oversees, but apparently he didn't necessarily approve that they be stamped with the SFI and HANS logo. I find that very hard to believe. At their store when I ordered my helmet they specifically said they could install the HANS posts at the factory for me.

I received an email from HANS today telling me that the posts I sent in from my helmet were indeed counterfeit. I also have a set of Impact gloves and arm restraints that have SFI tags on them. Although SCCA doesn't require SFI approval on these items yet, it doesn't give me much confidence in them. Although helmets are not affected by this fiasco, you have got to wonder how far does this corrupt and illegal behavior go in the company and how many of their products are affected and just haven't been discovered yet. Do I really want to trust my head at 130+mph at VIR come May to this man?

[cr89x]

Exactly Chris. Please get it all looked at.

[scockrell]

Is there no limit to what some companies will do to cut costs? As racers we trust the people who make our safety equiptment to do their jobs correctly and have pride in what they do. I also have some Impact products and even though my helmet is not Impact my gloves are, not as important but I'll replace them now. There is doubt in my mind as to the creditibility of any of Impact's claims of saftey, how about you. Think about it; just might be your life. I wonder if they think saving a little money was really worth it. I used to work for a company who made parachutes for the military, both ours and worldwide. Nowing that somewhere in the world a pilot was hanging by a thread....( MINE) so I took pride in knowing that I was doing my best to get him on the ground safely, too bad Impact dosen't feel the same way. Please check your stuff!

[huntersrun]

Well, looks like the G-Force stuff I buy will work just fine....All my safety equipment is G-force. Up till now I though Bill Simpson was an upstanding guy that got Screwed by NASCAR for Earnhardts death. Now I'm not too sure...besides their stuff was way to expensive for me.

[tedebayer]

Sheila... funny you said that. My dad was a WWII pilot. He used to tell me that the pilots would stop by regularly to watch the men in charge of folding the parachutes. The rule was that if a pilot saw a folder pack a chute in a way he did not like, he could demand that the folder take a jump with that chute. They didn't have too many problems either... he told me once, "when your life may be hanging by a few threads, you don't want a creative packer. There's only one way to do it and that was the RIGHT way."

Not much accountability in a lot of areas now a days. It's a shame this happened... glad it's getting publicity so no one seriously gets hurt. That would be good for no one but lawyers.

[cr89x]

I like that WWII story Ted. Very true on lack of accountability and fat wallets.

[czrider]

The root of Bill Simpson's problems come from a long term dispute with the company (SFI), that he was largely responsible for founding, which has in addition to charging for inspection/certification started charging for each label that is supplied. The FIA on the other hand only charges for the inspection/certification and does not supply/sell labels. Bill would have been better advised to do as his competitors and produce overseas thereby enabling him to absorb the SFI's charges and remain price competitive.

[czrider]

SFI and Impact have come to an agreement on certification. SFI decided that 2009 and 2010 Impact manufactured items are SFI certified and labeled with SFI sourced labels. Some of the earlier Impact products are on the SFI radar and are being looked at by them.

[huntersrun]

I'm glad that there is a resolution. I will always pay a little more for and American Made Product than that crap that comes out of China.