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The Big Al
03-26-2010, 08:40 PM
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.

The Big Al
03-27-2010, 11:16 AM
By Jim Utter - jutter@charlotteobserver.com
SFI Foundation Inc., the non-profit organization established to administer safety standards for automotive and racing equipment, announced Friday it was decertifying all products manufactured and/or distributed by Impact Racing.

Many teams in NASCAR utilize safety equipment from Impact, including Kevin Harvick Inc., and drivers Kyle Busch, David Reutimann and Trevor Bayne, among others. IndyCar series and NHRA teams also utilize many of the company’s products.

NASCAR became affiliated with SFI Foundation in 2003 and began using its testing services and quality assurances for safety products used in its three national series – the Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Truck series.

NASCAR issued a statement late Friday that said in part, “This is a matter now in the legal system, which we are monitoring.”

Impact was founded by Bill Simpson, a pioneer in the racing safety business who formerly headed Simpson Performance Products. He left that company after the controversy surrounding the Dale Earnhardt's death in a 2001 crash late in teh Daytona 500.

In Friday’s release, SFI Foundation said all Impact products would be decertified as of April 27.

“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,” the statement said.

Officials at Impact’s headquarters in Brownsburg, Ind., did not immediately respond to a request for comment



Read more: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/03/26/408663/group-faults-impact-safety-equipment.html#ixzz0jOT0ibao

The Big Al
03-29-2010, 10:26 PM
From: Bob Peele @ Impact Racing
Sent: Monday, March 29, 2010 12:42 PM

Subject: IMPACT's SFI Statment - March 29th 2010

Impact Racing would like to respond to the statement on March 26, 2010 by SFI regarding their intention to decertify all SFI labeled Impact Racing products. All SFI labeled products currently being sold by Impact Racing have current SFI certification and legally obtained labels. The safety of our products has in no way been compromised. The allegation from SFI is in relation to the actual SFI tag only. We suggest at this time to continue to use your equipment, which is safe and has been certified and do not have anyone replace your tags on your products.

On March 26, 2010 the attorneys representing Impact Racing filed an appeal. There is also a hearing in court on April 1, 2010. Impact Racing will keep all of our customers informed as details unfold.

We are not accepting returns or refunds on delivered products. We suggest at this time to wait until further notice until we learn more about the details and allegations.

A formal press release will follow shortly.

rev.ronnie
03-29-2010, 10:46 PM
Wow..sounds fishy..

Actually, I used to be a die hard Simpson user, fire suit, harness, helmet, etc. After Bill sold "Simpson Saftey" , I tried to get my expensive cam-lock belts re-webbed and certified..they told me thay no longer recert anything that was made while Bill owned the company..only stuff they sold you as new owners. Nice that Bill had a compliance clause or something when he sold...NOT..

For this reason, I replaced all my stuff now with M&R belts (better anyway), Stroud parachute, and a Pyrotect helmet and soon, new suit.

I felt that Bill hung us all out to dry, so I never bought anything again that had anything to do with him...now this..Well, I'm glad I lost my faith in him before I got "burned" again.

Just the same...I hope it isn't so...a lot of people would get screwed.

CDave
04-11-2010, 06:26 PM
Here is more info on the happenings with Impact and the SFI.

http://www.nascar.com/2010/news/headlines/cup/04/02/sfi.impact.restraining.order/index.html

Here is a bit from the article.
California-based SFI sets standards for several racing organizations, including NASCAR, the National Hot Rod Association and the Indy Racing League.

The lawsuit alleges that between November 2005 and August 2008, Simpson instructed an Impact employee to have an Asian vendor produce counterfeit SFI labels that were affixed to various products, including seat belts, arm restraints, fire suits, head socks, gloves and boots.
SFI plans to decertify those Impact products made during that time, Yarbrough said.

The Big Al
04-23-2010, 02:01 PM
SFI PRESS RELEASE

April 21, 2010 - SFI issues the following press release. Please review this carefully:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

For a downloadable .pdf of this press release, please click on the following link: http://www.sfifoundation.com/PressRelease04-21-10.pdf

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IMPACT PRESS RELEASE - APRIL 22nd 2010

Impact strongly disagrees with SFI’s decertification of its products manufactured in the years 2005-2008. Impact is working diligently to resolve this issue with SFI. Impact decided to stop the internal SFI appeal process because it became obvious that Impact could not get a fair hearing.

Impact’s track record of providing safety to racers is unmatched. There have been no burns or other injuries reported to Impact by any racer wearing Impact Race Products since its inception. Impact has seen drivers wearing its gear walk away unharmed from very serious explosions and wrecks. We stand behind the safety of our products 100% and have always placed the safety of racers at the forefront of our mission and company. Bill Simpson has worked at the goal of saving racers’ lives for over 52 years and his name is synonymous with motorsports safety.

Impact’s vocal position has been that SFI’s certification programs are seriously flawed and antiquated and do not address the issue of safety. Accordingly, SFI is applying standards to us that it has not applied to any other product manufacturer.

Impact regrets that SFI has chosen the path of decertification and lawsuits against Impact as a way to handle any concerns it has. Bill Simpson and Impact Racing have always worked closely with SFI and all sanctioning bodies to help improve driver safety in motorsports and come up with many innovations in safety. Impact would like to have resolved this issue in a different way. Unfortunately, SFI’s actions have caused racers unnecessarily to question their safety.

Impact will do everything in its power to resolve this dispute and help our loyal customers through it. We are committed to clearing Impact’s name and moving onward with our real job of providing the best safety equipment money can buy to racers across the country and world.